Controversial opinion: College and University edition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College aren't behind the ridiculous AP expectations, parents are. Colleges admit the best of who applies. Parents are the ones pushing their DDs and DSs to have more APs than the last kid who got in.

Going to a school that limits how many APs you can take in a year is a great thing for stress and wellness.

I somewhat agree with this but will say that my DD attends a rigorous private that does not offer APs. It is, in reality, no less of a pressure cooker. It's all about college admissions for most of these kids. We have really tried to get her to focus on learning and worry about college later, but no one is doing that (even though the school pushes it , too).

I totally agree that the craziness is coming form the parents for the most part, and that filters through the peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extracurriculars/activities/sports don't matter one bit. Grades and test scores are the only thing most schools really look at.

You've gotta be kidding. The first cut is race and gender. Even very high grades and test scores won't get applicants belonging to certain groups into a selective school.

I think this is an overstatement. I agree there is bias, but I think this overstates it if you are referring to schools that have holistic admissions.

Even if they didn't matter at all -- which I disagree with -- I would feel like a failure as a parent if instead of giving my kids opportunities to be creative and to make art and music all I did was drive them to cram schools and have them spend the summer inside studying for their SAT's instead of participating in swim team and other activities. I'm raising individuals, not test scores. I want my kids to have a good relationship with their bodies and the lifelong joy of physical fitness, making music. I want to have some nice family memories of camping and hiking, and not just memories of driving them to Kumon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College aren't behind the ridiculous AP expectations, parents are. Colleges admit the best of who applies. Parents are the ones pushing their DDs and DSs to have more APs than the last kid who got in.

Going to a school that limits how many APs you can take in a year is a great thing for stress and wellness.

I agree with what you said about the value of AP limits. (Though high schools get measured by AP participation so it won’t happen any time soon.) But when colleges give weight and actual credit for AP they are part of it. When you can load up on credits in HS and save a semester or two of insanely expensive tuition it’s hard not to try. My first made himself miserable with APs but it did probably get him into the school he really wanted. He didn’t make up the rules, nor did we. He heard ‘most rigor possible at your school’ and the importance of class rank and at his school that meant APs.

FCPS isn't even reporting the rank anymore. I know people here say admissions guesses or knows, but that can't be so for every college.

I interpret the rigor comment as get to the AP at some point in each subject. I don't think it means take all 5 history APs, 4 science APs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extracurriculars/activities/sports don't matter one bit. Grades and test scores are the only thing most schools really look at.

You've gotta be kidding. The first cut is race and gender. Even very high grades and test scores won't get applicants belonging to certain groups into a selective school.

I think this is an overstatement. I agree there is bias, but I think this overstates it if you are referring to schools that have holistic admissions.

Even if they didn't matter at all -- which I disagree with -- I would feel like a failure as a parent if instead of giving my kids opportunities to be creative and to make art and music all I did was drive them to cram schools and have them spend the summer inside studying for their SAT's instead of participating in swim team and other activities. I'm raising individuals, not test scores. I want my kids to have a good relationship with their bodies and the lifelong joy of physical fitness, making music. I want to have some nice family memories of camping and hiking, and not just memories of driving them to Kumon.

Ah those Kumon drives. Memories...

Actually we never did Kumon but definitely got sucked into the AP thing. Honestly though, it was the sports that interfered with family stuff more than academics. Can’t tell you how many times we were ready to escape to the beach on Memorial Day or July 4th weekend only to realize that some stupid soccer or baseball tournament was scheduled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extracurriculars/activities/sports don't matter one bit. Grades and test scores are the only thing most schools really look at.

You've gotta be kidding. The first cut is race and gender. Even very high grades and test scores won't get applicants belonging to certain groups into a selective school.

Yes but hopefully the lawsuit against Harvard will end their despicable bias against Asians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You didn't read what I wrote - I said the ENTIRE college admissions process is unequitable, unfair and racist. We all go along with it and allow the system to exist as is - we are complicit whether you like it or not.

This is my opinion.

Thinking "we are complicit whether you like it or not" is stupid.

This is my opinion.

Whether you like it or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extracurriculars/activities/sports don't matter one bit. Grades and test scores are the only thing most schools really look at.

You've gotta be kidding. The first cut is race and gender. Even very high grades and test scores won't get applicants belonging to certain groups into a selective school.

Yes but hopefully the lawsuit against Harvard will end their despicable bias against Asians.

Don't make it about the asians....it's about the process and inherent bias. 30 years ago it was the jews, today it is the asians, tomorrow it could be any minority group that is outperforming their quota.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extracurriculars/activities/sports don't matter one bit. Grades and test scores are the only thing most schools really look at.

You've gotta be kidding. The first cut is race and gender. Even very high grades and test scores won't get applicants belonging to certain groups into a selective school.

Yes but hopefully the lawsuit against Harvard will end their despicable bias against Asians.

Don't make it about the asians....it's about the process and inherent bias. 30 years ago it was the jews, today it is the asians, tomorrow it could be any minority group that is outperforming their quota.

But the lawsuit may result in Harvard being 70% or more ASian American like TJ. If you want that, then fine ..........

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extracurriculars/activities/sports don't matter one bit. Grades and test scores are the only thing most schools really look at.

You've gotta be kidding. The first cut is race and gender. Even very high grades and test scores won't get applicants belonging to certain groups into a selective school.

Yes but hopefully the lawsuit against Harvard will end their despicable bias against Asians.

Don't make it about the asians....it's about the process and inherent bias. 30 years ago it was the jews, today it is the asians, tomorrow it could be any minority group that is outperforming their quota.

But the lawsuit may result in Harvard being 70% or more ASian American like TJ. If you want that, then fine ..........

I want kids judged by their character and skills, not their skin color.

[Anonymous]

Barring any learning disabilities, SAT test prep classes are basically useless. All they do is force you to take tests, which you can do on your own by buying a prep book and reading the answers or watching Khan Academy videos (where explanations are usually better and more concise). For the people saying, “well, MY kid won’t do test prep unless I push him/her, and rework their essays, and make an account to submit his applications on time because he can’t be bothered,” yeah, college just ain’t for that kid. Maybe down the line if he wants it.

[Anonymous]

The best financial choice is to go to community college for two years (which saves thousands of dollars- could be $140,00) and then go where you want. But most UMC parents are too worried about what others think and hung up on status, and stereotype community college to do this. Me included. Even one year would greatly help finances.

[Anonymous]

Most people should not go to a 4 year school (2 year or internships is much more practical and useful)
Most liberal arts majors or other majors that don't lead to real jobs/careers should be phased out
College should eventually be phased out and everything should go to an apprenticeship/internship model

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extracurriculars/activities/sports don't matter one bit. Grades and test scores are the only thing most schools really look at.

You've gotta be kidding. The first cut is race and gender. Even very high grades and test scores won't get applicants belonging to certain groups into a selective school.

Yes but hopefully the lawsuit against Harvard will end their despicable bias against Asians.

Don't make it about the asians....it's about the process and inherent bias. 30 years ago it was the jews, today it is the asians, tomorrow it could be any minority group that is outperforming their quota.

But the lawsuit may result in Harvard being 70% or more ASian American like TJ. If you want that, then fine ..........

I see we’ve found the racist imbecile on the thread

[Anonymous]

Many in the middle and upper middle class just can’t afford Ivy’s and other expensive private schools. This makes “school pedigree” very much based on parent income, not merit. I’m not saying that those who attend aren’t qualified. It’s just that many who are qualified can’t attend. Rich people think it’s possible to make it work and colleges tell you that you should apply regardless. But too rich for FA and too poor to attend is reality for many. Is it “pay to play?” Is it skewed so the middle class miss out? Is it unfair? Expensive schools are a luxury and it’s not all merit based.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extracurriculars/activities/sports don't matter one bit. Grades and test scores are the only thing most schools really look at.

You've gotta be kidding. The first cut is race and gender. Even very high grades and test scores won't get applicants belonging to certain groups into a selective school.

Yes but hopefully the lawsuit against Harvard will end their despicable bias against Asians.

Don't make it about the asians....it's about the process and inherent bias. 30 years ago it was the jews, today it is the asians, tomorrow it could be any minority group that is outperforming their quota.

But the lawsuit may result in Harvard being 70% or more ASian American like TJ. If you want that, then fine ..........

I want kids judged by their character and skills, not their skin color.

You don't know much about that lawsuit, do you?