I was so happy to read this piece. It’s what we’ve been telling our kids, one of whom might be Ivy material and one who probably is not. I almost hope the one who is more of an academic achiever does not waste time trying to get into the Ivies but instead sets his sights on a more attainable school where he can really stand out.
Great stuff.
I can understand when students get a little crazy, but I think that parents need to have the maturity to be able to step back and not get caught up in the “dream school” madness.
A blog site I enjoy, Grown&Flown, has published their view on Frank Bruni’s article and book, along with a Q&A with the author. (Grown&Flown is geared towards moms – but that’s ok for this dad). Here’s a line that seems, regrettably, somewhat too true: “College admissions is viewed in many circles as the ultimate report card on parenting, a single, permanent letter grade given at the end of 18 long years of loving effort.” Link to post is http://grownandflown.com/where-you-go-to-college/.