I am losing heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. My kid is in a magnet HS in MCPS. Straight A's. 1560 SAT (taken only once, he is not keen to retake again because of lack of time). Not a sports person. Participates in 4 clubs. Belongs to a couple of scholastic honors societies. 300 Hours of SSL - various local charities and volunteer work he has been involved in since MS. Leadership position in a couple of clubs. Goes for a few competitions from his clubs - wins a few. 7 APs (Mainly 5s) by end of junior year.

I have been told that he should not even bother to apply to the top schools because he should have done things that differentiates him from other students. Examples that I was given of charities that were founded, travel to 3rd world countries etc., Interning at NIH, Intel competition etc. - is not something we can afford because of lack of time and money.

I do not have a problem with him applying to state public colleges as long as he does something that he will enjoy (he is equally good in Humanities and STEM).

Thank you for your replies. I am actually beginning to feel a lot better now.

Are you trolling? Your kid will get into at least one top 25 university, guaranteed.

None of you have any idea what you are talking about

Here are the two questions I need to know

1. Is the kid Asian
2. Is the kid in the top 10% of the graduating class

If he/she is Asian or not in the top 10% of the graduating class he/she will not get into a great school. Even if non-Asian and top 10% of class it's still completely random to get into a great school

Those are the facts.

Now he/she will definitely get into UMD and be completely happy. I would send my kid there....

[Anonymous]

Re a PP's two questions.

Not true of University of Chicago, or of Berkeley or Michigan or Madison. But that assumes full pay or outside scholarships for the OOS publics or FA eligibility for Chicago (and maybe a willingness to apply ED1 or ED2). If he ends up a NMSF that helps wrt $ at places like USC. Might also be worth looking at Canadian universities (whose admissions are very stats-oriented). JHU might be another good choice -- top 10% matters to them but I suspect they're more flexible with that when an applicant comes from a magnet school. Also I assume (straight As and 7 APs by junior year) OP's kid is among the top 10% of his class.

OTOH, I think OP's kid should not let the advice given deter him for applying to whatever schools he's interested in. He should write memorable essays and find recommenders who really know/appreciate him. That said, it is important to find safety schools he'd love.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a normal stats kid that did just fine in the admissions process. His unweighted GPA was around 3.6, he took 5 AP classes but didn't take the tests, and he scored 29 on the ACT. His EC's were football, wrestling, some normal kid volunteer stuff (little league, hospital), got a couple of awards, nothing spectacular... Interviewed great, wrote a solid essay and picked a reasonable selection of schools. I'm proud of his results and he ended up going to Macalester. Here's the breakdown:
St Olaf - accepted with aid
Luther - accepted with aid
Carelton - denied
College of Wooster - Wait list
Kenyon - accepted with aid
Grinnell - Wait list, no aid
Denison - accepted with aid
Cornell - denied

So you see, even with a normal GPA and ACT, he had his choice of St. Olaf, Macalester, Luther college (his safety), Kenyon and Denison.

So, please don't lose heart based on what you read here. Your kid will do just fine.

What is Macalester? Never heard of it.

Same. I've only heard of one school on that entire list.

Lot of people posting here really need to get out more. I guess the only schools you've heard of are either in your backyard or play football on TV. There's a wide world out there... be brave, sample life, think outside the box, read a book.

But if we did that, who would you have to look down on? I guess it does kind of ruin the point of going to such exclusive schools if people can't be awed by you and your obvious academic superiority. We all just suck at life and you don't. You win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. My kid is in a magnet HS in MCPS. Straight A's. 1560 SAT (taken only once, he is not keen to retake again because of lack of time). Not a sports person. Participates in 4 clubs. Belongs to a couple of scholastic honors societies. 300 Hours of SSL - various local charities and volunteer work he has been involved in since MS. Leadership position in a couple of clubs. Goes for a few competitions from his clubs - wins a few. 7 APs (Mainly 5s) by end of junior year.

I have been told that he should not even bother to apply to the top schools because he should have done things that differentiates him from other students. Examples that I was given of charities that were founded, travel to 3rd world countries etc., Interning at NIH, Intel competition etc. - is not something we can afford because of lack of time and money.

I do not have a problem with him applying to state public colleges as long as he does something that he will enjoy (he is equally good in Humanities and STEM).

Thank you for your replies. I am actually beginning to feel a lot better now.

Are you trolling? Your kid will get into at least one top 25 university, guaranteed.

None of you have any idea what you are talking about

Here are the two questions I need to know

1. Is the kid Asian
2. Is the kid in the top 10% of the graduating class

If he/she is Asian or not in the top 10% of the graduating class he/she will not get into a great school. Even if non-Asian and top 10% of class it's still completely random to get into a great school

Those are the facts.

Now he/she will definitely get into UMD and be completely happy. I would send my kid there....

Asian. I am sure not sure how many other kids have stats like him? No one is a slacker in the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am getting sick of the whole "wealthy hire tutors to spoon feed their kids." The people that I know who hire tutors (very few) have kids who are struggling either with a poor teacher or an LD. The idea that most are rigging the system by buying special assistance for their child is so overblown. The tutor is needed to help the kids grasp information that is needed to pass, not move a kid from an A- to an A. Poor kids have access to Khan Academy, libraries and non profit tutoring groups. If you are worried about any child having access to homework help, I hope you are volunteering to help.

You are uninformed. My kids go to best schools and competition is fierce. Type A parents play every angle there is to eke out a little extra. Tutors aren't just for geometry struggles. Tutors can also help kids learn Mandarin outside of school, and other things like that to get an edge on classmates.

Which "best schools"? Not our Big 3...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. My kid is in a magnet HS in MCPS. Straight A's. 1560 SAT (taken only once, he is not keen to retake again because of lack of time). Not a sports person. Participates in 4 clubs. Belongs to a couple of scholastic honors societies. 300 Hours of SSL - various local charities and volunteer work he has been involved in since MS. Leadership position in a couple of clubs. Goes for a few competitions from his clubs - wins a few. 7 APs (Mainly 5s) by end of junior year.

I have been told that he should not even bother to apply to the top schools because he should have done things that differentiates him from other students. Examples that I was given of charities that were founded, travel to 3rd world countries etc., Interning at NIH, Intel competition etc. - is not something we can afford because of lack of time and money.

I do not have a problem with him applying to state public colleges as long as he does something that he will enjoy (he is equally good in Humanities and STEM).

Thank you for your replies. I am actually beginning to feel a lot better now.

]


Do you consider Hopkins too low for your precious child? Penn? Cornell? Chicago? Brown? Rensselaer? Northwestern? If so, you are nuts. You need to see a doctor immediately and get anti-depressants.

[Anonymous]

Success in life is not based on high school grades, neither is happiness.

Success in life is not based on the college you go to, neither is happiness.

This whole focus on pride and prestige is ridiculous. Some kids who excelled in high school will struggle in college, some who struggled in high school will flourish in college.

Life is about so much more than grades or the name of the school you go to or a definition of success and happiness that is based on academic achievement or career job title. Any kid who defines themselves, their identity or their self-worth on grades or admission decisions needs to take a year off and get to know themselves as a person, and realize you can still be an entire, complete, successful, happy, human without school or career in the picture.

It is who you are as a person not what you do or what you achieve that matters. You can be an awesome, successful happy person who makes an incredible difference anywhere in any school, in any career.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I think you're projecting re the need for medication, 09:45.

OP and spouse didn't grow up in the US and are new to our (bizarre and screwed-up) system of higher education. They got bad/misleading advice from their DC's HS counselor. And OP has already indicated that public Universities are acceptable to them. No attitude problem on OP's part, just a need for more information. More info has made OP feel better. OP indicates that, and then you get abusive.

What's your problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I think you're projecting re the need for medication, 09:45.

OP and spouse didn't grow up in the US and are new to our (bizarre and screwed-up) system of higher education. They got bad/misleading advice from their DC's HS counselor. And OP has already indicated that public Universities are acceptable to them. No attitude problem on OP's part, just a need for more information. More info has made OP feel better. OP indicates that, and then you get abusive.

What's your problem?

I probably do need medication. I have problems sympathizing with somebody who has a son who can easily get into the colleges I listed. She is lucky and needs to realize that. Not everybody has a DS that can get straight As at a magnet. Her son will be just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. My kid is in a magnet HS in MCPS. Straight A's. 1560 SAT (taken only once, he is not keen to retake again because of lack of time). Not a sports person. Participates in 4 clubs. Belongs to a couple of scholastic honors societies. 300 Hours of SSL - various local charities and volunteer work he has been involved in since MS. Leadership position in a couple of clubs. Goes for a few competitions from his clubs - wins a few. 7 APs (Mainly 5s) by end of junior year.

I have been told that he should not even bother to apply to the top schools because he should have done things that differentiates him from other students. Examples that I was given of charities that were founded, travel to 3rd world countries etc., Interning at NIH, Intel competition etc. - is not something we can afford because of lack of time and money.

I do not have a problem with him applying to state public colleges as long as he does something that he will enjoy (he is equally good in Humanities and STEM).

Thank you for your replies. I am actually beginning to feel a lot better now.

NP here. I don't have kids. I went to college in the '90s. So I am unfamiliar with the current landscape.

However, my guidance counselor discouraged me from applying for a scholarship b/c he didn't think I'd get it. Guess what? I got it.

If your son wants to apply to a top school, then let him apply. Just have backup applications to other schools.

I have a friend who has a teenage daughter (junior in HS), and I feel like a lot of this nonsense is fueled by the guidance counselors -- especially if your kid is in a private school or a magnet.

Your child just has to be able to frame the experience he has in such a way to show that he has something to offer the school (a unique perspective, an interesting background).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I think you're projecting re the need for medication, 09:45.

OP and spouse didn't grow up in the US and are new to our (bizarre and screwed-up) system of higher education. They got bad/misleading advice from their DC's HS counselor. And OP has already indicated that public Universities are acceptable to them. No attitude problem on OP's part, just a need for more information. More info has made OP feel better. OP indicates that, and then you get abusive.

What's your problem?

I probably do need medication. I have problems sympathizing with somebody who has a son who can easily get into the colleges I listed. She is lucky and needs to realize that. Not everybody has a DS that can get straight As at a magnet. Her son will be just fine.

Yes, you could have said just that -- your kid will be just fine. And he's got a good chance of getting into schools like x, y, and z. Or you could say nothing. Both better options than your initial approach. Don't go out of your way to make other people feel bad. It won't make you feel better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Success in life is not based on high school grades, neither is happiness.

Success in life is not based on the college you go to, neither is happiness.

This whole focus on pride and prestige is ridiculous. Some kids who excelled in high school will struggle in college, some who struggled in high school will flourish in college.

Life is about so much more than grades or the name of the school you go to or a definition of success and happiness that is based on academic achievement or career job title. Any kid who defines themselves, their identity or their self-worth on grades or admission decisions needs to take a year off and get to know themselves as a person, and realize you can still be an entire, complete, successful, happy, human without school or career in the picture.

It is who you are as a person not what you do or what you achieve that matters. You can be an awesome, successful happy person who makes an incredible difference anywhere in any school, in any career.

+1

[Anonymous]

Those are fine schools. When the GC suggests a school you never heard of you feel like they are talking down your Dc (Kenyon) Then you find out it's a good school After all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand where OP is coming from. I am totally disillusioned with all of this maneuvering to get to the head of the line for the best colleges.

People are gaming the system with Prep that helps kids score higher on the SAT. They are studying to take a test better and better. So what does the SAT even mean? How well you can cram for a test, it's not a true measure anymore.

Schools hand out A's like water under the pressure of helicopter parents. A 4.0 means your kid is average now. So now kids have to take AP to get into colleges.

Wealthy people pay for tutors for the kids to spoon feed the course work to them. Do the improved grades mean they are smarter, more dedicated or just pampered students?

Lord help the kids that fall behind early on because they go to a lesser school. The road is too long and steep to catch up in this educational rat race.

I am sick of it. This uneven playing field isn't serving any of these kids (rich or poor) well. College is going to weed out a lot of these kids, but it probably won't be their fault at all.

Now we have DeVoss. That's the last nail in the coffin.

So? There are plenty of good schools that are a good fit for your kid that aren't "prestigious." What is it you hope to get out of a "prestigious" college? You want your kid to be an i banker? You think those people are any happier than ppl who are teachers or lawyers or accountants? A kid who goes to a "lesser school" can still lead a fulfilling life. Maybe even a more fulfilling life. I feel like the college application process today is like the marriage fairy tale we were fed 40 years ago. Harvard doesn't equal happily ever after.

+ a million

[Anonymous]

I personally think grad school is the new college.