What is an unpopular belief that you hold about the college application process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There must be a parent of a student attending Colby very actively posting on DCUM. It’s a tiny small school in freezing cold Maine that cost 85,000 per year. Only on DCUM do I ever hear it mentioned at all. It’s smaller than a high school and there is nothing amazing about this school.

The only reason that it has a low admissions number is because it’s free to apply and they spam emails to everyone about the school so they get lots of applications compared to its tiny size.

Strange post. No skin in the game. Colby is a very fine school today, and historically

[Anonymous]

That parents are way too over involved in the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That going to community college for the first two years greatly increases your options for where you attend for your last two years. Not to mention the tens of thousands you will save on tuition.

I think this is myth that people tell themselves and the majority of students will not ever finish the 2 years much less go on to a 4 yr school. Those who do are the exception

This. Also those Harvard Law grads boasting on this thread are probably in their 60s now. It's very, very old news. CC is just not a popular choice amongst kids with prospects.

It just depends on the area. Like a pp said, in CA the community colleges are increasingly popular because they have a good transfer program and people recognize that it’s not a good value to pay for a 4 year college. My BIL went to a CC and now has a degree from UC Berkeley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That college is about so much more than ROI and I want as many kids as possible to experience making lifelong friends, building connections, learning who they are as people and savoring the “golden hour” time between childhood and adulthood.

Yes!!! Me too! Love this

I agree, but am concerned this perspective is considered "unpopular"? (Or maybe i haven't lived in DC long enough - I would like my kid to go to a "good" college, but isn't 'college being about so much more than ROI' something at least everyone SAYS?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who understand college as primarily a trade or technical school, rather than as a means to become more cultured, will never break into the social circles of the elite.

And? If someone's goal is to "break into the social circles of the elite"...they are probably a weirdo. Normal people don't think like that.

[Anonymous]

The essays are not considered at all and are never read by actual admissions staff. The fact that was one was submitted when required is all that counts.

That admissions come down to an application that is pre- programmed by the schools with the stats the school wants to achieve from an incoming class.

The acceptance process is largely done by a computer who scan through applications and provided admission staff scenarios based on applications received and then admissions staff are simply accepting or rejecting scenarios. Those scenarios include applicants who meet whatever threshold for grades and test scores and whatever other factors the school wants

Once they have reached whatever preset stats they want for a given scenario, then acceptances stop and then all remaining apps are automatically waitlisted and/or rejected without looking at the application. In other words, there are no actual people sitting around reading applications and instead they rely on a computer application to screen and suggest lists of students who should be admitted based on the kind of stats the college wants to achieve in their incoming class. This doesn’t require the use of AI although it is certain that AI will be incorporated. Even if they employ people to read applications it likely means little and is just an exercise to make it look like they manually review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s all rigged to favor minorities. Take that into consideration the next time you select a doctor.

Racist, much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That helping your kid find a school where they will thrive is better for them as people and produces better outcomes than helping them get into the highest ranking possible on USNWR.

This isn’t true. The Ivies have opportunities that other schools don’t. JP Morgan and BCG don’t recruit at UMD.

It is true. Most kids don't want to work at those places, and those who do don't stay there long because it took them longer to learn what the other kids already knew.

[Anonymous]

My unpopular opinion is that the application process isn't that hard. I can't imagine paying someone to help my kid do it.

[Anonymous]

That the obsession with rank is misplaced and that it is not an indication of future success.

Most kids are happy no matter where they go unless they’ve bought into their parents anxieties.

Kids born to UMC families are going to be fine anyway because of the family’s accumulated wealth so why is that group freaking out?

Except for culture there’s no worthwhile difference between the top 40 schools and all the handwringing and pressure has gotten you nowhere.

[jsteele]

My unpopular opinion is that threads like this are a waste of time.