<p>Haha, yeah. Come down to the mud where we poor folk much in all the time.</p>
<p>Actually, after looking it over Groton doesn't look that elite. It really seems pretty week actually for an elite prep school. It's the connections :D.</p>
<p>And OP, you didn't get into Yale based on your own merits. Now, if you'd had the gall to NOT list your legacy status, then I'd be impressed. </p>
<p>Besides, I want the rich dumb kids to go. I need some spending money, and how else can I get it if there isn't any rich kids with money to burn on the poker table?</p>
<p>You are a harsh bunch except for one or two of you who had the insight to look into other posts to get the "whole picture." LET ME TELL YOU A FEW THINGS ABOUT MYSELF FIRST THEN JUDGE.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I DO NOT go to Groton, I did for one year, hated it and returned to my local school. My sister had made up this name and I kept it, BIG MISTAKE.</p></li>
<li><p>I am not rich, I come from an upper middle class family, my father is in his family business, and my mother is a historian (very underpaid but highly interesting field of work)</p></li>
<li><p>I am NOT spoiled, in addition to many things I do in my school, I tutor underprivileged kids three days a week and have a part time job and a full time job on weekends!</p></li>
<li><p>Nor am I dumb, I am a straight A student who works very very hard, I DID get in on my own merit.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, my father went to Yale and I don't' have to hide it, if it makes you feel better to snide and redicule my acceptance that its based strictly on my dad having gone there, then do it, it obviously makes you feel better about yourself, and hey if you are that insecure then do it.</p></li>
<li><p>AT FIRST I thought I wanted Yale afterall, my dad for the last four years has drilled this into my head, I didn't think there was an option, so of course I applied there early and my advisor really thought it was important to do that, don't ask me why please, that was her advice. In the process, I decided to go with two friends looking at Ivies and although I "was going along for the ride" shockingly fell in love with Harvard, the forbidden fruit. I came home and had a big sit down with my parents. Its likely most of you don't know what "family pressure" is all about but I assure you its not something I wish on anyone. I don't have to get into our family history but the reason for EA Yale is multi faceted and a bit complex.</p></li>
<li><p>Upon going to a family wedding literally 20 minutes from Stanford, I also visited there and again just loved it, we were there for about 5 days so I got to actually stay on campus and again really loved what I saw. Hence the application I submitted to them.</p></li>
<li><p>I dont' feel like I have to defend myself to a bunch of people clearly who have some issues of their own and need to vent at other people's expense. But I did deem it necessary to set the record straight on a few things. I found some of you to be quick to judge and downright offensive. Please don't judge a book by its cover, yes I have the right to be annoyed by a classmate whose grades are not even in the same ballpark as my own, who does not community service, who doesn't hold any leadership roles, whose biggest worry is when she is flying on her parents private plane to go shopping in Palm Beach. We are not talking an exact intellect here, and yeah its really frustrating to think that she will very likely get into H. I don't care if you don't agree, its MY feeling. And I do think that is a problem particularly when she is taking a spot away from someone who really worked hard their entire high school career and didn't have their own sugar daddy to fall back on.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Just for the record, although Groton wasn't for me for a host of reasons, it was a great choice for my sister. Someone above spoke about it "not being that great", their average SAT is 2080 and here is a list of their 2006 acceptances, not too shabby for a school that "is that not great", huh?</p>
<p>10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)<br>
Harvard 27
Princeton 23
Brown 19
Georgetown 18
Trinity 15
Yale 14
U. of Virginia 13
Bowdoin College 11
Cornell 9
Columbia 8
Link to Matriculation Data </p>
<p>School Notes:<br>
Groton knits together what seem like contradictions. It’s a small school with the resources and programs of a much larger one. School traditions reserve time for sharing modern ideas and diverse personal relationships. An emphasis on developing character, intellect, and leadership encourages the risk-taking that assures new self-discovery. A beautiful, rural campus provides the location for a lively, fast-paced, and rewarding education. Personal growth, scholarship, athleticism, and artistic talent are nurtured carefully. Annually, 30% of the students receive $2.6 million in need-based aid.
Profile last updated: 01/02/2007</p>
<p>So what it boils down to is that you resent the fact that someone else is richer than you and that their money gets them into college. If your positions were reversed, I highly doubt you would say "damn, that poor smart girl deserves to go to Harvard. I'm totally unworthy because I'm dumb and rich. Maybe I should give her some clothes from my shopping trip. Or I should give her five million bucks to donate to Harvard just to even the playing field."</p>
<p>Besides, many of us have to interact with rich people. You don't see a lot of us complaining about it.</p>
<p>About Groton: I have never heard anything about it until now, but I wonder whether the parents who have the resources to send their kids to Groton had more impact in the admissions process than the actual education one receives there. Perhaps the asian mother in the article should have realized it wasn't Groton that would get her son into the Ivies.</p>
<p>College USED TO BE about getting in because you worked your buns off, got great grades, did some constructive things with your time and were overall a good role model. Its become a business, in the most prestigious schools, good or bad thats the way it is. I am no dummy I realize life is not fair but yes when it comes to possibly the best school in the world, it does suck to realize that a girl with a B average an 1840 on her SAT and virtually no really ec's can get into Harvard only because of her famlies money. She is taking a spot away from someone and I am not saying me necessarily, it could be the Asian mom's son, who really deserves it based upon what THE COLLEGE SAYS IT IS LOOKING FOR, if you strip away the money/clout/power factor, in the end she wouldn't even be waitlist material, that is my point. If you don't agree, no problem..........our own personal opinions are what makes the world go round, go figure.</p>
<p>FYI Groton is a very very rigorous school, the weak do not survive, its cut throat and real breeding ground for the brightest and most ambitious. It was a little too much for me personally but some thrive in that kind of environment. There are about half the families that are quite wealthy but many who are not and receive aid. Groton is famously the largest feeder into the Ivies, particularly Harvard. So if you can make it there, you can make it just about anywhere.</p>
<p>"College USED TO BE about getting in because you worked your buns off, got great grades, did some constructive things with your time and were overall a good role model."</p>
<p>You clearly don't know about the history of college admissions in the US. Be proud that you were accepted to Yale and 'about' to be accepted at Stanford. If you get into Harvard...great. If you don't, oh well...move on. I certainly did. </p>
<p>Perhaps you aren't spoiled...but from your OP, I got a sense of a girl who felt 'entitled' to attend this or that school. I don't believe that ANYONE is entitled to go anywhere. That attitude I find abhorring. (I don't care about how the rich, spoiled girl feels either...) With that said, I apologize if you don't feel that way. I'm just making it clear the original post gave everyone a sense that you did feel a certain way.</p>
<p>Otherwise, good luck in college wherever you go. You have several great choices and can't go wrong with any.</p>
<p>I beg to differ, I just looked over my op and I am believe my own harshest critic but where exactly did I give impression of being ENTITLED? Because I said I got in EA to Yale or because H. and S. are my first two choices? What's so entitled sounding about that? I am just baffled by that accusation. I think I know enough about college admissions to know the game has changed significantly as is echoed by virtually every college reporting publication out there. Anyone will tell you, including admissions offices that what used to be the criteria has changed, so I wouldn't go so far as to say I know nothing. I think if anything I have a pretty critical and real view on what this "game" is all about.</p>
<p>Will I move on if I don't get in? Of course I will, I know I have Yale and its a pretty amazing acceptance, so believe me I did not take that in stride, you know if this was any other school, people would not be reacting this way, its because its Yale and you don't think I am realizing how huge that is. Believe me I know how huge it is and I am very grateful that I got accepted. I don't think I gave EVERYONE the sense that I am spoiled or entitled as I got 4 PM's that were really sweet and supportive (thank you, you know who you are).</p>
<p>Thanks for wishing me luck in college, I like everyone will need all the luck I can muster and know in the end I will be a great school. Good luck to you too.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>College USED TO BE about getting in because you worked your buns off, got great grades, did some constructive things with your time and were overall a good role model.<<</p>
</blockquote>
<br>
<p>When was that? </p>
<p>Getting into Ivy League colleges <em>used to be</em> about coming from the right families and having the right connections. It's CURRENTLY closer to the ideal you describe that it ever has been in its history. Most kids get in today based on just what you are describing, but there still are a few developmental and other hooks that are in play.</p>
<p>I have to clarify I am talking about mainstream schools, not the ultra elite. I know Harvard, (unoffically) was created a few years after Boston Latin was in the late 1600's as a college for its h.s.grads, so clearly I am not talking about the Harvards, Yales,etc..........just college in general. But i suppose with this ultra elite schools, essentially the game hasn't changed much. Sad but true!</p>
<p>^^ Boston Latin is older than Harvard by only one year (1635 vs. 1636), and the notion of Harvard having been created as a destination for its graduates is more of a fanciful and humorous claim by Boston Latin alums than anything that can be verified as historical fact.</p>
<p>123no I think to the contrary, my advisor felt really strongly about applying early to Yale given my legacy status PLUS and this is a big plus I had my dad BREATHING DOWN MY NECK. I guess they felt I stood the best chance as a EA candidate and I guess they were right. Thanks predator, you are right...we shall see.</p>
<p>Grotongirl, by the very fact that you came here to attack another girl who had help not based on her own merits, you've opened yourself up to criticism. You're a legacy, and that definitely helped get you into Yale. You may or may not have gotten in without it. If you really wanted bragging rights, you wouldn't have listed it. Please go check the Yale board and see some of the applicants that get rejected. You'd be surprised. </p>
<p>Also, this is Harvard we're talking about. Grade inflation like crazy. Anyone who gets in can get a diploma, don't kid yourself.</p>
<p>Mallomar, I have no point to make to you so please don't address any questions to me unless they are not belligerent ones like your past remarks. Kami, I did not "attack" another girl, but was raising a point what I dont' like about the reality of these developement cases, and she is a prime example. She is a very sweet girl, but is not Harvard material as everyone in my school knows full well.END OF STORY. I KNOW I got into Yale based upon both my dads legacy and my own personal record, which I have made a mission to be as good as it can get. I really worked by butt off and I am proud of it. AND as you said if I wanted bragging rights I wouldn't have listed my dads legacy...........EXACTLY MY POINT. I have looked at all the boards and recognize what we all know, that there are TONS of amazing students who are highly accomplished that don't get in for one reason or another, its ashame...I may be on them myself and if so I have to know there is a reason beyond my current level of understanding as to why it worked out that way. I don't understand your last point, anyone who gets in can get a diploma, don't kid yourself..........meaning what?</p>
<p>I made a point and I stand fully behind it, everyone in my school agrees with what I am saying so I know I am not alone.</p>
<p>Some people we're saying how the girl now has to survive Harvard...she'll definitely survive it...</p>
<p>And groton, you'd messaged me about how you felt that your straight A's and almost 2300 SAT were enough to get you in, and how if you didn't get in, then who could?</p>