Anyone in a wealthy area that isn’t competitive with colleges?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what happens when you migrate from a lur mediocre rich privileged white guy system toward a meritocratic equity system.

When being the "top" takes work not birth, you end up with the hard workers.

YES. Smart is the new Rich.

Top .1% is still the most overrepresented group at ivies and elite schools in general

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you toured the top 20 schools in the last 2 years and actually noticed the students at these schools? Have you seen the kids on the tours with you? The demographic of top 20 schools has changed drastically. The kids attending skew nerdy and awkward. If you are more of a “smart, social kid that likes to party” type, the Ivy and Ivy+ are not that appealing — especially if you are already a part of the 1%. The top 20s used to be filled with kids like this, but those days are gone.

this ^ 100% - I advise kids and invariably it is the parents and hard core nerds looking for ivies. The cool, relaxed, athletic, social - and most of all, smart - kids want the Dukes, Vandies, SMU, UCLAs of the world. The tide shifted post covid and is only accelerating. Often a big disconnect between the striving parent (just saw this term on another post - luv it) who is ivy or bust, and what the kid wants. And where the kid doesn’t get a say, it’s almost as if they are robots saying “yes, I want ivy”

Duke and Vandy are top 20 and have the nerdy/awkward kids too…you are trying to make the southern school argument (which is made repeatedly) which perhaps applies to places like UGA.

Also, you threw in UCLA which also doesn’t fit with your point.

Have you seen the incoming kids at Duke this month?
Beyond nerdy. Like awful

"seen"? that is a bit judgy, frankly. And potentially racist if you like the other poster mean asian.

Not race based at all.
Awkward ill-dressed unsocial unpolished and generally not “my kid’s ppl”….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you toured the top 20 schools in the last 2 years and actually noticed the students at these schools? Have you seen the kids on the tours with you? The demographic of top 20 schools has changed drastically. The kids attending skew nerdy and awkward. If you are more of a “smart, social kid that likes to party” type, the Ivy and Ivy+ are not that appealing — especially if you are already a part of the 1%. The top 20s used to be filled with kids like this, but those days are gone.

this ^ 100% - I advise kids and invariably it is the parents and hard core nerds looking for ivies. The cool, relaxed, athletic, social - and most of all, smart - kids want the Dukes, Vandies, SMU, UCLAs of the world. The tide shifted post covid and is only accelerating. Often a big disconnect between the striving parent (just saw this term on another post - luv it) who is ivy or bust, and what the kid wants. And where the kid doesn’t get a say, it’s almost as if they are robots saying “yes, I want ivy”

Duke and Vandy are top 20 and have the nerdy/awkward kids too…you are trying to make the southern school argument (which is made repeatedly) which perhaps applies to places like UGA.

Also, you threw in UCLA which also doesn’t fit with your point.

Have you seen the incoming kids at Duke this month?
Beyond nerdy. Like awful

"seen"? that is a bit judgy, frankly. And potentially racist if you like the other poster mean asian.

Not race based at all.
Awkward ill-dressed unsocial unpolished and generally not “my kid’s ppl”….

DP. That's my kid, awkward and ill-dressed. I don't love the look, but it's not necessarily a bad thing for a kid to not appear wealthy, to not betray the fact that he may receive a multi million dollar inheritance one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you toured the top 20 schools in the last 2 years and actually noticed the students at these schools? Have you seen the kids on the tours with you? The demographic of top 20 schools has changed drastically. The kids attending skew nerdy and awkward. If you are more of a “smart, social kid that likes to party” type, the Ivy and Ivy+ are not that appealing — especially if you are already a part of the 1%. The top 20s used to be filled with kids like this, but those days are gone.

this ^ 100% - I advise kids and invariably it is the parents and hard core nerds looking for ivies. The cool, relaxed, athletic, social - and most of all, smart - kids want the Dukes, Vandies, SMU, UCLAs of the world. The tide shifted post covid and is only accelerating. Often a big disconnect between the striving parent (just saw this term on another post - luv it) who is ivy or bust, and what the kid wants. And where the kid doesn’t get a say, it’s almost as if they are robots saying “yes, I want ivy”

Duke and Vandy are top 20 and have the nerdy/awkward kids too…you are trying to make the southern school argument (which is made repeatedly) which perhaps applies to places like UGA.

Also, you threw in UCLA which also doesn’t fit with your point.

Have you seen the incoming kids at Duke this month?
Beyond nerdy. Like awful

"seen"? that is a bit judgy, frankly. And potentially racist if you like the other poster mean asian.

Not race based at all.
Awkward ill-dressed unsocial unpolished and generally not “my kid’s ppl”….

DP. That's my kid, awkward and ill-dressed. I don't love the look, but it's not necessarily a bad thing for a kid to not appear wealthy, to not betray the fact that he may receive a multi million dollar inheritance one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you toured the top 20 schools in the last 2 years and actually noticed the students at these schools? Have you seen the kids on the tours with you? The demographic of top 20 schools has changed drastically. The kids attending skew nerdy and awkward. If you are more of a “smart, social kid that likes to party” type, the Ivy and Ivy+ are not that appealing — especially if you are already a part of the 1%. The top 20s used to be filled with kids like this, but those days are gone.

this ^ 100% - I advise kids and invariably it is the parents and hard core nerds looking for ivies. The cool, relaxed, athletic, social - and most of all, smart - kids want the Dukes, Vandies, SMU, UCLAs of the world. The tide shifted post covid and is only accelerating. Often a big disconnect between the striving parent (just saw this term on another post - luv it) who is ivy or bust, and what the kid wants. And where the kid doesn’t get a say, it’s almost as if they are robots saying “yes, I want ivy”

Duke and Vandy are top 20 and have the nerdy/awkward kids too…you are trying to make the southern school argument (which is made repeatedly) which perhaps applies to places like UGA.

Also, you threw in UCLA which also doesn’t fit with your point.

Have you seen the incoming kids at Duke this month?
Beyond nerdy. Like awful

"seen"? that is a bit judgy, frankly. And potentially racist if you like the other poster mean asian.

Not race based at all.
Awkward ill-dressed unsocial unpolished and generally not “my kid’s ppl”….

DP. That's my kid, awkward and ill-dressed. I don't love the look, but it's not necessarily a bad thing for a kid to not appear wealthy, to not betray the fact that he may receive a multi million dollar inheritance one day.

Hopefully he’s polished and social

[Anonymous]

I would imagine LA is like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would imagine LA is like this.

It is. It’s not nearly as brand name conscious as DMV or NY ‘burbs. USC is the big enchilada here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you toured the top 20 schools in the last 2 years and actually noticed the students at these schools? Have you seen the kids on the tours with you? The demographic of top 20 schools has changed drastically. The kids attending skew nerdy and awkward. If you are more of a “smart, social kid that likes to party” type, the Ivy and Ivy+ are not that appealing — especially if you are already a part of the 1%. The top 20s used to be filled with kids like this, but those days are gone.

this ^ 100% - I advise kids and invariably it is the parents and hard core nerds looking for ivies. The cool, relaxed, athletic, social - and most of all, smart - kids want the Dukes, Vandies, SMU, UCLAs of the world. The tide shifted post covid and is only accelerating. Often a big disconnect between the striving parent (just saw this term on another post - luv it) who is ivy or bust, and what the kid wants. And where the kid doesn’t get a say, it’s almost as if they are robots saying “yes, I want ivy”

Duke and Vandy are top 20 and have the nerdy/awkward kids too…you are trying to make the southern school argument (which is made repeatedly) which perhaps applies to places like UGA.

Also, you threw in UCLA which also doesn’t fit with your point.

Have you seen the incoming kids at Duke this month?
Beyond nerdy. Like awful

"seen"? that is a bit judgy, frankly. And potentially racist if you like the other poster mean asian.

Not race based at all.
Awkward ill-dressed unsocial unpolished and generally not “my kid’s ppl”….

DP. That's my kid, awkward and ill-dressed. I don't love the look, but it's not necessarily a bad thing for a kid to not appear wealthy, to not betray the fact that he may receive a multi million dollar inheritance one day.

Ha. Humble brag? Cool.
You’d be surprised how many of us are similarly situated.

None of this matters. People gravitate towards whoever they gravitate towards. Same with adults. I’m sure our kids wouldn't be friends at any school.
And that’s ok.

Facts: Duke is much much nerdier now than it was in the 90s.

Trying to convince my kid not to come back to Nantucket this coming weekend and stick it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol so many people triggered by the implication that the top schools might not be the absolute greatest in every aspect, or that some people may have had a better impression of those schools in the past than now. Calm down, these schools aren’t your identity or personality, nor do you owe them anything.

having drunken parties every weekend is not everyone's idea of greatness. this thread actually got me interested in top schools.

That’s not what we are talking about but you are exactly the type of person I’m talking about.

no worries, you can take your 90th percentile to a cooler place.

Lol my kids are toddlers but keep seeking out validation on an Internet forum, must be working wonders for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you toured the top 20 schools in the last 2 years and actually noticed the students at these schools? Have you seen the kids on the tours with you? The demographic of top 20 schools has changed drastically. The kids attending skew nerdy and awkward. If you are more of a “smart, social kid that likes to party” type, the Ivy and Ivy+ are not that appealing — especially if you are already a part of the 1%. The top 20s used to be filled with kids like this, but those days are gone.

this ^ 100% - I advise kids and invariably it is the parents and hard core nerds looking for ivies. The cool, relaxed, athletic, social - and most of all, smart - kids want the Dukes, Vandies, SMU, UCLAs of the world. The tide shifted post covid and is only accelerating. Often a big disconnect between the striving parent (just saw this term on another post - luv it) who is ivy or bust, and what the kid wants. And where the kid doesn’t get a say, it’s almost as if they are robots saying “yes, I want ivy”

Duke and Vandy are top 20 and have the nerdy/awkward kids too…you are trying to make the southern school argument (which is made repeatedly) which perhaps applies to places like UGA.

Also, you threw in UCLA which also doesn’t fit with your point.

Have you seen the incoming kids at Duke this month?
Beyond nerdy. Like awful

"seen"? that is a bit judgy, frankly. And potentially racist if you like the other poster mean asian.

Not race based at all.
Awkward ill-dressed unsocial unpolished and generally not “my kid’s ppl”….

DP. That's my kid, awkward and ill-dressed. I don't love the look, but it's not necessarily a bad thing for a kid to not appear wealthy, to not betray the fact that he may receive a multi million dollar inheritance one day.

lol. you're a joke.

[Anonymous]

I live in Bethesda where homes are 1.5M minimum and go to 5M+.

I have never felt competition from other families. The stress comes from competing against oneself. My kids want to get into the best college they can get into, based on their profile.

And it's funny, because once he attended all the Accepted Student Days, my son decided he preferred one of his safeties!!!

So really, OP, try to relax. Your kids will have to work hard no matter what. Just support them as best you can. They will end up where they end up. "Best fit" is where it's at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you toured the top 20 schools in the last 2 years and actually noticed the students at these schools? Have you seen the kids on the tours with you? The demographic of top 20 schools has changed drastically. The kids attending skew nerdy and awkward. If you are more of a “smart, social kid that likes to party” type, the Ivy and Ivy+ are not that appealing — especially if you are already a part of the 1%. The top 20s used to be filled with kids like this, but those days are gone.

this ^ 100% - I advise kids and invariably it is the parents and hard core nerds looking for ivies. The cool, relaxed, athletic, social - and most of all, smart - kids want the Dukes, Vandies, SMU, UCLAs of the world. The tide shifted post covid and is only accelerating. Often a big disconnect between the striving parent (just saw this term on another post - luv it) who is ivy or bust, and what the kid wants. And where the kid doesn’t get a say, it’s almost as if they are robots saying “yes, I want ivy”

Duke is not laid back social partiers who are somewhat smart anymore. It is not the 80s and 90s. I went there c/o 91. Duke now is nerds and more nerds, maybe more social than some ivies but not by much. Most of my classmates would not get in now. Most of their kids do not: it is the nerdy ones, kids of nerds like me, who do. 85-90% of legacies are denied. We have one there and her brother is a senior at at a top ivy, and we have relatives at another ivy. The ivies and ivy+ are all of that same mold--they have 75% of students who are 99th percentile testers AND were also at or near the top of their high school. They are highly driven students with interviews/cuts to get into all the top clubs, loads of premeds and prelaw or finance bro types chasing wall street, with some niche-subject phD strivers thrown in. They all have research or internships during the semester, and are all in on club leadership. They drink far less at Duke than back in the 90s, yet the majority still does some drinking, but on average not every weekend once the semester ramps up. In that sense it is almost exactly the same as the ivy. Greek is not on campus, has not been for years, and less than half the student body participates in rush. The big difference is more sports-obsession with Duke Basketball--the nerd-centric students have even turned that into testing to tent which they study for weeks, for fun. Ivies do not have sports obsession.
The students from kids' prep school who went to UCLA/USC and SMU were a different mold and not nerdy, but also not 99th%ile top of the class/smartest kids, more like average (or below for SMU--kids in the bottom math levels and don't get into the stem APs).

Duke still has a lot more hot girls than the ivies

I live in a major east coast city — not dc — and the Duke alumna at run club are way hotter than the other t20 — but especially hypsm alumna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bethesda where homes are 1.5M minimum and go to 5M+.

I have never felt competition from other families. The stress comes from competing against oneself. My kids want to get into the best college they can get into, based on their profile.

And it's funny, because once he attended all the Accepted Student Days, my son decided he preferred one of his safeties!!!

So really, OP, try to relax. Your kids will have to work hard no matter what. Just support them as best you can. They will end up where they end up. "Best fit" is where it's at.

I am not worried about it. I find it refreshing. - OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol so many people triggered by the implication that the top schools might not be the absolute greatest in every aspect, or that some people may have had a better impression of those schools in the past than now. Calm down, these schools aren’t your identity or personality, nor do you owe them anything.

having drunken parties every weekend is not everyone's idea of greatness. this thread actually got me interested in top schools.

That’s not what we are talking about but you are exactly the type of person I’m talking about.

no worries, you can take your 90th percentile to a cooler place.

Lol my kids are toddlers but keep seeking out validation on an Internet forum, must be working wonders for you.

you will get to testing soon enough. good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would imagine LA is like this.

It is. It’s not nearly as brand name conscious as DMV or NY ‘burbs. USC is the big enchilada here.

wtf are you talking about? Harvard Westlake and other LA prep schools send tons of kids to East Coast schools.

Also, kids don’t want to stay in their hometown for college…so USC isn’t the big enchilada for LA kids.