Best advice for students of average-above average intelligence to get into elite schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid started a nonprofit that brought her a lot of attention. I'm a lawyer so I was able to take care of the filings for her, but she did the rest. It's a chance to help your kid, but to also let your kid put some good out into the world at an early age. The admissions folks lapped it up!

I know kids who did this, with their parents' help. Have a professional looking website, get social media and local news coverage, get a community grant, get it recognized by the local school board, etc.

College admissions officers can be easily impressed.

+1

Everyone has some hook. For some kids, it's legacy, money, etc.. Some kids are gifted with a very high intelligence or athletic skill. But for the kids who aren't any of the above? They have to work a little harder or be creative to stand out. College admissions are competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid started a nonprofit that brought her a lot of attention. I'm a lawyer so I was able to take care of the filings for her, but she did the rest. It's a chance to help your kid, but to also let your kid put some good out into the world at an early age. The admissions folks lapped it up!

I know kids who did this, with their parents' help. Have a professional looking website, get social media and local news coverage, get a community grant, get it recognized by the local school board, etc.

College admissions officers can be easily impressed.

+1

That college is accepting the parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Attend the least competitive high school as you can. My sister has twins. The gifted twin attends a really competitive magnet school where most students have parents who are professors, doctors, lawyers, computer scientists. It is really hard to stand out.He does not have all A's.

His twin who never qualified for any gifted programs attends their incredibly low ranked, above 75% FARM high school. She is in the honors track there and stands out. She has straight A's taking the highest level classes available. She has opportunities available to her because there are several programs for bright kids attending high poverty schools.

What a horrible dynamic for siblings, much less twins.

[Anonymous]

What are the one or two qualities your child posses that are good but could be great. Like she is into history or he is an entrepreneur. Lightening focus on those one or two things, not on your child's weaknesses. Hopefully, there will be a school or program which recognizes your child's accomplishments in that area.

[Anonymous]

What building would you like to buy? I would suggest a specialty library.

[Anonymous]

Parent the child you have, not the child you wish you had.

I guarantee he knows that he is a disappointment to you and that will affect his relationship with you.

Which is more important, how he feels about himself and you or the ranking of his college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent the child you have, not the child you wish you had.

I guarantee he knows that he is a disappointment to you and that will affect his relationship with you.

Which is more important, how he feels about himself and you or the ranking of his college?

So unnecessary. As parents it’s our job to help guide them. College is a whole different ballgame now than 25 years ago. Advice like take the most rigorous classes you can, hone in on one or two unique hobbies, do non profit work... that is helpful.. not this lalalalalalalala we are so holistic and laid back about the whole college thing, I don’t care about any of this and just let whatever happen. You’re in denial or stupid if you don’t think you’re giving your kid some guidance to help get them prepared for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent the child you have, not the child you wish you had.

I guarantee he knows that he is a disappointment to you and that will affect his relationship with you.

Which is more important, how he feels about himself and you or the ranking of his college?

So unnecessary. As parents it’s our job to help guide them. College is a whole different ballgame now than 25 years ago. Advice like take the most rigorous classes you can, hone in on one or two unique hobbies, do non profit work... that is helpful.. not this lalalalalalalala we are so holistic and laid back about the whole college thing, I don’t care about any of this and just let whatever happen. You’re in denial or stupid if you don’t think you’re giving your kid some guidance to help get them prepared for college.

But that wasn't the OP's question. The question was how can he get into an elite college, not how can I guide him to get into the best fit college or even the best college possible.

[Anonymous]

OP here, best college possible is probably more what I meant. I consider a lot of the state flagships elite. It’s very competitive right now to get in colleges and want my child to have the best chance to get into a good program especially with the cost of college.. they need to put some thought and effort in during high school. A little extra effort can go a long way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:08:43 , PP is not an idiot. One only has to have 25% of minority genes to be able to check that box on the college application. Every little added hook helps.

Really? Where is that rule written down?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent the child you have, not the child you wish you had.

I guarantee he knows that he is a disappointment to you and that will affect his relationship with you.

Which is more important, how he feels about himself and you or the ranking of his college?

GO AWAY. You are not the intended audience of this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent the child you have, not the child you wish you had.

I guarantee he knows that he is a disappointment to you and that will affect his relationship with you.

Which is more important, how he feels about himself and you or the ranking of his college?

So unnecessary. As parents it’s our job to help guide them. College is a whole different ballgame now than 25 years ago. Advice like take the most rigorous classes you can, hone in on one or two unique hobbies, do non profit work... that is helpful.. not this lalalalalalalala we are so holistic and laid back about the whole college thing, I don’t care about any of this and just let whatever happen. You’re in denial or stupid if you don’t think you’re giving your kid some guidance to help get them prepared for college.

But that wasn't the OP's question. The question was how can he get into an elite college, not how can I guide him to get into the best fit college or even the best college possible.

And yet the poster’s answer was perfect.

[Anonymous]

Donate to a highly regarded small charter school and have your child take her SAT and ACT at that particular location for best results.
I am not being facetious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]Let your kid follow his/her passions and interests while working hard in rigorous classes.[/b]
There are hundreds of good/great colleges and universities that will get your child where she/he wants to be in life. She/he will get into several of them.

And if your kid's passion is skateboarding that's not going to do jack sh** for him. If it's not too late encourage your kid to get into an activity where there are a lot of opportunities to earn awards. [/quote

I did not select/direct any of my kids activities. They are both in Top 20 schools and did not earn any “awards”. You are a clueless dolt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Attend the least competitive high school as you can. My sister has twins. The gifted twin attends a really competitive magnet school where most students have parents who are professors, doctors, lawyers, computer scientists. It is really hard to stand out.He does not have all A's.

His twin who never qualified for any gifted programs attends their incredibly low ranked, above 75% FARM high school. She is in the honors track there and stands out. She has straight A's taking the highest level classes available. She has opportunities available to her because there are several programs for bright kids attending high poverty schools.

This is great advice for the exact question that OP is asking, but I'm a mom who had to choose between a highly ranked college prep school and the local (mediocre) public, and I ended up with the college prep school.

I struggled with this because this PP is right; my kids go to school with so many Ivy legacy kids, and "developmental kids" (kids from families with serious donating $$) etc, that due to the politics of it all, my kids will not likely end up in the Ivys even if their grades were perfect.

So, it becomes a bird-in-the-hand vs. two-in-the-bush idea. Right now, my kids are surrounded by kids with a work ethic, the teachers are excellent, and the courses are amazing. My kids are learning so much.

And there's no guarantee that my kids would do well at the public. There is not a lot of work ethic at the public. They might fall in with the stoners. Just saying.