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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think the "one" poster's point appears to be some variation on this (these are not my beliefs, by the way):

The college process is broken.

By which I mean,

Isn't it a real shame that so many admissions spots currently go to applicants -- particularly under-represented minorities and international students -- some number of whom I do not think are deserving or meritorious, because I believe that they are given special advantages in the admissions process.

(My editorializing:

An immigrant student working throughout high school in order to help support their family, will probably not have as high a gpa, and may indeed have poorer test scores as they have little time and guidance to prepare for standardized test.

But who are we to say that they do not have as meritorious a story - in their own way- as the applicant who studied as a chocolatier's apprentice -- whose unique background is also rightly valued.)

Getting back to the summary (again, not my beliefs)

Yes, it is such a shame that so many of those admissions spots are given away because that increases the pressure on all the other students, who feel that they can only get into these schools if they can achieve perfection in terms of taking rigorous class loads, earning perfect grades in those classes, and attaining near-perfect standardized test scores to be admitted.

So, we need to "change the system".

By which the "one" poster might - and I say only might - mean this,

Stop giving admissions to other applicants because that stresses out "our" applicants who work themselves into a breakdown to attain the right stats for college, and even then might fail.

(Back to my editorializing.  Since the problem is too much stress on students, one can:

Opt out of the system.

In other words, tell your child that it is not worth a sacrifice of their physical or mental health to take a full slate of Honors and Advanced classes.  Advise them to push themselves in those areas they genuinely want to study, and to take the regular courses in everything else.

Emphasize that having them attend a smaller, less well-known college, or the less prestigious, third state option, is just fine by you.

OR, change the system,

By which I suppose might mean that we should get universities to rely less and less on GPA and test scores, and more on other factors (that would certainly lessen the stress on students trying to achieve academic perfection).

Or perhaps, rely only on GPA and test scores, and do away with all the extracurricular pressures (but that would still lead to academically stressed students, and less well-rounded applicants).

Since the OP wants to discuss the options, let's discuss the options.  OP, what are your solutions to this "problem"?
[/quote]

I would love to hear OP's suggestions on how to change the system and fix the broken process.  [/quote]

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