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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I enjoyed the film very much with lots of conflicting thoughts. I didn't think the question of the film - were AA boys treated differently than their peers at independent schools (or at least at Dalton) - was answered as a 'yes.' Even during the dinner party one of the guests said that the white kids were in the same situation. Many kids have executive functioning issues that interfere with their learning and neither of these boys was hyperactive, just unfocused. The school clearly liked both boys, they were great kids. The amount of time Idris's parents put into his schoolwork seemed staggering. I have 2 high school kids and I barely see their work (and they both have inattentive ADHD). I did relate to Michele's lament about her son's lack of drive, but that is something that can't be taught. He may discover it later. I thought he handled the whole college situation far better than his parents who acted so disappointed that he 'only' got into Occidental - a fine school.[b] Let's also hope this helps dispels the common notion that Stanford and other schools in it's rank routinely admit URM candidates with lesser credentials. Despite being an URM with a legacy father, Idris just didn't have the credentials for the school.[/b] [/quote]

I agree with everything you wrote. There were indeed a lot of takeaways from this movie but you touched on one previously overlooked.

I suspect his family thought that being an URM, legacy and Dalton graduate combined would work in his favor. I can understand them having him give it a whirl without having too much faith in its outcome, but they clearly thought he had a good shot--hence the severe disappointment at his rejection.

I can't believe his father said he was "pained" by the outcomes given Idris' struggle just to get through HS. I would've been thrilled with his first set of acceptances (Morehouse, U of Vermont and Occidental) but they were dismissed outright by the family of this struggling, medicated child with ADHD. I would've been grateful, paid a deposit at one of the schools then taken a 'wait and see' approach with the reaches.

If only those parents had raised the wonderful child they had instead of the one they wished they had. Their approach to their less than perfect but wonderful child made his childhood much more stressful than it needed to be.[/quote]

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