<p>staticlockdown, tell your mom that the "recognition thing" is the national merit title and it is only given to juniors who do well on the psat. even if youre a first grader and score in the first percentile, you wouldn't get the recognition. tell her to go learn what this sat thing is all about before putting her child in a sat pre class.</p>
<p>I actually had the time to go through the 24 pages of horror stories and it seems like there's a coup instigated by the enlightened asian progeny against their old-fashioned (and I must say, quite narrow-mined) parents. :)</p>
<p>oh asian parents. mine are less restricting. but similar nontheless.</p>
<p>Asian parents aren't all like this, people. Let's stop the stereotyping. It just seems like they're all like this because people talk about the strict ones, while the more reasonable Asian parents are never mentioned.</p>
<p>haha actually i think the only people that stereotype asian parents are the asian parents' kids themselves..</p>
<p>my parents are typically asian as well, lol. i asked them if they preferred me going 100% tuition free to umass amherst or to a top 20 school if i got in, and my mom bluntly says "UMASS. GOGOGO." however, they're still willing to pay my tuition if i do get into a top 20 school... UNDER top 20 however, is another question entirely... </p>
<p>they don't really stress about my grades and stuff though... i'm a pretty average student (by asian standards) and when i get subpar grades they're just like "oh... well... do better next time..." </p>
<p>but yeah, good luck with your dad lol...</p>
<p>lol my parents don't stress about my grades because they know i'm pretty self-disciplined.. or at least.. they think i am. like today i went to go study for the ap lit exam and my mom was like.. "ap lit? you need to study for that?"</p>
<p>Man this thread is a survivor. It was here ages ago, haha. Anyways, that sucks. (from reading your first thread-starting post) Good luck man. I'm sure if he said he'd kick you out, it's just a spur of the moment thing. In the end, it doesn't matter what college you go to =]</p>
<p>Yay for asian parents</p>
<p>Oh man...I looked at life that way a few years ago...and it made me life really hard.</p>
<p>You know, all they (the parents) really want is to be proud of you. All they want is to see you try your hardest. Sure they'd be ecstatic if you got into Harvard, but even if you didn't, they'd still be happy.</p>
<p>My parents have said they won't pay...blah blah blah, but they just want to try to put more pressure (than we need) so you will try your best :)</p>
<p>It's how they were taught...just look at it in a different light and life will be SO much better, I'm telling this from personal experience.</p>
<p>My mom didn't know what Brown was.
My mom also didn't know that Wharton was a business school.
She also doesn't know where Swarthmore is.</p>
<p>There. I beat you all.</p>
<p>BTW, I'm ihateCA with a name change.</p>
<p>With all this talk about Asian parents pressuring kids to attend Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc., I can completely emphatize with those who struggle to attain their parents' dream of attending an elite college. Too often, Asian parents feel as though if you attend an elite college, you will be set for life and that you can get any job you want and make a ton of money by virture of having a degree from an Ivy League school.</p>
<p>WAKE UP!!!!!!!! This is one of the stupidest myths EVER that has sadly been perpetuated by Asian people in society. While Asians often have the image of being ultra-smart and graduating only from Ivy League schools (or at worst, NYU and UCLA), I can attest that there are LOTS of VERY successful Asian Americans who made it very far in life w/o the "help" of degree from a prestigious college. </p>
<p>I have done extensive research and compiled a list of some of the most successful Asian Americans out there who did not receive the "benefits" of attending a prestigious college. For all those Asian students out there who feel the pressure of attending an elite college, DON'T MAKE SUCH A BIG DEAL OF IT. You can still attend ANY college and be both very happy and successful. And for all you Asian parents out there, a degree from an Ivy League or other prestigious school is NOT the ticket to automatic success and riches. The list of successful Asian Americans below should demonstrate that you DON'T NEED to attend an elite university to be successful both personally and professionally. This list of course is by no means exclusive. </p>
<p>Connie Chung - prominent Asian-American journalist. Graduate of University of Maryland
Charles B. Wang ** - Arguably the most successful Asian-American businessman (along with Jerry Yang) in the United States. Graduate of CUNY-Queens College
*Thomas Tang *- First Asian American to be appointed to the federal judiciary as judge. Guess which law school he graduated from? Not Harvard, Yale, not even Berkeley or UCLA. He graduated from University of Arizona Law School.
**Daniel Inouye - First Japanese-American to serve in the United States senate. Did not graduate from Georgetown Law, he graduated from The George Washington University Law School
Roy Lee - Prominent film producer in Hollywood. Has degrees from George Washington University and American University Law School.
Cyrus Tang - Another major Asian American entrepreneur, attended Widener University and Illinois Institute of Technology
Norm Chow - Currently the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. Graduated from University of Utah and earned PhD from Brigham Young University
Vera Wang - Fashion designer. Graduate of Sarah Lawrence College
Martin Yan - Famous TV chef. Graduate from UC Davis.
Amy Tan - Well known bestselling author. Graduate of San Jose State University
John Liu - Currently serving in the NYC Council (and the first Asian-American to do so). Graduate of SUNY-Binghamton
Bruce Lee - You know him. Graduate of University of Washington
Bobby Lee - Famous comedian. Attended Palomar College (it's a JuCo in California)
Leland Yee - California State Assemblyman. Although he graduated from UC-Berkeley, he ultimately got his Master's and PhD respectively from San Francisco State and University of Hawaii.
B.D. Wong - Noteworthy Hollywood actor. Graduate of San Francisco State University.
James Wong - Hollywood filmmaker and producer. Graduate of Loyola Marymount University.
Ming W. Chin - Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. Earned both BA and JD from University of San Francisco.
Ronald S.W. Lew - U.S. District Court Judge for Central District of California in Ninth Circuit. Graduated from Loyola Marymount and earned JD from Southwestern University School of Law.
David Chu - Entreprenuer and founder of Nautica. Graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology.
Sung Won Sohn - Former Chief Economist of Wells Fargo & Co., selected as the most accurate forecaster by the Wall Street Journal in 2006. Did he graduate from Wharton-Penn, Harvard, or even NYU? Nope. He attended the University of Florida and eventually earned his Ph.D from University of Pittsburgh.<br>
Philip Jaisohn (Seo Jae Pil) ** - First Korean American to earn a medical degree in the United States. The medical school isn't Harvard, it's George Washington Medical School.
**Ellison Onizuka - Astronaut and research engineer who sadly lost his life in the space shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986. One of the first Asian American astronauts. Earned bachelor's and master's degrees from University of Colorado.<br>
Mari Matsuda - First female Asian American tenured law professor. Taught at UCLA and Georgetown law schools. Graduated from Arizona State, earned JD from University of Hawaii!!!
Stan Matsunaka - Former Colorado state senator. Graduate of Colorado State University and University of San Diego law school.
Takuji Yama**a* - Prominent civil rights pioneer for Asian Americans during the early 20th century. Graduate of University of Washington both undergrad and law schools.<br>
Dipak C. Jain - Current dean of Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Earned PhD in marketing from University of Texas at DALLAS.
Gus Lee - Noteworthy Asian American attorney and author. Earned BA and JD degrees from UC Davis.
Joan Chen - Internationally renowned actress and film director. Graduate of Cal State Northridge. </p>
<p>This is only a list of SOME of the notable Asian Americans who achieved a lot in their lives in spite of not having prized sheepskins from Ivy League or other similarly prestigious institutions. I think both Asian students and their parents should realize that if they don't make it to an Ivy League or elite university, that is by no means the end of success. Success is a long and hard journey.</p>
<p>AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH</p>
<p>Asians invading america!!!!!!</p>
<p>Wow i admire your smartness and large brains.</p>
<p>lol @ Yamashita getting censored. dumb censor, blocking asian names on a college site!</p>
<p>most asians aren't up there because they're smart - it's because they cram for school. i've seen lots of asian druggies as well though.</p>
<p>Hrrrrm......this is a touchy subject. I can only speak for Chinese culture since that is my culture, and it's also a subject where i've done extensive research. A significant conflict beween Chinese children today and their parents is the influence of Western culture. Most students (like I) find it a constant struggle to balance the two cultures. On the one hand, Western culture teaches individuality, to "look inward for contentness." The other hand, Chinese culture teaches filial piety; each parent spends a significant amount of resources raising their kid, in return it is the kids duty to: 1. Continue the family line. 2. Take care of the parents in return. This family structure has continued for generations, placing a mutual responsibility on the children and parents. </p>
<p>I can truly say that the money I live on today is blood money. Since money in Chinese society frequently passes down 100% from parent to child, the money I am living on is the money that my grandparents literally paid with blood, sweat, and tears to attain. From all of the nails that he had to remove when he came to America (they thought he had nail fungus), to the food he didn't have when he was studying in the number one school in China. This isn't just an isolated incident, many Chinese have historically paid a heavy price to make sure their children get an education. </p>
<p>The LEAST I could do is follow in their path which would be to excel greatly in academics, make money, and continue the family line. I'm lucky since whichever college I go to, I will have food to eat. To do anything else, such as not bearing children, or not devoting myself to their care can equate betraying the hand that feeds. There are still many Chinese parents out there who think like this -- going to an Ivy is seen as a sign of achievement and as a step in the process of making money to carry on a family. </p>
<p>Another reason why the Chinese emphasize education so much is because it is embedded into the foundation of their culture. To put thousands of pages in short, Confucian values teach that education is the ONLY way to become...a REAL person in a sense. Going to an ivy is NOT all about money! In Western culture, we are taught to strengthen our character through ethics and morality. Chinese culture, character is also strengthened by education. It's such prevalent norm that you can ask some Chinese parents why they want their kids to go to the top ten schools, and they wouldn't be able to give you a firm answer. It's because...that's just the norm! </p>
<p>So no, it's not being narrowminded. For me, it's being respectful to my parents who spent so much money on me, and it's also fulfilling the wishes of my ancestors. Without them, I wouldn't exist.</p>
<p>In the beginning I had my qualms about this Chinese "duty." Why do I have to do this? Why do I have to struggle so much to get into the top ten schools? Why do I have to make so much money? I want to do what interests me. But then I realize that it's only because of my ancestors that I even have the luxury to indulge in Western culture; the culture where I am free pursue my own interests. The pursuit of one's own interest is a huge luxury that Western countries take for granted, and not surprisingly a luxury that many 2nd/3rd world country families do NOT have. </p>
<p>Just trying to put more of the other side of the picture here, Western culture tends to assimilate/dissipate other cultures rather quickly. I am a lucky one though, because even though I am very Westernized, my goals and interests are parallel with the goals that my Chinese culture would have me to pursue. </p>
<p>Don't worry Arti, no matter where you end up, your parents will be there for you.</p>
<p>WOW! Yeah i'm asian too and i know what you're feeling , but i've given up on that. I convinved my parents that florida schools are good too and i'm also applying to u chicago and northwestern along wth emory, but either way, you know you're going to get a great education even if you don't end up going to an ivy league school.</p>
<p>Hey johnzen (and everybody else), thanks for your thoughts.</p>
<p>However, at the risk of self-promoting myself, I would hope that all of you at least take a look at the list I provided of successful Asian-Americans who thrived both professionally and personally without earning degrees from Ivy League or other prestigious universities. In fact, it'd be great if all of you reading this could pass around the list I made to your Asian parents and all your Asian friends. </p>
<p>I spent literally over an hour researching and compiling this list. The goal is twofold: 1.) to show that you can be very financially successful without the attainment of a degree from a top brand name university and 2.) that you can STILL get a great education at ANY school, even if it isn't Ivy League or prestigious. </p>
<p>I agree with what johnzen said about the Confucian values that stress getting an education. However, I will also point out that Confucius stresses getting a good EDUCATION, NOT getting into a brand name college. If you get into a brand name college (Ivy League, Stanford, etc.), and you get a lousy education, well then I think that's as much of a disappointment as NOT going to college. I honestly pity all those ppl who try to get by solely on the virtue of their degree from an Ivy League school. And where I work, that's sadly the case.</p>
<p>"With all this talk about Asian parents pressuring kids to attend Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc., I can completely emphatize with those who struggle to attain their parents' dream of attending an elite college. Too often, Asian parents feel as though if you attend an elite college, you will be set for life and that you can get any job you want and make a ton of money by virture of having a degree from an Ivy League school.</p>
<p>WAKE UP!!!!!!!! This is one of the stupidest myths EVER that has sadly been perpetuated by Asian people in society. While Asians often have the image of being ultra-smart and graduating only from Ivy League schools (or at worst, NYU and UCLA), I can attest that there are LOTS of VERY successful Asian Americans who made it very far in life w/o the "help" of degree from a prestigious college. </p>
<p>I have done extensive research and compiled a list of some of the most successful Asian Americans out there who did not receive the "benefits" of attending a prestigious college. For all those Asian students out there who feel the pressure of attending an elite college, DON'T MAKE SUCH A BIG DEAL OF IT. You can still attend ANY college and be both very happy and successful. And for all you Asian parents out there, a degree from an Ivy League or other prestigious school is NOT the ticket to automatic success and riches. The list of successful Asian Americans below should demonstrate that you DON'T NEED to attend an elite university to be successful both personally and professionally. This list of course is by no means exclusive. </p>
<p>Connie Chung - prominent Asian-American journalist. Graduate of University of Maryland
Charles B. Wang - Arguably the most successful Asian-American businessman (along with Jerry Yang) in the United States. Graduate of CUNY-Queens College
Thomas Tang - First Asian American to be appointed to the federal judiciary as judge. Guess which law school he graduated from? Not Harvard, Yale, not even Berkeley or UCLA. He graduated from University of Arizona Law School.
Daniel Inouye - First Japanese-American to serve in the United States senate. Did not graduate from Georgetown Law, he graduated from The George Washington University Law School
Roy Lee - Prominent film producer in Hollywood. Has degrees from George Washington University and American University Law School.
Cyrus Tang - Another major Asian American entrepreneur, attended Widener University and Illinois Institute of Technology
Norm Chow - Currently the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. Graduated from University of Utah and earned PhD from Brigham Young University
Vera Wang - Fashion designer. Graduate of Sarah Lawrence College
Martin Yan - Famous TV chef. Graduate from UC Davis.
Amy Tan - Well known bestselling author. Graduate of San Jose State University
John Liu - Currently serving in the NYC Council (and the first Asian-American to do so). Graduate of SUNY-Binghamton
Bruce Lee - You know him. Graduate of University of Washington
Bobby Lee - Famous comedian. Attended Palomar College (it's a JuCo in California)
Leland Yee - California State Assemblyman. Although he graduated from UC-Berkeley, he ultimately got his Master's and PhD respectively from San Francisco State and University of Hawaii.
B.D. Wong - Noteworthy Hollywood actor. Graduate of San Francisco State University.
James Wong - Hollywood filmmaker and producer. Graduate of Loyola Marymount University.
Ming W. Chin - Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. Earned both BA and JD from University of San Francisco.
Ronald S.W. Lew - U.S. District Court Judge for Central District of California in Ninth Circuit. Graduated from Loyola Marymount and earned JD from Southwestern University School of Law.
David Chu - Entreprenuer and founder of Nautica. Graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology.
Sung Won Sohn - Former Chief Economist of Wells Fargo & Co., selected as the most accurate forecaster by the Wall Street Journal in 2006. Did he graduate from Wharton-Penn, Harvard, or even NYU? Nope. He attended the University of Florida and eventually earned his Ph.D from University of Pittsburgh.
Philip Jaisohn (Seo Jae Pil) - First Korean American to earn a medical degree in the United States. The medical school isn't Harvard, it's George Washington Medical School.
Ellison Onizuka - Astronaut and research engineer who sadly lost his life in the space shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986. One of the first Asian American astronauts. Earned bachelor's and master's degrees from University of Colorado.
Mari Matsuda - First female Asian American tenured law professor. Taught at UCLA and Georgetown law schools. Graduated from Arizona State, earned JD from University of Hawaii!!!
Stan Matsunaka - Former Colorado state senator. Graduate of Colorado State University and University of San Diego law school.
Takuji Yama*****a - Prominent civil rights pioneer for Asian Americans during the early 20th century. Graduate of University of Washington both undergrad and law schools.
Dipak C. Jain - Current dean of Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Earned PhD in marketing from University of Texas at DALLAS.
Gus Lee - Noteworthy Asian American attorney and author. Earned BA and JD degrees from UC Davis.
Joan Chen - Internationally renowned actress and film director. Graduate of Cal State Northridge. </p>
<h2>This is only a list of SOME of the notable Asian Americans who achieved a lot in their lives in spite of not having prized sheepskins from Ivy League or other similarly prestigious institutions. I think both Asian students and their parents should realize that if they don't make it to an Ivy League or elite university, that is by no means the end of success. Success is a long and hard journey."</h2>
<p>you forgot li ka shing. he didnt even go to high school. and look at him now. hes a multi billionaire and like the 7th or 8th richest man in the world?</p>
<p>the most common story I hear in school is kids wanting to go into music or becoming a writer, and parents refusing to pay for tuition unless they go into a biology major.</p>
<p>Hahaha, quite the contrary here. I went into biology major because I want to go vet (mayhaps med, but more likely vet) and my family is discouraging that slightly. "The path is REALLY STRESSFUL, especially for a girl. Are you SURE you want to do that?" But the sexist talk just drives me further to want it.</p>