Reply to Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Carnegie Mellon
Grinnell
Oberlin
Kenyon
De Paul (for theater) 
Sarah Lawrence[/quote]

Grinnell, Oberlin, Kenyon out of reach for student fitting this profile.[/quote]

DC has a 3.6  GPA and very, very strong PSATs. These schools are definitely within reach. Some of these others suggestions - such as community college -- for this profile are just ridiculous. OP, don't be afraid to aim high.[/quote]

OP described her child as having a 3.6 GPA without many AP courses.  She also noted that [b]her daughter doesn't hold a leadership position in any organizations.  [/b]It's unlikely that high scores will  compensate for these factors.  So, I'd agree that Grinnell, Oberlin and Kenyon are real long-shots (and Carnegie-Mellon, which has an excellent theater program, even longer).  That said, there are many other great schools along the selectivity spectrum.  It's fine to aim high with a couple of reaches, but every student needs likelies and safeties to anchor their list.       [/quote]

I have had it up to HERE with leadership positions!  Everyone is not a leader.  Some of the most accomplished, talented students I know, actually, are too busy doing and creating things to want to deal with the hassle of holding meetings and managing their peers.  Talented writers and artists, talented actors, talented athletes, talented techies can be high achieving without ever holding the title of president, editor or captain.  So to say that someone's lack of a leadership position would hurt them is ridiculous.   Imagine a college where everyone is a leader?   What would that even be like? [/quote]

Agree 100%.  This emphasis on "leadership positions" is such B.S.  Even the old, "start a club at school so you can appoint yourself president" is so moronic.  Don't admissions committees see right through this?  I asked my son if he'd ever thought of running for office (class pres, VP, sec, treasurer, etc.) and he said that everyone knows kids who run for these positions are only doing it for the college resume.  He said it's widely known that these "leadership positions" are pretty much a sham.  Not to say there aren't kids who are born leaders and great in this role, but most just aren't but have been told over and over they must put something like that on their college apps.  Agree with PP - most talented people don't have time for this kind of thing.  They're busy doing and creating, and not interested in the busy work of rounding up all the doers and creators.

FWIW, my other son recently got into a very good college with no leadership activities.  Go figure![/quote]

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