Shelby Steele on Ivy League Admissions

<p>Yeah, I remember asking xiggi that. I’m just really surprised by his view and that of others who seem to think it’s pretty standard practice. I’m getting there, though. The new normal.</p>

<p>jym – I just don’t get the level of bitterness. Your kid got the scholarship, right? I am wary of parents who are always on the look out for unfairness toward their kids. A lot of life is unfair. </p>

<p>We all make fools of ourselves at some level trying to help our kids do well. I’m getting my head around this. I’m getting there.</p>

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I gave up trying to help my kid do well. Fortunately, I still possess the wherewithal to make a fool of myself in other arenas.</p>

<p>Stop with the insults, sewhappy. No one is bitter- cheating and lying is cheating and lying. We have the scholarship- they dont. Why would we be “bitter”. If you condone cheating and lying, perhaps we should be talking about your issues. Good day to you.</p>

<p>Bovertine - what actually worries me a bit is when the kids seem to think we are fools!</p>

<p>I was wondering why jym would be bitter when her kid got the scholarship without parental intervention. </p>

<p>Maybe we should start a new business for xiggi here. If he (I assume he is a he) were to offer, would there be takers? Would you be able to afford him? I am seeing 40-50K here. It’s not chump change. I can’t afford it.</p>

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<p>As usual, you’re right, Bay.</p>

<p>The 40-50k tag applies if you start right in 8th grade or something like that. We only have 4 months left to package.</p>

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<p>Is it really a “new” normal (not just in college admissions) to believe that people will “cheat” if they believe that they can get away with it without getting caught, or the consequences of getting caught are minimal, or that they believe that if the chances of “winning” are less if they do not “cheat” than if they do “cheat”. Of course, people also have different ideas of what is “cheating”.</p>

<p>I want to hire Epiphany’s daughter to write my daughter’s essay. Saw the current draft this morning and it contains societal metaphors of spawning salmon. I’m worried.</p>

<p>^^^I believe that would be violation of Honor Code, some private schools take that very seriously.</p>

<p>oldfort, I’m being facetious! Even if I wanted to hire someone and even if my kid would cooperate with it I couldn’t afford it. And in all seriousness, having her “get in” that way would be pretty joyless, I think.</p>

<p>I guess if someone wants to hire someone else’s daughter to write her child’s essays for her, that someone must be pretty insecure about the child’s abilities! </p>

<p>I know some kids in my son’s boarding school class who “helped” other classmates with essays- for a fee. Cheating- yes. I don’t feel bitter, though. My son got into college, and even better, got OUT!! Most of us have the ability to distinguish between disapproval and bitterness. But some don’t. Such is life.</p>

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<p>:D </p>

<p>(If I could only get her to recognize that ability that plenty of other adults, and colleges, see in her!)</p>

<p>Wow, just wow.</p>

<p>Wow about what, Ohio Mom? (I don’t approve of anyone being “hired” to write essays! Or even ghost-writing them for others for free! I’m sure sewhappy was being facetious.)</p>

<p>I don’t see anything wrong with writing about the societal metaphors of salmon spawning. Now I’m worried.</p>

<h1>312</h1>

<p>Holden Coaulfield was doing it.
and we’d fantasized somewhere North Eastern US hi middle classy prep school diorama while “sit at the row of desks and write in 40 min” exam dictated everything in our lives.</p>

<p>I am sure sewhappy was being facetious too. I think that’s why it is hard for me to believe that some parents would actually brag about it, because for some of those schools if the administration should ever found out, it would be ground for dismissal. Maybe that’s why parents don’t disclose it even over cocktail.</p>

<p>It is all a slippery slope…</p>

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That’s now on my top 3 posts of all time list - thanks, bovertine!</p>