<p>Momzie: Wow, pretty harsh with the generalizations- attacking the fictitious mom who quit her high powered job to be with her kids - expecting a pay off? Oh, but when the high powered mom doesn’t quit her job to raise the chicks she is also harshly judged by other MOTHER’S all through the K-12 years- both at school and sporting events. When will women stop this nonsense? I have been on both sides, and I will tell you the father’s NEVER make judgmental statements to a working mother- NEVER, not at the games or the work place. Stay at home mom’s are never guilty of living through their children? Running them around to year round activities? Ratcheting up the competition in the elementary school years by camping out in their child’s class- “helping” so as to get the inside track. Funny how many of the same super star kids in grade school whose mother’s “helped” in the class were no where to be seen academically in High School, when the momzies weren’t in the class all the time. The worst sports parent was the mother who NEVER played competitive sports because there was not title IV when they were in school. Those mothers never had a clue about losing, injuries, raw talent, no talent- nope, just push, push, push and then shocked when the kid doesn’t make Varsity- watch out coach, watch out ref’s here comes momzie.</p>
<p>And what about the father’s? Guess they don’t have any part in any of this craziness.</p>
<p>So this whole college craziness is all due to the high powered mothers who quit their jobs? That is the most insulting post I think I have seen on CC, and of course it was written by a woman about women- no need for men to hold us down, we do it ourselves. But at least the Chinese aren’t to blame for once.</p>
<p>Actually, Olympic Lady, I’m speaking from personal experience. For quite some time, I WAS that high-powered mom, and it’s something I really struggled with. How do you explain leaving a good career that paid well, and perhaps being accused of “wasting” your own education (which was expensive)? One way to answer those critics is to explain that you are pouring all your energy into the next generation, so that they will be extremely successful. But then when they’re not, it’s hard not to feel like there was some disconnect. My neighborhood is full of women who justified leaving a career in order to chauffeur kids around and who were devasted when Junior didn’t make it into Princeton – since that was supposed to be the payoff. </p>
<p>At some point, I realized it was an unfair burden to place on my children – living vicariously through them in this way, and expecting their successes to be my successes too. I do think it’s that pressure that might cause a mom to guide kids towards activities which sound better when you brag about them (Math Olympiad team at school vs. flag girl, etc.) Believe you me, it has frequently taken every ounce of my strength to rein in my own competimom instincts.</p>
<p>Governor Brown is threatening that UC fees could double. I think it’s just scare tactics to get the electorate to vote for taxes hikes. It’s not gonna pretty no matter what.</p>
<p>Good posts, Momzie, and I definitely compliment you on your comprehensive and measured response to a bit of online fury!* Hey Dudes and Dudettes, life isn’t easy for most of us.* Lighten up a bit.* What Momzie talks about here is a real phenomenon and worth discussing with a minimum of vitriol.</p>
<p>Given that it seems getting into college these days is at best a lottery and at worst a notch left of impossible, where (besides comm college) should a CA kid apply with GPA roughly 3.0 (unweighted, no APs), and SAT roughly 1600/2400 (I say “roughly” because he is still a jr and doesn’t have “final stats” yet)? And would it help not to need FA?
Thanks.
Thinking of changing screename to VeryDiscouraged. :(</p>
<p>BfloGal; I agree, the Cal States, starting with the one in your area since locals get admission preference. Keep in mind that SDSU and SLO only admit high stat kids from out of their area.</p>
<p>I think CSUMentor has a formula so you can work out the weighting for GPA and test scores and what campuses look do-able.</p>
<p>I got accepted into all three of the schools I applied for. I also knew which school I wanted to go to and I got the most money from my first choice school. I guess I consider myself lucky!</p>