<p>gthopeful, are you white? in any case, that blog is hilarious</p>
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gthopeful, are you white? in any case, that blog is hilarious
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<p>Yes I am. I have to admit, a lot of those posts are too true about myself (not having a TV, public radio, etc) and it hurts to admit that I play into the stereotype some, but I can totally see how it's funny.</p>
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I’m pretty sure the last non-gifted white child was born in 1962 in Reseda, CA. Since then, it’s been a pretty sweet run.
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<p>LOL!</p>
<p>(from #16 “Gifted” Children « Stuff White People Like)</p>
<p>I love this site! A friend (also white) showed it to me and we marveled over how white we truly were. Isn't the description of the typical parent just spot on for the writer of the article? And I agree with the jjjj1234 -- if both grades and SAT's are unimpressive, then chances are we aren't talking about a kid who would thrive at a highly selective college. Thank God there are so many other choices in this country!</p>
<p>I am not taken with the ideas that the HP blogger seems to espouse, as others have said. He seems to think that if you are bright, but perhaps not so driven you will be surrounded by beings who are walking on their knuckles if you go to any other than a first tier school. This is wrong and insulting to all who do not go to first tier schools (most people.)</p>
<p>I am not sure "who" the son really is? Is he someone who will wake up in college, and want to excel in some area, or does he just want to be a dilettante? I know someone who was quite "bright", and tested off the charts, but was very anti everything in HS. No chance of a top school for him. However, he did go to college (first at night, then during the day), and "found" himself. Oh, and what a surprise, there were lots of bright people at this non top tier school for him to meet, including professors. People went on to law school, med school and other fine grad schools (including Yale) from this college. </p>
<p>Also, for the not truly motivated who later find motivation, many community colleges have transfer agreements to excellent state colleges. For example, in New Jersey, you can be guaranteed a transfer to Rutgers. In NY, Cornell (a first tier school) takes transfers from 2 year schools, and from "lesser" NY state schools. Of course, you must put in some effort or this will not work.</p>
<p>I did not attend Yale, but I did visit, back in the day. 30 plus years ago, New Haven was not too attractive.</p>
<p>How many people would like to imagine themselves at Yale? (Twenty thousand plus per year plus all those who don't even apply.) I think it sounds pretty nice too. A community of scholars...my Alma Mater says that it is also a community of scholars, but it does not have the same cachet as Yale, and I can not be sure about the community. </p>
<p>I agree with the posters who rag on the "gifted" programs. We also know some "gifted" students who could not be bothered to study, and their grades reflected it. They also did not already know the material or find it too "boring" since they did not bother to even read it. These kids will most likely not be inventing a new calculus or writing the next "Wasteland". I am not against bright children being enriched or stimulated. Au contraire, I am for ALL kids be stimulated and enriched. It is amazing what many can do if given a chance, regardless of test scores. I think many of these "gifted" classes would benefit a broader group of students, some of whom might actually be motivated.</p>
<p>To the OP I would recommend Marymount junior college in Palos Verdes. They specialize in underachievers. A relative of mine was a super-slacker in HS, to the point where his own father told him not to take the SAT as it would not be worth the time. (Yes, he is white. No, he was not born in Reseda.) Within a month he was cranking on his homework. He is now teaching in a top university with an endowed chair and research assistants. Marymount was a better place for him than an elite school would have been.</p>
<p>The father writes with admiration about his son's easy-goingness, and emphasis on happiness over ambition, yet I also get the impression that he thinks the only place his son will thrive and achieve his potential is at an "elite." Doesn't quite click. Either he is pushing the son that way, or the boy is more driven than the Dad lets on (not that there's anything wrong with that).</p>
<p>I will analyze/simplify even more to assume that he is looking for a 'reachable' college where the main focus is still on academics and discovery, with a student body that truly enjoys learning.</p>
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Marymount was a better place for him than an elite school would have been.
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<p>Thanks, mardad. There are clearly many roads to happiness and success. I'm constantly spewing what I call my "Look Around the Room" theory, which is this:</p>
<p>Any time you're in a room with a group of adults whom you consider to be happy and successful (by whatever standards you choose to impose), ask them where they attended college. Chances are that, unless the gathering is a Princeton reunion ;), the answers will be all over the place, and may even include, "No college for me!"</p>
<p>I see alot of info about non-motivated students, but what about the strong student who tanks on the SAT's? Have twin d, took six months on sat classes, are 4.0 students in honors and ap. It seems sat's are still the name of the game. looking for colleges in the northeast and mcdaniel in md. any thoughts? also very involved in ec's.</p>
<p>Murphy, if you're looking in MD take a look at Goucher. I know a number of very good students who are happy and thriving there.</p>
<p>murphy3:</p>
<p>We're in the OPPOSITE boat at our house, and in a quandry like all the rest. Exceptional SATs (2210 as a Jr.), but an unweighted GPA of 3.66 (weighted 4.33). It's a long story, but she's more a "thinker" than a "doer". Loves to reason and solve (SAT), but not memorize (tests). No, she's not a "slacker" by any means...her days are normally 5:45am start and she often gets home from school after 9-10pm. But her grades won't give her the Ivy school she wants. I don't frankly even think it will be a good fit for her...if indeed they do admit, as discussed earlier, the "plastic" children. She is NOT that child. She's very academic, but also artistic (visual arts, drama, instruments, dance, choir). And she desires diversity, and kids who can DISCUSS instead of memorize and test. She's only 60 something out of 800 kids due to her poor GPA. It doesn't measure her intellect. She LOVES the idea of "tutorial" classes (Oxford, et al). Anyone know of a school that has tutorials (preferably on the east coast, an old school as she ADORES the history/tradition).??</p>
<p>Must have a good philosophy program, a great music and theatre program, and NOT cost me $50,000 a year. Yeah...NYU is her first choice but there is just NO WAY financially. She's gonna apply, but....?</p>
<p>I don't think NYU is like that academically. </p>
<p>I don't have many ideas for you that aren't spendy unfortunately--the problem with schools that would appeal to your D. is that they tend to have skimpy endowments. The names that come to mind are Hampshire, Marlboro, Sarah Lawrence, Eugene Lang..places like that. You could also check out Smith, Bryn Mawr and Vassar-they might have the type of academics she is looking for as well as a good arts scene. </p>
<p>But if she wants diversity, I'd say a state school located in a city--you get way more diversity at a big school; the affordable tuition is going to create diversity, and almost all big state schools have a thriving arts scene.</p>
<p>Hello guys, i really need your advice :)</p>
<p>Im an international, junior high school student, from eastern europe, who is going to apply to colleges in US, will take SATs in november or/and september, and of course Toefl.</p>
<p>expected HS gpa- 3.0 (awful, i know, cannot raise it, first two HS years are totally messed :( )</p>
<p>ECs- Camera asistent on a movie made by director who is well known down here :)
Organization team member on another movie. Director is big shot too :))
Acted in TV sitcom, it was small role, but still, it was a real role :)</p>
<pre><code> - volunteering work, at the time when i will have to send my application it could be around 80 hours or so :)
-being member in couple of clubs, asisted on organizing charity concert...
</code></pre>
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<li><p>worked as a manual labourer on construction field :D</p>
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<li>im gonna get a couple of cool ECs by then :D</li>
</ul></li>
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<p>Financial aid is not needed.</p>
<p>Recently, friend of mine was immanent on presentation held by Harvard teacher, and she said that our grades are not important because our educational system is different from yours, in the United States.</p>
<p>Teachers and headmasters evalutations are going to be quite good :)</p>
<p>SAT result could be 2200+ ,sat II (world history, us history, lit) results around 750, im good at math, and i will work my a.s out ...</p>
<p>where should i apply? :S</p>
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Exceptional SATs (2210 as a Jr.), but an unweighted GPA of 3.66 (weighted 4.33).
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<p>"Poor GPA"?? A 3.66 UW is a "poor GPA"??</p>
<p>Wow. Tough crowd!</p>
<p>GPA is totally relative to courses you have taken. If you have taken the equivalent of an IB or AP courseload, a 3.7 gpa with a high SAT will get you into a good many great colleges, especially with extensive ECs, good recommendations and essays.</p>
<p>don't parents have more.. "constructive".. activities to spend their time on rather than blog about their golden sons, or are the sons just incapable of this venture themselves?</p>
<p>^^He's blogging on Huffpost - that's pretty constructive.</p>
<p>I would advise your son to still apply to all of the best schools that he is interested in. I applied to Columbia ED with no confidence that I would get in, and I did. Top-tier schools don't only care about numbers (but they still hold some weight). If Daniel can convince them that he is ready and able to change and is capable of flourishing in their college environment, they will accept him.</p>