Reply to Which colleges have majority student body of very bright kids but not brainiacs?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think you are assigning value to the SAT that isn’t true.  Lots of brainiacs at many schools.

I don’t think you can tell the difference between a kid scoring a 1540 and 1400 if you meet them on the street.

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OP here. Please no flame, but at our school, DD and 2 close friends who are similarly smart but not genius types scored 1530-1540 first try, minimal prep. While a true brainiac kid who has been brilliant since 1st grade scored 1600 first try, no one was surprised. Other friends told us their kids scored in the 1300s and need tutors to get up to 1450-ish. Those are the kids who always needed tutors and consistently performed a band under the 1540 kids (bc the school have different tracks for core subjects since middle school) and def under the 1600 kid. We have known all these kids since K and it's been very consistent. I disagree you can't tell the difference between a 1540 and 1400 kid, just as I can tell the difference between my 1540 kid and the 1600 kid. I have also seen kids who were happy in normal courses and got pushed by parents to get tutored into the advanced track math and chem classes and ended up having to drop back down to non-advanced track the following year.

I truly think kids do well in the track they naturally excel in but all have a chance to be very successful when they grow up if they learned in an environment where learn with peers with similar aptitudes and build confidence. [/quote]

So I’m going to tell you a story about my Ivy kid.

1400 first try no prep. With a few attempts, up to 1540. It’s test prep. Whatever. Private HS.

Now at Ivy - their “brainiac” friends are in the library nonstop. Devastated they don’t get into the right business club. Devastated with choices with Greek life. Devastated by not getting the next “rung” (internships, coffee chats, etc).

Then there are other kids that are really low-key and easy-going that end up rolling with the punches. None of this makes or breaks them. Now those low-key kids (including mine) are in the ultimate student leadership positions of the Ivy and no one knows how it happened. The PE internships are just falling in their lap.

Strange tbh. Those other kids - my kids friends - intuitively have perfect stats, perfect scores, perfect college grades (which mine definitely doesn’t have) perfect everything. But they are frankly just overwhelmed by constantly seeking perfection. They almost can’t cope or deal with the fast balls that come their way.

What you think is the perfect environment for your kid may actually not be. We have been so surprised.

My kid always said they were bottom 50% of the class when they matriculated. But now? Leading everything. President of uni knows on first name basis on speed dial.

I wouldn’t over rotate on your kids perceived strengths. What you think of is a strength man being a weakness and vice versa.

You can’t over engineer this. Cream rises. Let your kid figure it out.
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It all come down to EQ.  The 1580, grinder, 4 research papers in high school types can find their way into the Ivies but they're not they're not the people anyone wants to spend 50 hours a week with. Smart enough, high EQ, person you want to [b]go out with for drinks after work[/b] individual will get the job every time. 
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This is really last century.  GenZ would never put up with this crap.[/quote]

Well it's accurate.  Those with EQ, those who are team players and go above and beyond and people like go far in life.  Sure you need a certain level of smarts to get there but beyond that you have to be able to work well with others.

My 1220/3.5Uw/no AP kid went to a t100 struggled and found their way, graduated with 3 W and a 3.4 gpa.  Had a great job immediately upon graduation and is doing well.  We always knew that because everywhere they worked/volunteered always loved them and promoted them/gave them more responsibilities, because they could be counted upon.  Meanwhile some of their "smarter friends" are still struggling because they are looking for the "right job" .  Smarts is only a small part, the rest comes from your work ethic and what you actually do! [/quote]

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