<p>I read the posts here and everyone has ~2200-2400 SAT scores, a bunch of ECs, very high GPAs and etc. Why do you think everyone here seems so academically strong? Is it because we all have asian parents, or that only academically motivated people bother to go online researching or that CC is such a wonderful positive influence on people that most users here become awesome?</p>
<p>Discuss! :)</p>
<p>The many people here who spend hours on an internet forum discussing higher education, are exceptionally interested and understandably mostly very talented (a dumb person wouldn’t spend hours discussing Ivy admissions any more than a homeless guy would discuss buying a Porsche).</p>
<p>And then you have all the obsessive parents of course… (who wish their children were as dedicated as CCers)</p>
<p>Ha, I stalk around a bit to try to figure things out but really my kid is less interested in all of this than I am, so while a little obsessive of me, I like to be informed. You can tell those of us that don’t have the best GPA and SAT because we speak in vague terms. My son is very well rounded and if he is ever rich and famous, we will start a scholarship fund for well rounded and amazing kids with pretty good SAT’s and GPA’s.</p>
<p>No question lots of parents (looks quickly into mirror) check this site with far more interest than their kid(s). </p>
<p>For us, S has an interest in many possible pursuits and schools, and looking at CC is just one more source to consider. He has read some threads about his possible choices, even prining one thread for reference. </p>
<p>In my personal case, I have two very direct interests: 1.) what do students/their parents think of a school, and 2.) what experiencial advice can parents give me regarding financial aid and cost/benefit issues.</p>
<p>I agree with the above poster that mentioned many CC regulars are students or parents of students with higher stats. I think it’s fairly normal to find ‘very good’ students focusing a little more on ‘very good’ schools (more choices, more competition, etc). I don’t think that means other students don’t - it’s just the level and depth of the obess…er, the research effort. ;-)</p>
<p>For the record, S had 2030 SAT, 4.1 weighted, top 10%, varsity kicker, robotics, honors, yadda yadda. S is also typical 17 year old forgets his lunch needs this form filled out today can I go to friends house homework is done yes done well as good as done learning to handle money I want to major in Civil Engineering hey biomechanical looks great too she broke up with me I’m in love again I need new sneakers don’t worry I’ll be responsible in college where is my wallet told you I was ready for the test do I have to take out the trash RIGHT NOW?!</p>
<p>Bottom line, I suspect behind almost every set of superstar stats you see posted here lurks some part of a kid still learning to grow up a bit. </p>
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<li>K.</li>
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<p>I was saying the samee thing everyone is either in honors classes
or score unbelievable scores on their SAT’s I thought that this would b cool and normal but its like another school they dont even talk about the social life at college just boring honors and advanced placement classes as if the majority of ppl goin to college is even gunna have the oppurtuniity to get in those classes</p>
<p>I think it’s because the smart people who care about their future are the only ones concerned to do the research and give advice :)</p>
<p>That is because smart kids know to gather information to make better decisions. I also believe that most competitive colleges don’t take kids without hard academics. So honors would be the lowest type of class a good student could take. Most take AP and IB classes and fill in with honors.</p>
<p>My D1 is an average student 3.5 GPA, low ACT, no AP classes because necessary EC’s have curtailed that. She is majoring in dance and needed the 20+ classes of dance per week to gain those needed skills. However, she doesn’t want to go too far from home and all 3 universities where she applied to she got in, and is in advanced dance classes at her chosen college. She didn’t want to go to an Ivy League school. She is extremely focused on her passion. I’m not sure how college is going to be for her. She time-manages exceedingly well, is never behind in her coursework but will college course work be that much above what she is used to? Time will tell. But I do think in the classes that are dance related she will excell because she never gives up and so hard working.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say everyone on CC is exceptionally smart. I don’t think academic performance in high school is a function of intelligence; in my experience, it has more to do with drive and ambition, which most CC members have in abundance.</p>
<p>one could also interpret this as being the result of a google search to begin with. “smart” kids, who get 100 percent of their homeworks right, spend time on google. So much time that they know how the internet works. They ended up here. haha just a thought.</p>
<p>In my opinion it is pretty simple and glaringly obvious:</p>
<p>1) As stated above, High School success is largely a function of ambition and drive. Maybe a better term yet is initiative. Creative and Intelligent kids with initiative are far more likely to seek out college advice and information then average kids set on attending State colleges, or below average kids who do not even care about college in the first place.</p>
<p>2) As the saying goes: “Birds of a feather flock together.” Or as any motivational speaker might call it, the law of attraction. When these bright young student go searching on the web and find a thriving community with many other, bright, college bound students with similar interests, they tend to stick around and contribute to the community.</p>
<p>^^agreed!
It just depends on the student. I know from being in school everyday that some people don’t look at life after highschool. Students with drive and ambition are truly the ones who are looking at sites like this one. And yes, it is true that they are usually smart with parents who want them to be successful (btw, it’s not just Asian parents). Everyone has a different idea of what they want and sometimes it is college and sometimes it is not. The people who want college, end up here. Point blank period. Simple as that.</p>