Reply to No, test optional isn’t the reason your kid didn’t get in.

Forum Index » College and University Discussion

Reply to "No, test optional isn’t the reason your kid didn’t get in."

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Read this 2019 article from the NYT? Sound familiar?

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/magazine/almost-all-the-colleges-i-wanted-to-go-to-rejected-me-now-what.html?smtyp=cur&smid=fb-nytimes&fbclid=IwAR33p-Nhl1mO5BSmjk461YIxU1iqqvLZ5moObJWGaE2-iV7bm-csPn0xEFU&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Kids have been getting rejected from Uber-competitor schools for a very long time. This was pre-COVID, pre-TO.

I realize there is an impulse to look for something to blame if your kid is rejected from their dream school or most of their targets. But it’s important to remember that your kid is the common denominator (especially with multiple rejections). There is obviously something deficient in the application for the kinds of schools targeted — maybe the essay is bad, maybe you didn’t take enough foreign language, maybe the ECs are spread too thin and don’t demonstrate passion and commitment over time?

What impressed me about the letter writer in the article was he seems to recognizes that instead of casting blame on others. At least there’s some acknowledgment he’s dealing with a bruised ego. That said, his attitude about the schools he did get into leaves a lot to be desired.

I feel bad for kids who faced a lot of rejection this year. But telling them it’s because test optional let lesser kids sneak in and steal their birthright admission isn’t helping them deal with reality. Learn to make the best of the opportunities you ARE given.[/quote]

Well, these sermons about learning to deal with the harsh realities of college admissions is of little help to students who spent years of high school chasing an unattainable goal. Not because they didn't study enough or didn't give their best to their community, their extracurriculars and their internships but because they are from unwanted financial class, race, geography or whatever.

[/quote]
That is your fault as a parent if you made them think T25 is an "attainable goal" for anyone.  They have always been a reach for everyone, save a well hooked student (think parent is a celebrity or presidents or bill gates, etc).  
A well raised kid will grow up knowing you work hard in school to learn, do well and aim high, but also know their life is not over if they only get into school ranked #32.

[/quote]

The fault is mainly on messed up US system.

[/quote]

Why is it the fault of the "US system"?   Why are people so obsessed with attending an Elite university?  In reality, those that benefit the most from that are those in lower income levels, first gen students, those students who do not already have the family/friends connections.  
Why is it so hard for the entitled people to realize that their smart kid will have the same/very similar outcomes no matter where they go---if your kid is that smart, motivated, driven they can and will succeed anywhere if you haven't hindered them by making them be entitled brats who cannot handle not attending T25.

[/quote]

The massive professional marketing efforts put forth by these wealthy, influential institutions deserve a lot more blame than parents, IMHO.[/quote]

Why?  They are just doing their job to have a large group of applicants to choose from for their freshman class.  They are a business and want to do the best they can.   Are people really too stupid to realize its a marketing scheme and their kid does not need to attend a T25 to succeed?  Do you also believe you need a$75K BMW to be safe? Or that your kid must go to Disneyworld 2x/year to be happy?

In reality 99% of people do NOT attend T25 schools yet they are successful in life.  In fact majority of these in the Exec Suite at most companies are NOT T25 undergrads.  All you need to do is open your eyes and look around and you will realize that there are many places to get a great education.  Smart people realize this and may strive for a T25 but at same time realize it's a reach with single digit acceptance rates, so have a well planned list of Targets and safeties they want to attend, because they realize that's most likely where they will be going.  So sure, apply and hope you win the lottery, but don't become so caught up that you think your life is over because you got rejected. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics