Did your DC never find the "perfect" college?

[Anonymous]

Agree with others that our society has really overblown the concept of a "dream" college. The marketing that goes into to trying to woo kids (and their $$) is insane.

Also, I think kids at your son's age are getting really, REALLY burnt out on the unrelenting talk/stress/etc about college.

So the lack of enthusiasm may have to do with that, but once he gets through the senior year slog, he'll be more excited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are going to Harvard, you are settling. Settling is okay. Even for the overachieving DC crowd.

DD was in a similar situation. She ended up getting waitisted by her number 1 and ended up in a different city, but she is excited about it.

Visiting schools AFTER being accepted is a whole different experience. That's when DD trade her decision.

This is a silly statement. My daughter got into Harvard and chose a different school. Contrary to what you seem to believe, Harvard is not everyone's "dream school".

Your daughter is an unusual case. Harvard's yield is over 80%. So it is the first choice of almost everybody who applies.. DD has a friend who settled for Princeton after not getting into Harvard.

Are you the same poster who says that any school other than Harvard is "settling"? What a narrow and frankly, false, viewpoint. It may be the first choice of "almost everyone who applies," but that doesn't make it the first choice for the thousands of other students who don't apply. And for the small percentage of Ivy-eligible students, Harvard may not be the top contender. Every Ivy has a different feel or personality, and Harvard just might not be someone's cup of tea when compared to Princeton, Yale, Columbia, etc. Funny that you don't seem to understand this very simple concept.

Yes, because so many people get into Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton. Sorry, that's a myth. The schools at the level choose the students not the other way around. A quick look at the yield numbers tells even the most casual of observers that very few kids get accepted to multiple top 10 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are going to Harvard, you are settling. Settling is okay. Even for the overachieving DC crowd.

DD was in a similar situation. She ended up getting waitisted by her number 1 and ended up in a different city, but she is excited about it.

Visiting schools AFTER being accepted is a whole different experience. That's when DD trade her decision.

This is a silly statement. My daughter got into Harvard and chose a different school. Contrary to what you seem to believe, Harvard is not everyone's "dream school".

Your daughter is an unusual case. Harvard's yield is over 80%. So it is the first choice of almost everybody who applies.. DD has a friend who settled for Princeton after not getting into Harvard.

Are you the same poster who says that any school other than Harvard is "settling"? What a narrow and frankly, false, viewpoint. It may be the first choice of "almost everyone who applies," but that doesn't make it the first choice for the thousands of other students who don't apply. And for the small percentage of Ivy-eligible students, Harvard may not be the top contender. Every Ivy has a different feel or personality, and Harvard just might not be someone's cup of tea when compared to Princeton, Yale, Columbia, etc. Funny that you don't seem to understand this very simple concept.

Yes, because so many people get into Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton. Sorry, that's a myth. The schools at the level choose the students not the other way around. A quick look at the yield numbers tells even the most casual of observers that very few kids get accepted to multiple top 10 schools.

I think you've missed the point entirely. What several PPs have been saying is that Harvard is not always the first choice of Ivy-eligible students. Of those students who even have a tiny chance at a school of that level, many would rather go to an Ivy other than Harvard. Thus, not everyone applying to an Ivy applies to Harvard in the first place. Plenty of kids at DC's high school were shooting for Princeton and Yale. Not Harvard.

[Anonymous]

What are his goals? Pick the school where he can achieve them.

Mine was a first rate education and no interference from college crap like frats etc. I lived off campus and enjoyed the city where I went to school.

Not everyone find that the typical college experience is for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are going to Harvard, you are settling. Settling is okay. Even for the overachieving DC crowd.

DD was in a similar situation. She ended up getting waitisted by her number 1 and ended up in a different city, but she is excited about it.

Visiting schools AFTER being accepted is a whole different experience. That's when DD trade her decision.

This is a silly statement. My daughter got into Harvard and chose a different school. Contrary to what you seem to believe, Harvard is not everyone's "dream school".

Your daughter is an unusual case. Harvard's yield is over 80%. So it is the first choice of almost everybody who applies.. DD has a friend who settled for Princeton after not getting into Harvard.

Are you the same poster who says that any school other than Harvard is "settling"? What a narrow and frankly, false, viewpoint. It may be the first choice of "almost everyone who applies," but that doesn't make it the first choice for the thousands of other students who don't apply. And for the small percentage of Ivy-eligible students, Harvard may not be the top contender. Every Ivy has a different feel or personality, and Harvard just might not be someone's cup of tea when compared to Princeton, Yale, Columbia, etc. Funny that you don't seem to understand this very simple concept.

Yes, because so many people get into Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton. Sorry, that's a myth. The schools at the level choose the students not the other way around. A quick look at the yield numbers tells even the most casual of observers that very few kids get accepted to multiple top 10 schools.

They got sued for that a generation or so ago. A yield around 80 means 1 in 5 chose elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are going to Harvard, you are settling. Settling is okay. Even for the overachieving DC crowd.

DD was in a similar situation. She ended up getting waitisted by her number 1 and ended up in a different city, but she is excited about it.

Visiting schools AFTER being accepted is a whole different experience. That's when DD trade her decision.

This is a silly statement. My daughter got into Harvard and chose a different school. Contrary to what you seem to believe, Harvard is not everyone's "dream school".

Your daughter is an unusual case. Harvard's yield is over 80%. So it is the first choice of almost everybody who applies.. DD has a friend who settled for Princeton after not getting into Harvard.

Are you the same poster who says that any school other than Harvard is "settling"? What a narrow and frankly, false, viewpoint. It may be the first choice of "almost everyone who applies," but that doesn't make it the first choice for the thousands of other students who don't apply. And for the small percentage of Ivy-eligible students, Harvard may not be the top contender. Every Ivy has a different feel or personality, and Harvard just might not be someone's cup of tea when compared to Princeton, Yale, Columbia, etc. Funny that you don't seem to understand this very simple concept.

Yes, because so many people get into Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton. Sorry, that's a myth. The schools at the level choose the students not the other way around. A quick look at the yield numbers tells even the most casual of observers that very few kids get accepted to multiple top 10 schools.

They got sued for that a generation or so ago. A yield around 80 means 1 in 5 chose elsewhere.

A small number indeed. Especially when compared to a lesser school like Georgetown where more than half of accepted students go elsewhere. That's a stark difference that says a lot.

[Anonymous]

Avoid All Ivies.

William Deresiewicz. The New Republic,
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/118747/ivy-league-schools-are-overrated-send-your-kids-elsewhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid All Ivies.

William Deresiewicz. The New Republic,
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/118747/ivy-league-schools-are-overrated-send-your-kids-elsewhere

Interesting article. DC attends a well-known private school and will apply to west coast schools with a preference for a public university, UCLA. DC is definitely competitive for any Ivy but the fact is that UCLA has exactly what DC wants plus additional goodies to choose from. We have repeatedly heard the argument why have we invested thousands in a private school when DC is interested in a place like, gasp, UCLA.

It comes down to that old argument that it really is all about fit, and DC will be lucky to get in. While the Ivys are excellent schools, the bottom line is if they don't offer what you want, what's the point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid All Ivies.

William Deresiewicz. The New Republic,
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/118747/ivy-league-schools-are-overrated-send-your-kids-elsewhere

Interesting article. DC attends a well-known private school and will apply to west coast schools with a preference for a public university, UCLA. DC is definitely competitive for any Ivy but the fact is that UCLA has exactly what DC wants plus additional goodies to choose from. We have repeatedly heard the argument why have we invested thousands in a private school when DC is interested in a place like, gasp, UCLA.

It comes down to that old argument that it really is all about fit, and DC will be lucky to get in. While the Ivys are excellent schools, the bottom line is if they don't offer what you want, what's the point?

UCLA is not easy to get into. Good luck and good for you. My DC had a similar attitude -- could have applied to ivies but wanted a lot more from her education and found a school that fits her interests.

[Anonymous]

OP, if your kid is ordinarily the type of person to latch onto something and really really really want it, then I would be concerned that he hasn't become more excited about the process of choosing a college. But if his personality is more laid back, then I wouldn't sweat it too much. As one of the previous posters noted, he probably just has his head screwed on straight and isn't going to tie himself in knots over the process.

[Anonymous]

How many of us find the "perfect" job? Pretty much nobody. You just make the best of it.

[Anonymous]

In the end your kid's future depends on the kid and not the school. I like the gap year idea and may do so with my teen.

[Anonymous]

worst case scenario - if your kid doesn't really love one school after attending, there is always the option to transfer. I transferred after my freshman year because I didn't LOVE it - I was able to figure out exactly what I liked and didn't like while spending a year in college. I ended up at a school that I loved and I am thankful for the experience.