"Young, Gifted, and Not Getting Into Harvard"

Applying to College
1

<p>Written for "The New York Times" by Michael Winerip, a Harvard alum and interviewer......</p>

<p>"It was a spectacular winter day, bright, sunny and cold; the tide was out, the waves were high, and I had the beach to myself. As I ran, I thought the same thing I do after all these interviews: Another amazing kid who won’t get into Harvard."</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/29Rparenting.html?em&ex=1177905600&en=003b613e6b430119&ei=5087%0A%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/29Rparenting.html?em&ex=1177905600&en=003b613e6b430119&ei=5087%0A&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

2

<p>This is not something I should have read as an aspiring junior...</p>

<p>Thanks though.</p>

3

<p>That was uplifting... and majorly depressing at the same time...</p>

4

<p>"Summers, I dug trenches for my local sewer department during the day, and sold hot dogs at Fenway Park at night."</p>

<p>That brings back memory...oh wait...I'm doing that this summer...<em>tear</em></p>

5

<p>mmom, thanks for the post & the link to that article.</p>

6

<p>cheers great article</p>

7

<p>Good stuff. Really great. Too bad the situation will become much worse than it is now :P</p>

8

<p>Basically, not getting into an elite university isn't a tragedy. :)</p>

9

<p>If you think this is "depressing" then you missed the point of the article.</p>

10

<p>Have you ever read the resume for a leading scientist at your local university? Or the bio for a CNN news anchor? Of the bio on thw back of a best seller? What do all these people have in common?</p>

<p>None of them went to Harvard, and they are all very accomplished.</p>

11

<p>I smiled at the end, It's about your child finding themself, we are now along for their ride, ENJOY IT!</p>

12

<p>I caught the meaning of the article: Getting into prestigious college isn't everything. But when you're a Junior going into college, it's a lot harder to bear in mind thta message when there are kids with 1560's doing cancer research getting rejected from those schools. For many of us, going to those schools is our dream, and regardless of what a 1 page article tells me, it is still my dream, and the examples are a tad depressing. Please refrain from passing judgment.</p>

13

<p>Looking for the silver lining when your child did not get into HYP university can give you an opportunity to reflect. In some ways, I am sad-knowing how hard my child worked-did ECs-SATs-APs---but then I think about the large number of students who are bright-capable people-and I am encouraged. For they will grow up-lead our businesses--our governments--all with a high propensity for ethics, and compassion. Our world will benefit!</p>