NY Times Mag: "Tense Times at Bronxville High"

<p>new york times magazine feature from friday following one win rutherfurd, along with several of his classmates from bronxville high, through the stresses of the college admissions process. win applied ED to princeton last fall with very solid numbers (2,200) and super-legacy status (basically all of the males on his father's side) but also a discplinary issue. his fate, and that of his peers, may interest readers.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/magazine/30neurosis-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/magazine/30neurosis-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>intresting, would the kid have been accepted if he didn't get kicked out of school? shows how the power of legacies are limited...</p>

<p>I read the story and especially the section about Win. It was pretty sad. Who are these admissions people anyway? The article articulated not how interested in the scholarship of students they appear to be but how carried away they seem to have gotten in creating a new world in Tigerville. By the way Win was not a Super rich Legacy of Frist proportion. I read elsewhere in numerous letters to the editor online and from many alumni who also read the article that his legacy status 'couldnt help the school build another
" Feminist Gothic Mansion" on campus.'</p>

<p>A bit hypocritical don't you think to penalize Win for drinking?? I mean it is hilarious. Ever go to THE STREET? Drinking is like an acquired skill from day one! They even offer a primer on protocol for alcohol poisoning which is a frequent occurence- I think this month alone the ER was pretty busy. Everyone knows it including the ad coms! Are they kidding or what?? The student got caught drinking at St Pauls and got bounced?? How shocking. Hello- never heard of a high school kid drinking??? His Military history interest sounded pretty impressive unless you figure in that the school is no longer the Republican bastion it once was- now what if Win was a female bounced from St Pauls for drinking but whose interest was say feminist studies and science!! Helloooo alumni WAKE UP and smell the narcissus!!!! Welcome back Senator Frist- but its too late. The Meg McMansion casts a huge shadow and there is little room for your ilk. Military History huh???</p>

<p>The Win story defintely does not make sense the way its presented. A 2200 with 3 centuries of legacy does not typically get rejected. Keep in mind that he also didn't get into alot of other schools you wouldve expected him to (especially with that 2200). I suspect the "drinking" incident was a lot more than just getting caught drinking. Something like that typically doesn't get you kicked out. There was definitely more in play.</p>

<p>Anyone trying to describe Princeton as a liberal bastion of feminism is quite literally insane. Speaking as a liberal feminist alumna and parent:).</p>

<p>2200 is not especially impressive. I have friends whose son was a legacy at Brown with much higher stats and he was rejected even though his family had always been donors. The double legacy I know was accepted to Princeton with possibly lower stats. But she is a fascinating girl: a very gifted artist who spent a year in South America in place of senior year. Looking for career as international reporter. A credit to Princeton IMO.</p>

<p>DS was rejected at Dartmouth (his ED school from which he was originally deferred) but accepted everywhere else, including several schools that are more competitive. Truthfully, he wasn't that good a match for Dartmouth, but he fell in love with the HOP. His stats were higher than reported student, and we thought ED application would do the trick.</p>

<p>This schools are completely unpredictable.</p>

<p>Sounds like student will be happy at UVa.</p>

<p>To be forced out of a prestigious boarding school like St. Paul's over a drinking incident implies that whatever occured was far more serious than what the article makes it out to be. To secure the cooperation of the family in writing the piece, it's hardly surprising that the author had to agree not to discuss what happened in any kind of detail; the records were probably sealed, in any case, so she had to go on what the family said. Combined with the fact that a) his record, while not unimpressive, does not stand out as a must-admit, b) Princeton has so many qualified applicants that they can pick-and-choose from (including among legacies), and c) he wasn't a development case, it's not surprising that he was rejected.</p>

<p>Alumother, alum & parent and Princeton Senior Member and representative - Princeton is now known everywhere but in your home as a 'Feminist Bastion'. Good or bad or unimportant this is something that guidance counsellors discuss and parents discuss and everyone but you seem to know. The kids on campus many who are my friends say this outright. Some don't like it and some are proud of it. This appears to be a problem for the older alums who are male and not happy about it. With all due respect, the only thing that is insane is your insistence that the school is not " a feminist bastion" perhaps for you it is not simply enough of a 'feminist bastion' since in your posting you refer to yourself as "Speaking as a liberal feminist alumna and parent". I suggest you read President Tilghmans initiatives, speeches and take a hard look at the staff.</p>

<p>Also the young man was booted for having a bottle in the room and caught completely drunk. And because he was not wealthy enough to bury the mistake at St Pauls out he went. His parents give interviews about it and nothing has been sealed as some experts on this board seem to think. Google the kid you can read up on him and his scholarship in military history. One thing for sure hypocrisy is thy name in this situation. Next you will say "Princetonians would never imbibe" LOL! All those generations on the male side- with his grades, and talent pretty unfortunate. Now if this family wants to continue the line at Princeton they should have their daughter apply.</p>

<p>Cofeenchicory1,
Can you provide links for your information? I googled Winthrop Pearce Rutherfurd and did not find any links beyond The NY Times story and quotations from it.</p>