Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

I’ve lived in the Midwest & in the Northeast. Except for a few wealthy suburbs, college aspirations are indeed strikingly different in the Midwest.

After trying to explain the difference many times, the best way I’ve found to sum it up is that most Midwesterners simply don’t view college as a source of prestige. You went to Princeton, great. You went to Eastern Illinois, great. THAT you went to college is far more important than WHERE you went, but neither is directly connected to prestige.

Prestige is more likely linked to what kind of boat you have, if you shot a deer during hunting season, how well your house & yard are maintained, what your golf handicap is, and so on.

Most Midwesterners know smart & financially stable farmers, tradesmen, and union workers who never went to college at all, so assuming there is a necessary connection between college & brains/wealth seems odd to them.

I grew up in Ohio and it is very true there, as well. Most kids in Ohio never even consider colleges outside of the State. The only ones I know who went out of state in my class were a couple to ND (we were a Catholic school so that wasn't surprising) and maybe one or two went out of state to Michigan.

At least where I lived, it was not a wealthy area so costs (even then at a fraction of what they are now) were prohibitive to go very far from home (my college roommate gave up an Ivy that was not affordable for a full ride at our low tier state school). All of our teachers, parents, doctors, etc. all went to Ohio schools. We didn't "mix" with ivy leaguers or T10 schools.

I left Ohio for a reason but, I will say, I do miss the fact that the people there are not prestige obsessed like they are here. It's so tiresome and the cutting down of schools (and kids) that are not top 50 in the country is really, really grotesque. But people seem to have no shame about how they act and the things they say. Also gross.

I always assumed this was because we’re all anonymous. You think these status chasers say crazy stuff IRL?

No, IRL too. I had one parent recently tell me it was great my kid (high stats but chasing merit at lower tiered schools) was mature to be able to consider "a school like that." That's just one example of the rude sh-- I've heard out of peoples' mouths.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

I’ve lived in the Midwest & in the Northeast. Except for a few wealthy suburbs, college aspirations are indeed strikingly different in the Midwest.

After trying to explain the difference many times, the best way I’ve found to sum it up is that most Midwesterners simply don’t view college as a source of prestige. You went to Princeton, great. You went to Eastern Illinois, great. THAT you went to college is far more important than WHERE you went, but neither is directly connected to prestige.

Prestige is more likely linked to what kind of boat you have, if you shot a deer during hunting season, how well your house & yard are maintained, what your golf handicap is, and so on.

Most Midwesterners know smart & financially stable farmers, tradesmen, and union workers who never went to college at all, so assuming there is a necessary connection between college & brains/wealth seems odd to them.

I grew up in Ohio and it is very true there, as well. Most kids in Ohio never even consider colleges outside of the State. The only ones I know who went out of state in my class were a couple to ND (we were a Catholic school so that wasn't surprising) and maybe one or two went out of state to Michigan.

At least where I lived, it was not a wealthy area so costs (even then at a fraction of what they are now) were prohibitive to go very far from home (my college roommate gave up an Ivy that was not affordable for a full ride at our low tier state school). All of our teachers, parents, doctors, etc. all went to Ohio schools. We didn't "mix" with ivy leaguers or T10 schools.

I left Ohio for a reason but, I will say, I do miss the fact that the people there are not prestige obsessed like they are here. It's so tiresome and the cutting down of schools (and kids) that are not top 50 in the country is really, really grotesque. But people seem to have no shame about how they act and the things they say. Also gross.

I always assumed this was because we’re all anonymous. You think these status chasers say crazy stuff IRL?

You haven't talked to the parents at my kid's private.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

I’ve lived in the Midwest & in the Northeast. Except for a few wealthy suburbs, college aspirations are indeed strikingly different in the Midwest.

After trying to explain the difference many times, the best way I’ve found to sum it up is that most Midwesterners simply don’t view college as a source of prestige. You went to Princeton, great. You went to Eastern Illinois, great. THAT you went to college is far more important than WHERE you went, but neither is directly connected to prestige.

Prestige is more likely linked to what kind of boat you have, if you shot a deer during hunting season, how well your house & yard are maintained, what your golf handicap is, and so on.

Most Midwesterners know smart & financially stable farmers, tradesmen, and union workers who never went to college at all, so assuming there is a necessary connection between college & brains/wealth seems odd to them.

I grew up in Ohio and it is very true there, as well. Most kids in Ohio never even consider colleges outside of the State. The only ones I know who went out of state in my class were a couple to ND (we were a Catholic school so that wasn't surprising) and maybe one or two went out of state to Michigan.

At least where I lived, it was not a wealthy area so costs (even then at a fraction of what they are now) were prohibitive to go very far from home (my college roommate gave up an Ivy that was not affordable for a full ride at our low tier state school). All of our teachers, parents, doctors, etc. all went to Ohio schools. We didn't "mix" with ivy leaguers or T10 schools.

I left Ohio for a reason but, I will say, I do miss the fact that the people there are not prestige obsessed like they are here. It's so tiresome and the cutting down of schools (and kids) that are not top 50 in the country is really, really grotesque. But people seem to have no shame about how they act and the things they say. Also gross.

I always assumed this was because we’re all anonymous. You think these status chasers say crazy stuff IRL?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

I’ve lived in the Midwest & in the Northeast. Except for a few wealthy suburbs, college aspirations are indeed strikingly different in the Midwest.

After trying to explain the difference many times, the best way I’ve found to sum it up is that most Midwesterners simply don’t view college as a source of prestige. You went to Princeton, great. You went to Eastern Illinois, great. THAT you went to college is far more important than WHERE you went, but neither is directly connected to prestige.

Prestige is more likely linked to what kind of boat you have, if you shot a deer during hunting season, how well your house & yard are maintained, what your golf handicap is, and so on.

Most Midwesterners know smart & financially stable farmers, tradesmen, and union workers who never went to college at all, so assuming there is a necessary connection between college & brains/wealth seems odd to them.

I grew up in Ohio and it is very true there, as well. Most kids in Ohio never even consider colleges outside of the State. The only ones I know who went out of state in my class were a couple to ND (we were a Catholic school so that wasn't surprising) and maybe one or two went out of state to Michigan.

At least where I lived, it was not a wealthy area so costs (even then at a fraction of what they are now) were prohibitive to go very far from home (my college roommate gave up an Ivy that was not affordable for a full ride at our low tier state school). All of our teachers, parents, doctors, etc. all went to Ohio schools. We didn't "mix" with ivy leaguers or T10 schools.

I left Ohio for a reason but, I will say, I do miss the fact that the people there are not prestige obsessed like they are here. It's so tiresome and the cutting down of schools (and kids) that are not top 50 in the country is really, really grotesque. But people seem to have no shame about how they act and the things they say. Also gross.

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

One reason the situation at a school like Mizzou is not as dire as you think is because the students quickly separate themselves due to major & level of courses.

Like the ones who graduated from high school with a 2.3 GPA and the high school valedictorians might be together in an intro-level history or sociology class, but otherwise they will likely get separated into different paths. They aren’t usually going to be sitting next to each other in chemical engineering classes, advanced math classes, or a 400-level Shakespeare class.

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

They give amazing merit scholarships to OOS kids and honestly the requirements aren’t that bad - meaning you don’t need a 1500 SAT or 34 ACT to qualify. I would have had my DD apply if I had known this! Keeping it in mind for the next kid…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

I’ve lived in the Midwest & in the Northeast. Except for a few wealthy suburbs, college aspirations are indeed strikingly different in the Midwest.

After trying to explain the difference many times, the best way I’ve found to sum it up is that most Midwesterners simply don’t view college as a source of prestige. You went to Princeton, great. You went to Eastern Illinois, great. THAT you went to college is far more important than WHERE you went, but neither is directly connected to prestige.

Prestige is more likely linked to what kind of boat you have, if you shot a deer during hunting season, how well your house & yard are maintained, what your golf handicap is, and so on.

Most Midwesterners know smart & financially stable farmers, tradesmen, and union workers who never went to college at all, so assuming there is a necessary connection between college & brains/wealth seems odd to them.

I like this

Me too! And makes me even more thrilled that my DD is deciding between two Midwestern schools. The way of life there is just so so different. I can’t wait for her to get out of this cesspool people on the race to nowhere.

I went to Michigan (not one of her choices) and the difference in people/attitudes between here and there is stark. Shes gonna love it!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

Weird that ppl send their kids here given the peer group.

It is a low floor high ceiling group, I guess. Certain programs have more rigorous requirements, like engineering and journalism. I can see if OOS tuition is not financially feasible, but we live in a relatively well-off area, where there are plenty of parents who could have been putting money away. So I find it weird, too.

My decision depends on peer group. For my kids, peer group is very important. If they’re surrounded by a bunch of slackers, I fear they will be slackers too. And the environment is super important to get them to internally motivate. However, that might not be the case for everyone’s kid.

And we are lucky that we don’t have to consider financial aid offers, which I know drives a lot of people to schools like this.

Wow. A bunch of slackers? Schools like this? There are high stat kids at every state flagship. Just stop.

+100

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

I’ve lived in the Midwest & in the Northeast. Except for a few wealthy suburbs, college aspirations are indeed strikingly different in the Midwest.

After trying to explain the difference many times, the best way I’ve found to sum it up is that most Midwesterners simply don’t view college as a source of prestige. You went to Princeton, great. You went to Eastern Illinois, great. THAT you went to college is far more important than WHERE you went, but neither is directly connected to prestige.

Prestige is more likely linked to what kind of boat you have, if you shot a deer during hunting season, how well your house & yard are maintained, what your golf handicap is, and so on.

Most Midwesterners know smart & financially stable farmers, tradesmen, and union workers who never went to college at all, so assuming there is a necessary connection between college & brains/wealth seems odd to them.

I like this

My B/C student was accepted to plenty of great colleges:

UC Boulder
WVU
MSU
Creighton
USF
CCU
ODU
VCU
Marquette

He chose WVU and is in his Junior year. He's done very well and loves the area.

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

I’ve lived in the Midwest & in the Northeast. Except for a few wealthy suburbs, college aspirations are indeed strikingly different in the Midwest.

After trying to explain the difference many times, the best way I’ve found to sum it up is that most Midwesterners simply don’t view college as a source of prestige. You went to Princeton, great. You went to Eastern Illinois, great. THAT you went to college is far more important than WHERE you went, but neither is directly connected to prestige.

Prestige is more likely linked to what kind of boat you have, if you shot a deer during hunting season, how well your house & yard are maintained, what your golf handicap is, and so on.

Most Midwesterners know smart & financially stable farmers, tradesmen, and union workers who never went to college at all, so assuming there is a necessary connection between college & brains/wealth seems odd to them.

Anonymous wrote:Jesuit universities

My normal kid goes to Loyola MD and I went there too.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is normal and went to Hopkins. Not URM, not legacy (except her cousin went there). Not sure if this matters but she's done CYT since elementary school.

ok, if she is doing cyt, she is in the gifted program. And likely has multiple AP classes under her belt.

WE're having definition problems again

In VA, JMU, VCU, GMU, and some get lucky for VT

My kid is normal and went to Hopkins. Not URM, not legacy (except her cousin went there). Not sure if this matters but she's done CYT since elementary school.