Why Your Brilliant Child Didn't Get Into The Ivies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^You'd be surprised at the number of kids who prefer academic venues other than Ivy. It all depends on what you're looking for.

DC was accepted at an Ivy but chose Northwestern because Harvard did not offer DC's program. Though some kids (and their parents) will choose an Ivy (if accepted) strictly for name recognition, my DC made the right choice and is in the program wanted.

And I know five kids who chose MoCo magnets over Big 3s. It happens.

[Anonymous]

Is Columbia a top ivy??? What about Stanford?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP and everyone else who refuses to accept that the Ivy League is tiered is one, a moron, and two, never attended an Ivy League school. Those who did know where they and their respective schools are in the pecking order. Read quote below from Ted Cruz and then go back and view clips from Family Guy and the Simpsons, which were written by Ivy League graduates.

"As a law student at Harvard, he refused to study with anyone who hadn’t been an undergrad at Harvard, Princeton, or Yale. Says Damon Watson, one of Cruz’s law-school roommates: “He said he didn’t want anybody from ‘minor Ivies’ like Penn or Brown.”"

The writers from the comedy shows are humorist. Mr. Cruz is a blowhard making such a pretentious statement about the intellect of other students. I don't think any reasonable person would acknowledge them as a source for educational planning for college.

Ha. I remember not being invited to those study groups as a non-Ivy grad. I still made law review and got the clerkships that the study group guys (and they were mostly guys) coveted. So there.

I don't think the argument is that one can't succeed if one attends a non-Ivy or lower-Ivy. We all know that one can. The argument is that the perception exists that the Ivy Leagues is tiered. Certain schools fall into the top tier, others into a middle tier and others into a bottom tier. The perception exists in the minds of those affiliated with an Ivy League institution and the media, which is supported by a few examples above. I am sure that if you look at hard data, such as yield rates, or ask the admissions officers at each school who their direct competition is, you could probably find support for the above argument. In the end, it is all mute. The large majority of kids (99%) would jump at the opportunity to attend any Ivy League school.

I think there's a lot of projecting going on here. Competitive parents who assume everyone else is fixated on name alone for college choice. My DD absolutely had the credentials to apply to an ivy, including the so-called top ivies, but she chose a school that is top tier for her particular academic interest. The name won't wow people but I am proud of her for focusing on what actually matters and there's no doubt in my mind that she will get the best possible education for what she wants to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP and everyone else who refuses to accept that the Ivy League is tiered is one, a moron, and two, never attended an Ivy League school. Those who did know where they and their respective schools are in the pecking order. Read quote below from Ted Cruz and then go back and view clips from Family Guy and the Simpsons, which were written by Ivy League graduates.

"As a law student at Harvard, he refused to study with anyone who hadn’t been an undergrad at Harvard, Princeton, or Yale. Says Damon Watson, one of Cruz’s law-school roommates: “He said he didn’t want anybody from ‘minor Ivies’ like Penn or Brown.”"

The writers from the comedy shows are humorist. Mr. Cruz is a blowhard making such a pretentious statement about the intellect of other students. I don't think any reasonable person would acknowledge them as a source for educational planning for college.

Ha. I remember not being invited to those study groups as a non-Ivy grad. I still made law review and got the clerkships that the study group guys (and they were mostly guys) coveted. So there.

I don't think the argument is that one can't succeed if one attends a non-Ivy or lower-Ivy. We all know that one can. The argument is that the perception exists that the Ivy Leagues is tiered. Certain schools fall into the top tier, others into a middle tier and others into a bottom tier. The perception exists in the minds of those affiliated with an Ivy League institution and the media, which is supported by a few examples above. I am sure that if you look at hard data, such as yield rates, or ask the admissions officers at each school who their direct competition is, you could probably find support for the above argument. In the end, it is all mute. The large majority of kids (99%) would jump at the opportunity to attend any Ivy League school.

I think there's a lot of projecting going on here. Competitive parents who assume everyone else is fixated on name alone for college choice. My DD absolutely had the credentials to apply to an ivy, including the so-called top ivies, but she chose a school that is top tier for her particular academic interest. The name won't wow people but I am proud of her for focusing on what actually matters and there's no doubt in my mind that she will get the best possible education for what she wants to do.

Don't miss the overall point, the Ivy League schools are not all equal but a kid with a 4.0 gpa and a strong SAT who is heading to a state school might jump at the chance to go attend a school like Brown or Cornell. Obviously, if your kid can attend another top school that is not in the Ivy League because that school is a better fit, then it would make sense to do so. Now if you are telling me that a kid who can afford to attend HYP but is turning down admissions to those schools to attend a state school, Brown or Cornell, some would ask why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP and everyone else who refuses to accept that the Ivy League is tiered is one, a moron, and two, never attended an Ivy League school. Those who did know where they and their respective schools are in the pecking order. Read quote below from Ted Cruz and then go back and view clips from Family Guy and the Simpsons, which were written by Ivy League graduates.

"As a law student at Harvard, he refused to study with anyone who hadn’t been an undergrad at Harvard, Princeton, or Yale. Says Damon Watson, one of Cruz’s law-school roommates: “He said he didn’t want anybody from ‘minor Ivies’ like Penn or Brown.”"

The writers from the comedy shows are humorist. Mr. Cruz is a blowhard making such a pretentious statement about the intellect of other students. I don't think any reasonable person would acknowledge them as a source for educational planning for college.

Ha. I remember not being invited to those study groups as a non-Ivy grad. I still made law review and got the clerkships that the study group guys (and they were mostly guys) coveted. So there.

I don't think the argument is that one can't succeed if one attends a non-Ivy or lower-Ivy. We all know that one can. The argument is that the perception exists that the Ivy Leagues is tiered. Certain schools fall into the top tier, others into a middle tier and others into a bottom tier. The perception exists in the minds of those affiliated with an Ivy League institution and the media, which is supported by a few examples above. I am sure that if you look at hard data, such as yield rates, or ask the admissions officers at each school who their direct competition is, you could probably find support for the above argument. In the end, it is all mute. The large majority of kids (99%) would jump at the opportunity to attend any Ivy League school.

I think there's a lot of projecting going on here. Competitive parents who assume everyone else is fixated on name alone for college choice. My DD absolutely had the credentials to apply to an ivy, including the so-called top ivies, but she chose a school that is top tier for her particular academic interest. The name won't wow people but I am proud of her for focusing on what actually matters and there's no doubt in my mind that she will get the best possible education for what she wants to do.

Don't miss the overall point, the Ivy League schools are not all equal but a kid with a 4.0 gpa and a strong SAT who is heading to a state school might jump at the chance to go attend a school like Brown or Cornell. Obviously, if your kid can attend another top school that is not in the Ivy League because that school is a better fit, then it would make sense to do so. Now if you are telling me that a kid who can afford to attend HYP but is turning down admissions to those schools to attend a state school, Brown or Cornell, some would ask why.

My point was that her choice isn't considered a "top school" by many, except for those who are familiar with her particular focus. Not a state school but I also know that there are state schools with top notch programs in particular disciplines. So you're just being a name snob when you sniff at state schools.

This is what you get at HYP (and I know because I attended one of them):the name, nationally known professors with whom you are unlikely to have much contact, classmates who succeeded at the game (which cuts both ways -- they are no doubt bright but also very competitive), a school rolling in resources. What you can get at others schools that are a good match: a close relationship with professors and therefore more academic and intellectual guidance, more attention to all undergraduates, and all their needs, classmates who are there to learn and are probably less competitive and more pleasant/fun to be with, less pressure to stay on the train and therefore more room for general intellectual exploration. Stereotypes, I know, but having gone to one HYP and seeing the much broader range of schools DC has looked at, I think she'll have something over me in terms of her college education.

[Anonymous]

I think you we are arguing two different issues. You are arguing that a kid can find a great learning environment and academic fit at a non-Ivy. I think most here can support that. The most recent posting here are arguing if the Ivy League is tiered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Columbia a top ivy??? What about Stanford?????

Stanford is a top school, but it's not an Ivy. The Ivy League is an athletic conference. Stanford isn't in that conference.

[Anonymous]

I was just reading Harvard's endowment is $32 billion. Hell, if Montgomery College had a billion dollar endowment, it'd rank up there in the big leagues too. Big $$$ can buy the best facilities, professors, and everything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just reading Harvard's endowment is $32 billion. Hell, if Montgomery College had a billion dollar endowment, it'd rank up there in the big leagues too. Big $$$ can buy the best facilities, professors, and everything else.

And if I had a $32 billion I'd be eating bonbons on my private island instead of getting annoyed with DCUM posters. Your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Columbia a top ivy??? What about Stanford?????

My goodness you sound worked up!!!!!!!!! Please try to calm down. Deep breaths....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you we are arguing two different issues. You are arguing that a kid can find a great learning environment and academic fit at a non-Ivy. I think most here can support that. The most recent posting here are arguing if the Ivy League is tiered.

This. Even the first post that referenced top Ivies was actually about getting great academics in non-Ivies. But where do the DCUM moms go? To fighting over "tiers" of the Ivy league. Forget that stuff about other non-Ivies providing great educations. Ugh. So typical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just reading Harvard's endowment is $32 billion. Hell, if Montgomery College had a billion dollar endowment, it'd rank up there in the big leagues too. Big $$$ can buy the best facilities, professors, and everything else.

And if I had a $32 billion I'd be eating bonbons on my private island instead of getting annoyed with DCUM posters. Your point?

I see your point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Columbia a top ivy??? What about Stanford?????

My goodness you sound worked up!!!!!!!!! Please try to calm down. Deep breaths....

I NEED TO KNOW IF I WENT TO A TOP IVY!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I only[i][u] went o MD but I feel soooo happy when I read how crazy you peeps are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only[i][u] went o MD but I feel soooo happy when I read how crazy you peeps are.

Peeps? Yeah, okay.