College Search for "Just Average" Student

[Anonymous]

Good read!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what happened to this thread? a bunch of posts were removed. probably obnoxious posts but still.

OP here. Thanks again to everyone who chimed in with advice - this is very helpful.

I'm grateful the obnoxious posts (and yeah, some of them were mine) got deleted - they were distracting from the point of the thread. By way of explanation, I was not slamming high-achieving students. Hey, good on them! Seriously.

I was slamming the crazy helicopter parents I see on DCUM who act as if their kids are Doomed To A Life Of Failure And Poverty And Despair if they don't constantly ride them to get straight A's in all AP classes while playing sports at an elite level and performing 80 hours a week of community service and winning all the prizes in every category and, and, and... Frankly, I feel sorry for their kids, even if they are doing well.

These are the same people who argue about whether Duke, Vanderbilt or Penn is "better" and about whether Yale is more prestigious than Columbia. Idiots, all.

Why are they idiots? Their kids have to make a choice. Getting more information is helpful for making choices.

Because it is like arguing about how many angels fit on the head of a pin. The difference in prestige is miniscule at best, clearly not universally agreed upon (else why would anyone be arguing) and therefore not worth even a moment of consideration. Feel, fit, location, size, weather, availability of preferred activities, love of basketball--all relevant to a decision between Duke and Penn. Prestige? No.

Why are you characterizing thse decisions as being all about prestige? There are big differences between Duke, Vanderbilt and Penn. And between Yale and Columbia. Huge differences, in terms of feeling, fit and location. It's clear some of you like to reduce every Ivy discussion to prestige, but you're being unfair to serve your own insecurity, because that's not what's going on here.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I just remembered this thread and looked it up. DD graduated from Colorado State last year, where she thrived.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I just remembered this thread and looked it up. DD graduated from Colorado State last year, where she thrived.

Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Nice to know that sometimes nice guys finish first.

[Anonymous]

What did your child major in? Was it STEM?

[Anonymous]

I have a "just average" relative would went to Quinnipiac College in CT to become a physical therapist / occupational therapist (can't remember which). They loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What did your child major in? Was it STEM?

Wildlife Management with a minor in Zoology!

[Anonymous]

Bigger, smaller, urban, rural? Geography?

U Kansas
Rutgers
Ithaca College
Trinity College
Rollins

[Anonymous]

Wonderful, congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ sorry, that should say DC struggles to maintain a 3.0, not a 4.0.

Thank goodness.

Yes. Seriously. I rolled my eyes so hard I think they got stuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I just remembered this thread and looked it up. DD graduated from Colorado State last year, where she thrived.

Congratulations!

Outstanding! So good to hear.

[Anonymous]

Your kid will probably be happier than most strivers and will surely find her place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has she taken the SAT or the ACT yet? Scores are not the be-all end-all, but they can help you identify schools where she safely fits in the mid-range of students, and others that might be reaches for her.

OP here. No, she's still a Sophomore - we're only just barely beginning to begin thinking about beginning to start looking at colleges.

Many thanks for all the good advice here!

Took last summer with my ds (who sounds a like like your dd) and did day trips to colleges we could drive through (covid, so no tours). There are a LOT of great schools out there, and we were probably the most impressed with one that never makes anyone's list, a small private school of 2K. Don't be pulled into the hype of top tier schools. There is truly a school for every person, and the fit (how large, where, gut feel on the campus, surrounding area) are just as important as the name of the school. Don't panic. Make it fun and low-key and find a place she feels like she is at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a great thread.

OP, thanks for posting. I was starting to think that every poster on DCUM had children that were exceptional in every way.

Yep, and not just here, but everywhere! We were told ds was not smart enough to pass kindergarten (in October that year); he didn' read really well until 3rd grade. He suffered a concussion in middle school and missed most of a whole year. Missed 15 months due to covid. Wrote a kick-a$$ college essay about what he has learned about himself and how he knows how to fight through hard times. No SAT/ACT, some dual enrollment. Got in everywhere HE wanted to go and I can already see him so focused. That's the goal. Typical kids are my goal.