Well, I applied to UNC-Chapel Hill where I was mostly told that I wouldn’t get in, because I have the numbers, but pretty much nothing else… my recommendation was probably mediocre and I had one fairly good essay and one that wasn’t so good, and I have essentially no EC’s. I got in.
You have “modest activities” and you were “lucky”? With a 2380 on the SAT and Congressional internships, I don’t think that they’re modest in the slightest, nor was it luck. You definitely deserved to get into Penn – your hard work is clear.
haha thanks. i’m just trying to say that i definitely studied for my score (i took the time to make it happen, i’m not afraid to admit it) and okay, internship aside, i tried to be a leader in school clubs which i think really helped. people don’t give school clubs enough credit. 
I have yet to hear. But I find it extremely odd that most people here never had a job. I mean, I work two jobs…and possibly getting a third. I always thought that work experience helped you in more ways than just time and money.
This is a personal question skewed towards those of you who didn’t/don’t have jobs in HS: How come you never worked?
These students are too busy with other things. Do you think some of these students have any time for a job?
I have a full list of activities. Yet, I work two jobs. I mean, sometimes, you gotta suck it up for the cash. Earlier this year, I had a major work assignment due the night of a major school project. You just DO it. Either way, it’s nice seeing your name on that paycheck (though I could live without FICA’s name on it).
Honestly, I think you’ve had it easy if you’ve never worked a job…ever.
Ya it is strange when people don’t have jobs. It’s always weird to find that out about people. You just wonder if they have any clue about the value of money or how lucky they are to never have had to work.
Both my best friends don’t. I routinely tell them that money would be nice. And I even created a resume for one of them. I mean, I’m middle class but I definitely value hard-earned money. Scholarships are nice but I don’t think that an essay should equal my paycheck (minus FICA) for the whole summer. There’s something just so satisfying for knowing that it’s YOUR money.
I wish people realized how lucky they are that they can focus on academic activities so much and go on fancy trips that cost like $2,000 for two weeks. That’s more than my whole paycheck for the summer. Yes, I worked minimum wage. Now, it’s A LITTLE over minumum wage. But, still…$8 p/h is still shoddy considering taxes.
Very soon, I’m getting a third job working nights retail. I’m probably gonna hate it but it’s good money…in my pocket. lol.
I hate the score-fixation on here. I mean, I’m a person, not a number. And, I have so much more going for me than my GPA/SAT. I work two jobs, do ECs, volunteer and play a sport. Can that be captured by a 2400? Oh, and I have spunk. I took the ACT/SAT because I had to. But, I hate the idea of someone judging me off some number. People seem so suprised when people of lower scores get in before attempting to rationalize it with thoughts like “They’re ____.” How about the fact they come off as being an interesting person that a college would want to have in their class? Just a thought.
I’ve never had a job. I’m kept busy with all my IB classes and club swimming. I just really don’t need one at the moment. Experience is nice, but I’d prefer to swim hard in the pool or study hard in school or even go out for an occasional movie than flip burgers or something.
But for those of you who have a job, kudos to you! I really do envy people who don’t have to ask mummy and daddy for cash when they want to go out.
As for listing my stats, I’ll do that when I get the rest of the results from my other schools!
Well, the thing is that some of us (cough) prefer movies and whatever job to OCDing about every 99. I’ve been told I’m a very very rational person who doesn’t get stressed about anything. I guess that’s why I handle it so well. I mean, some people probably couldn’t handle the combined stress. But, some of us can (and do).
And money is a beautiful thing. I highly reccomend getting a job this summer if you can’t at the moment!
i worked at officemax for 8 months (about 10-12 hours a week), $8/hr plus a trivial commission program. i didn’t really do it for the money but i did like the experience (and all of its ups and downs)…
and yes… paychecks are SO addicting.
My D does work. She works at going to school. She’s compensated on performance. She gets weekly $$ for sustained performance, and regular “bonuses” based on periodic evaluations (report cards). Her bonus is paid on a sliding scale basis: A’s - $20, B’s - $10, etc. And yes - B’s and C’s are allowed. A D will get you grounded. But, well, – that’s only really happened in gym. Once. She gets “special cash awards” for stuff like, I dunno . . . winning a state championship, or landing a national merit nod.
As long as she keeps a competitive GPA, we won’t require her to work. And we pay, not an exorbitant amount, but too little for her to get hooked on drugs, and enough for her to handle a modest social life.
Unlike SuperStudent who breezes through AP classes like . . . I dunno . . . Pacman at Burger King(?) – she does about 5 hours of homework each night – after handling various administrative tasks for the dozen or so ECs in which she’s active. She does well – because she tries harder.
Major props to kids who work and go to school. I did so beginning at age 14. But it’s no more polite to disparage the student who has never held a job, than it is to deride the student with an SAT score below 2000 who works two+ jobs.
Geez people. Ever hear of a little word called “diversity”? To each his own! Every kid actively participating CC is extraordinary for their discretionary effort already.
I was gonna say “live and let live” – but it just seemed so cliched . . .
Damn, I wish my parents did that.
Hey aren’t you supposed to be at school??
No, I really don’t think you do. Rewarding students for good grades with cash payments only reinforces the pervasive culture of self-entitlement. When SuperMom’s daughter gets As, she expects a cash payment, and probably doesn’t feel the satisfaction of mastering the material… because if she did, she wouldn’t need or even want the cash payment. Furthermore, it’s likely that SuperMom<em>I</em>Aint’s daughter will grow up expecting compensation for all her work throughout her career, even when it isn’t deserved. What is going to happen when she is looking for a lab position in her undergrad time, and is assigned a job of cleaning up beakers? This job isn’t fun and certainly isn’t the kind of reward with which she grew up in high school! Without such rewards in high school, it’s likely she would understand that this tedious job is a necessary step (paying ones dues) on the path to doing more complex tasks. She would be pleased with her work, mindless as it may be, because it leads her to a more exciting place (very much like how good grades lead students to nice colleges). I think SuperMom<em>I</em>Aint is doing her daughter no favors. Though I certainly don’t know SuperMom’s daughter personally, I firmly believe this practice is fundamentally wrong.
Students should understand the intrinsic value of their grades, and not the pecuniary value associated with them. Though we all work to land a decent job, (IMHO) not even college is a time to become consumed by getting a job. Though there are some fantastic pre-professional schools out there, I firmly believe that college is a time for learning and exploration. All students should have some kind of idea of what they’re going to do after college, but that shouldn’t drive their choices.
No, I disagree. Most kids (mine included) are always happy to have a few extra bucks for any reason at all. While they would not study exclusively to get the money, it’s always nice to have and they would not reject the offer.
I don’t get allowance or anything so I just a bit jealous of that. But that is an interesting point that fhimas mentioned. I mean, for me, my parents have been happy because my grades are above 65. More than passing. I think that teaching a child the value of getting their grades on their own works a bit better…personally. But, whatever works for you and your daughter, Supermom. If anything, I think it’s more effective to just maybe reward a kid (randomly) for their grades. I mean, I did well on my SAT II and my dad helped me purchase something. I wanted to do well personally and the gift was just a bonus for me. I don’t know her daughter and whether she wants the grades–or the money but if you’re not expecting anything, it makes it way better. =]
Nope, I don’t have school today.
<<what is=“” going=“” to=“” happen=“” when=“” she=“” looking=“” for=“” a=“” lab=“” position=“” in=“” her=“” undergrad=“” time,=“” and=“” assigned=“” job=“” of=“” cleaning=“” up=“” beakers?=“”>></what>
Hot dog! Of COURSE we wouldn’t want her to miss out on an opportunity like THAT! Good thing she’s had all that experience emptying trash, washing dishes, dusting, vacuuming, cooking, lawn-mowing, leaf-raking, snow-blowing, room-painting, lightbulb-changing and all that OTHER stuff that goes into making life go on – without compensation. Gee, I hope she’s acquired sufficient humility, hand-eye coordination, and ohhhh. . perhaps, COMMON SENSE to understand grunt work and paying dues.
Or perhaps we’re under the impression that grades are these kids’ only accomplishments and that they arrived at all other benefits (EC leadership roles) by spontaneous good luck?
Let’s be honest. As adults, we ARE compensated for a job well done. That’s what pay increases, tips, bonuses and commissions are for. If we’re not recognized for the job we’re doing, we increase our output. If that doesn’t work, we walk. Everyone wants to feel pride in their work – but pride doesn’t feed an empty stomach. What parents who pay for grades are teaching is: You get what you earn. Doncha just LOVE the American way?
p.s. asdfjkl1 (why the “1”? That breaks the series?) – good point about the random reward system. My youngest D will “love” you for upsetting her anticipated gravy train as we test this new method on her. She’s in 9th, and doesn’t seem to be responding quite as well to the existing reward system (A’s in gym, our first “F” ever (Yikes!) in an academic).
<p>lawdy i wish more normal people would do actual results..... -.-</p>