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<p>Wait! Where'd the forest go?</p>
<p>With regard to the title of this thread, all I can say is "oh my!" </p>
<p>I try very hard not to judge how any one raises their children because I saw so many friends (and yours truly) who said, "when I have children, I will never..." Boy were they in for a surprise.</p>
<p>That being said, if you're tucking money away into that college savings plan, take a little out each time to put in a separate account that will fund psychological counseling when your child is an adult. </p>
<p>I’m sorry if this was harsh, it just pushed one of my buttons.</p>
<p>"Mini -- great advice, my youngest will be happy to know that he just might be in the running for an ivy! (230# in 9th grade, lineman and doing crew -- and still growing). I will tell him to keep lifting weights and eating cake!!"</p>
<p>Just tell him to lay off the studying a bit - stress often makes it difficult to gain weight, unless he can manage a weight-gaining eating disorder. He is almost there! </p>
<p>Which Ivy would he like to go to? Harvard's got 10 this year in the 280+ weight class, but 5 are seniors, and only one freshman, which means admissions will be a cinch.</p>
<p>"Just tell him to lay off the studying a bit" -- I am sure he would love to hear this, but I am not planning on passing on this tidbit.</p>
<p>Sadly, at this point he doesn't have on Ivy on his list -- Oberlin and Colorado College top the chart, with Georgetown, Duke and University of Michigan possiblities. He is only in 9th grade, however -- so we will increase the pressure to apply to prestigious universities. I can't imagine the shame if he actually matriculated to Oberlin! (sarcasm intended)</p>
<p>"Georgetown, Duke" - at 280, he's a cinch! (But at Oberlin...what a waste of hard-earned poundage!)</p>
<p>"But at Oberlin...what a waste of hard-earned poundage!" so true -- but he keeps whining about finding the college that fits him best, sheesh, where does he get this stuff!?</p>
<p>"oh, my" indeed. You started this when your child is 11 years old? Why? Why so late?</p>
<p>In reflection, my DD said she remembered that I talked to her about study hard so she could get into a top college way before she was 5 years old. From the very first day she walked into the elementary school, she has been working so hard at everything. </p>
<p>Once she tasted the fruits of successes, there was not turning back. We don't have to do any thing about her grades etc.</p>
<p>I didnt think you were serious the first 3 times, but now i have to say something. Being 280 pounds would be the most uncomfortable thing ever, and totally not worth it just to go to a terrible football team in the ivy league. Also, offensive linemen, while they appear fat, are actually almost entirely muscle, and work the hardest of any other position on the field. Last, some people are genetically unable to be that heavy- its called the set point theory.</p>
<p>230 pounds I believe. See earlier post #43</p>
<p>Agold -- you were correct, I am just having fun with mini. My son fully understands how difficult the position of lineman is -- he is currently a lineman on his JV football team and it is tough.</p>
<p>Don't worry -- he does sports and activities he is interested in, not to impress colleges or be recruited.</p>
<p>Pardon my French but where the hell would he get that idea?</p>
<p>I had vaguely heard of "ivy league" mainly from reading * The Group* & * Love Story* as a teen, but I doubt an 11 yr old boy would be interested in either of those.</p>
<p>I started talking to my son about college at a very young age. Culturally, too many non-college like behaviors are expected of him by society. I wanted him to know that he had options, and I started early. Sometimes I see some of the posters on CC talk about their children's summer camps, trips, special classes, tutoring, boarding schools, etc., and think, aren't these all a part of getting ready for higher education, even if you don't call it "talking with my kids about college at an early age." </p>
<p>So, in answer to the OP's question, I am trying my best to get my 14 year old son ready for college, (not particularly Ivy League, but it would be wonderful if he got in one of them). Yes, I want him to be a competent applicant, and I probably, ...no, for sure..., I started the process way earlier than age 11. And he has other interests, and things he likes to do. He seems to be pretty normal.</p>
<p>"Being 280 pounds would be the most uncomfortable thing ever, and totally not worth it just to go to a terrible football team in the ivy league. Also, offensive linemen, while they appear fat, are actually almost entirely muscle, and work the hardest of any other position on the field. Last, some people are genetically unable to be that heavy- its called the set point theory."</p>
<p>The question was how to raise a son to be a competent ivy league applicant. I posted four different ways. One of them is, if you can, to weigh 280+" and go out for the offensive line. No, offensive lineman in the Ivy League are NOT the most muscled folks around (though some may be) - that's why they are in the Ivy League and not Florida State. And can everyone do it? No - just as not everyone can be Native American, be a double legacy, have an uncle who will donate a couple of dozen mil, play with the NY Philharmonic, or win a national science "talent" search. But it is one way far more open to applicants (especially if they start at age 11) that almost all of the others, and likely has a far greater chance of success.</p>
<p>Do I think it is worth it? Of course not! But that wasn't the question.</p>
<p>^^ You can also weigh 130 pounds and run a 4:10 mile!</p>
<p>280? Wonderful! Good fit for Princeton! Welcome to one of the Eating Clubs!</p>
<p>"You can also weigh 130 pounds and run a 4:10 mile!"</p>
<p>But as already noted, you can't do much about your speed (at least not enough to get you into the Ivy League), or your height, or your ethnicity, or your parents, but many people CAN do something about their weight.</p>
<p>^^ good point.</p>
<p>280 works but again not available to everyone. 280 and 5'8" doesn't work and 280 and a 7 second 40 doesn't work. Focus on lacrosse, crew, golf, tennis, field hockey, etc sports where you can be coached and trained without being a natural athlete. That wouldn't get you into say Coastal Carolina (not an Ivy) to play golf where they shoot below 70 but at say Brown just as an example 75 in comp along with a 2200 sat might make you stand out.</p>
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I started talking to my son about college at a very young age. Culturally, too many non-college like behaviors are expected of him by society. I wanted him to know that he had options, and I started early. Sometimes I see some of the posters on CC talk about their children's summer camps, trips, special classes, tutoring, boarding schools, etc., and think, aren't these all a part of getting ready for higher education, even if you don't call it "talking with my kids about college at an early age."
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<p>I see a huge difference between talking about doing well in school, valuing doing one's best academically, stretching and pushing yourself towards your best efforts, being a lifelong learner, and being well-rounded by engaging in other pastimes ... and talking about "how you'll get into the Ivy League." As has been stated eloquently by other posters, the goal is to become a smart, kind, productive human being, not to get into one of only a handful of schools. I came on these boards very Top-20-focused and I'm glad from interacting with the many smart people on here that my worldview has widened considerably from that.</p>
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We NEED those cute emoticons. You know? Like the guy hurling or the toilet flushing? I want the hands clapping one right now. I have a place in mind for it. ;)</p>
<p>Yep. Yep. Naught from naught. Carry your chillun' along. Divide by pi. Yep. Looks like we got another one over to the other side. We are gaining on them now. </p>
<p>Good job, Pizzagirl.</p>