Anonymous wrote:what I feel like I am hearing in this post and so many others is that people really are NOT making a balanced list
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DS was one of those kids last year who had a perfect ACT score, 4.0 UW GPA, speaks 3 languages, took 12 APs, plays an instrument and a sport, won awards, had work experience, etc and got deferred everywhere last year except his safety. He is very happy at this school this year, continued his A average, but hasn’t felt particularly challenged yet. He has made friends and seems settled. I ran into his HS counselor who asked if he would be applying to transfer and if so, they would be happy to help him. He has no interest. He has an attitude now that the elite schools he aspired to are just a crock of .. well you know.
So this is my question for those who had/have the ivy or die attitude in this list. For the majority of folks who have kids who didn't get into their dream school, admit it or not, what are your feelings now? If your kid is happy, do you let it go, or push them to try again?
It DS hasn’t felt challenged, why do you think transferring to a college that will look better to your neighbors on your rear window will challenge him? If anything there is MORE velvet gloving and grade inflation at most top schools, with some exceptions of course. Also there isn’t a college in the top 1000 that couldn’t produce a challenging curriculum for 99.9999% of sophomores. Sounds like DS might need to stretch himself and take more difficult classes if things are too easy. But if DS is taking core curriculum, I have no reason to think chem 101 or history 101 or psych 101 are any more challenging at top 20 school than at an average college.
It matters so much more how your DS does in college than where they go.
+1.
And I'd add, being "challenged" at every step of the way can be overrated. Having a year that's not academically overwhelming and allows you to get your feet under you socially and in terms of adjusting to more independence, etc., can be good!
Anonymous wrote:He's happy. He has friends. He is settled. But he is calling home saying, "gee, this is too easy. Can I move, leave my friends and struggle academically so the name on the degree is more prestigious? You know, at a school that deferred me the first time around?"
I highly doubt this is coming from your child.
Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that, soon, the kids will be done with school. Done with doing what it takes to get a good grade. Their real goal is to eventually transition into the real world and get jobs. Lucky ones will have careers they like or even love.
So, the whole, school is easy thing doesn't really matter as much as whether they are setting themselves up to get a job later. And, for those who are curious souls, whether they like the courses they are taking (and those offered to them), learning in those classes.
Anonymous wrote:My DS was one of those kids last year who had a perfect ACT score, 4.0 UW GPA, speaks 3 languages, took 12 APs, plays an instrument and a sport, won awards, had work experience, etc and got deferred everywhere last year except his safety. He is very happy at this school this year, continued his A average, but hasn’t felt particularly challenged yet. He has made friends and seems settled. I ran into his HS counselor who asked if he would be applying to transfer and if so, they would be happy to help him. He has no interest. He has an attitude now that the elite schools he aspired to are just a crock of .. well you know.
So this is my question for those who had/have the ivy or die attitude in this list. For the majority of folks who have kids who didn't get into their dream school, admit it or not, what are your feelings now? If your kid is happy, do you let it go, or push them to try again?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What school and what major??
Going to a college is one thing.
Actually doing great in a college is another big success
At many colleges, getting in is the hard part.