Disappointment
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Anonymous
There is a lot about her applications that is "confusing". Not applying EA to UVA and even applying to W&M are two big ones. And I don't buy the "but the 3+2 is appealing and she wants to go to Columbia". People rarely get into those programs because it's difficult admission still and also most kids want to spend their senior year at their original college with all their friends and faculty they know. So a quick search will tell you, just go to an engineering school |
Anonymous
Exactly! Plenty of kids who aren't the most vocal/popular who are doing things you have no clue about, especially if their EC has no place at school many times |
Anonymous
If the kids wants a vocational path, then yes. We need to step back and allow them to take that path, starting 8/9th grade. But no we shouldn't force kids onto that path based on their test scores on one or two days. But yes, if a kid wants to be a plumber, then don't require 2-3 years of Spanish and Pre-Calc. Let them take thru Alg2 and let them take Vocational courses for half the day and by junior senior year let them start training for specifics (if they want). But do not force kids down that path. If you offer it, most who are "not college material" will select it. |
Anonymous
Exactly! You have to play the game but seriously consider our odds. And realize that even ED you don't typically have much change at an IVY, but at UVA you really increase your odds. So if UVA is your favorite school after your "true reaches"/Ivy choices, then you must decide if you just go with UVA. Many times (really many times!) it's a much better choice. |
Anonymous
Yes, I agree open enrollment into AP courses should not be allowed. Kids should be required to at minimum get a B or better in the honors/honor equivalent course the prior year or an B+ or better in a regular course. But many do allow open enrollment because it means less work for the overworked staff and teachers, it means they don't have to deal with nasty pushy parents who want "my kid belongs in AP X or Honors X, I don't care that they got a C in regular X this year" This way with open enrollment, any failures are totally on the parents/student. |
Anonymous
No---they are not openly bragging to everyone about their ECs outside of school because they know parents and other students will be nasty and malicious. How does it harm your kid and you if my kid has national level ECs or State level ECs that they are the best at and you don't know about it? Just how the heck does that harm you or your kid? (I'll just wait) |
Anonymous
Yup! He's a really smart male, who likely "hated school" for a variety of reasons (which might include he was just a bit ADHD/lacked focus and that the American school system is designed for a kid to sit on their butt at a desk for way too long without the ability to move around). Large percentage of late developers are boys, precisely because the way our schools are set up is not designed well for them. And if they struggle at all or are a little bit misbehaved they get punished and the cycle continues |
Anonymous
There is a kid in my daughter's APUSH class who has had a D/F the entire year, and recently stole an advance copy of a test and shared the questions with friends. Admin made the entire class retake the test (and threw out their prior grades) and only suspended the kid for a week and allowed him to remain in the class. It's MADNESS. |
Anonymous
But for many kids, it should start sooner. 35 years ago, the HS I attended had an amazing Vo-tech program. Only about 50% of the graduates went onto 2 year or 4 year colleges. For the rest of them, they had the amazing opportunity to by sophomore year spend 50% of their day in the VT part and actually do things that interested them (hands on for most) and that would benefit them in the future. They were not likely to ever go to college (I'm talking kids who could barely get Cs in basic courses and it wasn't of lack of trying). But they were thrilled to be in the Vo-tech courses because it was more fun. So why not allow them to take that path in HS. Goal should be to "educate" them and this is doing something much more useful than pushing them into Spanish or French or more advanced math courses. You also are not killing their love of learning when you do this. That HS now has an amazing Vo-tech program that has bounced back in the last decade (I've seen it on national news). It works and it benefits the kids. Otherwise you get kids who barely graduate HS or dropout because they don't see the point, it's too hard and they just hate it. So why not educate them in something worthwhile for their future in life. Then they can go on to be contributing members of society. |
Anonymous
1000% |
Anonymous
DP here. It's cute that you think you are different from the "maniac" parents at your private. You are not. |
Anonymous
You don't want your kids around other kids who DON"T brag and publicize everything they do? Seriously why does it matter to you if my kid has a passion they are pursuing outside school and not advertising to everyone? How is it at all your business? And how is it "cutthroat gatekeeping"? |
Anonymous
Well yes, the admin should have suspended the kid for much longer and kicked them out of that class immediately. |
Anonymous
You guys are so delusional if you think that AOs spend more than 2-3 mins reading someone’s application. It’s mostly a matter of luck. You all also underestimate the value of connections. You don’t know how someone is connected to someone who knows someone on the board or knows an AO. I have seen it. Kids from my DCs class admitted to Ivy’s through contacts. You also underestimate how much kids lie on their application. Kids have known to lie about race, ethnicity, EC’s, awards etc. So you never know why someone got accepted or rejected. You all think that the essays count for so much.. when the reality is essays are the easiest part students cheat on. There is no way to verify who wrote the essays. The admissions are rigged and are a crapshoot. |
Anonymous
If I had to place a bet I too would be on the ADHD side of the bet. And yes, school as designed can be painful for kids who are on a different pace or don't quite fit the norm. |