The Students Who Got Into Eight Ivies Are All Children of Immigrants

[Anonymous]

http://www.businessinsider.com/students-accepted-to-all-8-ivy-league-schools-have-one-specific-thing-in-common-2015-4?utm_source=slate&utm_medium=referral&utm_term=partner

I don't think this pattern is an accident. First, these are incredibly talented young people whose parents were the best and brightest in their home countries and sacrificed a great deal to come to America. And, they have compelling stories to tell admissions officers. But, I think the other reason is that these are children and families who can't see beyond the top/best colleges lists because they are so new to America. Why else would anyone apply to every Ivy?

There is no chance that my DC will apply to every Ivy plus MIT, Stanford. We know the difference between the schools and the importance of fit and student culture. There is something wrong if a child doesn't get a different feel from CalTech than Brown or imagine themselves differently at Dartmouth than Columbia. In many countries, admission to higher education is strictly test based and hierarchically matched and applying to all the top schools seems like an attempt to replicate that format. They don't seem to fully understand the variation and diversity in colleges that we have in the US. And I wonder how much they realize that getting into college is only the beginning of adulthood, not a life outcome.

PS - Please, don't hate on these talented children. I'm just puzzling over an interesting dynamic.

[Anonymous]

Yes, please don't start on these talented children though I am unsure what you expect to get with statement that these people don't understand that college is only the beginning of adulthood.

In your zeal to not start hating on these children, you don't even give them the benefit of the doubt that they aren't smart enough to understand that college is not a life outcome.

Those kids and their parents are a hell of lot smarter than you think they are regardless of where they come from. And the young woman is an academic and social powerhouse. I admire her without reservation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, please don't start on these talented children though I am unsure what you expect to get with statement that these people don't understand that college is only the beginning of adulthood.

In your zeal to not start hating on these children, you don't even give them the benefit of the doubt that they aren't smart enough to understand that college is not a life outcome.

Those kids and their parents are a hell of lot smarter than you think they are regardless of where they come from. And the young woman is an academic and social powerhouse. I admire her without reservation.

+1000

Giving them the benefit of the doubt because they are immigrants?? Just wow. What a undercutting racist post.

[Anonymous]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indianorigin-girl-pooja-chandrashekar-gets-into-all-ivy-league-schools/article7095736.ece

This Indian young woman from Bangalore is the offspring of two Indian engineers who migrated to the U.S. I'm sure she and her well-educated parents don't think college is a life outcome!

[Anonymous]

But why apply to every single elite school?

[Anonymous]

To me, that's the american dream! Or their American dream. I'm very happy for them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But why apply to every single elite school?

She mentioned in her article. To hedge her bets. She doesn't know she will get into any.

[Anonymous]

Like most other parents striving to improve their child's opportunities, I'm sure they realize that the elite schools are the best path to economic mobility. When a family may need financial aid, it seems a good strategy to apply to a number of schools to see where they get the best package.

[Anonymous]

I will tell you why, they mark african american and exceed higher than those born in america which colleges lower entrance requirements for.

I wouldn't be suprised if in the future there will be a checkbox for immigrant african. Overall racial quotas are stupid and this is a prime example of a good intention that had unintended circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like most other parents striving to improve their child's opportunities, I'm sure they realize that the elite schools are the best path to economic mobility. When a family may need financial aid, it seems a good strategy to apply to a number of schools to see where they get the best package.

Exactly. But does this need to explained to the OP? It seems obvious. What I'm reading is that "these immigrants don't get it." So racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will tell you why, they mark african american and exceed higher than those born in america which colleges lower entrance requirements for.

I wouldn't be suprised if in the future there will be a checkbox for immigrant african. Overall racial quotas are stupid and this is a prime example of a good intention that had unintended circumstances.

Don't most ivys do face-to-face interviews? Wouldn't it be obvious that you aren't African American during the interview???

[Anonymous]

OP your post reeks of nasty racism. I know you like to look in the mirror and think that you are not racist because you know non-white people and you are nice to their face. But you really need some self-examination.

[Anonymous]

Seriously OP? This young woman is so extraordinary it is hard to believe "child of immigrants" is the take away!

[Anonymous]

I don't find OP racist since immigrants come in every race. Seems like she feels that since immigrants come from different cultures and speak English with an accent therefore "immigrants don't get it"(not too smart?).
As an immigrant myself I have thought at times that Americans don't get it (read:they are not too smart).

[Anonymous]

OP has a point. Many people familiar with the Ivies and similar schools look at someone's applying and gaining admission to all of them as a "Stupid Pet Trick," even if they are too polite to say it. There are such differences among the schools that applying to all of them is not especially rational, unless the goal is just to get into an Ivy and/or show that you can kick ass with admissions departments.