Teen writes in WSJ letter to all colleges that rejected her- harsh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's VERY well written. I like that kid.

I do too. She has BALLS and isn't afraid to use them. I predict sbe will go far and I wish her the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's VERY well written. I like that kid.

I do too. She has BALLS and isn't afraid to use them. I predict sbe will go far and I wish her the best.

[Anonymous]

I'm from Pittsburgh. Alderdice high school is in squirrel hill and is the best city school a kid can go to. Her parents might live there because it's the "Jewish neighborhood"or they might live there to get her into a school that should have prepped her for college. There is NO WAY a school like Allderdice, who sends loads of kids to ivy's every year, didn't tell her that she needs lots of extra-curriculars, etc.

I don't like to pick on a 17 year old, but I agree that it was very poorly written. The shot at muslims and gays, even IF she was trying be farcical, was not written well enough to give any hint of tongue in cheek.

As a native Pgher, I can tell you that this type of class warfare, where people TRULY believe they won't get into college because they're not black or hispanic, who think quotas are the reason they're not President, is rampant. The class warfare is INSANE and it is built into the culture of that city; odd because even the working class folks come across as sourly conservative on immigration issues, etc. They truly do think the black people, native americans "foreigners" and especially the Asians / Indians are coming to take their cookies.

Anyway, she reveals her bias in a clumsy way, she writes in that awkward "I'm trying to impress someone" way, taking shots at Elizabeth Warren and gays and muslims, and it just doesn't work. And, since I'm familiar with her school and neighborhood, I just also don't buy that she was truly clueless as to what colleges want.

That said, I devoted many paragraphs to the ADHD article put out by the NYT, in my views about schools and how the whole system, from preschool to college, is broken. Kids are no longer allowed to pursue the interests they like and want to do, or just spend time with family. Instead, they have to shape their interests to what they think will look attractive to a college. But, this isn't really what Ms. Weiss says. She just pretends that the only people who get in are those who "pretend to care" without saying it's actually important to care, or what she HAS done, that sets her apart.

Maybe that's what I find the most obviously problematic with her polemic: what has she DONE to merit admission? She doesn't even say she's a straight A student with good test scores, etc. She just seems to think that it's not mediocrity holding her back, but rather, a system that's rigged against her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from Pittsburgh. Alderdice high school is in squirrel hill and is the best city school a kid can go to. Her parents might live there because it's the "Jewish neighborhood"or they might live there to get her into a school that should have prepped her for college. There is NO WAY a school like Allderdice, who sends loads of kids to ivy's every year, didn't tell her that she needs lots of extra-curriculars, etc.

I don't like to pick on a 17 year old, but I agree that it was very poorly written. The shot at muslims and gays, even IF she was trying be farcical, was not written well enough to give any hint of tongue in cheek.

As a native Pgher, I can tell you that this type of class warfare, where people TRULY believe they won't get into college because they're not black or hispanic, who think quotas are the reason they're not President, is rampant. The class warfare is INSANE and it is built into the culture of that city; odd because even the working class folks come across as sourly conservative on immigration issues, etc. They truly do think the black people, native americans "foreigners" and especially the Asians / Indians are coming to take their cookies.

Anyway, she reveals her bias in a clumsy way, she writes in that awkward "I'm trying to impress someone" way, taking shots at Elizabeth Warren and gays and muslims, and it just doesn't work. And, since I'm familiar with her school and neighborhood, I just also don't buy that she was truly clueless as to what colleges want.

That said, I devoted many paragraphs to the ADHD article put out by the NYT, in my views about schools and how the whole system, from preschool to college, is broken. Kids are no longer allowed to pursue the interests they like and want to do, or just spend time with family. Instead, they have to shape their interests to what they think will look attractive to a college. But, this isn't really what Ms. Weiss says. She just pretends that the only people who get in are those who "pretend to care" without saying it's actually important to care, or what she HAS done, that sets her apart.

Maybe that's what I find the most obviously problematic with her polemic: what has she DONE to merit admission? She doesn't even say she's a straight A student with good test scores, etc. She just seems to think that it's not mediocrity holding her back, but rather, a system that's rigged against her.

My vote for best and most cogent post. +1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from Pittsburgh. Alderdice high school is in squirrel hill and is the best city school a kid can go to. Her parents might live there because it's the "Jewish neighborhood"or they might live there to get her into a school that should have prepped her for college. There is NO WAY a school like Allderdice, who sends loads of kids to ivy's every year, didn't tell her that she needs lots of extra-curriculars, etc.

I don't like to pick on a 17 year old, but I agree that it was very poorly written. The shot at muslims and gays, even IF she was trying be farcical, was not written well enough to give any hint of tongue in cheek.

As a native Pgher, I can tell you that this type of class warfare, where people TRULY believe they won't get into college because they're not black or hispanic, who think quotas are the reason they're not President, is rampant. The class warfare is INSANE and it is built into the culture of that city; odd because even the working class folks come across as sourly conservative on immigration issues, etc. They truly do think the black people, native americans "foreigners" and especially the Asians / Indians are coming to take their cookies.

Anyway, she reveals her bias in a clumsy way, she writes in that awkward "I'm trying to impress someone" way, taking shots at Elizabeth Warren and gays and muslims, and it just doesn't work. And, since I'm familiar with her school and neighborhood, I just also don't buy that she was truly clueless as to what colleges want.

That said, I devoted many paragraphs to the ADHD article put out by the NYT, in my views about schools and how the whole system, from preschool to college, is broken. Kids are no longer allowed to pursue the interests they like and want to do, or just spend time with family. Instead, they have to shape their interests to what they think will look attractive to a college. But, this isn't really what Ms. Weiss says. She just pretends that the only people who get in are those who "pretend to care" without saying it's actually important to care, or what she HAS done, that sets her apart.

Maybe that's what I find the most obviously problematic with her polemic: what has she DONE to merit admission? She doesn't even say she's a straight A student with good test scores, etc. She just seems to think that it's not mediocrity holding her back, but rather, a system that's rigged against her.

My vote for best and most cogent post. +1

Agreed. Her complaints about fake charities and fake humanitarian efforts really rubbed me the wrong way. Some kids actually do care about these things.

[Anonymous]

OK--color me clueless, but I'm missing the Muslim digs.

I see digs at native Americans, gays, poor Africans, what am I missing?

[Anonymous]

Did anyone else think that her parents had a heavy hand in writing this? Something about the cynicism... This piece really rubbed me the wrong way. So you didn't get into Harvard? Get over yourself!

I thought she tried to be funny, but really missed the mark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from Pittsburgh. Alderdice high school is in squirrel hill and is the best city school a kid can go to. Her parents might live there because it's the "Jewish neighborhood"or they might live there to get her into a school that should have prepped her for college. There is NO WAY a school like Allderdice, who sends loads of kids to ivy's every year, didn't tell her that she needs lots of extra-curriculars, etc.

I don't like to pick on a 17 year old, but I agree that it was very poorly written. The shot at muslims and gays, even IF she was trying be farcical, was not written well enough to give any hint of tongue in cheek.

As a native Pgher, I can tell you that this type of class warfare, where people TRULY believe they won't get into college because they're not black or hispanic, who think quotas are the reason they're not President, is rampant. The class warfare is INSANE and it is built into the culture of that city; odd because even the working class folks come across as sourly conservative on immigration issues, etc. They truly do think the black people, native americans "foreigners" and especially the Asians / Indians are coming to take their cookies.

Anyway, she reveals her bias in a clumsy way, she writes in that awkward "I'm trying to impress someone" way, taking shots at Elizabeth Warren and gays and muslims, and it just doesn't work. And, since I'm familiar with her school and neighborhood, I just also don't buy that she was truly clueless as to what colleges want.

That said, I devoted many paragraphs to the ADHD article put out by the NYT, in my views about schools and how the whole system, from preschool to college, is broken. Kids are no longer allowed to pursue the interests they like and want to do, or just spend time with family. Instead, they have to shape their interests to what they think will look attractive to a college. But, this isn't really what Ms. Weiss says. She just pretends that the only people who get in are those who "pretend to care" without saying it's actually important to care, or what she HAS done, that sets her apart.

Maybe that's what I find the most obviously problematic with her polemic: what has she DONE to merit admission? She doesn't even say she's a straight A student with good test scores, etc. She just seems to think that it's not mediocrity holding her back, but rather, a system that's rigged against her.

Exactly. Chances are she was lazy (what with all that RHONJ/OC/NY watching), didn't do that well academically, and assumed that her parents' money and influence would buy her a spot at whatever college she chose. Now she's pissed but she's taking it out on the wrong people. Just another kid who exemplifies the truth that having rich parents, going to a fancy school, and having every advantage in life is no guarantee of happiness - or class, for that matter.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe that people are offended by her description of diversity considerations.

Have you folks read The Gatekeepers? It's a decade, or close to a decade, old but totally captures the lunacy of the college admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the headdress reference? I thought maybe that was a native American dig, but it was probably a Muslim dig now that I think of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the headdress reference? I thought maybe that was a native American dig, but it was probably a Muslim dig now that I think of it.

Either way, she seems to be pretty much equal opportunity in including every diversity category and in her misplaced bitterness toward those people. Her parents should have raised her better and I have no idea why they would have approached the publishing of this piece. I pray to God I can raise my kid to be a more gracious person than this girl.

[Anonymous]

^^approved, not approached

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the headdress reference? I thought maybe that was a native American dig, but it was probably a Muslim dig now that I think of it.

Thanks. That makes sense (I also read it as a Native American reference, probably because of the following sentences.)

[Anonymous]

Parts of it are funny, but I am not amused by her swipes at diversity. FWIW, I have kids at a Big 3 school (the admission odds are not necessarily 96:1, but still) and volunteer with admissions. I know plenty of applicants with two moms, are people of color, etc who are turned down. There is no silver bullet for admissions. Well, maybe if one's parents endow a professorship or build a hall, but that's about it.

[Anonymous]

12:02 To me she's wishing she knew then what she knows now, and that her parents were more involved, so she would have gotten in on merit. I wonder if you're misreading her a bit there. As the mother of a high schooler, I can tell you that there are plenty of projects that are showcases rather than passions. Many students seem to care more about getting into college than they care about their community service or personal fundraising projects.