How Much Do a Kid's Looks Factor Into Admissions Decisions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sure it comes into play. Attractive kids simply catch more attention than unattractive kids. I realize that it is "in the eye of the beholder", but there are some kids considered beautiful by more people than other kids. And people gravitate to them.

Very true. I have a DD with Asperger's. She's socially very awkward and introverted. She's so beautiful that other children continue to try to engage her and play with her long after they've given up on other non-social kids. My other two are more conventionally attractive, however they have outgoing personalities. They make friends easily, but they can keep them because they play well with others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"she's sharp as a tack, but aren't they all?"

No they all can't be-a statistical impossibility that the few out there are all in this area of the world.

Actually, since IQ and good looks are both largely genetic, and IQ is further influenced by nuture (exposure to certain things that are more commonly available in higher socio-economic homes) the Washington DC area DOES have a higher number of smart and good looking children.

The IQ is higher because this area of the US has the highest concentration of "college and graduate degree'd" adults and the "good" looks because their parents are likely to have been more sucessful partially because of his or her own looks. Also, physical attractiveness includes grooming and having access to money and services that cater to the wealthy helps with grooming (or the knowledge/how to).

Same poster here... and I have to add that we were just in a part of the U.S. that ranks very low on the socio-economic scale and DH and I really saw this all around us. Its was actually shocking. We were around many other families and these realities are extremely evident largely due to general grooming, health care, diet and genetics. The Washington area does have a higher than average number of good looking people and it is dirrectly related to socio-economics and sucess which are then directly related to IQ.

Most men from New York, Miami, and California disagree with you. Washington is actually known as a pretty geeky, nerdy, unattractive city. Lots of lawyers and consultants with no time to go to the gym. No culture of fashion, entertainment, youth, or beauty, and no reason (like a beach) to keep in good shape. You can keep telling yourselves that Washingtonians are good looking but no-one believes it but you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS attends a NW DC private.

Does it make me a world-class idiot to note that not one single Caucasian male in his class is preppy? All, including DS, have appearances that are more skater-edgy-sloppy-rocker. A lot of the white boys have longish hair. Is this horrifically insulting to note? Offensive to all of you that don't know my DS or what school I"m talking about?

If it is not -- and come on, you know it's neither offensive nor insulting for me to say this fact -- then why is it insulting to note that the black kids in DS class ARE INDEED preppy? Seriously, for whatever reason, they are. Argyle vests, pink-n-green, Lacoste, you name it.

I'm not the original offensive PP, BTW. I was just thinking about DS's class while reading along.

By the way, what is the shelf life of this Brady Bunch/Duran Duran fusion look for teenage boys?? I hope well before my kids are of age to own their appearance. It is the worst ever. Those kids look terrible.

[Anonymous]

Awwww, but looking terrible is the point!! Just encourage your child to look that way and see how quickly s/he will decide a different look is the way to go. It's a no win game with teenagers, sweetie. But hair (or no hair or pink hair) and clothing is temporary and a better way to attempt independence than body piercing, tattoos, and taking up smoking ...

[Anonymous]

It's very true. I went to private boarding school in Switzerland and everyone was BEAUTIFUL. I was the ugly duckling...till I went to college and realized i was just jipped at that school. HA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS attends a NW DC private.

Does it make me a world-class idiot to note that not one single Caucasian male in his class is preppy? All, including DS, have appearances that are more skater-edgy-sloppy-rocker. A lot of the white boys have longish hair. Is this horrifically insulting to note? Offensive to all of you that don't know my DS or what school I"m talking about?

If it is not -- and come on, you know it's neither offensive nor insulting for me to say this fact -- then why is it insulting to note that the black kids in DS class ARE INDEED preppy? Seriously, for whatever reason, they are. Argyle vests, pink-n-green, Lacoste, you name it.

I'm not the original offensive PP, BTW. I was just thinking about DS's class while reading along.

I'm going to try not to offend you... when the pp wrote "I have noticed that the minority children at our Big 3 school are often quite preppy. In other words, by words, garb, and overall style, they seem to fit in quite well." she implied that she was quite surprised that the minority children fit in. Add to that a follow-up comment about schools preferring "ghetto" kids vs. kids that "act white" and you have an inherent assumption that Black kids are either or. Stop freakin' trying to put minority children into boxes. If you would stop watching the evening news for your dose of Black life and made real connections with real families you would see that more of us are like the Huxtables and the Obamas than what you see on TV and read in the WaPo.

Gotta go... It's fried chicken and watermelon time in da hood!

[Anonymous]

While you may not have intended your comment to be racist, it actually was offensive. It gave the impression that you were surprised that minority children would fit in at a Big 3 school. It reminds me of when my (then) 4 year old AA DC was admitted to GDS a few years back. An elderly White man seemed quite impressed with my child at church and even commented on how verbal he was. But when he learned that my DC had been admitted to GDS, the man commented that it must be because the school is recruiting for future athletes.

GDS has never been known as an athletic school. And who would assume that a little 4 year old is being admitted based on athletics? I guess it never occurred to him that my AA son could be admitted to GDS based on his high test scores, great teacher recommendations and great playdate...

Anonymous wrote:I have noticed that the minority children at our Big 3 school are often quite preppy. In other words, by words, garb, and overall style, they seem to fit in quite well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have noticed that the minority children at our Big 3 school are often quite preppy. In other words, by words, garb, and overall style, they seem to fit in quite well.

Anonymous wrote:While you may not have intended your comment to be racist, it actually was offensive. It gave the impression that you were surprised that minority children would fit in at a Big 3 school. It reminds me of when my (then) 4 year old AA DC was admitted to GDS a few years back. An elderly White man seemed quite impressed with my child at church and even commented on how verbal he was. But when he learned that my DC had been admitted to GDS, the man commented that it must be because the school is recruiting for future athletes.

GDS has never been known as an athletic school. And who would assume that a little 4 year old is being admitted based on athletics? I guess it never occurred to him that my AA son could be admitted to GDS based on his high test scores, great teacher recommendations and great playdate...

The unbelievable reality of life as a "non-ghetto" Black family. Thanks for giving certain people in this forum some insight into the constant rub we face for existing contrary to their expectations, assumptions and opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While you may not have intended your comment to be racist, it actually was offensive. It gave the impression that you were surprised that minority children would fit in at a Big 3 school. It reminds me of when my (then) 4 year old AA DC was admitted to GDS a few years back. An elderly White man seemed quite impressed with my child at church and even commented on how verbal he was. But when he learned that my DC had been admitted to GDS, the man commented that it must be because the school is recruiting for future athletes.

GDS has never been known as an athletic school. And who would assume that a little 4 year old is being admitted based on athletics? I guess it never occurred to him that my AA son could be admitted to GDS based on his high test scores, great teacher recommendations and great playdate...

Anonymous wrote:I have noticed that the minority children at our Big 3 school are often quite preppy. In other words, by words, garb, and overall style, they seem to fit in quite well.

The unbelievable reality of life as a "non-ghetto" Black family. Thanks for giving certain people in this forum some insight into the constant rub we face for existing contrary to their expectations, assumptions and opinions.

[Anonymous]

10:32 - Another fan here. Totally hysterical. I can only hope your preppy kids are at the same school with my skater boy so I can meet you one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:32 - Another fan here. Totally hysterical. I can only hope your preppy kids are at the same school with my skater boy so I can meet you one day.

10:32 here...

[Anonymous]

I don't know.

But I can tell you that after we toured St. Albans School, we deliberatly did not apply because I did not want my son to be surrounded by those preppy, cookie-cutter, mop headed, blazer wearing STA boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know.

But I can tell you that after we toured St. Albans School, we deliberatly did not apply because I did not want my son to be surrounded by those preppy, cookie-cutter, mop headed, blazer wearing STA boys.

Proving that many people do judge a book by its cover, as the title of this thread would indicate. Too bad your tour gave you a superficial view of the place, because there are many intelligent, conscientious kids there (I don't have a kid there, FWIW). But maybe you're just superficial....

You are a useful object lesson for the subject of this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know.

But I can tell you that after we toured St. Albans School, we deliberatly did not apply because I did not want my son to be surrounded by those preppy, cookie-cutter, mop headed, blazer wearing STA boys.

Of course kids wearing a school uniform or blazers will look alike (and blazer wearers will look preppy). What did you expect, honestly? I think it is very legitimate to conclude you don't like the blazer, traditional school vibe, but it's a bit over the top to conclude all the boys are identical and would contaminate your child.

[Anonymous]

We applied to GDS Maret and WIS and NONE of these schools requested a photograph. What schools do?? The whole topic here is stupid and the fact so many parents are measuring the potential impact of their child's natural born physical presentation and if it may to their successful education is a pathetic reflection on the parents. Ick.