Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges have intentionally created a lot of this mess.

They've put more money into marketing and admissions management experts than into paying their own professors. All with the intention of driving up applications and yield while driving down acceptance rates. They do this to boost their own ratings and prestige. And it means more pressure to apply ED, more pressure to apply to more schools, and the advent of vehicles that are purely designed to manipulate school stats, like the freshman year abroad programs, that have questionable benefits to students.

They've raised tuition at rates that far outstrip inflation, making the investment in college higher stakes for families.

All of this would be less egregious if colleges were for-profit institutions. But as non-profits that accept lots of our taxpayer dollars, their motives should be more altruistic.

You're in a bubble of people who are focused on the most competitive colleges. Most kids aren't gunning for Chicago, the Ivies, etc. They're applying to a few schools in their region, looking at which is the best, deal, and are done.

Some people actually have fun looking at colleges with their kid because they target good schools that accept lots of kids. You can make it miserable if you only fixate on what are deemed "top" schools by status-obsessed folks.

Do you work at one of the local privates or perhaps you’re a current parent at one but I suspect you have the means to afford the outrageous price tags at most colleges. When your state university is admitting less than 50% of applicants then you have few options and no one wants to pay astronomical rates for schools with abysmal ROI.

Did you miss the part about picking the school that offers the best deal? How in the world did you assess my financial situation and job? Crazy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges have intentionally created a lot of this mess.

They've put more money into marketing and admissions management experts than into paying their own professors. All with the intention of driving up applications and yield while driving down acceptance rates. They do this to boost their own ratings and prestige. And it means more pressure to apply ED, more pressure to apply to more schools, and the advent of vehicles that are purely designed to manipulate school stats, like the freshman year abroad programs, that have questionable benefits to students.

They've raised tuition at rates that far outstrip inflation, making the investment in college higher stakes for families.

All of this would be less egregious if colleges were for-profit institutions. But as non-profits that accept lots of our taxpayer dollars, their motives should be more altruistic.

You're in a bubble of people who are focused on the most competitive colleges. Most kids aren't gunning for Chicago, the Ivies, etc. They're applying to a few schools in their region, looking at which is the best, deal, and are done.

Some people actually have fun looking at colleges with their kid because they target good schools that accept lots of kids. You can make it miserable if you only fixate on what are deemed "top" schools by status-obsessed folks.

Do you work at one of the local privates or perhaps you’re a current parent at one but I suspect you have the means to afford the outrageous price tags at most colleges. When your state university is admitting less than 50% of applicants then you have few options and no one wants to pay astronomical rates for schools with abysmal ROI.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What this post tells me is that being admitted to Chicago reflects very little about the capability of the students but the "institutional priority" of the school.

I’m probably biased, but I had personal experience with kids like this at top colleges. It could be a disaster waiting for them. It’s puzzling that student felt the need to post their story on reddit to inspire others!

It's puzzling how you don't understand basic human emotions.

You mean lack of self/awareness?

Anonymous wrote:This is not an inspiring story. An inspiring story would be some kid who had a mediocre high school record got their act together in community college, transferred to their state flagship or a good private university, aced the courses there, and then landed a great job and became successful.

What exactly is inspiring about the story in the post? I think Chicago is a great school, but is getting into such a school the endgame? They have to be able to succeed there too.

Correct

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What this post tells me is that being admitted to Chicago reflects very little about the capability of the students but the "institutional priority" of the school.

I’m probably biased, but I had personal experience with kids like this at top colleges. It could be a disaster waiting for them. It’s puzzling that student felt the need to post their story on reddit to inspire others!

It's puzzling how you don't understand basic human emotions.

Anonymous wrote:https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1rqlu3s/hopecore_1310_sat_student_with_a_c_on_transcript/
Was reading this post this morning. Everyone is stressed out at this point, so it's refreshing to read inspiring stories like this.

Wish everyone best of luck in the final two weeks!

Thats a post about trying into U CHICAGO, not "anywhere and everywhere"

Anonymous wrote:What this post tells me is that being admitted to Chicago reflects very little about the capability of the students but the "institutional priority" of the school.

I’m probably biased, but I had personal experience with kids like this at top colleges. It could be a disaster waiting for them. It’s puzzling that student felt the need to post their story on reddit to inspire others!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges have intentionally created a lot of this mess.

They've put more money into marketing and admissions management experts than into paying their own professors. All with the intention of driving up applications and yield while driving down acceptance rates. They do this to boost their own ratings and prestige. And it means more pressure to apply ED, more pressure to apply to more schools, and the advent of vehicles that are purely designed to manipulate school stats, like the freshman year abroad programs, that have questionable benefits to students.

They've raised tuition at rates that far outstrip inflation, making the investment in college higher stakes for families.

All of this would be less egregious if colleges were for-profit institutions. But as non-profits that accept lots of our taxpayer dollars, their motives should be more altruistic.

You're in a bubble of people who are focused on the most competitive colleges. Most kids aren't gunning for Chicago, the Ivies, etc. They're applying to a few schools in their region, looking at which is the best, deal, and are done.

Some people actually have fun looking at colleges with their kid because they target good schools that accept lots of kids. You can make it miserable if you only fixate on what are deemed "top" schools by status-obsessed folks.

+1000000

Anonymous wrote:Colleges have intentionally created a lot of this mess.

They've put more money into marketing and admissions management experts than into paying their own professors. All with the intention of driving up applications and yield while driving down acceptance rates. They do this to boost their own ratings and prestige. And it means more pressure to apply ED, more pressure to apply to more schools, and the advent of vehicles that are purely designed to manipulate school stats, like the freshman year abroad programs, that have questionable benefits to students.

They've raised tuition at rates that far outstrip inflation, making the investment in college higher stakes for families.

All of this would be less egregious if colleges were for-profit institutions. But as non-profits that accept lots of our taxpayer dollars, their motives should be more altruistic.

You're in a bubble of people who are focused on the most competitive colleges. Most kids aren't gunning for Chicago, the Ivies, etc. They're applying to a few schools in their region, looking at which is the best, deal, and are done.

Some people actually have fun looking at colleges with their kid because they target good schools that accept lots of kids. You can make it miserable if you only fixate on what are deemed "top" schools by status-obsessed folks.

What this post tells me is that being admitted to Chicago reflects very little about the capability of the students but the "institutional priority" of the school.

This is not an inspiring story. An inspiring story would be some kid who had a mediocre high school record got their act together in community college, transferred to their state flagship or a good private university, aced the courses there, and then landed a great job and became successful.

What exactly is inspiring about the story in the post? I think Chicago is a great school, but is getting into such a school the endgame? They have to be able to succeed there too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every year around this time until summer, many families go through the college admissions torture (congrats to those who have survived it).

I can’t help but wonder why colleges haven’t figured out a better system that works for most people. In my opinion, it’s only getting worse. Kids seem to start preparing or being prepared for college admissions since they were fetus

This is not the fault of colleges.

Not the fault but things can be done in a more positive way. Right now it looks like hunger games and deliberately done this way

Only for like 15-20% of college applicants and their parents.

Correct. And that percentage is probably closer to 15%.

Anonymous wrote:I am constantly amazed at the posts on DCUM year-round that are written by a parent who outright detests their child as not enough. The parent who seethes with resentment and disappointment. This kid isn't good enough, attractive enough, social enough, impressive enough, and/or smart enough to get into that top university. This child is nothing more than a mirror to this parent, a glitter achievement pony meant to make the parent sparkle. It's very sad to read those type of posts. God bless their children. I hope He is looking over them and protecting them from this parent because it's truly awful to be the child of a parent who hates you on a basic level -- and you know it, because you can feel it every time you walk into the room. Let your kids know they are enough, right now, today, every day.

I am going to assume that you are referring to some of the crazy posts where parents criticize their child’s worth based on their major or “failure to launch”. I like to hope those are troll threads. Sadly I do not think they all are.

That said, that is a tiny minority of posts and the majority of parents on here clearly love their kids and are doing the best they can for them. Sometimes values are mixed up in terms of where they are applying and why. There is also a lot of disbelief that really amazing hardworking kids are not getting into their schools of choice. And there can be bashing or boosting of individual schools that seems out of proportion.

I like to believe that most DCUM posters are looking for info to help navigate this complicated world with their kids.

When a poster experiences a real loss, DCUM posters are usually unbelievably supportive.

Don’t let the trolls make you believe they are the majority.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every year around this time until summer, many families go through the college admissions torture (congrats to those who have survived it).

I can’t help but wonder why colleges haven’t figured out a better system that works for most people. In my opinion, it’s only getting worse. Kids seem to start preparing or being prepared for college admissions since they were fetus

This is not the fault of colleges.

Not the fault but things can be done in a more positive way. Right now it looks like hunger games and deliberately done this way

Only for like 15-20% of college applicants and their parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1rqlu3s/hopecore_1310_sat_student_with_a_c_on_transcript/
Was reading this post this morning. Everyone is stressed out at this point, so it's refreshing to read inspiring stories like this.

Wish everyone best of luck in the final two weeks!

How did he get into Chicago with 1310 and Cs? No hook.

He mentioned he is from a rural area, also attended Chicago summer program. That may explain it. Reddit community seems very supportive to him.