HS senior that I met — so depressing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of the above. I know a young kid from the neighborhood who turned down admission at higher ranked schools to go to a lower ranked school for the full ride and stipend. Millennials were expected to take on tons of debt to go to the "best" schools possible, younger kids learned from that mistake.

Guess my wife was ahead of her time taking a full ride scholarship to a "lesser" med school and graduating with essentially 0 debt and a great residency. It's not generational, it's just personal choices.

[Anonymous]

So he’s going to Penn State from TJ? They have a great engineering program, fun sports, and he probably got money. That is not depressing at all. Your genuine response should be a hearty congratulations.

Yes, the top ranked schools are that competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of top schools are filled with athletes, children of CEOs, legacies or college professors kids. They are also small and not a lot of open slots.

And this has always been the case.

[Anonymous]

It's probably a great school with a fantastic program filled with students just as smart as he is. People put way too much value on 'rankings' when the reality of colleges is just not that linear.

[Anonymous]

Dei destroyed smart people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a stupid thread.

Yep!

[Anonymous]

Who cares about ranking but this is why going to a lesser high school is more helpful. There are tons of smart kids at that school and each college only takes so many from each school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's probably a great school with a fantastic program filled with students just as smart as he is. People put way too much value on 'rankings' when the reality of colleges is just not that linear.

This, I don’t care what rankings are and wouldn’t look. I want my smart kids at the best fit for them that we can afford.

[Anonymous]

Don’t underestimate how much full pay and intended major matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is also a push where kids want to go to SEC schools, state schools etc. Without getting political, do you think those elite east coast schools look fun to a normal kid who has been paying attention to the news over the past year and a half? Many are like “no thanks” I’d rather focus on sports and beer like a normal college kid.

Top 60 schools are enjoyable places to study. Male athletes are usually pretty normcore, social, group-oriented people and that type thrives at big, busy, sporty schools. Engineering programs at flagships also have a lot of extracurricular hands-on projects. A person can go as deep into as their studies as their intellect and preferences dictate.