Asians and College Prestige.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Walking down to school through the hustle-bustle hectic-daisy environment, I hear Asian comrades talking about college. Well, that's good: they seem to be prepared.</p>

<p>But all that I hear of is Harvard, UCLA, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, UC Berkeley... </p>

<p>Yes, I am Asian too, but I am pretty much disgusted with Asian people with this prestige-or-nothing concept in their minds.</p>

<p>(PS Asian students, don't be offended of what I think. I know many Asians are very ambitious and shoot for the best colleges in USA)</p>

<p>****************** IT WAS TODAY...
This so-called Asian friend of mine is an ambitious guy. He tells me he is dying to go to the Big-H. Yes, Big-H. I ask him any other colleges he has in mind, and all he tells me is "Well, Kevin, maybe Yale, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, and maybe UCLA and UCB." </p>

<p>Then my expression.. is that of.. you know.. (**** dude..) </p>

<p>Now it's my turn and he asks me, pretty arrogantly. "Well, Im planning on MAYBE Stanford for Undergrad, but Im thinking Stanford MBA for Grad later on, Hm... USC Marshall School of Business, Claremont McKenna, Pepperdine.. pretty much it" Then he basically screams at me saying "Are you crazy? Are you trying to deception your parents? Well, I kinda know USC but who cares... and Claremont what? And Pepper? What are those man? </p>

<p>I then just tell him "Well, those are COLLEGES, my friend. Those emphasize BUSINESS, my intended major" He looks to me pretty much disgustedly and says "Well good luck, but don't know a heck about those. Shoot for an Ivy instead."</p>

<hr>

<p>I really wish I could tell him that PRESTIGE is not what really matters. I could give a speech, a written 20 page letter, or something else crazy enough to him.. still he won't change his stinkin' mind. Oh well, what a bad Asian friend. He emphasizes PRESTIGE TOO MUCH, not even caring about what his intended major is and colleges that are strong with his intended major (in which case, he's undecided). </p>

<p>In conclusion, I know how asian people like top colleges. That's sweet. But what I don't like is Asian people, like this so-called friend, that say PRESTIGE over anything else in this world. This is truly a misconcept. There's a difference between an Asian wanting to major in Business and maybe shoot for a good Ivy-Business college, rather than blindly say "Oh dear Ivy! Lead my way, will you?" without even knowing their major.</p>

<p>I'm not heavily criticizing anyone (well maybe my friend but he doesnt know CC). This is solely my response to today's experience with him. </p>

<p>If you have any comments to add, go ahead. </p>

<p>Kevin.</p>

2

<p>I agree with you. I am, also, of asian descent. </p>

<p>If you work hard, you'll get to where you want/need to be regardless of which school you attend. Warn your friend that if you graduate from an Ivy with nothing to show for it, you have nothing to show your potential employers and grad schools.</p>

<p>As long as you have a solid work-ethic and have a general direction in life, you'll do fine.</p>

<p>Good luck with everything!</p>

3

<p>McKenna and Pepperdine are great schools...clearly your friend doesn't know what he's talking about.</p>

4

<p>It is only your opinion that prestige is not "what really matters." You've just commented that he's being arrogant by not considering less competitive schools, but you're just as arrogant as him if you are condemning him for not considering them. Perhaps he has achieved a different level of success than most students.</p>

5

<p>LoL, the above poster made absolutely no sense at all. Man that asian groupthink is powerful.</p>

<p>More power to you man, just do what you love and balance your life as you see fit. Life's too short to care too much about what people you don't know think.</p>

6

<p>chibifry- it may sound that way, but look at it in the bigger picture.
Let's face it. Im not saying he should consider Pepperdine and CMC. Nor did I say if he aims the Ivy, then he should be a dork. None of those. What I meant is that I wish he could be more mature and consider college admissions more seriously, and look at it from the perspective of actual Life. Tell me, how vague is to say "I want to go to an Ivy". He doesn't even know what major he wants to pursue, and the only thing he kepts on saying is he wants to go to an Ivy. I constantly tell him to be more mature and consider his interests and strenghts, but as always, him and his "I want and will go to an Ivy"</p>

7

<p>stop generalizing the entire race.</p>

8

<p>it's not my intention to generalize the entire race. Specifically, it's my friend. Ugh... Tired.</p>

9

<p>The schools you're considering aren't all that far behind in prestige, so I assume that prestige matters for you, too (otherwise, why would you want to apply to USC Marshall, CMC, Pepperdine, etc?). It's just that he has set his bar higher than yours.</p>

<p>Of course, I understand your positions (he does sound a bit arrogant, or maybe he's just naive), but I'm just trying to consider another point of view.</p>

10

<p>Can someone tell me why the **** do all Asians think that they're "made" when they get into Ivies. Almost everybody on Forbes' richest people list are white, hispanic, Arabic, or other. The only rich Asian I know is Li Ka-shing and that guy didn't even go to college. So can someone tell me why do all Asians think that they're "made" when they get into an Ivy?</p>

11

<p>Tell your friend that Harvard and all the other Ivies suck and you've never heard of them. Tell him to apply to some schools that you actually know. (This is to **** him off)</p>

12

<p>Odd, my school has a lot of very bright, overachieving Asians. Usually I hear them talking about Rutgers or TCNJ. This is New Jersey. Are things different in California??</p>

13

<p>Well.. I guess the reason that some asians want to go to top schools (Ivies, if you insist on using that category) ESPECIALLY when they're undecided because most of those schools tend to be well rounded. I have no idea what I want to do, but I've worked pretty hard thus far and I think if I go to a top school (perhaps an Ivy, because they're top schools..) then I'll get a good education.</p>

14

<p>Hmm, most of the Asians (and many other bright kids) in my high school went for NC State. I think it was because UNC Chapel Hill doesn't have engineering.</p>

15

<p>
[quote]
Can someone tell me why the **** do all Asians think that they're "made" when they get into Ivies. Almost everybody on Forbes' richest people list are white, hispanic, Arabic, or other.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>another thought in relation to that... i know a lot of asians think that being purely academic superstars is going to guarantee them a good job. i go to UCLA, where there's a ton of asians who want to go into business. but when i look at the hiring results of the business firms from UCLA, their ethnic makeup tends to reflect more of the fraternities at UCLA (mostly white, some minorities) than UCLA's overall population.</p>

16

<p>I think part of the reason why asians do that is because they have more pressure. many colleges in asia and the environment itself is very prestigious. in some countries, even if you go to a Harvard level college, they are unlikely to be hired. especially with foreigners, they feel that they need to accomplish great things just because their parents brought them to the US for greater things.</p>

17

<p>Granfalloner - that's impressive. I do live in SoCal but I have no say for your answer because not ALL asians living in SoCal or Cal have the same mentality. Well for my friend at least... </p>

<p>It's OK if he tells me he's wanting to go to the top Elite Ivys. But the fact that he comes and accost me with his arrogance..</p>

18

<p>danielwak - that's true. Many asian students are "pressured" by their parents, which is very sad. And yes, some asian parents demand a lot from their kids and want the best education possible for their children. However, just because it's Harvard it doesnt mean you can get a job anywhere. Maybe, but no 100% guaranteed.</p>

19

<p>"Can someone tell me why the **** do all Asians think that they're "made" when they get into Ivies. Almost everybody on Forbes' richest people list are white, hispanic, Arabic, or other."</p>

<p>Top consulting firms, accounting firms, and even Ibanking firms are sporting more Asians than other minorities (of course whites being the majority).</p>

20

<p>


Interesting... :rolleyes:</p>