If DD wants to go to grad/med school, I think it's better to be big fish, small pond. If they want to go into the workforce, then it doesn't matter.

Anonymous wrote:My best friend’s hooked daughter got into University of Chicago off the waitlist. She struggled the entire way through and graduated with right at a two point. The college kept telling her her gpa didn’t matter “at Chicago” so she wouldn’t transfer out. She got no job offers. After working for the university for a few months she’s back home and tutors little kids for peanuts through some federal non-profit program.

So maybe she won’t fail out but she could be in a difficult spot in recruiting with an awful gpa.

You need to be above a 3.0. If she can manage that, she will be fine. Otherwise, it will impact the job search and grad school options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Son had 2.5 GPA in high school and was admitted into HYPS because my brother donated 2M to the school. Son graduated from college with C average but it really did not matter. He got a job through networking and now is at PWC consulting with 200K+ salary. College GPA means nothing. It is the connection that counts.

Your DD will do fine at those elite colleges. If she works hard and have 1-1 tutoring, she will graduate with an unbelievable job waiting for her. Is your DD going to be Marissa Mayer? Probably not but she will do well.

How long ago was this? I don't believe a nephew with a 2.5 would get into HYPS after a 2 million donation . . .

+1. Even JFK Jr was rejected from Harvard, and that was in the late 70s.

Anonymous wrote:HYPS grad here (from the 90's). One of the things that I realized in college was that I could have been a math major anywhere else. (My university had only about 6 math majors a year, they rarely bathed, and they all went on to elite Ph.d programs).

This was me exactly. I overshot as far as courses the first year and paid the price.

The US does not keep 4-year graduation stats. 6 year is the norm, and it doesn't include successful completion at another school.

Anonymous wrote:HYPS grad here (from the 90's). One of the things that I realized in college was that I could have been a math major anywhere else. (My university had only about 6 math majors a year, they rarely bathed, and they all went on to elite Ph.d programs). I took a few summer courses at my local state university and enjoyed being at the top of the class again. So, a lot depends upon your daughter. Does she want to major in something that is considered an "elite" major? Or, will she major in something more accessible? Does she like networking? Or, does she want to pursue a field like medicine that is GPA dependent? Does she like getting attention for being the smartest person in the room or is she content to just be herself?

Very good post!

But don't sell your kid short, either.

Anonymous wrote:I worried about my DD entering a USNWR top 5 known for its “stress culture.” It turned out fine. DD marveled at the photographic memories and other talents she met there. But DD also rose to the occasion, pushed herself, and graduated with a number of semesters on the Dean’s list.

That’s the benefit of having a fantastic peer group, they'll push (and coach and tutor and encourage) your DD to exceed her and your expectations. My DD graduated with terrific confidence in her own abilities.

Now called "Eidetic memory"

In an 'elite' high school, DC excelled with in advanced science courses and excelled with little effort in advanced math courses. So everyone figured DC for medical school eventually. When DC settled into the 'elite' college, I received a text saying "I love you mom but I will never, ever take another biology/chem/physics course as long as I live. I hate never want to work that hard again."

I was absolutely floored because I thought the A grades were indicative of hard work and interest. DC is majoring in math (truly loves) and will only take certain mandatory or elective sciences like Astronomy which has a physics math component. DC is happy and says not working hard at all (kid takes 2 math courses every semester, go figure) and goes to bed at reasonable times

Bottom line is DC is majoring in what makes DC happy and has all my support then and now.

Anonymous wrote:Son had 2.5 GPA in high school and was admitted into HYPS because my brother donated 2M to the school. Son graduated from college with C average but it really did not matter. He got a job through networking and now is at PWC consulting with 200K+ salary. College GPA means nothing. It is the connection that counts.

Your DD will do fine at those elite colleges. If she works hard and have 1-1 tutoring, she will graduate with an unbelievable job waiting for her. Is your DD going to be Marissa Mayer? Probably not but she will do well.

So much for highly advertised American 'meritocracy' system.

Anonymous wrote:Son had 2.5 GPA in high school and was admitted into HYPS because my brother donated 2M to the school. Son graduated from college with C average but it really did not matter. He got a job through networking and now is at PWC consulting with 200K+ salary. College GPA means nothing. It is the connection that counts.

Your DD will do fine at those elite colleges. If she works hard and have 1-1 tutoring, she will graduate with an unbelievable job waiting for her. Is your DD going to be Marissa Mayer? Probably not but she will do well.

How long ago was this? I don't believe a nephew with a 2.5 would get into HYPS after a 2 million donation . . .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How low are we talking? Is it possible to flunk summer placement testing? I don't believe the Ivy League or elites like Chicago MIT WashU even have remedial courses like a public university. Elites generally have a 90-95% graduation rate. Many kids do flunk out.

No, very few kids flunk out. They have a 95% 4 yr graduation rate. Another 2-3% graduate in the next 2 years, getting us to 97%. Of the remaining 3% some have changes in their finances, some are just unhappy, some get sick or injured. Only around 1% flunk out. Most kids that have trouble just change to less challenging majors, say from chemistry to business, or something that ends in "studies".

Wrong! No college has a 95% 4-year graduation rate. Ivies, MIT and UChi have 84-89% 4-year grad rates.

They have 93-97% 6-year grad rates. Dozens of kids every year flunk out, transfer out because it's too hard, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Son had 2.5 GPA in high school and was admitted into HYPS because my brother donated 2M to the school. Son graduated from college with C average but it really did not matter. He got a job through networking and now is at PWC consulting with 200K+ salary. College GPA means nothing. It is the connection that counts.

Your DD will do fine at those elite colleges. If she works hard and have 1-1 tutoring, she will graduate with an unbelievable job waiting for her. Is your DD going to be Marissa Mayer? Probably not but she will do well.

That’s ridiculous & hopefully doesn’t happen anymore.

New poster. Of course it still does. How naive are you?

2mm won’t get your child into HYPS today and it certainly won’t get your nephew in. You’re a gullible moron.

HYPS grad here (from the 90's). One of the things that I realized in college was that I could have been a math major anywhere else. (My university had only about 6 math majors a year, they rarely bathed, and they all went on to elite Ph.d programs). I took a few summer courses at my local state university and enjoyed being at the top of the class again. So, a lot depends upon your daughter. Does she want to major in something that is considered an "elite" major? Or, will she major in something more accessible? Does she like networking? Or, does she want to pursue a field like medicine that is GPA dependent? Does she like getting attention for being the smartest person in the room or is she content to just be herself?

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who attended Swarthmore. At the grad ceremony, the student speaker, who was quite humorous, said that during his freshman year, he was convinced he got accepted by mistake! The student body had a good laugh at that statement while nodding in agreement. I guess it's a typical feeling.

Again, this isn’t a post about a kid feeling that way. It’s a parent (and maybe a college counselor). Different issue(s).

I have a child who attended Swarthmore. At the grad ceremony, the student speaker, who was quite humorous, said that during his freshman year, he was convinced he got accepted by mistake! The student body had a good laugh at that statement while nodding in agreement. I guess it's a typical feeling.