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Anonymous wrote:I read a statistic the other day that caused me to take notice. The top 50 colleges in the country combined have space for less than 1% of all US high school graduates (yes, this list includes University of Wisconsin and UMichigan). Access is reduced to less than 1% US grads when you also consider foreign students. These statistics are far more relevant than the "exclusivity" or selectively of a school as measured by percentage admits. What a luxury to look down our noses at schools like these when MOST on this planet can't even consider them as an option.

Fuck "most on this planet". US colleges do not exist for them. US colleges exist for Americans.

Anonymous wrote:I read a statistic the other day that caused me to take notice. The top 50 colleges in the country combined have space for less than 1% of all US high school graduates (yes, this list includes University of Wisconsin and UMichigan). Access is reduced to less than 1% US grads when you also consider foreign students. These statistics are far more relevant than the "exclusivity" or selectively of a school as measured by percentage admits. What a luxury to look down our noses at schools like these when MOST on this planet can't even consider them as an option.

Anonymous wrote:If I'm honest I'd have to admit that I'm a bit of a college snob. Sh and I both went to Ivies and college reputation was important to me when sizing someone up professionally. Our first two children were exceptionally good students, earning their way into elite colleges, and I was very proud. What changed me was my third child with a learning disability. For the first time I had to confront my own college snobbery. She's not going to an elite college, and I realize now that it isn't that important. What mattered was finding a school were she could be happy and succeed on her own terms. These days I'm less smug about the college thing. I wish I'd been more open minded from the start.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read a statistic the other day that caused me to take notice. The top 50 colleges in the country combined have space for less than 1% of all US high school graduates (yes, this list includes University of Wisconsin and UMichigan). Access is reduced to less than 1% US grads when you also consider foreign students. These statistics are far more relevant than the "exclusivity" or selectively of a school as measured by percentage admits. What a luxury to look down our noses at schools like these when MOST on this planet can't even consider them as an option.

Similarly, the Ivy League schools together wouldn't have enough space for all the HS Valedictorians in the country. Entrance to those super-selective colleges is really essentially a lottery for the many extremely well-prepared HS students. Those who don't get in shouldn't feel like there was something wrong with them. They will be very successful wherever they do go.

Anonymous wrote:I read a statistic the other day that caused me to take notice. The top 50 colleges in the country combined have space for less than 1% of all US high school graduates (yes, this list includes University of Wisconsin and UMichigan). Access is reduced to less than 1% US grads when you also consider foreign students. These statistics are far more relevant than the "exclusivity" or selectively of a school as measured by percentage admits. What a luxury to look down our noses at schools like these when MOST on this planet can't even consider them as an option.

It's a silly question. 98% of children will not be "Ivy material" but success comes in many forms. There isn't much reason to stake you or your child's worth on a "game" that guarantees a 98% figure rate.

There are plenty of small business people and sales-types that aren't school-smart but are incredibly savvy and earn a lot of money (easily 10x what I do). They may not like to discuss the nuances of international development policy or might not read literary fiction, but they are likely highly emotionally/socially intelligent.

We're not a particularly wealthy family, so many people would not consider us successful. But, we're a family that values working on things we think are socially valuable and we're willing to accept lower incomes to pursue what we want to do. We've got degrees from elite schools and a lifestyle that bolsters our child's intellectual development. And our priority has been to transmit our values and intellectual orientation to our child. Despite our modest income, DC has gone to selective private schools. So our DC has had many built in advantages from the start to get into an elite college. It doesn't mean DC is any better than anyone else, it just means DC has a set of advantages that few others have for the particularly narrow criteria that elite schools look for.

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, I will be seriously disappointed if DS (now 12) is not accepted to a top 25 school. Or a top 10 school for his major, which is looking like it could be engineering. The very best engineering schools don't overlap neatly with absolute top 25.

I will love him just the same if he winds up at U. Wisconsin though. And he will have a nice life if that happens. But it's not wrong to strive for better.

U of Wisconsin isn't that easy to get into either you know.

It is for a certain profile. It's where the disappointed Sidwell parents send their mid-pack, affluent white kids with no hook, for example.

If you go to Sidwell and and up there--or Michigan, for that matter--ask yourself, why did I spend money for this crap?

Do you realize how ridiculous you sound referring to Michigan or Wisconsin as "crap?" If the only reason you send your kid to Sidwell is to win the elite college lottery you are missing the point of private school education.

And PP will be back in a few years when reality hits and she realizes that UWM or Michigan are in the running for her snowflake.

Wisconsin Alum here-- it is not UWM, it is UW, Wisconsin, or Madison. UWM is the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. And, by the way, any of your kids would be lucky to go to Wisconsin. It is truly a life-changing university both socially and academically. And, it is where stem cells were first isolated and where numerous world changing discoveries and innovations that benefit all of us are found every day. So show a little f*&^ing respect.

I was actually saying the pp would be considering those schools for her kid one day but I guess UW didn't teach you reading comprehension. Must suck to carry that frozen chip on your shoulder. Sorry I don't know the naming convention of every middling university in bum fuck nowhere.

Guess whatever overrated hallowed hall of learning you went to didn't teach you how to write clearly then. And, I have no chip on my shoulder. I went to one of the best universities in the world, certainly not "middling" and certainly not "in bum fuck nowhere." Sorry you are such an unhappy person. Maybe sucking on a lemon would help.

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, I will be seriously disappointed if DS (now 12) is not accepted to a top 25 school. Or a top 10 school for his major, which is looking like it could be engineering. The very best engineering schools don't overlap neatly with absolute top 25.

I will love him just the same if he winds up at U. Wisconsin though. And he will have a nice life if that happens. But it's not wrong to strive for better.

U of Wisconsin isn't that easy to get into either you know.

It is for a certain profile. It's where the disappointed Sidwell parents send their mid-pack, affluent white kids with no hook, for example.

If you go to Sidwell and and up there--or Michigan, for that matter--ask yourself, why did I spend money for this crap?

Do you realize how ridiculous you sound referring to Michigan or Wisconsin as "crap?" If the only reason you send your kid to Sidwell is to win the elite college lottery you are missing the point of private school education.

And PP will be back in a few years when reality hits and she realizes that UWM or Michigan are in the running for her snowflake.

Wisconsin Alum here-- it is not UWM, it is UW, Wisconsin, or Madison. UWM is the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. And, by the way, any of your kids would be lucky to go to Wisconsin. It is truly a life-changing university both socially and academically. And, it is where stem cells were first isolated and where numerous world changing discoveries and innovations that benefit all of us are found every day. So show a little f*&^ing respect.

I was actually saying the pp would be considering those schools for her kid one day but I guess UW didn't teach you reading comprehension. Must suck to carry that frozen chip on your shoulder. Sorry I don't know the naming convention of every middling university in bum fuck nowhere.

Anonymous wrote:Generally white collar workers go to college and blue collar workers don't. There are some exceptions but it's often true. Also, white collar and blue collar people live in different neighborhoods, kids go to different schools and as a result they don't socialize together that much. It's not that surprising I wouldn't have friends without college degrees. I have a few family members who married "down" or just couldn't hack college.

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, I will be seriously disappointed if DS (now 12) is not accepted to a top 25 school. Or a top 10 school for his major, which is looking like it could be engineering. The very best engineering schools don't overlap neatly with absolute top 25.

I will love him just the same if he winds up at U. Wisconsin though. And he will have a nice life if that happens. But it's not wrong to strive for better.

U of Wisconsin isn't that easy to get into either you know.

It is for a certain profile. It's where the disappointed Sidwell parents send their mid-pack, affluent white kids with no hook, for example.

If you go to Sidwell and and up there--or Michigan, for that matter--ask yourself, why did I spend money for this crap?

Do you realize how ridiculous you sound referring to Michigan or Wisconsin as "crap?" If the only reason you send your kid to Sidwell is to win the elite college lottery you are missing the point of private school education.

And PP will be back in a few years when reality hits and she realizes that UWM or Michigan are in the running for her snowflake.

Wisconsin Alum here-- it is not UWM, it is UW, Wisconsin, or Madison. UWM is the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. And, by the way, any of your kids would be lucky to go to Wisconsin. It is truly a life-changing university both socially and academically. And, it is where stem cells were first isolated and where numerous world changing discoveries and innovations that benefit all of us are found every day. So show a little f*&^ing respect.