<p>Hmmm, you're right, expectations are much too high these days, I mean I know my parents pressured me, but w/e I did what I want, I applied where I wanted, and I knew they couldn't stop me so I just told them to leave me alone and I ended up doing really with myself. Also, wait you took the SAT's in middle school, crazy, kids who just graduated from my class barely even got a 1750, so I don't know about you but I think of that as very impressive, and don't worry, SAT scores are an upward trend since each year you become more educated and intelligent, and will understand the subject matter and format of the test much better, so if you're already at 1750 by middle school I wouldn't be too worried overall, and hell I just broke 2000 my senior year, so I feel pretty ridiculous talking to you about improving scores though I did get 1750 on my sophomore PSAT, so you're definitely going places nonetheless.</p>
<p>Thanks Tony, but it probably won't be enough for an Ivy League college. My parents' dream is for me to go to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, or Johns Hopkins.</p>
<p>Well then take Stanford, that's not an Ivy ;) Just good luck man and have fun in high school, you really shouldn't stress so much, at least so early in game, so just have a good time and live life.</p>
<p>I thinking knowing exactly what you want to do will help you tremendously. I am actually sort of jealous.</p>
<p>Well, I have to thank my parents for everything....
They drilled this message in my head, "Your years in school will predict your future. Your future is everything. If you mess it up, it's your own fault. By that time, it'll be too late to go back or regret."</p>
<p>the thing about your parents wanting you to go to certain colleges is terrible. You need to look into colleges yourself, with your own standards, and decide which colleges are best for you. CC is a good place to begin. But ask your parents to take you on college visits--they seem like the type that would agree to spend the money to travel and check out schools. You might change your mind about some schools. Don't hesitate to look beyond the Ivy League. Washington University accepts about half as many people as JHU. UChicago is a great school. Northwestern, UVA, Berkeley, Duke...the list goes on.</p>
<p>David, that is where you are wrong. If you mess up now there is more than enough time to make up for it. If you dont get into Harvard now that doesnt mean you cant go to your state school and beat out Harvard students 4 years later for law, business, and med school. And if you come out with a Harvard MBA or MD that will overshadow any school you go to for undergrad. It may be true that in other countries its all or nothing for highschool and college admissions. I am pretty sure that in India they have a maximum age to be admitted to the more competitive schools. here, however, you can start your undergrad at any age (it just helps if you start it after highschool). </p>
<p>i know where you are comming from in the fact that your parents want you to go to a top college for undergrad. I am going to be a senior in the fall and my parents are, in a way, dictating where I apply based on their definition of prestige. If they feel the college isnt much better than my state school (factoring in the added costs) then they say they wont pay for me to go there. What you have to do is some how convice your parents that the name of the school doesnt dictate how you do in the future. though i agree that what you do in highschool will affect your future (crime, drugs, pregnancy, etc) it wont hinder you from achieving greatness later in life. I am pretty sure that your parents wouldnt object if the best place you get into is like UChicago, or WashU, or Duke, or any of the other great schools in the country, but i can also understand how they want you to go to HYPS (whos parent doesnt). All you can do is do your best in highschool, college, and where ever you may go after. I am sure your parents will still love you no matter what the name of your school is and they will be proud.</p>
<p>You guys comfort me so....
I'm really touched at how nice the people of this country is. So, the first four years of college won't matter, but my professional school does? Can someone explain the influence of going to a bad 4 year college and then majoring at an ivy league college? If it doesn't make a difference which school I go to for the first 4 years, then why do ivy leagues accept incoming freshmen anyway? How does college work anyway? I'm all confused. The college sites don't really tell me anything except prepare, prepare, prepare, which doesn't really help if I don't know the college curriculum and how it's run. Even though I go to college summer camps, I am exposed to very little of this higher education. It's like I must take college to know or something. I'm just trying to be prepared as much as possible anywho.</p>