<p>Originally Posted by arkbro
unless you’re paying for college on your own, you will have to follow your parents wishes, which honestly aren’t even that unreasonable</p>
<p>You are totally missing the point. I don’t think anyone here is against the idea of this high-stats student attending an elite school…if admitted and he feels fine with the school.</p>
<p>The problem that the rest of us are having is that his parents are ONLY letting him apply to Top 20 schools…which are the hardest to get into. He may not get accepted to any! Worse, he might get accepted to one, but it may be one that he dislikes and his parents will force him to go! 
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<p>Some of us feel that since his parents won’t pay for a non-Top-20 school, then he needs to protect himself and apply to a school or two where his stats will get huge merit…in case he doesn’t get into a Top 20 that he likes. </p>
<p>And, yes, it is unreasonable to only allow your child to apply to Top 20 schools (or claim that they will only pay for Top 20 schools). That’s unreasonable and actually cruel. </p>
<p>Furthermore, it’s not like the Top 20 are all homogeneous in culture or strength. As some have noted, many aren’t that great in CS (the OP’s chosen major). To demand that a student only apply to Top 20 schools is an ignorant demand rooted in the misapprehension that they’re all fabulous in all majors. </p>
<p>Some (too many) Asian parents love to discuss with (or brag/compare) their friends where their kids go to schools, what they do, and even how much they make!</p>
<p>Exactly! It’s more about them then it is their child!!! Tell them to take the SAT and apply!!!</p>