Anonymous
Post 03/01/2022 22:44     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous board = lying

No, I don't think so. There is nothing to gain from posting fake info on an anonymous board. Instead, it's selection bias. People who are more focused on the education of their kids to the point of posting on a forum like this is likely to have kids that do better than average.

There is also the factor that people tend to post the highlights of their life, and not share the things they are not particularly excited about, even if they do care about it.

Yet another point is that I am under the impression that grade inflation is a serious issue. My kid has so called impressive stats, but it seems most of his friends also have impressive stats. One kid has a 3.7 and 1400 SAT and was described as a very average kid. Back in my day, that was a pretty strong student. For reference, I was average, graduating with a 3.1 and had a 1200 SAT. I went to University of Maryland.


I agree with this poster: definitely selection bias and definitely grade inflation. The fact kids can take standardized tests monthly and super score has made really high scores much more common. A true score taken in one sitting is less common but super scores are equally accepted so there is no advantage. Also, realizing I sound old, a C is considered low, rather than average.

Another poster mentioned another point with which I agree: it feels a little more obvious what schools an “average” kid would apply - and I do see posts sharing info on these schools. What likely draws people to this forum is how few choices there seems to be for high stats kids. They are seeking any sliver of advice that may help their kid.



Anonymous
Post 03/01/2022 21:08     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:BTW, I have two cousins within one grade of each other. One went to Cornell and one went to SUNY Fredonia. Both became elementary school teachers. I doubt Cormell is earning significantly more than Fredonia.

Another two of my cousins: one went to Brown, and one went to Worcester State U. Brown became a yoga teacher part time. Worcester went to grad school and now is a speech pathologist. An impressive-sounding school doesn't always lead to an impressive career.


I know a Harvard grad who is now a middle school teacher.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2022 21:06     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:Since AP courses are year-long, there is no school, anywhere, that could accommodate someone taking 11 AP classes in one year. Over the course of an entire high school career? Yes. Still not the norm.


First, the PP likely meant 11 over the course of a high school career.

Second, AP courses are not always year-long. Our school has quite few that are one-semester courses (all with the exam in Spring), like AP Micro, AP Macro, AP Language and Comp, AP Lit (many versions of this and most kids take at least 3 of them at our school, but only one exam), AP Enviro, AP Gov., AP Physics C: Mechanics, and AP Physics C: Electricity/Magnetism.

My DC will have taken 13 courses with an AP title and will sit for 11 tests, but had a normal daily schedule.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2022 20:39     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous board = lying

No, I don't think so. There is nothing to gain from posting fake info on an anonymous board. Instead, it's selection bias. People who are more focused on the education of their kids to the point of posting on a forum like this is likely to have kids that do better than average.

There is also the factor that people tend to post the highlights of their life, and not share the things they are not particularly excited about, even if they do care about it.

Yet another point is that I am under the impression that grade inflation is a serious issue. My kid has so called impressive stats, but it seems most of his friends also have impressive stats. One kid has a 3.7 and 1400 SAT and was described as a very average kid. Back in my day, that was a pretty strong student. For reference, I was average, graduating with a 3.1 and had a 1200 SAT. I went to University of Maryland.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2022 20:30     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone on this board seem to have a child with a near perfect SAT score and a 4.0 GPA? Where are the normal kids? The kids who are not cutthroat or taking 6 APs a year? I can’t believe so many kids have perfect SaT scores. Anyone “ normal” out there???


Where are the normal kids? Their parents are not posting their stats on DCUM.


+1000
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2022 13:52     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone on this board seem to have a child with a near perfect SAT score and a 4.0 GPA? Where are the normal kids? The kids who are not cutthroat or taking 6 APs a year? I can’t believe so many kids have perfect SaT scores. Anyone “ normal” out there???


Where are the normal kids? Their parents are not posting their stats on DCUM.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2022 12:51     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People like to brag. The more people brag, the more people with "normal" kids don't speak up because they're comparing their kids.

The normal kids are out there, wandering around being perfectly happy and a lot less stressed than the impressive kids.


I think there are a few tippity tip top of the top kids, some whose parents made a few mil donation, but one or two others very, very deserving of their success/es - people in the DMV don’t always like to give credit where it’s due.

“Tippity tip top of the top” sounds like a line on a bad rap song. Where do you people come up with this sh!t?


+1
That expression is just beyond idiotic and sounds like a middle schooler.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2022 12:49     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous board = lying


This.

I have a "normal" kid who graduated this year. Did great at chosen college, very successful, very happy. High school grades are not the best measure of success in the long run. Did well in college, though, much better than in high school. Has a nice job that pays well and loads of friends. I count happiness high on my measure of success, and by that measure my "normal" kid is extremely successful!

FYI, DH and I are competitive Ivy types. Our "normal" kid is the polar opposite of us. Just sayin'
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2022 12:43     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone on this board seem to have a child with a near perfect SAT score and a 4.0 GPA? Where are the normal kids? The kids who are not cutthroat or taking 6 APs a year? I can’t believe so many kids have perfect SaT scores. Anyone “ normal” out there???


OP-- honestly, I will tell you my DS15 is getting a better education than I did at his age. He's in a small private school (although I've heard public schools have stepped it up too-- so for reference, but not comparison) and is learning study skills and content that I didn't learn until late HS or college. His school operates in such a way that he has to be diligent and prompt about finishing homework and studying for tests -- they are also hammering down strong writing skills (analysis, structure, grammar, etc). Math classes are highly supportive (flipped classroom, so that he gets support while finishing homework which ensures skill mastery) and science is rigorous, in depth, but broken down for comprehension.

He's a bright kid, but I think a strong education builds on itself-- he seems (as far as I can tell) ahead when I look at the content and his papers/tests. Excellent grades are a challenge but achievable because he's never under the radar and his school offers ample support in the form of before and after school tutoring.



All of this to say that some bright, not genius, kids are getting a fabulous education. DS is not a stand out compared to the students at his school, but I within the general population, I would guess he's advanced.


Most kids will not go to top schools and will be hugely successful. Good communication skills, like what your son is learning, is what will make him hugely successful. If you can't communicate effectively, you won't go far in life. Where I work we have people who went to Ivy schools and people who went to lower tier schools-- and guess what? We are all working in the same place.


The vast majority of places are like this, other than narrower fields like IB or high end management consulting. I think a lot of people just don't ask where coworkers go to undergrad (because really it doesn't matter!) or know the couple who went to the same kinds of schools they went to and have a confirmation bias to look for only that. I only know now where coworkers went to school because I have kids going through college apps and so it comes up in conversation. Wide range of schools at a big-name company in my industry.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2022 12:23     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone on this board seem to have a child with a near perfect SAT score and a 4.0 GPA? Where are the normal kids? The kids who are not cutthroat or taking 6 APs a year? I can’t believe so many kids have perfect SaT scores. Anyone “ normal” out there???


OP-- honestly, I will tell you my DS15 is getting a better education than I did at his age. He's in a small private school (although I've heard public schools have stepped it up too-- so for reference, but not comparison) and is learning study skills and content that I didn't learn until late HS or college. His school operates in such a way that he has to be diligent and prompt about finishing homework and studying for tests -- they are also hammering down strong writing skills (analysis, structure, grammar, etc). Math classes are highly supportive (flipped classroom, so that he gets support while finishing homework which ensures skill mastery) and science is rigorous, in depth, but broken down for comprehension.

He's a bright kid, but I think a strong education builds on itself-- he seems (as far as I can tell) ahead when I look at the content and his papers/tests. Excellent grades are a challenge but achievable because he's never under the radar and his school offers ample support in the form of before and after school tutoring.



All of this to say that some bright, not genius, kids are getting a fabulous education. DS is not a stand out compared to the students at his school, but I within the general population, I would guess he's advanced.


Most kids will not go to top schools and will be hugely successful. Good communication skills, like what your son is learning, is what will make him hugely successful. If you can't communicate effectively, you won't go far in life. Where I work we have people who went to Ivy schools and people who went to lower tier schools-- and guess what? We are all working in the same place.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2022 11:19     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone on this board seem to have a child with a near perfect SAT score and a 4.0 GPA? Where are the normal kids? The kids who are not cutthroat or taking 6 APs a year? I can’t believe so many kids have perfect SaT scores. Anyone “ normal” out there???


OP-- honestly, I will tell you my DS15 is getting a better education than I did at his age. He's in a small private school (although I've heard public schools have stepped it up too-- so for reference, but not comparison) and is learning study skills and content that I didn't learn until late HS or college. His school operates in such a way that he has to be diligent and prompt about finishing homework and studying for tests -- they are also hammering down strong writing skills (analysis, structure, grammar, etc). Math classes are highly supportive (flipped classroom, so that he gets support while finishing homework which ensures skill mastery) and science is rigorous, in depth, but broken down for comprehension.

He's a bright kid, but I think a strong education builds on itself-- he seems (as far as I can tell) ahead when I look at the content and his papers/tests. Excellent grades are a challenge but achievable because he's never under the radar and his school offers ample support in the form of before and after school tutoring.



All of this to say that some bright, not genius, kids are getting a fabulous education. DS is not a stand out compared to the students at his school, but I within the general population, I would guess he's advanced.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2022 11:17     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:I think my high stat kid is not normal. I've posted here - to try to get insight and context on admission decisions. Because the board is anonymous I have to question why anyone would lie- what would the motivation/point be? My next kid is a 3.4 GPA and hasn't taken the SAT yet he's "normal". I probably won't be posting here about him because we will have more realistic expectations. Having a "perfect" student you do feel they should get into a top school and it sucks when they dont and it drives you to internet forums to say WTF?


But why wouldn't you post about him here? Not in a - here are my kid's stats kinda way - but in a - I want to know more about X school for this kind of student with these interests. Maybe it's not reading as you intend it to, but it sounds like you're not as invested in your "normal" child's placement as you are in your "high stat" child's placement. This forum shouldn't only be for feedback/info for high stats kids and I think that's exactly what OP is pointing out.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2022 11:17     Subject: Normal people?
No one brags abou a normal kid OP
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2022 11:16     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone on this board seem to have a child with a near perfect SAT score and a 4.0 GPA? Where are the normal kids? The kids who are not cutthroat or taking 6 APs a year? I can’t believe so many kids have perfect SaT scores. Anyone “ normal” out there???


OP-- honestly, I will tell you my DS15 is getting a better education than I did at his age. He's in a small private school (although I've heard public schools have stepped it up too-- so for reference, but not comparison) and is learning study skills and content that I didn't learn until late HS or college. His school operates in such a way that he has to be diligent and prompt about finishing homework and studying for tests -- they are also hammering down strong writing skills (analysis, structure, grammar, etc). Math classes are highly supportive (flipped classroom, so that he gets support while finishing homework which ensures skill mastery) and science is rigorous, in depth, but broken down for comprehension.

He's a bright kid, but I think a strong education builds on itself-- he seems (as far as I can tell) ahead when I look at the content and his papers/tests. Excellent grades are a challenge but achievable because he's never under the radar and his school offers ample support in the form of before and after school tutoring.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2022 10:35     Subject: Normal people?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People like to brag. The more people brag, the more people with "normal" kids don't speak up because they're comparing their kids.

The normal kids are out there, wandering around being perfectly happy and a lot less stressed than the impressive kids.


+1. I have a normal kid. She’s enjoying high school and doing an admirable job, but she’s not in any 99th percentile. She’ll be fine. She’ll get into a good college and she’ll pick a discipline that interests her. Don’t compare yourself to DCUM. What you read here isn’t a good sample of the population.


Yep - me too! Both of my kids - and neither will be Ivy league or likely anything close - but they are happy, healthy, focused on doing their best, and have a good social network. So - that's me bragging.


I want my DD to be friends with your DD. I am the OP. 🤪