Elite Korean Schools, Forging Ivy League Skills

<p>This is kind of scary...
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/world/asia/27seoul.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/world/asia/27seoul.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It was already posted.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/500435-nytimes-elite-korean-schools-forging-ivy-league-skills.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/500435-nytimes-elite-korean-schools-forging-ivy-league-skills.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I like the Asian concept of 'hard work gets you to the top.'</p>

<p>I quote that a lot to both my kids, now, and sometimes to my mom friends. Many moms (of younger kids) are very enamoured of the American "gifted" concept in education (and our schools promote that 'genetic giftedness' thing a lot). </p>

<p>Having been through a (very good) gifted program w/my older child -- it's definitely not all that. Any child should/could be enriched/challenged. :-)</p>

<p>I agree hard work is important, but it can't do it alone. There are a number of other dimensions that are relevant. Have seen to many, who all they have is hard work, no creativity, no leadership, not self-starters, etc. They just knock down the next assignment. The world needs these people, but not always at the top.</p>

<p>What was most interesting to me about the article was the fact that these elite Korean schools emphasize academics -- and SAT prep -- to the exclusion of virtually everything else. There was a brief mention of clubs, sports, etc. at the tail end of the article, but the big picture is one of almost unceasing study. Yet these students have great track records at top schools. That model flies in the face of the conventional model, in which students with high grades and test scores (and nothing more to distinguish themselves) are at a competitive disadvantage at HYP etc.</p>

<p>wjb:</p>

<p>Schools that emphasize academics and nothing else are the norm in foreign countries. To the extent that there are extra-curricular activities, these are not school-based. It does not mean that Korean or other international applicants do not have talents that have been cultivated outside of school. My niece, for example, was an accomplished dancer. When I took her to Jacob's Pillow to watch performances by some students enrolled there for the summer, the international ones had heard of the Paris studio where she took her lessons and were duly impressed (she did not apply to American colleges, but would certainly have qualified for admission to a top school).</p>

<p>I'm not totally on board w/the idea that schools focusing on academics to the near-exclusion of extra-curriculars is such a very bad thing.</p>

<p>Maybe I'm biased because my son is not big into school ECs. However, I guess I'm thinking about work life -- you are judged, generally, on how you perform -- not how many extra-work activities you can concoct or lead for the entertainment of the office staff. I understand that leadership & creativity can occur via ECs...but I think that's not the only forum.</p>

<p>I'm also frustrated by the lack of academic rigor at our large (& very well-regarded) public high school. Kids watching [completely frivolous] movies in classes (many times! in honors classes & in the next level down!); teachers saying : "no work today" on the most ridculous pretexts (senior kids are off on a school trip, we are getting too close to vacation to 'start something new,' etc.). It makes my head want to explode (especially when I think of the exhorbitantly high taxes we have in our town). My son is in 2 honors classes (getting As) and has homework maybe 2x a week, max (he does most in class).</p>

<p>A very rigorous academic school (while not to the extreme of the schools cited in the article) seems like a wonderful change of pace from my experience w/American public HSs...</p>

<p>These schools do not serve the average Korean Student. Do remember that you are comparing the average American Student with the top Korean Students, I am sure that you can find the same mentality in the US.</p>

<p>I don't know if this is the case.</p>

<p>My son has friends at some of the most competitive prep schools in the country ... they surely don't work even a fraction of the number of hrs the students do at the schools discussed in the article. And, son's friends are huge into (several) sports, take classes in all types of art, etc.</p>

<p>yes...they don't....however, it doesn't undermine the intelligence level of what the American students at top prep schools might possess..in consideration to those Korean students...I personally had experience of going to a very elite asian school..where I had to study too like this (not like everyday! it was like this for me during the testing seasons..which was for abt 2 weeks..where I'd be studying by seconds.....those gruesome days! lol.) anyway, studying in that cramming way, it leaves very small place for creativity..in terms of utilizing knowledge..i'm saying this from experience..:D</p>

<p>
[quote]
She is scheduled to take nine Advanced Placement tests next month, in calculus, physics, chemistry, European history and five other subjects. One challenge: she has taken none of these courses. Instead, she is teaching herself in between classes at Daewon, buying and devouring textbooks.

[/quote]

I hope she can pull out through!</p>