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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]are doing the schools’ work for them![/quote]

You are not talking about for competitive schools, right?

Do you think people who answer questions at job interviews are "doing the company's work for them"?

Pretty dumb comment, IMHO.[/quote]

THAT'S DUMB.

If you're an adult applying for a *specific* job at a *specific* company, you have *specific* reasons for wanting that job (money, prestige, it's your dream job, a good stepping stone, etc.). You probably aren't going to be entirely truthful as to why you want the job. ("I just want the big bucks. Hire me!" "My wife got a job in this city so now I have to, too." "My cousin knows the CEO and I thought it would be easier to get a job") You're going to say what you think they want to hear.

But unless your kid is applying for a *specific* program or truly has a distinct interest, how can a 17 year old who hasn't even visited a campus and who might have no idea what he or she wants to major in be able to truthfully say why they want to attend that specific college? If they want to study the philosophy  of cats and the school best known for that is Middlebury, then you can honestly say why you want to go to Middlebury..

Otherwise, it's the kids trying to figure out what the college wants to hear. Because they don't know, and if they don't know, they can't say: "I just want to go there because it's an Ivy." "I want to make money and it has the highest income after graduation." "I want to live in Chicago." "My dad went there." "My counselor told me to apply." "I thought I could get in." "It's a party school and I want to party."

[/quote]

YES! This is what I was trying to say - with my "dumb" post about kool-aid above. And the people who think that the highly rated universities are really offering "immense" opportunities and "unparalleled" experiences are deluding themselves. Or maybe just consoling themselves about spending so much $$ on a school that's slightly higher ranked than another one. DCUM is obsessed with these rankings and prestige, and are - I repeat - doing the schools' work for them! A kid can get a terrific education at a third rate school, and we all know bonehead legacy kids who get terrible educations at the Ivies or wherever.

There is just something "off" about the parents who are going on about how ordinary kids need to figure out how to lie about their interests in schools/campuses they've never visited and who have no idea what they want to study... It's incomprehensible to me. Be on the side of your KID! of all KIDS! not these institutions that are hoovering up your $$ and laughing at how effectively you all are doing their marketing for them.  [/quote]

This is really the [b]most basic, most expected question[/b] one could expect on any sort of application, for anything. As PP upthread mentioned, [b]being able to articulate why you want something should be the bare minimum for getting that thing.[/b] I mean, have none of you just never applied to a job before? The sense of entitlement is alarming.[/quote]

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