Stupid college decisions made by smart kids

<p>Yeah, he not only got a huge scholarship to RIT, but his parents are loaded as well. In his case it wasn't so much the money issue, but the proximity one.</p>

<p>The high school guidance counselors at our HS talk to each student (with a parent or both parents) at the end of 8th grade, and tell about the high school curriculum, and also talk about college planning, telling the 8th graders basically that as a senior, each student should plan to apply to a couple of stretch colleges, a couple of fit colleges, and a couple of safety colleges. Basically a minimum of six colleges. This is not something the counselors only tell the top students - this is what they say to everyone who will be graduating. The definition of a stretch is just different for different people. I know this is expensive but this would avoid some of the disappointments people have listed above.</p>

<p>One other thing, which should be a no-brainer. Make sure that every school you apply to is one in which, if it were the only one that accepted you, you'd be relatively happy to go there.</p>

<p>BU GSP (General Studies...aka 2 more years of high school)...not even BU.</p>

<p>That's really a completely asinine comment. I resent that. I would think that someone with the intellect to get into brown could have compassion for those (including myself) who didnt do as well as we couldve and need a school like BU's GSP. Think before you write.</p>

<p>My Uncle had everything lined up to go to Navy, but he chose Penn State (not UPenn) in the last minute because he did not want to serve. 4 years later he was drafted for WWII, and went into the navy.</p>

<p>I haven't seen many stupid decisions, just ones I personally wouldn't have agreed with. Like one guy turned down university of Chicago for Colorado state. In fact, the smartest people in my school either went to Colorado state or CU-Boulder, though many of them got accepted into top ranked schools. They just don't care about prestige.</p>

<p>Jpod, no offense but I resent comments like that.
"Who could've worked harder, but didn't" is an empty statement like "I could be a millionaire, but chose not to". While I think the program is a great idea for students who should be at college, I think your statement is for lack of a better word, lame.
Your statement underwrites others who choose to do the work needed, people who could've and did. Until you do the same, you cannot put forward anything more than empty statements on that.</p>

<p>BU GSP (General Studies...aka 2 more years of high school)...not even BU.</p>

<p>That's really a completely asinine comment. I resent that. I would think that someone with the intellect to get into brown could have compassion for those (including myself) who didnt do as well as we couldve and need a school like BU's GSP. Think before you write.</p>

<hr>

<p>Why should i have compassion for someone that, due to their own fault, didnt work as hard as they could have? Unless you have something else in life that takes out a great deal of time, an illness, family problems, research, music, sports, then i stand behind my comment.</p>

<p>Jpod, no offense but I resent comments like that.
"Who could've worked harder, but didn't" is an empty statement like "I could be a millionaire, but chose not to". While I think the program is a great idea for students who should be at college, I think your statement is for lack of a better word, lame.
Your statement underwrites others who choose to do the work needed, people who could've and did. Until you do the same, you cannot put forward anything more than empty statements on that.</p>

<p>It has nothing to do with choice. It's how I turned out. I dont have the intelligence to just get work done like some of you people. I wouldnt call it a lame excuse in the slightest. I know I shouldve done better, but i cant change the passed. The whole point of the program is for people such as myself who didnt grow academically to the point that they shouldve. In other words, a lot of people with potential to be on the same level as everyone else.</p>

<p>Why should i have compassion for someone that, due to their own fault, didnt work as hard as they could have? Unless you have something else in life that takes out a great deal of time, an illness, family problems, research, music, sports, then i stand behind my comment.</p>

<p>I wouldnt call an LD MY fault, but coming from another atypical Long Islander, I cant say I expected more from you.</p>

<p>Intelligence is different than will power jpod.</p>

<p>I like Long Island Iced Teas. Discuss.</p>

<p>I have intelligence. Will power is what i lack, and hope to attain.</p>

<p>You have a choice, that's the most pathetic thing i've ever heard...
You had a choice and you made the wrong one, you've been given the chance to make things better for the future, which is a good thing and one you can do at gsp. Best of luck to you, sincerely.</p>

<p>Don't try to underwrite what others have done though, that's exactly what you're trying to do while reassuring yourself. Sorry, doesn't work that way feller...</p>

<p>How did you get into the program? You applied with grades that just weren't good enough but they still want you? Or you are an athlete that they want...or wat?</p>

<p>Here's one:</p>

<p>Classmate applied ED to both U Penn and Boston U. Also applied to Wisconsin and Michigan. Got accepted ED at U Penn. Withdrew her application to Boston U. Got in at Michigan (In-state tuition) and Wisconsin. Went on a campus visit to Penn, didn't like it. From Ann Arbor, so wanted to get out of town, never visited Madison. Going to Wisconsin and got out of her ED committment.</p>

<p>Some people...</p>

<p>A few years back a kid from my HS (prospective IR major) turned down G'town SFS for MSU (James madison)</p>

<p>
[quote]
Classmate applied ED to both U Penn and Boston U. Also applied to Wisconsin and Michigan. Got accepted ED at U Penn. Withdrew her application to Boston U. Got in at Michigan (In-state tuition) and Wisconsin. Went on a campus visit to Penn, didn't like it. From Ann Arbor, so wanted to get out of town, never visited Madison. Going to Wisconsin and got out of her ED committment.

[/quote]

If she didn't want to go to UM why'd she even apply?</p>

<p>Money, just as a backup plan. Kind of like me with MSU, I didn't want to go there, but it's cheap and nearby so why not?</p>

<p>I think people need to get over the hate/elitism they have when they think of their state school...</p>

<p>I don't know if that was directed at my friend, but I don't see how this situation implies elitism. When you grow up in a town for 18 years, don't like it, and you have the chance to get out of it, then why wouldn't you do it? And they turned down U Penn to go to a state school!</p>

<p>I know someone who turned down UPenn to go to Penn state...
It was the honors college, but it's still penn state.
Big deal?
Go read the study published by the researchers at princeton, if you get into an ivy/ivy-esque school, and turn it down to go somewhere else, your level of 'success' is the same as your ivy counterparts.
The person makes their own future, it's not only the school at stake.</p>

<p>Plus if you like football games, you'd probably rather shoot yourself in the foot than watch the ivy's play...
Big Ten vs. Ivy football, hmmm.....</p>

<p>btw, it wasn't directed at your friend. It was directed at the general population on this site.</p>