<p>I don't understand why some people would attend a university based on the connections they have. The ivy league is so corrupt. They only accept mediocre students with rich families and famous parents. I can't understand how someone would want to attend a place that wants you just because they like your parents or want your money. I could easily get into any school I wanted with some of the connections my father has (honest to God I am not trying to brag, just making a point). I told him not to get involved in my college application process. I had a 1670 on SAT and a 3.6 GPA. I know I will not be able to succeed in an ivy school and I cannot begin to imagine taking the spot of someone who has the grades and who has worked so hard to go into an ivy. I would feel awful! I understand that going to any ivy is a big deal and that it will prepare you for a future that some people can only dream of, but what's the point? Why would you want to go to a college that doesn't even want you for you? I can't even begin to understand that. People are taking opportunities away from kids who actually deserve to have a place in that school and for what..to make your parents proud? Ugh, I hate life, it really is so unfair.</p>
<p>k, end of my rant. I'm ready for people to start going off at me now..</p>
<p>My family has no connections, and my brother goes to an Ivy league school.</p>
<p>He's had a 4.0 every semester but one, and won the university division of the International Math Modeling Competition. He does so because of his intelligence, and more importantly, his hard work.</p>
<p>And so, with this counterexample, I feel perfectly justified in calling you a retard over your affirmation that only the privileged attend schools in the Ivy league.</p>
<p>As for your point over whether someone would want to go to a school for superficial reasons....well, that actually falls into the larger bucket of
"Why do people do things for superficial reasons?!"
The answer being, of course; they are shallow and concerned with superficial things.</p>
<p>Anyways, if what you say is true. Props to you for not being one of those people that uses contacts alone to get a spot. That takes some true moral fiber.</p>
<p>I can see where you are coming from though. But- if I had decent application, I wouldn't mind using a few favors to set me apart =/</p>
<p>I'm not saying only the privileged go to ivy schools. I am saying that I think it's unfair for privileged kids with horrible stats to take the spots away from others who do not have connections because they are people who are better qualified for the school academically.</p>
<p>People like your brother deserve to be in an ivy league school. People like George Bush are not...</p>
<p>That's all I was saying. I guess that makes me a jerkface..?</p>
<p>Wait a minute.....the assumption here is that there aren't well connected/rich AND hardworking people.</p>
<p>Former President Bush pulled the same grades as Senator Kerry did at Yale (both would've gotten about B averages with today's grade inflation), and transformed the state of Texas.
Without getting into a hindsight motivated debate over his years in office, I can safely say that you are wrong to assume (and then go on to publicly generalize that) people in positions such as your own (which, I doubt) necessarily have the...qualifications you do...</p>
<p>There aren't 400+ applicants that get in through some old boys network to every single school in the United States. The Ivy league is not corrupt, and in fact tries to correct at every single step of the way for corruptness.</p>
<p>Btw, you're right about life being unfair - College Admissions is one of the few areas in life where you are judged relatively objectively.</p>
<p>It honestly doesn't phase me whether or not you believe I have a good enough connection or not. I know what my father does is extremely important and he is highly looked upon by many people. I admire him for that. He came from absolutely nothing. He didn't have connections to get him into the Ivy league which is why which is why I made this post to begin with. </p>
<p>This whole post stemmed from frustration when I found out a girl from my school (senators daughter) got an offer to Yale with a 3.56. She really has done nothing spectacular and she is a VERY average student and wouldn't even qualify for any Ivy league if it weren't for her father. Do you think that it's fair for this girl to take a spot away from someone who has worked their tail off for four years and would thrive in the university???? I don't think so.</p>
<p>That was the point I was trying to make. I honestly wasn't trying to start an argument, I just wanted to speak my mind. I guess that makes me a stupid.. </p>
<p>So to collegehopefull, I am sorry for wasting your time with my "retarded" comments. I was just expressing my frustrations and I truly apologize for wasting your time. You have misinterpreted everything that I had meant to say and I guess that's my fault since I'm just some stupid girl who watches to much gossip girl according to other posters. Believe me, I will not be posting on this forum again so no worries, you won't have to deal my naive comments again.</p>
<p>connections aren't that important...unless they are amazing connections </p>
<p>upper east siders, for example, most are in the same boat....the tiny connections they have aren't really taken into account </p>
<p>but then last year...this girl from my school..she was the niece of a board of trustee for another ivy applied to that school...lol 3.5GPA 2000 SATs, her activities included cooking club and working out everyday </p>
<p>so yaa in very rare instances..if u have connections like that...u can get in with significantly lower stats</p>
<p>Even then, katie. That won't happen this year.</p>
<p>And I'm fine with the children of famous people getting accepted with average stats. Remember, the college is always looking for applicant's who bring something new to the table, and that's what these people do. </p>
<p>It's not like half of a class is going to be made up of actress' daughters or senators' sons or anything.</p>
<p>^ However, those applicants did not set themselves apart via their own actions. Even if they do not take up a half of the class, they are still taking spots away from people who have worked HARD to set themselves apart. No matter how small that group is, I would feel much better knowing I was not offered a spot to a class filled with people who have set themselves apart THEMSELVES. Not by people who are unique because of factors that are uncontrollable.</p>
<p>H wants people who can self start and take initiative, or so goes the bill. If people had below average stats for an Ivy applicant, and he/she gets in bc of connections that's unfair. The only thing they are bringing is their parent's money and influence to the institution and nothing to the students, while robbing a kid, such as any one of us, from those spots. I'm sure they're still great people and all, but just the fact that this still happens and lazier people with less initiative and less to show for their work get in over uber amazing people who worked hard bothers me. It's pure economics why some of us can get screwed.</p>
<p>Well, here's the truth. Harvard and all the Ivy's would be nowhere if it weren't for all the rich people who have donated to them over the years. For better or worse, prestige definitely contributes to the quality of a university. What better way to get prestige than have a couple of well-connected people?</p>
<p>That said, I may have grduges against certain people getting accepted for what I perceive as below-average stats. However, I would also rather not go to a school made up of nerds. HYP are known for their diversity- it's not all just the people who are good at taking standardized tests.</p>