<p>IvyHope: you wrote "I understand this frenzy is not good but do you think we can just let our child lay back and goto community college."</p>
<p>The core of my statement is that I am 100% behind the idea that if my daughters want to go to Yale (or EEK Hah-vahd), that's fine. If they want to go to Holyoke or Michigan State, that's fine. If they want to go into the military, that's fine. While my wife and I strongly feel college is very important, what is the most important thing to my wife and me are that they become women of character and strong work ethic. If their intellectual strengths propel them to Ivy-calibre, great. But I'm not going to lose any sleep over what USN&WR is ranking whatever school in seven years when my first will be checking out colleges. </p>
<p>While I've been the beneficiary of a Yale education, I've also seen since my days in New Haven, that a full life of character and contribution to society is not bounded by the school that conferred my degree or will confer the degrees to my two Ds. There's nothing wrong with wanting the best for our kids. I'm just not of the camp that the "best" means a manic obsession to get into HYPS. I've met plenty of people of non-Ivies whom I would be honored to work alongside and under. Maybe I'm Quixotic but I'll try to shield my family from this "rankings" game. </p>
<p>Again, I'm not unsypathetic to your feelings IvyHope. In the last three years, I interviewed 16 or so applicants and only two were accepted -- and my rate is above average! </p>
<p>Only one matriculated. But I don't have a second's doubt that the other 15 are thriving at whatever school they eventually attended or will attend. Were they qualified and worked hard? Yes. But there are ONLY a few slots. If your child is a viable candidate for an ultra selective like the Ivies, then it's extremely likely that he/she will do ABSOLUTELY fine wherever they attend.</p>
<p>If possible, try to read the two posts I linked earlier. I think they are very illuminating. </p>
<p>Good luck to you and your family. T26E4</p>