<p>Just what Xiggi wanted: more glory for the E.C. I think the article's a bit over the top in its worship of him, but I'll admit to liking one quote by a student, in that standardized tests do a better job of showing weaknesses than strengths. Also liked the business about the pricey community service trips to impress. </p>
<p>Jane McClure, btw, quoted in the article is a stand-up person. I've heard her talk. She's quite knowledgeable & one of the shining stars of the admissions business. She understands LD in a way that most colleges, high schools do not.</p>
<p>"...admission officers at Vassar and Columbia were unimpressed by students who "had to go to some exotic place where there were Aborigines, when they lived near urban areas where volunteers were needed." </p>
<p>How true. And an overwhelmingpercentage of students do live in or near areas where there are urban/rural poverty needs begging for volunteers.</p>
<p>Competition is good. It makes schools better. Makes More students better. Makes parents aware of the challenges of affording colleges and getting into appropriate colleges. </p>
<p>Real question that needs to be asked:
[quote]
Is our Kids Learning
[/quote]
?
And as I, spouse, and kid would ultimately ask, "Am I having fun?"</p>
<p>I also agree that expensive overseas summer experiences should not be considered prestigious. Those are usually not selective, and all my friends who attended such programs say the highlights are drinking and partying.</p>
<p>And yes, the article got "yield" wrong. Yield refers to the number of accepted students who end up attending the school.</p>
<p>Just want to mention that one thing I did not like about the article was the consultant-bashing. I'm tired of consulants being blamed for the marketing blitzes and the reputation/ranking battles. I have yet to meet one or hear of one who is out to promote particular colleges or types of colleges -- although obviously one can find those companies & individuals via searches. The vast majority of them serve the same purpose that a good career counselor would, and are paid to do something quite similar: to start from the candidate, not an institution or a group of them. In both cases it's about fit and niche, and ultimately, success in the choices made. Just as it does little good to package a job candidate artificially -- only to discover later that the person is not performing or unhappy on the job, the same applies to the college applicant. </p>
<p>The students at my D's h.school are driven by reputations & names that they have not heard about from private admissions counselors, but from the public at large and from parents & parents' peers, & the prevailing campus culture at this h.s. To my knowledge none of them has yet hired a consultant, yet in 2nd half of soph yr they were already talking about brand-name colleges, which unfortunately my own D has internalized as well, despite my continuing counter-efforts. And while in certain cases I have read about on CC (about GC's who push upper-tier names), such is definitely not the case at our h.s. GC is very aware of this runaway train and campaigns vigorously to halt it & advocate appropriate alternatives.</p>
<p>Our family is fortunate that we apparently live in an underrepresented area so our kids don't have to cure cancer or hire high-priced consultants to get admitted to elite colleges. I'm not sure that the high-intensity lives kids on the coasts and in urban areas have to live (in order to get into HYPS etc.) does them enough good to justify the pressure cooker atmosphere, but then again maybe it's terrific for them, for the colleges, and for society. </p>
<p>Who knows? Maybe the next step in the admissions frenzy is for parents to move to underrepresented areas just to increase their kids' chances of getting into an elite college.</p>
<p>"Who knows? Maybe the next step in the admissions frenzy is for parents to move to underrepresented areas just to increase their kids' chances of getting into an elite college."</p>
<p>Don't laugh. This has been tried certainly in the last 2 years, as described previously on CC by some students, maybe also some parents. (Deliberate moves to rural areas & underperforming schools, by ambitious families)</p>