Anonymous wrote:This thread reminds me of the time I had to coach my son and a bunch of other first graders on a soccer team. We had to give each kid a customized trophy at the end of the season. It was so painful having to come up with something. I think went as deep as “best shin pads”.

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Anonymous wrote:100 years ago, 50 years ago, ivies are expensive, even MC may not be able to afford it. And ivies mostly get their students from boarding schools and private schools. So yeah at that time it’s reserved to rich privileged families.

If we go back to those times, restrict the seats from the commons, there would never be a rat race. I mean, it only becomes a rat race when the commons think they are attainable to them.

Transparency matters. They should be honest about the students and families they want instead of misleading people into thinking everyone has a fair shot. It’s obvious that isn’t true, so why lie?

It is fair, it just might not meet your definition of 'fairness'. They are very transparent in that they do not care solely about academics but rather ensuring that the vast majority cross a very high bar. They lower that bar a bit for people who fit institutional priorities but keep it high enough to be comfortable that everyone admitted will succeed. They want people from across the US and across the globe and they also want to ensure that socioeconomic conditions are not a barrier to admissions.

Using that criteria the number of applications that they receive from a group of mostly similar candidates far exceeds the spots at their schools which results in a situation where most people never know why they were admitted or denied. This also means that there is randomness and a bit of luck involved. It is frustrating but it isn't unfair.

I would not call the holistic review "very transparent". Does companies hire employees by holistic review? Does any company hire a quant trader by checking his violin skills?
1. Despite the prestige, these elite institutions do not guarantee better financial or career success after graduation.
2. If international students are included in the target student pool, these institutions should not receive tax sponsorship or tax-exempt status, since American students are not given higher priority.

A company hires employees based on their skills, and that includes how they work with others and how they communicate, etc. But if you can discuss during an interview things that show you are more than a robot (ie play the violin or teach music to kids at the local Y) you might land the job over someone who cannot make eye contact and cannot communicate but is wickedly smart. Because yes the holistic person matters in the real world as well.

There is a good chance your boss (and their boss) did not attend an elite school, yet they are managing you and getting paid more than others who did attend an elite school.

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Anonymous wrote:This is such a misguided thread.

Sour grapes anyone?

+1 pure comedy.

Anonymous wrote:This is such a misguided thread.

Sour grapes anyone?

Anonymous wrote:It’s the world we live in. Youth sports. Colleges. NIL money. Celebrity. It’s all about your Gucci bag and your bail condo. Better to not play and live a more authentic life. Your kid will be better off for it.

Anonymous wrote:This is such a misguided thread.

Sour grapes anyone?

Anonymous wrote:It’s the world we live in. Youth sports. Colleges. NIL money. Celebrity. It’s all about your Gucci bag and your bail condo. Better to not play and live a more authentic life. Your kid will be better off for it.

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Anonymous wrote:Wow, so much jealously and generalization on this thread. To many of you, if a kid is at an ivy or other top school, you automatically label them as a "rat" and imply they have "mental health problems" and only care about "prestige" and are somehow overly competitive with their peers and unkind?

Do you even hear yourselves?

You all sound really pathetic and really jealous. Stop comparing yourself to others and live your best life. That's what my ivy kid is doing. She doesn't fit any of the descriptors above that you all are listing. Sorry to burst your little story.... but there are plenty of fully well adjusted happy, kind, non competitive kids at ivies who are doing good for this world and for you. Stop trying to tear them down - it really makes you look bad.

Totally agree with you. I have a well adjusted, doesn’t fit any of these descriptors son at an Ivy who is happy and thriving. Not defensive or taking it personally but just reminder there are many happy kids achieving a lot and doing well despite how all you think & feel!