<p>So I only got into my safety school. At dinner: (a rough translation of our Asiantastic conversation)</p>
<p>Dad: So you're going to ____?
I: Yes.
Dad: Well, I guess it's better than community college.
I: Yes.
Dad: I'm really disappointed.
I: ...
Dad: When you were younger, I always thought you were a child prodigy. I took you to art lessons, piano lessons, etc. But you sucked at both. I began to think I was wrong. Now I've finally realized that you're just not that smart. Just average.
I: ... Sorry.
Dad: I'm not going to tell my colleagues where you're going to college because it'll just be embarrassing. I hope you work your a-- off in college and go to Yale for grad school.
I: I'll try my best.
Dad: Well, at least we still have your little brother.</p>
<p>... At least I know where I'm applying for grad school now... :p</p>
<p>…sheesh and I thought my parents were bad with:</p>
<p>Dad: So, son I notice that you didn’t do very well on your math test.
Me: Yeah I know I should have studied more, there’s always next time…
Dad: Of course, next time…
Me: I mean I just have to try harder
Dad: Yeah. You know I understand if you don’t want to go to college. You know that I would be fine with you going to Community College right?
Me: Dad! It was one test, I’ll study harder next time! I’m not giving up on college because of one or more bad grades!
Dad: If you say so, but know that your mother and I support you wherever you go, whether that be a great University or the local Community College.
Me: Aggh! *Exit to bedroom.</p>
<p>That being said, that really sucks. I offer you my wholehearted anonymous internet forum support. Personally I feel like Undergrad study location is overrated, if you do well in Undergrad then Grad schools won’t care where you went.</p>
<p>Do you have any non-anecdotal and empirical evidence? And I am genuinely interested in the answer to this question as I was under the impression that the Undergraduate school was not that important. I would just prefer if you would elaborate with details outside of your own personal experience.</p>
<p>^ It often has to do with connections, as well as the “only-the-best-of-the-best” mentality of grad school acceptances. Naturally, a person who attended Princeton will have had access to a supposedly better education, faculty, and resources than a no-name community college attendee, giving that person a presupposed intellectual advantage and thus a potentially better chance at being accepted. I don’t think this counts as “empirical evidence,” though.</p>
<p>But wow at your dad, OP. He’ll get over it, though, when you cure cancer and develop that all-elusive elevator to the sky.</p>
<p>I’m a parent and someone with lots of experience in higher education and I have to say that what you were told is wrong. People can thrive in many different settings and the most important thing for grad/law/medical school are your grades, test scores, and letters of recommendation. Take rigorous and interesting courses and get to know your professors. Get involved in activities. And thrive.</p>
<p>And your parents will get over it. Many very successful people went to non-brand name schools – CEOs, Governors, etc. Even more, many happy people went to non-brand name schools!</p>
<p>that’s a proper time to tell your parents off.
tell them that if they only care about your success as it is relevant to how they look in front of their colleagues, they will not be invited to share in them when they do arrive.
Don’t work your ass off to make them proud. they deserve none of it. work your ass off so you won’t be financially dependent on them and they won’t control you like an investment in their selfish pride.</p>
<p>Well thats the exact opposite of my problem. My parents keep trying to get me to go to an in state school and are like, “you know i would be happier if you just went to osu instead of going God knows where.”</p>
<p>^ That’s my uncle in a nutshell (he’s kind of like a dad to me…). He wants me to go to this rinky dink college up in the northern area of the state that’s only noted for its nursing program.</p>
<p>UGA is a great school. Don’t listen to your dad’s BS about it being bad. There are loads of smart people there and so many opportunities to be had. You’ll do great. Good luck and have fun. :)</p>
<p>(I get mildly ****ed when people put down UGA or GA Tech. Maaaan, they don’t know what they’re talking about. “Bad schools” - pffft. No idea what they’re talking about.)</p>