Anonymous wrote:+1 When it comes to unhooked kids with sterling credentials, top schools are primarily looking for intellectually-oriented students. They're the ones who know how to pick up ideas, take them apart, and create something new. When you come from an intellectually-oriented family where it's perfectly normal to consume different viewpoints, gather evidence about them and debate around the dinner table, the chances are that you will develop those habits of mind and a culture of critical thought. It's one reason children of academics are so overrepresented at the elite colleges.

Teachers know these students well because they are the ones who aren't repeating the same tired opinions in class everyday and their recommendations reflect it. Teachers also love kids who work tirelessly and grind away at tough problems, but they describe them differently. Given the choice between two applicants with similar test scores and grades, elite colleges will almost always choose the thinker. Even better is the rare student who can does both.

that's not really true though - take duke for example. As a hiring manager, one of our firm's 'target schools' is duke but the duke grads we get are not intellectually oriented in the way you are describing. They are great in having 'polish', and following directions as analysts/associates - but wrestling with ideas, working in white space, dealing with ambiguity - eh no. Not from what I've seen. Same with Northwestern grads.

are you suggesting duke and northwestern are not top schools?

+1 When it comes to unhooked kids with sterling credentials, top schools are primarily looking for intellectually-oriented students. They're the ones who know how to pick up ideas, take them apart, and create something new. When you come from an intellectually-oriented family where it's perfectly normal to consume different viewpoints, gather evidence about them and debate around the dinner table, the chances are that you will develop those habits of mind and a culture of critical thought. It's one reason children of academics are so overrepresented at the elite colleges.

Teachers know these students well because they are the ones who aren't repeating the same tired opinions in class everyday and their recommendations reflect it. Teachers also love kids who work tirelessly and grind away at tough problems, but they describe them differently. Given the choice between two applicants with similar test scores and grades, elite colleges will almost always choose the thinker. Even better is the rare student who can does both.

I have two in Ivy League schools and one who will be applying this Fall. They all went to private high schools (not in this area) and got excellent grades and scores. We are not hooked in any way but we are full pay. Each kid had an interest in high school that they pursued. One took a class on African history, visited Africa with his class and then wrote a research paper about African political development which was published in a journal for high school writers. One loves French, worked as an au pair in the summer in France, finished up two years of independent studies about French literature after completing French 4 her sophmore year. Our youngest is an athlete and is currently currently talking to coaches. I am an academic and my hubby is an attorney, and we stressed love of learning and reading for pleasure. But we didn't pressure the kids to go to top colleges. We would be just as happy if they had gone to state schools. We feel very happy and lucky our kids are healthy and enjoy life. I think parents modeling behavior ( reading, taking kids to museums, discussing the newspaper, etc.) and good luck are a big part success up through college age. Beyond that, parents have little impact.