<p>Mathmom clearly got her FACTS from the real estate sales in her local area and school testing data. </p>
<p>BTW, the private schools in our area can't begin to touch the opportunities available in some of the area high schools. We know -- we looked.</p>
<p>I can only hope your D is not as elitist as you, POIH, or she will be surprised to find the public school "toughs" surpassing her scores, ECs and achivements.</p>
<p>P.S. I married a guy who worked and got scholarships to put himself through his Ivy. Father was an unemployed union electrician during the NYC real estate slump in the early 1980s. He also was a public school tough: Bronx Science.</p>
<p>Why shouldn't those who haven't had an opportunity before to go to college have that opportunity before someone who could go anywhere they please?</p>
<p>Please explain why this is a horrible, horrible thing. I don't understand why kids who deserve to go to these top schools but wouldn't otherwise be able to because of economic and social disadvantage can't simply because they're, well... not like you. They haven't done it before. That makes no sense to me.</p>
<p>Georgeanne: What is so good about going to Ivies as everyone pointed out that there are much better public schools both at high school and university level?
Why can’t the first generation students be given first chances at the public schools? Why Ivies?
If there are as good opportunities as Ivies for other children then that are there for these first generation children too.</p>
<p>Have you seen how many actually benefited from such approach? Maybe a study is required to be done to access whether such children flourish better at the state sponsored universities or at Ivies. You might be surprised to find out the results.</p>
<p>POIH - I don't understand the problem. If your D is all you make her out to be, she should have no problem obtaining more than enough merit awards to more than pay for her school. Looking at your list and considering the schools you consider to be matches (Duke, WashU, Rice) it should be clear sailing for you. I don't understand where the problem lies. But then again, I wonder if you have a realistic understanding of the entire process and where you stand.</p>
<p>"Mathmom clearly got her FACTS from the real estate sales in her local area and school testing data. "</p>
<p>I would like to see such data as that will be enlightening and should be forwarded to the white house so that no help be issued to bad school districts households as the problem lies in the good school district. There are more forclosures there.</p>
<p>ST2 : Yes, I don't know the system as both my wife and I didn't go to school or universities in US. So may be that is why I've so many questions?</p>
<p>"Georgeanne: What is so good about going to Ivies as everyone pointed out that there are much better public schools both at high school and university level?
Why can’t the first generation students be given first chances at the public schools? Why Ivies?
If there are as good opportunities as Ivies for other children then that are there for these first generation children too."</p>
<p>Unfortunately, a BIG part of Ivy admissions is a part of who you know. Legacy status, recommendations from Congressmen, and donations are just some of the things that can be given to non first-generation students to give them a leg up against the poorer students who do not have access to amazing summer programs, internships, and private schools.</p>
<p>Why should WHO YOU KNOW be considered a part of Ivy admissions?</p>
<p>"Why should WHO YOU KNOW be considered a part of Ivy admissions?"</p>
<p>My policy is to not favor anyone. Give admission to any deserving hard working child irrespective of the background.</p>
<p>If you have to give preference for anything like first generation, sports, legacy, race then consider it as par with other ECs.</p>
<p>So that at least students who don't have these hooks can make up by doing some other ECs. But the disparities between the stats of those who get the favoritism over those who don't are insurmountable.</p>
<p>So that at least students who don't have these hooks can make up by doing some other ECs.</p>
<p>Have you been to some really poor, inner-city schools - or those out in more rural communities? I live in Arkansas and some kids in especially rural places don't even have ECs other than Future Farmers of America. They aren't counseled on how to write college application essays, percentiles of ACT/SAT scores, or any of that. Those who have options for those are distinctly advantaged.</p>
<p>^^^: And you think such children will flourish at Harvard.
That is why I said there is a need to do studies where such students will flourish most and you will be surprise to know that such students will be much better off at top state schools than at Harvard.</p>
<p>
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That is why I said there is a need to do studies where such students will flourish most and you will be surprise to know that such students will be much better off at top state schools than at Harvard.
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</p>
<p>Er, how do you know this again? Without having done studies?</p>
<p>Can anyone dig up the article on the Somalian refugee attending and flourishing at Princeton right now? Unless it's already been linked to in the past 10 pages; I haven't read all of it.</p>
<p>Wow, Parent of Ivy Hopeful. You've said a lot of things that I've managed to let sit while I tried to frame what might be a helpful response, but that last one is just patently offensive, and wholly wrong.</p>
<p>Many, many "such children" flourish at Harvard - and in the world beyond.</p>
<p>POIH, just a question. I'm curious, does this private school your D attends offer scholarships for low income or underprivileged students?<br>
I've read the rest of the posts tonight and I'm both speechless and without the capacity to respond in writing. I think this has gone about as far as it can, or should. Everyone's definition of fair is different. Clearly, in your opinion college admissions is not fair. Well, life is not always fair, a lesson many of our children have learned already.</p>
<p>"Many, many "such children" flourish at Harvard - and in the world beyond."</p>
<p>Studies are not one case and have to done in perspective in comparison. Have you verified what percentage of such students flourish at Harvard than at the top state schools?</p>
<p>And why such statement is offensive? Get over this being sweet talker. A fact is fact sugar coating doesn't make a false thing true.</p>
<p>We send our children to college to learn. Much education goes on outside the classroom, learning from the life experiences and viewpoints of those who have backgrounds different from one's own. Taking away that rich diversity also harms the education of those who remain.</p>
<p>"[edit:] Kay, here it is: Cose: From A Prison to Princeton | Newsweek Against the Odds | Newsweek.com"</p>
<p>One such study can't outweigh natural logic. I don't know if such a study have been done or not but my logic says it should show that a person who have not gone thru a rigorous curriculumn may not thrive at Harvard.</p>
<p>So if you put some one from inner school district who might be thriving at that school district among peers who thrived at highly competitive public or private prep there are more chances that the person will default while would floruish at instate top public where he will get more company.</p>