Reply to The insanity of 1%er East Coast parents and college

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think the PP point wasn't whether it is a good use of YOUR money, but it's value period. [b]Most kids who I see getting into top schools do it on their own, naturally bright and gifted, no test prep or "curating" activities needed. I think the admissions officers know who got their on their own and who got their with excessive support.[/b] Like it almost works inversely, the more you spend the worse off your kid is-- they look bad to top schools and if they make it past-- cant keep up with the naturally brilliant kids who didnt need all the extra help.

I don’t disagree with what you say, but know UHNW folks that think nothing of spending these sums.[/quote]

I think this is a naive view.
Look at the curated activities list from Crimson. Do you really think that hasn't helped their applicants?[/quote]

From my perspective with one in junior year and one a freshman at different ivies, the majority are indeed naturally gifted, without heavily curated activities such as the purposefully unique birdwatcher types, the pay to play research and founding nonprofits seen on DCUM. Instead they were concertmaster at their high school, or were all-state band, did some local theater, or editor of the school's poetry journal, or state-level debater or worked for years with a local nonprofit that they truly cared about, or were head counselor at a summer camp. Additionally they had top scores and based on class placement the number who took AP physics C, Chem, BC calc, and even post BC math is extraordinarily high. Even the non-stem ones took a huge amount of difficult courses, some of which our private did not offer. The number who were valedictorian or salutatorian is very high. They joke about how they "used" to be smart/top and are now just average like everyone else, yet to hear all of the things they do on campus in addition to intense classes is exhausting. Even their fun is typically scheduled, though they seem to be quite content with their choice most of the time. It has become quite evident that there are small pockets of students who really struggle in the ivy environment. Whether these few are more likely TO or hooked or propped up by parents/tutors is unclear: some just seemed to have burnt out. It takes a lot of confidence to thrive at these schools. I would never send a student who had not chased and accomplished their high school goals on their own and shown ability to be resilient. Until you have one in these schools, it is hard to grasp, especially those of us with older ones who went to a top flagship just outside the-T25. The pressure is another level at ivies and I assume other T15 types. The resources and funds for undergraduate research/opportunities are unbelievably lavish, but it comes with an intensity that does not fit typical "average excellent" students [/quote]

Yes, the kid I know at an Ivy now is super smart and developed a unique niche interest and deep expertise related to an unpopular major. Totally different from “curating” a few clubs an a service trip to Africa. [/quote]

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