How Much Do a Kid's Looks Factor Into Admissions Decisions?

[Anonymous]

I have to check into DCUM every few weeks to remind myself that sane people are a rare joy to be relished. The lack of them here keeps me humble how lucky I am.

Gentle ladies, life is random, but their are thumbs on the scale. Good looking, under represented, HYP brat at STA, Chevy Chase Club, old money. Sure, they convey an advantage. But look around you. MOST of my friends of achievement are non of the above. I am most of the above. My kids are all of the above.

The vast majority of big 5 kids from HYP parents will amount to nothing in life. The vast, vast percentage of kids without talent and some of the above will end the same. A tiny sliver of short, bald PS kids will own the world.

Mom's, being good looking is great. With 5 billion ties, its a tie breaker. So are all the other 'hooks', as you call them.

Relax. If your kid has all the goods, and you are ugly and poor, your kid can change the world. Say .64%. If your kid has the goods, and you are HYP, pretty etc, it DOES matter. say .86%.

Chill People.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to check into DCUM every few weeks to remind myself that sane people are a rare joy to be relished. The lack of them here keeps me humble how lucky I am.

Gentle ladies, life is random, but their are thumbs on the scale. Good looking, under represented, HYP brat at STA, Chevy Chase Club, old money. Sure, they convey an advantage. But look around you. MOST of my friends of achievement are non of the above. I am most of the above. My kids are all of the above.

The vast majority of big 5 kids from HYP parents will amount to nothing in life. The vast, vast percentage of kids without talent and some of the above will end the same. A tiny sliver of short, bald PS kids will own the world.

Mom's, being good looking is great. With 5 billion ties, its a tie breaker. So are all the other 'hooks', as you call them.

Relax. If your kid has all the goods, and you are ugly and poor, your kid can change the world. Say .64%. If your kid has the goods, and you are HYP, pretty etc, it DOES matter. say .86%.

Chill People.

Lovely thoughts, thank you for that. OP's question was about getting into private school, though, not about whether her kids will change the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at our graduating class I would say yes. Pretty nice looking group.

+1. It's called evolution. Rich and/or powerful guys marry sexy chicks, breed, and send offspring to Big 3 schools.

And those sexy chicks have kids with the handsome mail man, but the rich old jerk does not know that

The rich old jerk is actually usually ugly, isn't he. Kind of making up for his shortcomings by making tons of dough. So he finds his trophy wife, whose DNA might itself not be pristine given all those plastic surgerty enhancements and upgrades, and it's still like eight plus negative three = a 5 on the looks scale. Always cracks me up to see glamorous thin blond moms with chubby, dark haired, not so pretty girls in tow. Yes, an awful thought, but I guarantee many others out there share that glee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at our graduating class I would say yes. Pretty nice looking group.

+1. It's called evolution. Rich and/or powerful guys marry sexy chicks, breed, and send offspring to Big 3 schools.

And those sexy chicks have kids with the handsome mail man, but the rich old jerk does not know that

The rich old jerk is actually usually ugly, isn't he. Kind of making up for his shortcomings by making tons of dough. So he finds his trophy wife, whose DNA might itself not be pristine given all those plastic surgerty enhancements and upgrades, and it's still like eight plus negative three = a 5 on the looks scale. Always cracks me up to see glamorous thin blond moms with chubby, dark haired, not so pretty girls in tow. Yes, an awful thought, but I guarantee many others out there share that glee.

In 20 years those chubby, dark haired, not so pretty girls will be pretty thin blond moms - the magic of cosmetic surgery.

[Anonymous]

Everyone at our private is attractive. Some are a bit ordinary looking.

[Anonymous]

I recalled this post as I was attending back to school night the other night. I don't know how much a kids's looks truly factor into admissions decisions. But I can say that most of the parents were pretty well put together. They were either naturally attractive, or really working it. I'm glad I dressed up for it. My schlubby husband thought that he'd be making a statement by going uber-casual. The only statement he actually made wa that he's a schlub. No more parent events for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recalled this post as I was attending back to school night the other night. I don't know how much a kids's looks truly factor into admissions decisions. But I can say that most of the parents were pretty well put together. They were either naturally attractive, or really working it. I'm glad I dressed up for it. My schlubby husband thought that he'd be making a statement by going uber-casual. The only statement he actually made wa that he's a schlub. No more parent events for him.

sounds like lots of hot moms. He'll probably want to look better for them next time.

[Anonymous]

Looks can work both ways. Some in admissions are insecure about their own looks and resent attractive parents/kids.

[Anonymous]

Alot

[Anonymous]

At most schools looks matter more in the younger grades. By HS looks are less important - they focus on smarts and exmissions. The lifers are always better looking and rarely dominate the top intellectually overall....fact.

[Anonymous]

People in the DMV are smart and well to do, but they are not particularly attractive ( even with plastic surgery). The men in particular seem considerably shorter than in other parts of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks can work both ways. Some in admissions are insecure about their own looks and resent attractive parents/kids.

The admissions folks I've met are all actually quite attractive.

[Anonymous]

Well I saw a seminar by a researcher on human mating evolutionary psychology, and they said due to this phenomenon of "assortative mating" there is a higher statistical likelihood that attractive people will also be more intelligent. This is because intelligence is a desirable trait, and so is good physical appearance. So too bad for all the ugly stupid people out there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People in the DMV are smart and well to do, but they are not particularly attractive ( even with plastic surgery). The men in particular seem considerably shorter than in other parts of the country.

I have no idea what of are talking about? DMV as in Department of Motor Vehicles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At most schools looks matter more in the younger grades. By HS looks are less important - they focus on smarts and exmissions. The lifers are always better looking and rarely dominate the top intellectually overall....fact.

It is said that attractiveness matters in just about everything. sigh.