<p>Several of the posts here have referred to the need for “humility” - and that these high-achieving kids have never experienced anything less than success. I do not think this is true. Many of these high-achieving kids (my d included) are participating in activities such as music and sports where there are auditions, try-outs, etc - believe me, they know what failure is.</p>
<p>True NEM2. I always thought chess was a great activity for my son because you really have to deal with a lot of losing. And certainly my son was not the best actor or singer in his school.</p>
<p>I’d like to offer an emphatic second of NorthEastMom2’s post.</p>
<p>Also, I didn’t mean to question Todd Gingrich’s activities! From what I’ve seen, the Rhodes Committees are demanding, and selection is quite an endorsement! And (see UserName), I’m pleased to see a Rhodes going to a theoretical chemist. </p>
<p>So, did they need a Prank Club as opposed to an informal group, in order to qualify for student organization funds from Caltech to “prank” MIT? Otherwise–I actually do still wonder–why a club?</p>
<p>When we visited Caltech they were on their way to MIT to fetch back the canon. If they needed funds that would explain why they needed to be formalized. I didn’t mean to sound like Todd Gingrich didn’t deserve his Rhodes either. :)</p>
<p>I don’t think my son needed to learn humility. I’m still a little sorry he’s not getting the “like drinking from a fire hose education”. My kid did the first three problem sets of the next computer science course because he had extra time. I asked about his math course and he said it’s easy “not like what they make every Caltech student take”. Believe me, he’d have gotten plenty of humility if he’d been accepted at MIT or Caltech. :)</p>
<p>Also, from a post by CountingDown, I learned of Yellow Pig Day. Apparently it’s real (well, at least in Wiki-ality–even though Googling “Yellow Pig Alumni Association” only turns up two of CountingDown’s posts). No lipstick is involved! This sounds like a much better idea for my nieces and nephews!</p>
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<p>Hey, “a lot of losing” serves as terrific preparation for all kinds of things - not just the college-admissions sweepstakes. </p>
<p>Consider, for example, how many careers there are in which folks virtually specialize in losing - like, for instance (in my case), criminal-defense lawyers. </p>
<p>Anyone can win well; it takes a real pro to lose well.</p>
<p>Forming a club at Caltech is quite easy. Room space is given, a budget, food, etc. (Perhaps I should put food in bold print?). There may be 300 clubs, but each one I know of is quite legitimate (newspaper, investors’, honors, etc)</p>
<p>Anyway, the retrieval of cannon meant contacting alum for funds, coordiantion with police and campus security at MIT, travel plans for 20+ people, etc. Todd probably spent more hours on this than he did as ASCOT pres.</p>
<p>Other students at Caltech were invited to apply for the Rhodes, and I know at least one who didn’t think he was “in that league”.</p>
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<p>Aaah. No problem for me (in theory). You just re-define what a “win” is. If you define it as a “not guilty”, well…I’m doing pretty well on Protonix. At least I can sleep in a partially reclined position now. ;)</p>
<p>Mathmom, Get your DS to talk to his profs and knock on doors. Opportunities abound at CMU. Join one of the clubs.</p>
<p>He knows that. He’s very shy though. He participated in some programming contests and was going to one club’s meetings (Game Creation) at least for a while, but he didn’t really have that much excess time. I’ve been encouraging him to look for research opportunities. However I can only remind him what’s there it’s up to him ultimately.</p>
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<p>Cur: I don’t know whether I enjoy your posts more when I understand what you mean or when, as here, I’m left scratching my head - and I mean that as a compliment!</p>
<p>It takes a truly distinctive voice to be heard so clearly even (especially?) when the meaning seems so blurry.</p>
<p>Well, sorry. I used to make a lot more sense when I was drinking. We’ll just have to blame the lack of clarity on good clean living. ;)</p>
<p>(Basically I was whining. I think somewhere in there I was trying to say to you that although I know the “answer” is to reduce your expectations of a “win” and achieve some professional distance some of us still remember every loss ( no matter how many) as if they were yesterday. It’s always a battle . Drugs help with the gut but even then, sleep is still a recliner with a view of the TV. Although I have been known to fall asleep mid-post, too. 
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