This is getting ridiculous

[Anonymous]

This is a sign that we are doing better as a country because so many people can now go to college. Isn’t it a good thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it now requires for a seventeen year old to cure cancer to get into a decent school?

Once again---decent schools abound outside the T25. So no, your 17 yo does NOT need to cure cancer to get into a decent school. Plenty of great schools for your kid to get into, if they can't get into T25.

+1 Thanks for your efforts to keep things real.

[Anonymous]

Not sure why people are being so hard on the person who is actually giving useful advice. She’s not saying you have to cure cancer. If you don’t have a city internship her advice still applies. For the top she’s right - stats are not enough - they just aren’t. Too many people have them. Nor are stats plus a few clubs. There needs to be something that demonstrates passion or how you’ll add to a community. There are plenty of ways to make it work/ and should be genuine. Is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[quote=
onymous]Mainly just a venting post so bear with me but this is getting pretty ridiculous with the waitlists after the deferrals.. seems like so many of our kids are getting strung along. I, like many, have a kid hoping to major in CS. CS is his innate gift and he is truly gifted at it but these schools don’t seem to see that. He is accepted somewhere (definitely not top 50) so he is probably heading there but what on Earth is going on with all these deferrals and waitlists??? Who is getting in to these places?? He is a white male, 1580 SAT, UMC, straight A, multiple AP, highest rigor, multiple award winning, dedicated volunteer hours, write ups in magazines, articles in Wired… What else to they want?

There is nothing social about his stats, this is all academics. Colleges and Universities want students who display leadership, social commitment and bring something to campus to make it a better place - not just students who will get A's in class and spend the rest of their time in their dorm rooms playing video games. The kids getting into T50 have those stats PLUS are captain of a sport, president of a club, leader of a student group.

While this is generally true, I’d say there is room for introverted, brilliant kids who show potential to use their smarts to detect something that causes a certain type of cancer. This would be evidenced by research with published papers ( I know a kid who is first author on a paper published in a high impact factor journal), presenting at conferences or winning awards at ISEF, etc.

I think the research thing is losing its luster unless the kid is really the one doing the research. There are so many family arrangements and pay to play research project LD for HS kids that AOs are into it and know many of these kids are not meaningfully contributing to the research. If that kid is first offer, he is probably an exception and I would assume the schools know that. There are professors for hire that will let your kid “help” in the research and put them on the paper. It’s disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[quote=
onymous]Mainly just a venting post so bear with me but this is getting pretty ridiculous with the waitlists after the deferrals.. seems like so many of our kids are getting strung along. I, like many, have a kid hoping to major in CS. CS is his innate gift and he is truly gifted at it but these schools don’t seem to see that. He is accepted somewhere (definitely not top 50) so he is probably heading there but what on Earth is going on with all these deferrals and waitlists??? Who is getting in to these places?? He is a white male, 1580 SAT, UMC, straight A, multiple AP, highest rigor, multiple award winning, dedicated volunteer hours, write ups in magazines, articles in Wired… What else to they want?

There is nothing social about his stats, this is all academics. Colleges and Universities want students who display leadership, social commitment and bring something to campus to make it a better place - not just students who will get A's in class and spend the rest of their time in their dorm rooms playing video games. The kids getting into T50 have those stats PLUS are captain of a sport, president of a club, leader of a student group.

While this is generally true, I’d say there is room for introverted, brilliant kids who show potential to use their smarts to detect something that causes a certain type of cancer. This would be evidenced by research with published papers ( I know a kid who is first author on a paper published in a high impact factor journal), presenting at conferences or winning awards at ISEF, etc.

I think the research thing is losing its luster unless the kid is really the one doing the research. There are so many family arrangements and pay to play research project LD for HS kids that AOs are into it and know many of these kids are not meaningfully contributing to the research. If that kid is first offer, he is probably an exception and I would assume the schools know that. There are professors for hire that will let your kid “help” in the research and put them on the paper. It’s disgusting.

There seems to be pay to play everything. It is possible to do a really good research project with a good mentor. The ones that mentored by DCs were unsung heroes. Did not charge a penny. College profs...one local, one required my DC to commute to NYC. Gave guidance on choosing project, designing project and would weigh in on analysis, but most certainly did not do the work. Were very hands off. A student can make a lot out of it if they are hardworking and dedicated.

[Anonymous]

Wow, as a parent, this is the meanest thread I’ve read here in awhile. The OP was just venting her frustrations, which thousands of families can relate to. It only took until page 2 for the racial comments to be cast. You people are horrible.

OP, keep us posted. Your kid will do great. I hope all kids find a good college to attend and have a wonderful learning experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, as a parent, this is the meanest thread I’ve read here in awhile. The OP was just venting her frustrations, which thousands of families can relate to. It only took until page 2 for the racial comments to be cast. You people are horrible.

OP, keep us posted. Your kid will do great. I hope all kids find a good college to attend and have a wonderful learning experience.

+1

[Anonymous]

It is a mean thread - particularly for this set of kids who had the rules change on them during high school and missed a big chunk of it anyway due to pandemic. Your students have done and will do great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the kids who are high achievers like your kid often end up at the same college as the ones who didn't put in as much effort. So what's the moral here? Kick up your heels and still end up at State U?

+1

+1 we are following this strategy for our second kid. the first kid worked hard and got into state U. second one anyway likes chilling.

People seem to think that going to the same state school somehow equates similar results later in life. It doesn’t. Same as going to an Ivy doesn’t equate similar results for all graduates. Major matters. A physics and math major at Michigan State who then goes on to a solid PhD program ( likely with those who attended “ more selective” undergrad institutions as well) will have a far better career than a Harvard grad who majors in cultural studies and never goes to grad school, and ends up being a teacher at a private school, or a program associate at a non-profit because they can’t find another job.
“Success” is a long game, not just where you get accepted at age 18.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the kids who are high achievers like your kid often end up at the same college as the ones who didn't put in as much effort. So what's the moral here? Kick up your heels and still end up at State U?

+1

+1 we are following this strategy for our second kid. the first kid worked hard and got into state U. second one anyway likes chilling.

People seem to think that going to the same state school somehow equates similar results later in life. It doesn’t. Same as going to an Ivy doesn’t equate similar results for all graduates. Major matters. A physics and math major at Michigan State who then goes on to a solid PhD program ( likely with those who attended “ more selective” undergrad institutions as well) will have a far better career than a Harvard grad who majors in cultural studies and never goes to grad school, and ends up being a teacher at a private school, or a program associate at a non-profit because they can’t find another job.
“Success” is a long game, not just where you get accepted at age 18.

+1 I am confident that everyone of us could throw out an example of someone who graduated from one of the most desired schools by DCUM whose adult life is unproductive or even a disaster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the kids who are high achievers like your kid often end up at the same college as the ones who didn't put in as much effort. So what's the moral here? Kick up your heels and still end up at State U?

+1

+1 we are following this strategy for our second kid. the first kid worked hard and got into state U. second one anyway likes chilling.

People seem to think that going to the same state school somehow equates similar results later in life. It doesn’t. Same as going to an Ivy doesn’t equate similar results for all graduates. Major matters. A physics and math major at Michigan State who then goes on to a solid PhD program ( likely with those who attended “ more selective” undergrad institutions as well) will have a far better career than a Harvard grad who majors in cultural studies and never goes to grad school, and ends up being a teacher at a private school, or a program associate at a non-profit because they can’t find another job.
“Success” is a long game, not just where you get accepted at age 18.

What a perverted definition of success. I didn’t realize that teaching was a failure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the kids who are high achievers like your kid often end up at the same college as the ones who didn't put in as much effort. So what's the moral here? Kick up your heels and still end up at State U?

+1

+1 we are following this strategy for our second kid. the first kid worked hard and got into state U. second one anyway likes chilling.

People seem to think that going to the same state school somehow equates similar results later in life. It doesn’t. Same as going to an Ivy doesn’t equate similar results for all graduates. Major matters. A physics and math major at Michigan State who then goes on to a solid PhD program ( likely with those who attended “ more selective” undergrad institutions as well) will have a far better career than a Harvard grad who majors in cultural studies and never goes to grad school, and ends up being a teacher at a private school, or a program associate at a non-profit because they can’t find another job.
“Success” is a long game, not just where you get accepted at age 18.

What a perverted definition of success. I didn’t realize that teaching was a failure

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the kids who are high achievers like your kid often end up at the same college as the ones who didn't put in as much effort. So what's the moral here? Kick up your heels and still end up at State U?

+1

+1 we are following this strategy for our second kid. the first kid worked hard and got into state U. second one anyway likes chilling.

People seem to think that going to the same state school somehow equates similar results later in life. It doesn’t. Same as going to an Ivy doesn’t equate similar results for all graduates. Major matters. A physics and math major at Michigan State who then goes on to a solid PhD program ( likely with those who attended “ more selective” undergrad institutions as well) will have a far better career than a Harvard grad who majors in cultural studies and never goes to grad school, and ends up being a teacher at a private school, or a program associate at a non-profit because they can’t find another job.
“Success” is a long game, not just where you get accepted at age 18.

What a perverted definition of success. I didn’t realize that teaching was a failure

+1,000

-1000 - I'm not a teacher, but the number of threads and posts by unhappy teachers indicates that it is NOT a great career move. The teachers are NOT happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the kids who are high achievers like your kid often end up at the same college as the ones who didn't put in as much effort. So what's the moral here? Kick up your heels and still end up at State U?

+1

+1 we are following this strategy for our second kid. the first kid worked hard and got into state U. second one anyway likes chilling.

People seem to think that going to the same state school somehow equates similar results later in life. It doesn’t. Same as going to an Ivy doesn’t equate similar results for all graduates. Major matters. A physics and math major at Michigan State who then goes on to a solid PhD program ( likely with those who attended “ more selective” undergrad institutions as well) will have a far better career than a Harvard grad who majors in cultural studies and never goes to grad school, and ends up being a teacher at a private school, or a program associate at a non-profit because they can’t find another job.
“Success” is a long game, not just where you get accepted at age 18.

What a perverted definition of success. I didn’t realize that teaching was a failure

+1,000

I'm not a teacher, but the number of threads and posts by unhappy teachers indicates that it is NOT a great career move. The teachers are NOT happy. You can abstractly laud the profession, but the evidence I've seen on this board is that the reality is very different than the imagined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the kids who are high achievers like your kid often end up at the same college as the ones who didn't put in as much effort. So what's the moral here? Kick up your heels and still end up at State U?

+1

+1 we are following this strategy for our second kid. the first kid worked hard and got into state U. second one anyway likes chilling.

People seem to think that going to the same state school somehow equates similar results later in life. It doesn’t. Same as going to an Ivy doesn’t equate similar results for all graduates. Major matters. A physics and math major at Michigan State who then goes on to a solid PhD program ( likely with those who attended “ more selective” undergrad institutions as well) will have a far better career than a Harvard grad who majors in cultural studies and never goes to grad school, and ends up being a teacher at a private school, or a program associate at a non-profit because they can’t find another job.
“Success” is a long game, not just where you get accepted at age 18.

What a perverted definition of success. I didn’t realize that teaching was a failure

+1,000

-1000 - I'm not a teacher, but the number of threads and posts by unhappy teachers indicates that it is NOT a great career move. The teachers are NOT happy.

-1000 Which brings us back to plus 1000 for the original post, for those who are keeping score. Many of us are very happy doing what we love as teachers, and most who are not as happy still love teaching, just not all the stressors associated with it.