A tale of two worlds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid B may have a better chance of getting into a high ranked college because they “stand out” at a mediocre school but will be less prepared to actually do well in college and may either flunk out or have to switch majors to an easier one.

Too many critical unknowns to make such an assumption:

What is their mental health like?
Are they well liked by their peers?
How is their emotional IQ?
Will they reach out for help- academic, emotional, or personal- if they need it?

These are just a few things that will be major drivers of their success on campus and beyond.

What is Kid As mental health like? Will she manage getting up on her own and start to live independently ? Is she well liked or does everyone find her annoying? How is her EQ? Will she reach out for the help she has always counted on to do well or call mom to rescue her?

They both might have issues like every other college student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatevs.

My kid got a 36 (kid A) and doesn't have to study very hard. Courses are rigorous and faculty outstanding. Some amazing, caring, dedicated teachers who go way above and beyond. Scored 5s on every AP exam because the courses prepared him so well (no extra study or prep). Smaller class sizes. Having gone to the public we are zoned for and talking to countless neighbors and their kids' experience there---too large, fights in hallways, inexperienced teachers, no homework/or rigor, grade inflation, we made the correct choice for our kids. Our private also has a HUGE community service element built into the day and breaks. It's character forming in a way you don't get at our public. Values, required courses in ethics and social justice, etc.

I don't care about kid B at all. We could afford it and we sent our kids for the foundational educational experience and the environment.

My kid did get into pretty much everywhere he applied as an unhooked applicant (not recruited athlete, no legacy, no dei box tickers, etc)...and so did his buddies from public school (he attended k-8 with them). IT says more about the friend group than the school. These kids are all motivated and smart and just 'good' kids. He will be going to the same school as two of them.

I’m other words your kid did not stand out, he’s at college with all the public school kids and you’re resentful of the naturally gifted students who breeze through entirely on their intellect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in another country and took the ACT with no prep just incase. I ended up going to university in my home country. I got a 96th percentile score on the ACT. I’m a good test taker but it seemed basic. Has it gotten harder over the years?

As a parent I’m between A and B. My parents were super duper hands off, like C or D on this scale, and l still went to one of the best universities in the world with zero family support. Now I’m in DCUM land and realizing just how lax my parents were compared to most parents around here.

What age were you when you took it? It’s meant for a 17 year-old. Assuming you took it at that age and are from a foreign country, chances are that you were pretty good at school, otherwise you wouldn’t have been on a university track and ready to study in English (maybe not your native language). Also, if you considered leaving your country for college, you probably came from a decent socioeconomic background and a family who valued education. That academic and socioeconomic background is pretty similar to kids who score well on the test here too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in another country and took the ACT with no prep just incase. I ended up going to university in my home country. I got a 96th percentile score on the ACT. I’m a good test taker but it seemed basic. Has it gotten harder over the years?

As a parent I’m between A and B. My parents were super duper hands off, like C or D on this scale, and l still went to one of the best universities in the world with zero family support. Now I’m in DCUM land and realizing just how lax my parents were compared to most parents around here.

It hasn't gotten harder. In DC 96%ile is on the low end for people with ambition.

[Anonymous]

This debate is hilarious. A lot of private school parents out there are high on their own supply, believing their school’s marketing that somehow it’s for the best and brightest and not just the wealthiest.

I worked at a well known K-8 around here for several years while my own kids were in public schools. Oh what looks of pity and scorn I got when parents would hear my kids were in public. They have now graduated, and are at better colleges than most of the kids from that K-8. Private schools parents truly don’t realize how large the world is. There are 10,000 graduates of MCPS this year, and only a few hundred at even the largest privates. There are tons of capable kids out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in another country and took the ACT with no prep just incase. I ended up going to university in my home country. I got a 96th percentile score on the ACT. I’m a good test taker but it seemed basic. Has it gotten harder over the years?

As a parent I’m between A and B. My parents were super duper hands off, like C or D on this scale, and l still went to one of the best universities in the world with zero family support. Now I’m in DCUM land and realizing just how lax my parents were compared to most parents around here.

What age were you when you took it? It’s meant for a 17 year-old. Assuming you took it at that age and are from a foreign country, chances are that you were pretty good at school, otherwise you wouldn’t have been on a university track and ready to study in English (maybe not your native language). Also, if you considered leaving your country for college, you probably came from a decent socioeconomic background and a family who valued education. That academic and socioeconomic background is pretty similar to kids who score well on the test here too.

All students in the USA take the same college entrance test - SAT or ACT regardless of your intended major or the college to which you are applying. The art student and the engineering take the same test. The Harvard and the community college kid take the same test. You can't make the test too hard or specialized for all students. In the UK you take A levels in different subjects and some colleges have their own entrance exams.

I think some posters are greatly exaggerating their educational and socialeconomic backgrounds and casting themselves as the B student. The notion that a bright student who does minimal work in a low performing high school can score a 34 ACT on their first try, and then waltz through a top University in America without working hard is a figment of someone's imagination.

[Anonymous]

They both end up working for kid E, who has an enormous trust fund, a guaranteed spot at their giant family company, or who is some wunderkind college dropout who invents the next big thing.

[Anonymous]

Kid A may have a hard time if he doesn’t have the inner drive (it seems like Parent A has it, though). Kid B will do just fine, unless he meets an actual challenge — he may have to try a it harder, but he probably has the skills to do it.

My kids is like kid B (naturally bright), but he went to a top public (he was middle of the road due to lack of effort). He is soaring in college now because he found his stride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in another country and took the ACT with no prep just incase. I ended up going to university in my home country. I got a 96th percentile score on the ACT. I’m a good test taker but it seemed basic. Has it gotten harder over the years?

As a parent I’m between A and B. My parents were super duper hands off, like C or D on this scale, and l still went to one of the best universities in the world with zero family support. Now I’m in DCUM land and realizing just how lax my parents were compared to most parents around here.

What age were you when you took it? It’s meant for a 17 year-old. Assuming you took it at that age and are from a foreign country, chances are that you were pretty good at school, otherwise you wouldn’t have been on a university track and ready to study in English (maybe not your native language). Also, if you considered leaving your country for college, you probably came from a decent socioeconomic background and a family who valued education. That academic and socioeconomic background is pretty similar to kids who score well on the test here too.

Isn’t a 31/32 = 96%?
That’s not even submittable many places

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in another country and took the ACT with no prep just incase. I ended up going to university in my home country. I got a 96th percentile score on the ACT. I’m a good test taker but it seemed basic. Has it gotten harder over the years?

As a parent I’m between A and B. My parents were super duper hands off, like C or D on this scale, and l still went to one of the best universities in the world with zero family support. Now I’m in DCUM land and realizing just how lax my parents were compared to most parents around here.

What age were you when you took it? It’s meant for a 17 year-old. Assuming you took it at that age and are from a foreign country, chances are that you were pretty good at school, otherwise you wouldn’t have been on a university track and ready to study in English (maybe not your native language). Also, if you considered leaving your country for college, you probably came from a decent socioeconomic background and a family who valued education. That academic and socioeconomic background is pretty similar to kids who score well on the test here too.

17. Grew up LMK. English is my first language. I grew up Mormon and thought l might go to BYU, so took the ACT just incase. The church set it up, so it was easy enough for me and other Mormon kids to take. Like l said, zero help from my parents and no they didn’t value education. My own kids are ES, so this does have me wondering if they end up like me, good test takers and mediocre but adequate public high school, if they actually need to prep for SAT / ATC.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Let me introduce a student C into the equation.

Parents of Kid C are professional sportsmen, but they haven't really achieved any super impressive titles.

They put the Kid C on a tennis court at the tender age of 4 and were told they love tennis, they were told they want to become the next Nadal and are good it.

Since then it became their life. They were coached by pros and since four they have been winning all the tournaments and now he's a blue chip and is showing great results in Indian Wells Junior and US Open Junior tournaments. They are in top 200 for juniors.

However, the success comes at a cost - they are only focused on tennis 24/7, they are only 14-15 and are getting some injuries here and there. They are not sure whether they love tennis or that their parents love them at tennis, but it's too late now, a lot of investments have been made.

There is a chance they may get burnt out or seriously injured, but let the odds be in their favor.

Will the selective schools select student C?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


I think some posters are greatly exaggerating their educational and socialeconomic backgrounds and casting themselves as the B student. The notion that a bright student who does minimal work in a low performing high school can score a 34 ACT on their first try, and then waltz through a top University in America without working hard is a figment of someone's imagination.

OP here. Please don't think Kid B is from a lower economic class. His father is a university professor and the family is upper middle class. They have funds for enrichment, just don't believe in it. They tried to offer Kid B different activities, but he just wasn't interested. They are paying him for the grades. 25$ for every A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


I think some posters are greatly exaggerating their educational and socialeconomic backgrounds and casting themselves as the B student. The notion that a bright student who does minimal work in a low performing high school can score a 34 ACT on their first try, and then waltz through a top University in America without working hard is a figment of someone's imagination.

OP here. Please don't think Kid B is from a lower economic class. His father is a university professor and the family is upper middle class. They have funds for enrichment, just don't believe in it. They tried to offer Kid B different activities, but he just wasn't interested. They are paying him for the grades. 25$ for every A.

*$25

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me introduce a student C into the equation.

Parents of Kid C are professional sportsmen, but they haven't really achieved any super impressive titles.

They put the Kid C on a tennis court at the tender age of 4 and were told they love tennis, they were told they want to become the next Nadal and are good it.

Since then it became their life. They were coached by pros and since four they have been winning all the tournaments and now he's a blue chip and is showing great results in Indian Wells Junior and US Open Junior tournaments. They are in top 200 for juniors.

However, the success comes at a cost - they are only focused on tennis 24/7, they are only 14-15 and are getting some injuries here and there. They are not sure whether they love tennis or that their parents love them at tennis, but it's too late now, a lot of investments have been made.

There is a chance they may get burnt out or seriously injured, but let the odds be in their favor.

Will the selective schools select student C?

I've known quite a few families that went this route. If there are any doubts at this age, usually they stick with tennis to get the scholarship and they may or may not quit tennis in college dependign on how burnt out they are. If they are doing well at US Open Juniors and blue chip, then they will be heavily recruited by all the D1 schools and Ivies. The Ivies though usually you need a 3.8 GPA minimum, and a respectable SAT score 1300 and above. The 3.8 GPA doesn't have to be at a rigorosus high school, can be online but need to take some AP courses. Same with Stanford, but if you are a special talent they really want can go lower of course.

[Anonymous]

5/10 school? What metric? School ratings are often just a measure of the number of low SES students. This kid did as well on the ACT as the kid who needed rigourous schooling and tutoring. They also experienced more diversity and had the responsibility of a job. How engaging were those games?

I can't believe someone them the boring one.