Five Ivy League colleges vie for DC student (Banneker HS)

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I feel sorry for the five equally qualified white kids who got rejected so this sob story could play out.

hmm I am willing to bet that a larger percentage of acceptances are taken up by less qualified "legacy" applicants and the relatives of well connected people. Historically, this subset has been predominantly WASP

Yup. And I'm a connected WASP. Though, unless your family donated a building, most of the time you still need good numbers to get accepted.

No, I don't think that's true anymore. Even if your family donated a building, you still need good numbers (and our family did donate the equivalent of a building). Ivies draw internationally and have billions in endowments, there is no reason for them to take a rich but subpar student who will probably not graduate.

You guys can speculate online all day long... the reality is that we have two kids, in two of the schools originally listed, and there are absolutely still legacy admits. Students who are not stupid, but are far far from outstanding or exceptional, either academically or in their other accomplishments. There is nothing else about how they got into these 2 schools than who their family is and what their families have contributed.

When I went to an Ivy for undergrad (which was granted a little while ago!) there were so many legacy admits. I was in an Econ class with one of them from a bank family (literally, last name same as a bank at the time), and I am not exaggerating, I really think he either was functionally illiterate or maybe had a serious learning disability. He got through by bribing classmates to do his work, and it got to the point where I think he couldn't find people to bribe. I don't know if he ever even graduated, but obviously he had a career waiting for him after college whether he graduated or not.

My kids' stories are not quite as blatant as this, but there are still many kids who certifiably did not get in on the standards the schools applied to everyone else.

Legacy admits are alive and well in the Ivies. Maybe more subtle, and maybe a bit harder, but absolutely there nonetheless. So to the PP who said you feel bad for the 5 white kids who didn't get in, since this is absolutely a far bigger % of historical admits to Ivies than strictly affirmative action (because, please do not be deluded, there are kids of color who score incredibly well on these tests too - just not as many as there should be), but PP are you even madder at the legacy admits on behalf of those 5 students you're so worried about?

I'm the third PP. I suppose there are legacies that are subpar. The ones I know graduated summa, magna,... and got into top graduate programs. Obviously not slouches by any measure.

The legacies admit of course exist but I doubt Ivies want to "dilute their brand" by admitting stupid ones.

I think you're missing the whole point of legacy admits. It probably costs a LOT to get your "stupid" kid in but the bigger issue is that there are a LOT who would never have a chance through the regular channels most go through, but get in because and only because of their family connections to the University. And every now and then... they really are stupid. But depending on how much the school got for that admit (not that it's literally that quid pro quo, but you get the point), there are unquestionably still some stupid ones. Or worse, psychotic ones. There was one who went to my law school (a top 10 school but not an Ivy) who was indeed very very smart, but it's hard to believe he would have gotten in with his personality because he was literally scary. He was insane, and was even arrested while we were in law school. I realize there are no official "psychological health" standards for applicants, but he came across in writing and definitely in person as just as crazy as he was. I'm guessing that most likely he didn't write his application.

What does you non-Ivy law school have anything to do with Ivy undergrad legacy admits? Do law schools even have legacy admits?

Everyone, at least Ivy legacies, know that legacy admits are affirmative action for white people for better or worse since legacies have a 1 in 3 chance of getting in vs 1 in 10 for everyone else without a hook. At most legacies represent less than 10% of a class at HYP. And as a group they are high achieving since they are the children of Ivy educated parents with all the advantages.

I'm the PP further upthread who went to Ivy undergrad with the bank kid who could barely read. And the fact that many legacy admits are high achieving is still a bullshit point when the bottom line is, the PP mad about the 5 white students who allegedly didn't get a spot because of this exceptional young man featured probably lost even more spots to these legacy admits who - smart or not, would not have gotten in but for their legacy. That is the definition of a legacy admit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel sorry for the five equally qualified white kids who got rejected so this sob story could play out.

hmm I am willing to bet that a larger percentage of acceptances are taken up by less qualified "legacy" applicants and the relatives of well connected people. Historically, this subset has been predominantly WASP

Yup. And I'm a connected WASP. Though, unless your family donated a building, most of the time you still need good numbers to get accepted.

No, I don't think that's true anymore. Even if your family donated a building, you still need good numbers (and our family did donate the equivalent of a building). Ivies draw internationally and have billions in endowments, there is no reason for them to take a rich but subpar student who will probably not graduate.

You guys can speculate online all day long... the reality is that we have two kids, in two of the schools originally listed, and there are absolutely still legacy admits. Students who are not stupid, but are far far from outstanding or exceptional, either academically or in their other accomplishments. There is nothing else about how they got into these 2 schools than who their family is and what their families have contributed.

When I went to an Ivy for undergrad (which was granted a little while ago!) there were so many legacy admits. I was in an Econ class with one of them from a bank family (literally, last name same as a bank at the time), and I am not exaggerating, I really think he either was functionally illiterate or maybe had a serious learning disability. He got through by bribing classmates to do his work, and it got to the point where I think he couldn't find people to bribe. I don't know if he ever even graduated, but obviously he had a career waiting for him after college whether he graduated or not.

My kids' stories are not quite as blatant as this, but there are still many kids who certifiably did not get in on the standards the schools applied to everyone else.

Legacy admits are alive and well in the Ivies. Maybe more subtle, and maybe a bit harder, but absolutely there nonetheless. So to the PP who said you feel bad for the 5 white kids who didn't get in, since this is absolutely a far bigger % of historical admits to Ivies than strictly affirmative action (because, please do not be deluded, there are kids of color who score incredibly well on these tests too - just not as many as there should be), but PP are you even madder at the legacy admits on behalf of those 5 students you're so worried about?

I'm the third PP. I suppose there are legacies that are subpar. The ones I know graduated summa, magna,... and got into top graduate programs. Obviously not slouches by any measure.

The legacies admit of course exist but I doubt Ivies want to "dilute their brand" by admitting stupid ones.

I think you're missing the whole point of legacy admits. It probably costs a LOT to get your "stupid" kid in but the bigger issue is that there are a LOT who would never have a chance through the regular channels most go through, but get in because and only because of their family connections to the University. And every now and then... they really are stupid. But depending on how much the school got for that admit (not that it's literally that quid pro quo, but you get the point), there are unquestionably still some stupid ones. Or worse, psychotic ones. There was one who went to my law school (a top 10 school but not an Ivy) who was indeed very very smart, but it's hard to believe he would have gotten in with his personality because he was literally scary. He was insane, and was even arrested while we were in law school. I realize there are no official "psychological health" standards for applicants, but he came across in writing and definitely in person as just as crazy as he was. I'm guessing that most likely he didn't write his application.

What does you non-Ivy law school have anything to do with Ivy undergrad legacy admits? Do law schools even have legacy admits?

Everyone, at least Ivy legacies, know that legacy admits are affirmative action for white people for better or worse since legacies have a 1 in 3 chance of getting in vs 1 in 10 for everyone else without a hook. At most legacies represent less than 10% of a class at HYP. And as a group they are high achieving since they are the children of Ivy educated parents with all the advantages.

I'm the PP further upthread who went to Ivy undergrad with the bank kid who could barely read. And the fact that many legacy admits are high achieving is still a bullshit point when the bottom line is, the PP mad about the 5 white students who allegedly didn't get a spot because of this exceptional young man featured probably lost even more spots to these legacy admits who - smart or not, would not have gotten in but for their legacy. That is the definition of a legacy admit.

The legacy admit I know graduated magna cum laude, went to a top 3 MBA program and volunteers in development and admissions for her Ivy. We talk about Ivy admissions all the time and honestly, the most impressive candidates that get into an Ivy without a hook are white middle class males from large metropolitan areas like NYC, Chicago, etc. the chances of someone with this profile getting into HYP is way less than 1 in 10. And you are right to some extent, any white legacies who get into an Ivy from a major metropolitan area orobably got in b/c of their legacy status b/c the odds are really very bad otherwise.

[Anonymous]

"And as a group they are high achieving since they are the children of Ivy educated parents with all the advantages."


That's my point. A high achieving student (regardless of color) with Ivy-league educated parents SHOULD be a high academic achiever. Generally, a student with this background has received every conceivable academic benefit to ensure his/her success. This young man is receiving media coverage because he comes from a low-SES, single parent home. He is graduating from a school that's 61% FARMs (Banneker)! His road to Ivy-league admissions has been much longer, and no doubt harder than many of his future classmates. Off the top of my head, I can name 5 black kids who were accepted to multiple Ivies last year (they're all currently freshman at either Harvard, Yale, Princeton or Penn). All of them come from high-SES two-parent homes. They also attended Holton, St. Albans, Maret and Sidwell. As far as I know, not one of these kids received any media coverage...because their success is expected (and in some respects, unexceptional). This young man's success should be celebrated and applauded. If you have anything to say about his achievement, besides "congratulations," you should be ashamed!

[Anonymous]

AA kids from low SES, single family homes are criticized if they become criminals OR if they get into Ivy colleges?

What do they need to do to win approval?

- Asian parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

AA kids from low SES, single family homes are criticized if they become criminals OR if they get into Ivy colleges?

What do they need to do to win approval?

- Asian parent.

Thank you! The fact that anyone would even question this young man's achievement is ridiculous!

[Anonymous]

Ivies are vying for this kid because he is a proven winner. He has proved that he can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. The college will get a high performing minority student who will be successful because he carries within him the intrinsic motivation to succeed. The college gets to share in the glory of his future success.

The real heroes are the student, mom and public school. The Ivies are operating from a profit perspective so I feel that this is mutually beneficial deal for them. I for one am glad that the Ivy name brand will open doors for this boy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

AA kids from low SES, single family homes are criticized if they become criminals OR if they get into Ivy colleges?

What do they need to do to win approval?

- Asian parent.

Thank you! The fact that anyone would even question this young man's achievement is ridiculous!

...and disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

AA kids from low SES, single family homes are criticized if they become criminals OR if they get into Ivy colleges?

What do they need to do to win approval?

- Asian parent.

LOL!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

AA kids from low SES, single family homes are criticized if they become criminals OR if they get into Ivy colleges?

What do they need to do to win approval?

- Asian parent.

not make waves in any form or fashion

[Anonymous]

How is it that a thread started about something that should make all DCPS parents proud has turned into yet another ridiculous airing of really close-minded views?

Great for this kid. Kudos to his family and Banneker! Excellent job all the way around

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ahem. It is not "common" for any one student to get accepted into five Ivies.

I was accepted from a public school to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and MIT. I was a working-to-middle class white girl whose parents remained married to each other. I was thrilled and my friends and family were very happy for me. Certainly no story value there, though. I'm really happy for this kid, and certainly his mother should be very, very proud. But it would be dilly to think that his race and her not being married had nothing to do with this story being considered worthy of being published.

[Anonymous]

This kids is exceptional.
Here he is 4 years ago winning the city spelling bee, beating a kid from Deal:

http://www.howard.edu/newsroom/releases/2010/100326HowardMiddleSchoolStudentWinsCity-wideSpellingBee.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ahem. It is not "common" for any one student to get accepted into five Ivies.

I was accepted from a public school to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and MIT. I was a working-to-middle class white girl whose parents remained married to each other. I was thrilled and my friends and family were very happy for me. Certainly no story value there, though. I'm really happy for this kid, and certainly his mother should be very, very proud. But it would be dilly to think that his race and her not being married had nothing to do with this story being considered worthy of being published.

I'm white and grew up in blue collar middle America and scored a perfect SAT. My principal reached out to the local media and I still have the news clippings. If you're that bitter, blame your school for not doing the same on your behalf instead of criticizing the accolades and attention this young man is receiving.

[Anonymous]

He was practiced 3 hours per day for 3 years and went on the to Scripps National Spelling Bee.

This is a kid who would have stood out of ANY crowd regardless of his skin color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ahem. It is not "common" for any one student to get accepted into five Ivies.

I was accepted from a public school to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and MIT. I was a working-to-middle class white girl whose parents remained married to each other. I was thrilled and my friends and family were very happy for me. Certainly no story value there, though. I'm really happy for this kid, and certainly his mother should be very, very proud. But it would be dilly to think that his race and her not being married had nothing to do with this story being considered worthy of being published.

I'm white and grew up in blue collar middle America and scored a perfect SAT. My principal reached out to the local media and I still have the news clippings. If you're that bitter, blame your school for not doing the same on your behalf instead of criticizing the accolades and attention this young man is receiving.

I'm neither bitter nor criticizing the accolades and attention. It never would have occurred to me to seek or expect media attention for being admitted to multiple top schools. I would guess the boy in the story is the same. I'm guessing he has been focused o his work, not what others think or know of him. Regarding the article, that's just an issue of what the press chooses to cover, and stories are considered more "feel good" or supportive of the underdog. Nothing wrong with that, but silly to pretend that bias in news coverage doesn't exist. Lots and lots of biases against AAs in the news as well, of course.