How is your gifted kid doing at a lower-ranked college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, she's not on the spectrum. A psychotherapist friend calls her a late bloomer, which may be the case. She's a kid who reads a four-hundred page book in an hour, yet she forgets to study for an English test. I don't know what you call that. Immaturity?

NP. I truly believe your kid can improve her executive functioning skills. My DD was like this in middle school school and by the end of 8th grade, she was at a point where she could handle things in high school. Just needed me to teach her routines, reminders and offer rewards. Of course she was younger but everything she did earned her points and things she forgot took away points. She was in the negatives for a looooong time but then slowly started improving. She’s not perfect (neither am I) but I am so proud of how far she has come. She is at HYPSM. Thank you for reminding me of this success. I needed to see this today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, she's not on the spectrum. A psychotherapist friend calls her a late bloomer, which may be the case. She's a kid who reads a four-hundred page book in an hour, yet she forgets to study for an English test. I don't know what you call that. Immaturity?

NP. I truly believe your kid can improve her executive functioning skills. My DD was like this in middle school school and by the end of 8th grade, she was at a point where she could handle things in high school. Just needed me to teach her routines, reminders and offer rewards. Of course she was younger but everything she did earned her points and things she forgot took away points. She was in the negatives for a looooong time but then slowly started improving. She’s not perfect (neither am I) but I am so proud of how far she has come. She is at HYPSM. Thank you for reminding me of this success. I needed to see this today.

Pp here
and I believe it would be a good thing for you to encourage your DD to challenge herself. Gently and in a supportive way —like you are on her team kind of attitude. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

A PP. Just realized this is a zombie thread. OP is from 2021.

Post that reactivated it seems to be deleted. Maybe we should let this go...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A PP. Just realized this is a zombie thread. OP is from 2021.

Post that reactivated it seems to be deleted. Maybe we should let this go...

There should be some kind of flag when zombie threads get reactivated. Just a permanent warning that trolls are out hunting for fresh people to victimize.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious to see where the kid ended up and how it's going.

[Anonymous]

I know high achieving kids thriving on merit on Wooster, Muhlenberg, Bard, St Olaf, St Lawrence, Lawrence, Beloit, Dickinson, Oberlin, CWRU, U of Arizona, Pitt, OSU, Sewanee, Gettysburg, Grinnell, etc

[Anonymous]

What colleges provide that much more engagement than honors programs at flagships?

I bet a gifted and curious person at UVA could find as much opportunity as any smart person anywhere else. It's a big place.

[Anonymous]

What does she want to major in, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does she want to major in, OP?

OP posted in 2021.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She takes all AP and honors classes, no regular classes. She hates the APs, says they are stupid, full of make work. She learns by reading outside of class.

This is me 30 years ago.

Love CTY, put up with school. I took the hardest classes available and got As in some (math and science and English) and literally Cs and Ds in others bc I couldn't bring myself to do "make work."

I went to a good state flagship (UNC. I was a NMSF, which helped a lot with college acceptances), found people I could relate to, and did well because I could take whatever classes I really wants to.

Just help her realize that high school is a necessary stage. And let her study what she wants in college. She'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

+1 that would be my suggestion. There are plenty of these colleges, they're not as competitive, and might give out good merit aid. The quality of teaching is often high as the professors are not as focused on their research outputs, and it will be small enough that she won't get lost in the shuffle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A PP. Just realized this is a zombie thread. OP is from 2021.

Post that reactivated it seems to be deleted. Maybe we should let this go...

We can agonize over which graduate program will be good enough for them.

[Anonymous]

A student with 3.88 GPA is likely not gifted. Also, CTY these days is pay for play. It doesn’t mean much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She takes all AP and honors classes, no regular classes. She hates the APs, says they are stupid, full of make work. She learns by reading outside of class.

This is me 30 years ago.

Love CTY, put up with school. I took the hardest classes available and got As in some (math and science and English) and literally Cs and Ds in others bc I couldn't bring myself to do "make work."

I went to a good state flagship (UNC. I was a NMSF, which helped a lot with college acceptances), found people I could relate to, and did well because I could take whatever classes I really wants to.

Just help her realize that high school is a necessary stage. And let her study what she wants in college. She'll be fine.

How come you didn't fail your gen ed classes?