GUEST STUDENT OF THE WEEK: ski_racer, a high-achiever in high school, was rejected by some of the elite schools she applied to. This rejection was the best thing that happened to her as she got to choose her own path. Learn how she fell in love with her safety school, ASK HER ANYTHING!
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No Happy News at My Desk...
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Replies to: No Happy News at My Desk...
I visited Berkeley summer of '03 as my son was attending a Stanford program ... and loved how easy it was to train from San Francisco to the school.... you can get all the schedules, including which trains allow bikes .. right off the web... awesome easy area to manuever in... I had been told it was run down, but, I thought the campus was magnificent... very impressive buildings etc...
I completely agree that for folks on the East Coast, Berkeley is highly desireable...and very unattainable. And similiar to another thread, use the delta in the regents money to do something special one summer or one term...... I think Garland said that above also......
My position has always been, love EVERY school on your list...envision yourself at each and every school....if you can't then take it off... cause you will be going to one from your application list..... so take the advice from SAC and start getting really familiar with the Regents web site so that you can feel the pride of her accomplishments... it is enviable by all.
Best wishes for the weekend.
Her post there;
"Welcome everyone! I'm a mom of a 2009 graduate and a 2012 rising junior. Oh and also a '78 alum. I love the school and am happy to see you all here and will help answer questions where I can. "
Personally, I think MommaJ's a little hard on us. Most of the posts are simply sympathetic to Alum because of her daughter's disappointment and are actually complimentary toward Cal Berkeley.
You cannot judge a thread without the correct context.
I have a rising junior so I will make it a point to only post sensible and PC posts this time around in the evolved version on CC... or not.
Hmmm . . . CC was our pre-Facebook Facebook. That's an interesting observation.
As of 2007, I still found the process pretty mysterious. The CC anecdotal data base has grown since then, so that I now find the outcomes somewhat more predictable (though not perfectly so).
Pre-CC, realistic information about the admissions process was not readily available to people in areas where a small-ish number of students went to top colleges. In our area, the "database" of admissions outcomes was small, and statistical fluctuations were large relative to the total number of applicants. Predictability was non-existent. It is thanks to posts like alumother's that the CC knowledge base has increased. So the 2005 post--honest surprise, honest concern--was of great benefit to us.
Of course, Berkeley is an excellent school, and Berkeley + a Regents Scholarship would have been a great outcome in itself. On the other hand, for a dancer who qualified for the ABT New York Summer Intensive Program, I am reasonably sure that Princeton was the better match, so I am pleased that it worked out.
In all seriousness, CC back then was much smaller, and very cozy. The rules of conduct and the culture here were more fluid. This forum really comforted me, in so many ways, because in addition to working through my daughter's college process, I was about to go through a divorce. I told no one at the time. We were more private in those days.
My daughter loved Princeton. And yes, she danced there. My son graduates Princeton Class of 2012. He has loved it too. They are very different from each other. And both of them could have had great college experiences elsewhere. But as it was, everything collegiate worked out happily for my little family.
Here's my summary thread about Princeton. It is as honest and balanced as I could make it.
HYPS - The Parents' Perspective - College Confidential
And if I have not convinced you that CC used to be different, go check in the Sinner's Alley thread in the Parent's Cafe. CC is still valuable. It was maybe a little goofier, more personal, way back when?
To momrath and QuantMech, and robrym, and xiggi, and TutuTaxi, and Jym, and jrpar, hello and I hope you all are doing well! To wjb, well, you sweet person. You just made my day. I still hang out in the Cafe, especially on the Dressing Young thread. After all, it's hard to find a brighter and more articulate crew anywhere else on the Internet.
I wish the best of luck to all the kids and parents waiting to hear about this year's admissions.