Another applicant rejected from all Ivies.

[collegealum314]

"Actually, the one student whom I taught who got a Fullbright fellowship to do medically-related research in Africa had been very active doing community service in high school."

There's a difference between doing research and being smart enough to be one of the leading minds of the field. That's what you don't seem to get.

[OaksMom]

Has anybody besides me thought that maybe these ad-coms are not looking for 'perfect' kids? Perhaps they want a well-rounded student body that might include a few kids who gotten a C here or there (and NO I'm not referring to student athletes so don't even go there)? Personally, I think I'd rather go back to college with a wide variety of kids than with a bunch of 'stepford kids' wouldn't you?

[owlice]

I dunno, Consolation; I've posted his PSAT AND his SAT scores!

Off to go sit in the bad bad overinvolved parent corner..... ~~ sigh ~~

And he'll have to walk home from school today; see if I ever give him a ride after a meeting again!!!!!

[collegealum314]

^^RE: post 182

yes, of course, they need diversity of all kinds--even intelligence level.

[OaksMom]

I read articles about kids like this Ghosh kid and I think surely this kid is going to crash at some point. Who can keep up that sort of pace?

[collegealum314]

lol @ owlice.

[Narcissa]

Well the thing is why would colleges know that his father quit his job to shuffle him around and get him into an ivy, etc?

[Consolation]

Oaksmom, there are tons of kids out there who can keep up a pace probably higher than that of the Ghosh kid without breaking a sweat. HS just doesn't challenge them.

Owlice, I'd condemn you, but I have to go drag my kid out of bed and make him apply for summer jobs...

[owlice]

collegealum, I hope S knows the way; it's a looooong walk, and goodness knows he doesn't pay attention to the route when I've had to drive him to/from school.

Yes, I'm going, I'm going.... back to the corner for me!

(At least the kid has already gotten a C on his report card; there may be hope for him yet!)

[owlice]

Consolation, research or retail?

Oh, I don't know what to think anymore!!!!

[Northstarmom]

"There's a difference between doing research and being smart enough to be one of the leading minds of the field. That's what you don't seem to get."

I don't see indication that the student in question is on track to be one of the leading minds in the field. There's every evidence that the student has been following the guidance of an overbearing father who arranged a research opportunity with a family friend.

I come to that conclusion because by Googling, I've found indications that the father was a biochemist who worked in Dallas. In addition, the father has posted on an Internet board that his son had a supplementary recommendation from a person who'd known the son since he was a child. I would bet money that recommendation was from the person who supervised the research, and that person agreed to do that because the student was smart and was a friend.

The people whom I know who are among the top minds in their fields are people whose parents were running after them to keep up. I don't see that with this student. He seems very smart and capable, but I don't see indications that he's got the intellectual passion, creativity or self direction to be, for instance, the next Marie Curie.

Seems like someone with the capability of getting a doctorate from a highly respected university, and continuing to do research, however.

[Northstarmom]

"Well the thing is why would colleges know that his father quit his job to shuffle him around and get him into an ivy, etc."

The father could have told them this himself in calling the colleges or in information he field as an addendum to financial aid application.

The student could have revealed this info during an interview or in his essay.

GCs or teachers also could have revealed the info as could the person who did the additional recommendation.

None may have revealed the info to hurt the student. They may have erroneously thought that the info would help the student.

[collegealum314]

Well, he was a finalist of the USA chemistry olympiad. That is fairly exclusive.

[cottonwood513]

I doubt that this student is boring, as some posters seem to assume. Why heap scorn on a seventeen year old? Why assume he took the SAT many times? Or that his family came from another country?

I am thinking the Ivy rejections might have something to do with the demonstrated interest in particular school area. Or leadership in community involvment. l

[Narcissa]

Well, he was a finalist of the USA chemistry olympiad. That is fairly exclusive.

where does it say that? i doubt many usnco finalists get rejected from harvard