<p>Note: This isn't referring to any specific CCer. ^_^</p>
<p>I've been thinking for a while, now that I'm finally past the college application process (and in the waiting part) and this one thought has been pestering me. I attend a notoriously successful school district full of high achieving kids who have high dreams and high aspirations. But, at the same time, I hear these kids furiously debating over which extracurricular activity is "better" for college and which one will give them "the leg up". I watch them take schedules and classes that they are absolutely miserable in and stretch themselves to the point of utter exhaustion just to appear "good" in the eyes of various admissions reps. Then I watch them shell out thousands of dollars for SAT prep and vigorously take and retake the tests. </p>
<p>Out of all of this, I'm left wondering how good of a "fit" the college will be for them. After all, they have done very few things for their own growth or enjoyment. They have done few things that leave them happy and satisfied.</p>
<p>I was always under the impression you needed to appear totally honest in front of the adcom, that you needed to really get in touch with your strengths before you picked a college. I know, personally, I did some things that made people cringe. Everyone had high high hopes for me (read: Ivy League Schools, Top LACs, etc.). Then they freaked out. First when I dropped out of National Honor Society to spend more time on my first true love (theatre tech). Then when I opted to take community college classes over the few AP classes I hadn't taken because I'd all but finished the AP set at my high school and really would rather take the community college classes because I liked them. Then I really got flack when I "settled" with a 29 ACT score and a 1330 SAT score because I was incredibly sick winter/spring/summer of my Junior year and didn't have the money to shell out for prep classes and am TERRIBLE at multiple choice tests (I'm in the crew that wishes I had the essay part). People constantly mentioned I should get into clubs that would look better (lets ignore the fact I literally spend all my free time in theatre) or that I ought to put in some sports to look more well rounded (I tried them in tenth grade and they really didn't jive with me) or that dropping band after three years would be death to my apps (I had to drop it to take core classes I liked... but I continue taking private lessons on my flute). Basically, everyone was telling me to change who I was so I'd fit the sort of person that gets into really competitive schools. </p>
<p>And I didn't choose to. I still applied to Whitman and Reed, anyway. Perhaps I did the wrong thing...</p>
<p>I'm not condemming people who do this, I say good for them if they get what they really want. But I guess I'm just confused when I watch my friends stress themselves and force themselves to be what they aren't just so they can look "better" on an app. It seems sort of counter-intuitive to me...</p>
<p>I agree wholeheartedly with what you said. I think the problem is that as children or rather through out our entire childhood (0-18 years) all we are geared towards is college. It seems that it is all people care about. Don't get me wrong, we should all definiently go to college, but I think our parents, peers, schools, etc. should really be guideing us to find our passion. What we want out of life. I mean when you think about it, 18 years of our life are devoted to what we will do in 4 measly years. This is why I think so many kids get out of college and have absolutly no idea what they want to do. Nobody really prepared them for life. And it is just a simple fact, that college is not LIFE. When you are 70 years old at a lunch with our friends, no one is going to care where you went to college, not even if you went to Havard. </p>
<p>You sound like an extremely mature, well-adjusted person to me! Don't listen to anyone else; following their advice will just make your life miserable. Just continue to follow your own heart -- you know exactly who you are. (Quite frankly, that's an enviable position to be in!) I think you will have a very happy and satisfying life, no matter what you do or where you go to school.</p>
<p>I share your concern about the stressed-out students that spend all their time trying to remake themeselves to "fit" into someone else's preconceived notion of success. There's far too much emphasis on the CC discussion boards about getting into the limited number of "prestige" colleges (HYP, MIT, Stanford, etc.) and far too many students moaning about how their lives are completely ruined because of a 1590 SAT score. It's time for these babies to grow up.</p>
<p>By contrast, I think a lot of people SHOULDN'T go to college, and in general that colleges play too large a role in young people's lives. But I heartily agree that a young person ought to have the chance to be himself. There is no reason to shape the child to fit the college. Rather, get to know the child, and the prospects for gainful employment doing what the child enjoys in the real world, and then figure out whether going to school after high school is even necessary.</p>
<p>You're set. You'll get into a good school and succeed and be happy. There are no such things as "improving your ECs" like many uninformed high schoolers seem to perpetuate on these forums. Do well in your classes and do something productive (and interesting to you) outside of class and you'll be set. Adcoms can see through facades a lot better than people here think.</p>
<p>To the OP - what a refreshing post - your attitude is awesome - you are following YOUR dreams and fulfilling your wants and needs - instead of jumping into the pile of competitiveness - and you are doing your thing on your own terms. How much happier many kids would be if they had the insight that you seem to have. You will succeed in your passions and enjoy the gifts that you reap. Much luck on your college waiting game - I am sure you are going to land right where you should.</p>
<p>Your balanced perspective is refreshing. My daughter also goes to a highly competitive high school with a lot of "academically motivated" students who end up feeling like failures if they don't go to HYSP. Sad to say, but behind a lot of those kids are their parents who are pushing them. I've had to stop and look at myself many times to make sure that I'm not getting caught up in that too. At my daughter's high school, (which is an IB program), students (and their parents) now feel that the student has to take AP tests on top of the IB tests to have "the competitive advantage." So, these poor kids are not only studying for IB tests, but also self-studying for AP tests along with ACT's, SAT's, etc. Who's driving this runaway train?</p>
<p>My first impression is that if you can write that well, you deserve to get in regardless.</p>
<p>My second impression is that I've been lucky, in that I come from a high school a bit removed from the rat race treadmill. Becoming something that you're not in the hopes of getting into a college that may or may not be the best fit for you... well, it sounds dangerous to me.</p>
<p>I hope that there are real people at Ivies as well, not just these conformaholic high schoolers that seem to be the norm.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My first impression is that if you can write that well,
[/quote]
Second that emotion. Refreshing, inspiring and well-written. Should this be a highlighted thread? Did you post similar ideas where "the kids" would see? Or would their reaction be too scary?</p>
<p>Whitney, Reed and Whitman are AWESOME schools. And, I know for a fact that both of them look at the "whole person" when reading applications. You don't have anything to worry about and I think you will enjoy either school. Best of luck and thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. I needed to hear this today in particular because my D. is a junior and they have been announcing class rankings at her school all week. I have found myself a little green (with envy) at times, wishing she had pushed herself just a little more --- but your note was a good reality check for me. thanks!</p>
<p>Hear, Hear Whitneylm! Please post your reflections on one of the kids' threads: search, admission or chances. At the many schools like yours out there, kids need to hear this message. They may never accept it, but you are making wise decisions for yourself. You will have many wonderful opportunities ahead of you because you are following your passions!</p>
<p>Yep! Thank you for taking the time to write that Whitneylm. I bet that train of thought crosses the minds of many students and parents, but it's hard to articulate.</p>
<p>It's like "be careful what you ask for!". My son was better at coming to this conclusion than was I...until recently.</p>
<p>So many students work hard to package themselves perfectly, master the best ECs, get the best recommendations, up their SAT scores with multiple tries......and then they into an extremely rigorous school and wonder why they're miserable by November of freshman year.....and can't keep the GPA up for four years, which ruins grad school dreams. </p>
<p>Let's put it this way......
I have a fabulous pair of Stuart Weitzman strappy sandals with 4 inch heels - and they fit!</p>
<p>I also have a pair of Ferragamos with a 2 inch wedge heel. They also fit.</p>
<p>Both are top quality shoes and cost about the same.</p>
<p>Which ones do you think I would wear if I had to dance for 4 hours?</p>
<p>Which school will you choose if you have to dance for 4 years?</p>
<p>SMART GRRL to pick Whitman for the terrific theatre! If you also get accepted to Reed, be sure that the highway to theatrical bliss is just as strong. (Maybe the workload could get in the way, as in Mark Twain's "Never let your schooling interfere with your education.")</p>
<p>S and I were conversing this evening and we both agreed that for him, a great theatre program with tons of productions, open auditions, and school support, as well as the equivalent level of vocal performance opportunities, is absolutely necessary to his happiness. His soul is nourished by drama and singing. A college that might be a perfect academic fit would nonetheless seem dry and sterile if he couldn't spend most of his free time performing. </p>
<p>Tech is cool - I always help with building the set and painting, and it is a blast!</p>
<p>Sometimes we have so much pressure to be the best at everything, it's very overwhelming. I'm scared of going to college, still not knowing what I want to do and being a bum for the rest of my life. I'm terrified at the thought I don't know what I want to do with my life. I was never good at lacrosse, never have been, never will be, and it's stressful when people tell me I don't practice enough, I am just bad at it.</p>
<p>I'm not an elitist by any means, but I do worry about the fact that more and more kids are going to college. Since higher education is now common for everyone to enter, it will start losing the values that were so long associated with it (perhaps this has already happened.) Moreover, in the near future, one's level of education will no longer ensure financial security. Take Japan for example, most, although most young people are educated, they are unemployed! Really, it worries me. </p>
<p>In my opinion, every country MUST start to limit its citizens to one child and roll back industrialization to insure healthy levels of employment and the high living standards each and every citizen loves.</p>
<p>Well, I see your age is listed as seventeen. I seriously hope you study some economics when you go to college, and travel during or after college, so that you reconsider that point of view.</p>