If you have a top student who chose GMU, how did you get over the comments/looks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You just get used to it. The furor over who is going where for college lets up once college starts in the fall. Congrats to your kid on making a responsible choice, not falling for Top 20 hype and realizing what everyone knows but doesn’t want to admit “it’s not where job go but what you do when you get there.”

No, it does not. Have you seen certain anti-(college name here) threads about particular colleges? They are revived regularly, and the OP and FOP (Friends of OP) normally revive the thread, then have to slowly back away once they have been disproved, yet again.

Now that I know more about AI, I wonder if a lot of that stuff has to do with AI training or testing.

[Anonymous]

What “comments and looks,” OP? You sound incredibly insecure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't read all of the responses but just got my first response from a parent today looking down on my kid going to UMD. She chose UMD from many others (including selective SLACs) for very similar reasons your DC chose GMU. It feels shitty but proud of our smart kids who know themselves and made the best choices for them.

I had a childhood friend who turned down Stanford for a full ride at UMD. She’s now a VP In administration at a T20. My belief is that she ended up in the same spot she would have if she had attended Stanford. Except she saved lots of $$ for grad school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You just get used to it. The furor over who is going where for college lets up once college starts in the fall. Congrats to your kid on making a responsible choice, not falling for Top 20 hype and realizing what everyone knows but doesn’t want to admit “it’s not where job go but what you do when you get there.”

No, it does not. Have you seen certain anti-(college name here) threads about particular colleges? They are revived regularly, and the OP and FOP (Friends of OP) normally revive the thread, then have to slowly back away once they have been disproved, yet again.

Now that I know more about AI, I wonder if a lot of that stuff has to do with AI training or testing.

That sounds like a helluva way out if I ever heard of one. Congratulations? Though I do not think it would actually "work", legally. The frequency and arguments lack the compelling nature, as does the AI argument Unless by "compelling" you mean train wreck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't read all of the responses but just got my first response from a parent today looking down on my kid going to UMD. She chose UMD from many others (including selective SLACs) for very similar reasons your DC chose GMU. It feels shitty but proud of our smart kids who know themselves and made the best choices for them.

UMD >GMU, as it has always been. Apples and oranges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What “comments and looks,” OP? You sound incredibly insecure.

People around here who are parents of high school students do give looks when they hear Mason, especially if your kid is high stats.

It seems to decrease the closer the kids get to graduation, but definitely carries through to freshman year of college.

People in NoVA are status obsessed snobs.

[Anonymous]

Tell him no one knows him better than himself.

His high school friends are in his past.

Repeat how cool you think it is to run your own race, versus being insecure and looking around at others to see how you should live your life.

He sounds strong and wise. Good job mom & dad!

[Anonymous]

He’s missing a chance to grow and stretch his wings. He should pick VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What “comments and looks,” OP? You sound incredibly insecure.

People around here who are parents of high school students do give looks when they hear Mason, especially if your kid is high stats.

It seems to decrease the closer the kids get to graduation, but definitely carries through to freshman year of college.

People in NoVA are status obsessed snobs.

The kids know the high stats, and only if prodded. The parents know diddly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What “comments and looks,” OP? You sound incredibly insecure.

People around here who are parents of high school students do give looks when they hear Mason, especially if your kid is high stats.

It seems to decrease the closer the kids get to graduation, but definitely carries through to freshman year of college.

People in NoVA are status obsessed snobs.

The kids know the high stats, and only if prodded. The parents know diddly.

Welcome back, troll.

The kids know everyone's stats. A lot of parents do too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't read all of the responses but just got my first response from a parent today looking down on my kid going to UMD. She chose UMD from many others (including selective SLACs) for very similar reasons your DC chose GMU. It feels shitty but proud of our smart kids who know themselves and made the best choices for them.

UMD >GMU, as it has always been. Apples and oranges.

This is PP and I don’t know anything about GMU (we are in MD), but MD parents seems to look down on UMD generally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is a top student. 1580 SAT. Also took ACT and scored 35. He was accepted to all the schools he applied to and he did not apply to many: GMU, Pitt, VaTech, JMU, VCU, UMD, and WPI. He wants to choose GMU Honors for (1) cost savings and (2) location. We live maybe 35 minutes away. He will live on campus. He can see us every day or never, it's up to him. He has ADHD. He likes his therapist and doesn't want to lose her, he doesn't want to worry about access to his meds, and he takes solace in us being near just in case he needs support. The problem is everyone thinks he is throwing his talent away and they look down on him for his choice. I've heard his friends tease him about it. Many chose UVA, VATech, JMU. W&M. I am proud of him for choosing what is best for him. How do I help him be comfortable and confident in his decision?

I think that GMU is really the equivalent of a UK “plate glass university,” like the University of Warwick. It’s a top school in a top location. Nothing to be ashamed of at all.

WTH?? The University of Warwick is nothing like GMU — I went there. It certainly is not in a top location and it is very self-contained. Sinfully ugly, but one of the best universities in the UK. GMU is a suburban school and it’s fine. Nothing against it, but couldn’t be more different than Warwick.

0.
And GMU is rapidly becoming one of the best U.S. research universities in the United States. It’s just new, not bad.

please don't keep saying this - it makes you sound a bit delusional. people have been trying to make this happen for at least 25 years. The biggest bump the school has received was when the mens basketball team made it to the final 4 in the ncaa tournament in 2006 (and that's still a crown jewel achievement for the school).

Go read wiki before you post. GMU is already the largest R1 (top research) university in the Commonwealth.

That doesn't mean GMU does the most research. It means it has more students than any other R1 university in Virginia.

false. go look up what R1 means

GMU ranks behind UVA, VT, and VCU in research spending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is a top student. 1580 SAT. Also took ACT and scored 35. He was accepted to all the schools he applied to and he did not apply to many: GMU, Pitt, VaTech, JMU, VCU, UMD, and WPI. He wants to choose GMU Honors for (1) cost savings and (2) location. We live maybe 35 minutes away. He will live on campus. He can see us every day or never, it's up to him. He has ADHD. He likes his therapist and doesn't want to lose her, he doesn't want to worry about access to his meds, and he takes solace in us being near just in case he needs support. The problem is everyone thinks he is throwing his talent away and they look down on him for his choice. I've heard his friends tease him about it. Many chose UVA, VATech, JMU. W&M. I am proud of him for choosing what is best for him. How do I help him be comfortable and confident in his decision?

I think that GMU is really the equivalent of a UK “plate glass university,” like the University of Warwick. It’s a top school in a top location. Nothing to be ashamed of at all.

WTH?? The University of Warwick is nothing like GMU — I went there. It certainly is not in a top location and it is very self-contained. Sinfully ugly, but one of the best universities in the UK. GMU is a suburban school and it’s fine. Nothing against it, but couldn’t be more different than Warwick.

0.
And GMU is rapidly becoming one of the best U.S. research universities in the United States. It’s just new, not bad.

please don't keep saying this - it makes you sound a bit delusional. people have been trying to make this happen for at least 25 years. The biggest bump the school has received was when the mens basketball team made it to the final 4 in the ncaa tournament in 2006 (and that's still a crown jewel achievement for the school).

Go read wiki before you post. GMU is already the largest R1 (top research) university in the Commonwealth.

That doesn't mean GMU does the most research. It means it has more students than any other R1 university in Virginia.

false. go look up what R1 means

GMU ranks behind UVA, VT, and VCU in research spending.

False. VCU is ahead in "sponsored research funding" which means ou the research activity is sponsored (funded) by an external organization, i.e. a federal, state, or private organization or agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What “comments and looks,” OP? You sound incredibly insecure.

People around here who are parents of high school students do give looks when they hear Mason, especially if your kid is high stats.

It seems to decrease the closer the kids get to graduation, but definitely carries through to freshman year of college.

People in NoVA are status obsessed snobs.

NO, they don't. DC went all four years to GMU and had a wonderful time. No comments from anyone, high school, college, friends or family. Read up on what is happening at GMu. Start with wikipedia. It's astounding what has happened at that campus in just the last decade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What “comments and looks,” OP? You sound incredibly insecure.

People around here who are parents of high school students do give looks when they hear Mason, especially if your kid is high stats.

It seems to decrease the closer the kids get to graduation, but definitely carries through to freshman year of college.

People in NoVA are status obsessed snobs.

NO, they don't. DC went all four years to GMU and had a wonderful time. No comments from anyone, high school, college, friends or family. Read up on what is happening at GMu. Start with wikipedia. It's astounding what has happened at that campus in just the last decade.

My kid went to GMU for the past 4 years as well.

I stand by my observations that yes, parents of high schoolers are very status obsessed and to react negatively when they hear Mason mentioned.