Eh. I am kind of in the middle on it. DH is an electrical engineer and I am a patent attorney with a degree in Mech E. My son has certainly not done as well as this McLean HS student, but he's always made a strong showing in terms of science fairs and engineering competitions. He's smart, and fairly motivated, but there is no way he would have accomplished what he did if he didn't have parents in science/technical fields to help him get on the right track in the beginning. It's a particular skill and approach that unfortunately, most schools don't do well enough.



What is it that you think McLean is doing that other schools aren't to support promising young scientists?

Anonymous wrote:

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

Eh. I am kind of in the middle on it. DH is an electrical engineer and I am a patent attorney with a degree in Mech E. My son has certainly not done as well as this McLean HS student, but he's always made a strong showing in terms of science fairs and engineering competitions. He's smart, and fairly motivated, but there is no way he would have accomplished what he did if he didn't have parents in science/technical fields to help him get on the right track in the beginning. It's a particular skill and approach that unfortunately, most schools don't do well enough.

Anonymous wrote:

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

Eh. I am kind of in the middle on it. DH is an electrical engineer and I am a patent attorney with a degree in Mech E. My son has certainly not done as well as this McLean HS student, but he's always made a strong showing in terms of science fairs and engineering competitions. He's smart, and fairly motivated, but there is no way he would have accomplished what he did if he didn't have parents in science/technical fields to help him get on the right track in the beginning. It's a particular skill and approach that unfortunately, most schools don't do well enough.

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

I think PP is a troll who goes all-out in expressing disapproval of any type of academic recognition to lampoon the equity activists. He's been posting on the TJ threads a lot. People take him seriously until they don't.

To win an award like this you need more than opportunity and connections. You also need intelligence and persistence.

Nice try but that’s not me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

I think PP is a troll who goes all-out in expressing disapproval of any type of academic recognition to lampoon the equity activists. He's been posting on the TJ threads a lot. People take him seriously until they don't.

To win an award like this you need more than opportunity and connections. You also need intelligence and persistence.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

I think PP is a troll who goes all-out in expressing disapproval of any type of academic recognition to lampoon the equity activists. He's been posting on the TJ threads a lot. People take him seriously until they don't.

To win an award like this you need more than opportunity and connections. You also need intelligence and persistence.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.