Let’s not make this one of those eternally long threads.
^^ Amen to that!
“I happen to work in academia”
To be honest, the content of your post makes me question the veracity of that statement.
Well there’s other websites for people who don’t like this one.
You would think Tufts “attendees” could be responsible for their own feelings.
I am pretty new to CC - here is what I have learned.
While my high school junior daughter is an excellent student, historically has done well on standardized tests, and is a fine dancer and musician, I have made sure that her expectations regarding admissions are realistic. Her stats will probably be good enough to obtain a lottery ticket for the Ivies and equivalent but by no means will ensure her admission.
I have gotten a real education on good quality LACs where I believe she could thrive and have a challenging, but less stressful environment. Many of those weren’t really on my radar.
I have learned a lot about FAFSA and CSA profile, and a better understanding of how financial/merit aid functions. This has enabled our family to develop a list of possible schools that we might realistically afford as well as where she might flourish.
Many SAT/PSAT advice threads offer helpful advice about strategy that has helped my kid make meaningful progress on her practice tests and to gain confidence.
I quickly learned to avoid “chance me” threads like the plague. Either they are written from students with superb stats who are seeking praise from random people on the internet, or clueless kids who have no idea of what is required to get into a given school who seek reassurance from random people on the internet. And then they offer to “chance back.” Right.
On balance, it’s been quite useful!
Seconded.
I agree. There is some helpful information here, & I’ve learned a lot about FA.
I’m one of few students here who’s interested in good schools that aren’t well-known.
This isn’t new…I seem to recall on Seinfeld, Elaine tried to get sympathy by saying “I went toTufts, and it WASN’T my safety school.”
Funny. The actress who played Elaine, billion-heiress, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, went to Northwestern.
Actually, it was her safety school.
lol
@jym626- I think I know which “essay topic” post you are referring to, and yes, it was one of the funniest things I have ever read. I had tears running down my cheeks.
This site sure has its share of prestige ho’s. But it is a free country. If people want to work to their death just for the privilege of getting rejected by a name brand school, it’s their prerogative. These schools need a large number of lemmings to keep applying so they can stay prestigious. At the same time, lemmings are by nature boring and unoriginal, which is why they need these schools, so they can be considered semi-interesting. They form a symbiosis.
Work to their death? Many kids thrive under the pressure, grow and bloom. The top schools certainly don’t need boring, unoriginal kids and try to filter them out. Don’t you know any of these bright, energized sorts?
If these lemmings are so boring and unoriginal, then their colleges would lose prestige for just admitting boring people, wouldn’t they? I don’t see any dearth of prestige among the elite schools. Anyway, all you have to do is pick up an alumni magazine to see that all of these schools are producing interesting people who do a lot of different and interesting things (and no, not all of them on Wall Street or in law firms either).
thanks, @takeitallin. That thread was an absolute classic If I have time I’ll see if I can find it. Absolutely classic CC creativity. Hysterical!
This site is incredibly helpful. I wish I knew about it a couple of years earlier. It has been so helpful and we appreciate all the information learned here.
jym- please share that old thread if it can be found- we all could use some levity these days…
I will say that this site has been extremely helpful for someone like me, who knew little to nothing about college (I didn’t even know about majors until the end of my junior year).
However, if you spend too much time in the wrong threads, it can be damaging to your self-esteem. Lots of HS students can be competitive, and some of the students on CC will make everyone feel inadequate.
Overall, still very useful for someone like me, who now mentors students on the college process and such. Stay classy, CC.