<p>Ugh. Sorry. The girl sounds a lot like my D and I knew she had the stats to get in the pool, but certainly we understood the concept of a “lottery school.” Not much you can do. I’ve made mention to people things like “with the way the economy is, college decisions have gotten so crazy! We made sure that there were some solid safeties on the list, because you just never know.” Agreed that it falls on the GCs lap.</p>
<p>And what is BWRK? I’ve never seen that one before.</p>
<p>BWRK = Bright, well-rounded kid</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>I really do hope the kids get in to their dream schools…nothing would make me happier! but I just worry about wonderful kids ending up in Andison’s situation…such heartbreak!</p>
<p>The GC at the high school is very good but she is of course not a miracle worker!</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the parents are the type who tend to see their kids and the “competition” with biased goggles–ie., my son isn’t a varsity runner because he doesn’t have time to run during the offseason because he has to do his homework (ignoring the fact that 3 of the varsity runners are NMSFs and one plays violin with the State Youth Orchestra)–that kind of thing. For example, the son did not make concert band or orchestra at school (pepband is a volunteer thing–a lot of fun!)–and it’s true that many of the students who did have had music lessons over the years–but the parents see that as a bad thing and think that Yale or Columbia will perceive that the kids who were in concert band and orchestra had an unfair advantage and will give their son brownie points instead, and “ding” their competition’s college applications because of their “advantage.”</p>
<p>The comment that they parents may be setting the twins up for a hard fall is what I was aiming at…</p>
<p>The kids really are great kids who do lots of good things and they could be lucky and win Ivy lottery tickets…I’m just worried that they are putting their tickets in the powerball lottery only without hedging their bets with a bingo card or two.</p>
<p>Yes, and Bingo is so much more fun and social, too! ;)</p>
<p>Live and learn. </p>
<p>I once heard a friend of mine say, “Oh, yes, my kids are gifted,” then she laughed. She said, “Well, ALL parents think thier kids are gifted, but mine really are.” Then she laughed even harder. This was a first grade parent go to school night. We became the best of friends, and neither of us has anyone in the ivies. But boy are OUR kids gifted. ;)</p>
<p>I havent read through every page in this thread, so maybe this was already covered:</p>
<p>Well-Meaning Family/Friend: Im surprised (insert childs name here) is going to (competitive public university).</p>
<p>Me: Why are you surprised?</p>
<p>WMFF: I thought he was interested in Harvard.</p>
<p>Me: That was in sixth grade. He did a lot of research during high school and chose schools that he knew would be a good fit for him academically and socially. Im proud of him.</p>
<p>WMFF: Arent you worried hes settling for less? </p>
<p>Me: No, not at all. Its actually a very good school and it has a great program that hes interested in.</p>
<p>WMFF: I just think he could have gotten into some better schools.</p>
<p>“Interested in Harvard.” That makes me smile, because I had a parent, whose kid was pretty clearly not Harvard material, say, “Oh, he’s interested in Harvard” and then wait for my reaction. It was pretty clear that I was supposed to be impressed that her son was considering Harvard. That was a smile-and-nod moment. I was tempted to say, “That reminds me, I’m interested in being a famous rock musician! Isn’t that great!?” :D</p>
<p>I love it when someone thinks it is impressive for them to be 'interested in Harvard." Because the real test, is whether Harvard is interested in them.</p>
<p>Interesting post boysx3. I think all you can do in these types of situations is choose your words carefully and then if they are ignored or misconstrued at least you tried. The thing is there is no downside to including safety schools. I am aware of one applicant who looked like she could go anywhere she wanted, and she got acceptances at both Stanford and Harvard, and she had a safety school that she had applied to.</p>
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<p>What if you had replied, “but, is Harvard interested in him?” :eek:</p>
<p>I sincerely hope their GC uses the “rule” that our GC’s use:
Apply to six schools: Two safeties, two matches, two reaches.</p>
<p>I hope the GC tells the family from brunch that if they want to, they could consider Yale and Brown their D’s matches and Columbia and Penn their son’s matches as long as each also applies to two safeties. The most reassuring part of the story is that they have a good guidance counselor. We know Ivy’s really don’t count as a match school for anyone. </p>
<p>The twins must already be working on their college apps. I would be worried for them too. How about printing out the Andison thread and sending it to one of them anonymously? ;)</p>
<p>DB, great minds think alike!</p>
<p>And Pea, that’s exactly why the whole meal was so uncomfortable. Not to debate whether their twins are or are not Ivy material–they are certainly bright and capable students–it’s just that the parents just seemed to be blind to the reality that just about all of the thousands of applicants to Ivy caliber schools are at least equally bright and capable students, and that there just is not enough room in the Ivy classrooms for all of the students who want to be there.</p>
<p>Either or both of the twins could get in to their dream school–and I hope they both do–I just worry for the kids when the parents are setting them up with debates about which of the Ivy acceptances they should choose without encouraging the kids to think about equally wonderful but less competitively selective alternatives.</p>
<p>My 9th grader (honor student but not Harvard material) is “interested in Harvard” because he thinks it’s a path to his chosen profession. I smile, nod, and say “You know you have to have really good grades to get into Harvard. Keep up the hard work!” I figure, why burst his bubble now if it’ll keep him motivated to work hard and keep up his grades? :-)</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with encouraging a student to consider Harvard as long as he realizes it is a huge reach for most everyone.</p>
<p>MidwestMom, that’s a good idea!</p>
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<p>Great idea if the parents don’t throw that out as junk mail. Brown and Columbia aren’t even matches for these kids. They are out of their league and a huge reach. Like someone else said, it could work like a lottery if one of them got in. They have no idea of the odds. That’s why CollegeConfidential is so useful.</p>
<p>I meant Ivies, not Ivy’s. Sigh. Don’t you hate it when you see something dumb in a post you made after it is too late to correct it?</p>
<p>^^^ I guess Harvard won’t be interested in you, MidwestMom :p</p>
<p>Eye think we all no exactly how ewe feel!</p>
<p>boysx3, your friend’s twins sound very similar to my S’07. Top 5% of our suburban hs class, 2150 SAT, 3 AP’s, played in the band & pep band, played church-league basketball, Eagle Scout. Perhaps your friends would be shocked to know that my S was waitlisted at Colby (which was the reachiest school he applied to).</p>