<p>I wonder if berurah thinks it is fair that a kid from Kansas has a better shot at getting into a top college because he is from Kansas? Personally, I think the emphasis on geographic distribution is incredibly unfair. I think it benefited kids at Harvard to have AGIII there. While berurah's son may be an excellent addition to Duke--I don't claim to have any personal knowledge--in the "abstract" I don't think the fact he is from Kansas improves the educational experience of his classmates.</p>
<p>I freely admit that I am VERY biased on the issue because I live in NYC.</p>
<p>I actually do not have any issue with your strong opinion about geographical location "bumps." I feel that you, like everyone else, is more than entitled to an opinion.</p>
<p>However, since you have brought my son into this in such a personal fashion, please allow me a brief "mommy brag":</p>
<p>I am very proud to say that regardless of the geographical location my son hails from, he has certainly done himself, his family, his community, and his college proud. After his last semester, he is currently ranked in the top 1.5% of his class of 2009! And IMHO, that is quite a feat, given the fact that he came from a very mediocre public school in small-town KS, without the benefit of prestigious private schools, SAT prep, legacy status, donor status, recruited athlete status, etc. He is currently working in a bio lab and taking summer school classes, and last semester, he volunteered in a facility helping those who are battling substance abuse problems. IMHO, someone <em>very</em> special in the admissions office at Duke recognized incredible potential when she saw it---and I am very grateful for that! :D</p>
<p>jonri, please, though...realize that I have <em>not</em> made this a personal issue about your child--or <em>anyone</em> else's. I am speaking in abstracts here. I would ask that you please return that kindness to my kiddo and me. Thank you...</p>
<p>OOPS... Once again, I am proving that I'm not the math whiz in the family. 5% of a $1 million endowment yields only $50k, enough for one fellowship per year. The endowment needed to yield $86 million worth of financial aid in one year is $1.7 billion.<br>
Much of the $30 billion endowment does not belong to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (to which the College belongs) but to the professional schools. I remember reading somewhere that FAS commands about $12 billions.</p>
<p>dp - I guess then I'll reword my point generally. Is it right to make presumptions about things we cannot possibly know and would we have people rewarded or punished accordingly? And btw, at the beginning of this thread it seems as though the conversation was very specifically about someone's child.</p>
<p>Without specifically discussing other threads (which isn't allowed)...this forum is fraught with discussions which generalize, presume to know, and opine about everything from quality of education to kitchen appliances. And yes, the thread started out about one person but later segued into a generalized discussion about whether it was right, on principle, to do thus and such.</p>
<p>personal comments re another poster edited out - Mod JEM
It isn't just perfect kids with good but not great SATs from podunk states that interest colleges. Kids who are different and bring something to the table besides perfect parents who know how to use colors in their posts can get in, too.</p>
<p>MoWC - you have been very generous with your insights and your story and it is helpful more than you will know for people, especially YOUNG people, to understand that it's okay not to be perfect, and you can BE not perfect and still get ahead and DESERVE to get ahead in this life. </p>
<p>I've said this before, probably more than once. My brother-in-law is alumni recruiter/interviewer for a top 5 school and he has told me that they could fill every single seat in every freshman class with perfect model kids with perfect academic transcripts who will always do and say the right thing....and that is exactly faculty does not want. </p>
<p>Sharing our foibles and flaws and learning from them is what makes us interesting, important ....and better. Don't you all agree?</p>
<p>Look, I don't know what the heckopete is going on with everyone here, but really...can it just be knocked off?</p>
<p>The thread took a general turn, and I am one of those who joined in. Yes, I admit, I do not appreciate the unfairness.... no...
not the unfairness...
...the <em>deception</em> involved in telling kids that the reason they didn't "get in" and someone else did who wasn't as qualified, was that special someone had something that they didn't- when really it was just politics and money talking. (No, I'm not talking about anyone's kid in particular). I've seen it happen way too often at my own kids' high school, not only to my own but lots of other kids. Kids get in, kids get on teams, get appointed to editorships and honorary councils, on the basis of their parent's power. So I have NO patience anymore with that crap.It's unhelpful, deceitful, and demoralizing to everyone involved. </p>
<p>Yikes, and I'd hate to have someone come on here and sneer my kids SAT scores and our state. </p>
<p>If anyone here has greased the way to their children getting into college, don't tell me about it if you value my respect at all.</p>
<p>I guess my point is dp...how do we know that happened in Al Gore III's case? We can suspect....but for all we know he is a budding Einstein who has a very interesting take on life (first hand view of American politics) that would bring something valuable and enriching to the freshman class of any university. People who make mistakes can be worthy. People with power and money can be worthy as well.</p>
<p>Boy, sometimes I wish I could be a fly on the PM wall to read all the backchannel conversation going on around here. You have to wonder who is ghostwriting posts.</p>
<p>I wholehearteldy agree with whoever it was a few posts back who addressed how judgemental people are being here. AGIII had a severe head injury as a child. I suspect that this may be a contributing factor to some of his judgement and impulse control issues. He can still be an extremely bright individual who struggles with some issues with impulse control and disinhibition. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.</p>
<p>You don't really want to read all of that, jymmie. </p>
<p>As for Gore--good point about the head injury. I believe the 'word' on the street is that he was the furthest thing from a brilliant student. He probably isn't one of Harvard's best decisions--they gambled on him and gave him a chance and he didn't respond in kind. Oh well.</p>
<p>I'm sure they gave him a fine education for his money.</p>
<p>Good because I'm not from KAnsas, my kids go to UF, I'm a Floridian, my birthday was yesterday, I think you can find out that I've been around for quite a while.</p>
<h2>Interesting...I have yet to see proof Al Gore III was an academic moron undeserving of a spot at a prestigious university. And I've heard whispers of bad juvenile behavior, but nothing more. Are we suggesting Harvard make admissions decisions based on whispers and gossip?</h2>
<p>I read on cnn.com that Al Gore III was suspended his senior year of high school for smoking pot in the school cafetaria. That much is not gossip. I mean, who does something that brazen? I'm sure he's not an "academic moron," but I bet he's not brilliant. His father was a total overachieving type A personality, and he ended up with like 1200 something on the SAT. I'm willing to guess that Al Gore III did worse than that, especially with his drug addiction. </p>
<p>Total speculation, sure, but I have a hard time imagining that he is more impressive a candidate than some of the people I've seen rejected from ivies with perfect everything... If we need development admits, I don't see why they don't just give them a degree like the paper mills. I mean, these paper mill fake universities give degrees for "life experience." It seems sort of like the same thing. Let them hang out on campus, too. I just don't think these development admits should displace people who are serious students and actually NEED to go to school.</p>
<p>BTW, I think geographic preference is equally lame.</p>
<p>Why is it that I can't express an opinion without feeling as though I am personally being scrutinized? Why can't people disagree without being ridiculed?</p>