Nothing wrong with Paterno State.

The reality is a lot of today's parents of teenagers would have a tough time being accepted to their alma mater, Ivy or otherwise. College admissions at the top 50 to 100 colleges and universities are far more competitive (and with generally much bigger applicant pools) than was the case 20 to 30 years ago.

Anonymous wrote:Neither my DH nor I went to an Ivy. Imagine how thrilled we were when one of our kids got into not one, but two Ivys!

...She turned them both down and went to the University of Florida. It needs to be about what your child wants, not about where you went to school.

Just curious: Why would DD bother to apply at not one but two ivies if she preferred U of F?

Ivy grad here. Unless you already have leg up with networkin connections, ivy really is no better or worse. Smart kids do fine everywhere. Middle tier bright kids probably would have better time and same outcomes at Penn state (I had crazy culture shock coming from rural school district that offered 1 AP course vs kids from Mont or Fairfax county caliber publics, magnets, and privates).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither my DH nor I went to an Ivy. Imagine how thrilled we were when one of our kids got into not one, but two Ivys!

...She turned them both down and went to the University of Florida. It needs to be about what your child wants, not about where you went to school.

Isn't the plural of Ivy "Ivies"?

Does it matter?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither my DH nor I went to an Ivy. Imagine how thrilled we were when one of our kids got into not one, but two Ivys!

...She turned them both down and went to the University of Florida. It needs to be about what your child wants, not about where you went to school.

Isn't the plural of Ivy "Ivies"?

My daughter is the smart one. I'm sure she could tell you. I went to Ole Miss and my DH went to Georgia.

Anonymous wrote:Neither my DH nor I went to an Ivy. Imagine how thrilled we were when one of our kids got into not one, but two Ivys!

...She turned them both down and went to the University of Florida. It needs to be about what your child wants, not about where you went to school.

Isn't the plural of Ivy "Ivies"?

Neither my DH nor I went to an Ivy. Imagine how thrilled we were when one of our kids got into not one, but two Ivys!

...She turned them both down and went to the University of Florida. It needs to be about what your child wants, not about where you went to school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is either not a parent, or a really bad one. I'd be proud of my kids if they're kind, honest, work hard, and find self-supporting work that they're satisfied with. Really proud. Name of college not even a part of that. End of story. And I did go Ivy.

Do you show up at the Ivy reunions? An active alum?

Yes, for one of my ivies, but not the other. (i did one for undergrad, one for grad.)

My ex-DH went to Harvard from Exeter, back a million years ago when Exeter sent 50 kids a year to Harvard. That ain't happening anymore, and a good thing, too.

I went to Harvard in the mid 80s from a good public school and w/no alumni connections. But I doubt I could get in today, either-- it's just gotten so insanely competitive.

Penn State's a good school. There are lots of good schools. I'd be perfectly happy if my kids go to Penn State or an equivalent.

Are you aware of the acceptance rates at the Ivies? Not every kid of any ivy parent can get in - statistically not possible given that the class sizes aren't huge. -an ivy grad

Anonymous wrote:OP is either not a parent, or a really bad one. I'd be proud of my kids if they're kind, honest, work hard, and find self-supporting work that they're satisfied with. Really proud. Name of college not even a part of that. End of story. And I did go Ivy.

Do you show up at the Ivy reunions? An active alum?

OP is either not a parent, or a really bad one. I'd be proud of my kids if they're kind, honest, work hard, and find self-supporting work that they're satisfied with. Really proud. Name of college not even a part of that. End of story. And I did go Ivy.

Parent went to an Ivy. I went to Penn State. Married an Ivy grad. Doubtful our bright son makes any of these three universities with the bar set higher and higher for entrance.

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the Ivy parents who went to Ivies way back when wouldn't get in today. So, it's no surprise that many of their kids don't either.

I was just saying this to my kid tonight! Way back when, I went to a top 20 LAC (not Ivy) that is so much more prestigious now than it was when I went! I don't think I'd get in now.

A lot of the Ivy parents who went to Ivies way back when wouldn't get in today. So, it's no surprise that many of their kids don't either.