<p>Well obviously the article is not depressing for (and not relevant to) those who don’t want to go to Harvard. For those multitudes that do, it is a different story obviously.</p>
<p>Curious though what the invitation to apply was? Didn’t know anyone other than recruited athletes got those.</p>
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<p>Excellent point.</p>
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<p>They send them to thousands of kids based on PSATs, just like other schools. It’s nothing special.</p>
<p>oh, sure we got that “invitation to apply” as well. Thought Miamidp was referring to some individual invitations with indication that acceptance was likely. Plenty of earthshakers went to Harvard but of course plenty went elsewhere.</p>
<p>Aniger,
We got card from Harvard and might be one other Ivy, inviting to apply and stating that invitation does not quarantee a spot. No coaches involed for “recruited athlete”. Usually when one is “recruited athlete”, there are calls and other informaion initiated by coaches. We got that also from other colleges. None of it was used at the end. Just straight decision based on awesome opportunities and free tuition, both of which exceeded expectations by senior year of UG.</p>
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According to an online bio, he lives in Lido Beach (Nassau County).</p>
<p>…did not see the next post. It was not based on PSAT, which was not spectacular. It came during application process along with packages from numerous places. I heard about others getting them too. However, top kid from our HS usually end up at Harvard, it just my kid was not interested.</p>
<p>How many “non athletes” got a call from Harvard?</p>
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<p>Yes, so did the mailings my kid and Aniger’s–and many others–received from H & Y as well as various other institutions. They arrive during the application process, but in many, if not most, cases are a result of the colleges in question purchasing lists from the College Board (and quite possibly other organizations) based on whatever criteria they choose: test results, URM status, location, etc, etc, etc.</p>
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<p>It seems to me that it was done to generate quotes in the media like this one (from the NY Times piece):</p>
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<p>I personally think its disingenuous for a prestigious school to send invitations to so many kids that they fully know have little chance of acceptance</p>
<p>I don’t feel sad for my interviewees who don’t get in. Every single one will get into excellent schools and have a blast in college. Many of them have already been admitted to Michigan or UChicago by the time I meet them, so a great outcome is already a certainty.</p>
<p>There’s no contradiction in believing, as I do, that Harvard offers something very special, and that there’s absolutely nothing sad about going to the University of Michigan.</p>
<p>"wondered where this guy lived that he sees so few accepted students. I know in our area, nearly every high school seems to have a couple of Harvard acceptances a year. "</p>
<p>I don’t think he was bemoaning so few accepted students - in general. He was commenting on how many of the students he interviews don’t get in – even though they are exceptionall well qualified. </p>
<p>One of my parents was an interviewer for Harvard and felt the same way. Each kid interviewed seemed to be more exceptional than the the last one – but wasn’t admitted. </p>
<p>The author was a regular columnist on parenting subjects for the Long Island section of the NY Times, then a columnist on the baby boomer generation for the Sunday Styles section of the NY Times. His oldest child went to Northwestern, and the twins went to southern state schools (one to UNC-Wilmington…I think the other went to University of South Carolina.) The daughter may still be in HS.</p>
<p>Here’s another one of his columns I really liked — with his son commenting on his father’s parenting style:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/fashion/23genb.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/fashion/23genb.html</a></p>