<p>I believe I first read this on CC 2 years ago our first time around. Tonight I printed a copy a placed in on our 2’nd daughters computer. She needs to hear these words now.</p>
<p>Op-Ed Columnist: Stressed for Success?</p>
<p>March 30, 2004
By DAVID BROOKS </p>
<p>Many of you high school seniors are in a panic at this time of year, coping with your college acceptance or rejection letters. Since the admissions process has gone totally insane, it’s worth reminding yourself that this is not a particularly important moment in your life. </p>
<p>You are being judged according to criteria that you would never use to judge another person and which will never again be applied to you once you leave higher ed. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/30/opinion/30BROO.html?ex=1395982800&en=7146bff8d9d675a9&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/30/opinion/30BROO.html?ex=1395982800&en=7146bff8d9d675a9&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND</a></p>
<p>What a coincidence; I was just about to post a link to this same essay when I ran across this thread.</p>
<p>Thanks, crabbylady, for bringing back that very helpful article at such an appropriate time of year. I especially appreciated the following:
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/30/opinion/30BROO.html?ex=1395982800&en=7146bff8d9d675a9&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/30/opinion/30BROO.html?ex=1395982800&en=7146bff8d9d675a9&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND</a></p>
<p>It’s not that I disagree with the premise of the essay, and I think it’s a good idea to ease the stress on seniors waiting for decisions, but I have used a slightly different approach to motivate my son. I tell him half joking (but half serious) that if he gets a top score on his SATs it will give him instant credibility and people will attribute great weight to his opinions, whether warranted or not. Suddenly his sarcastic, flip comments will sound like sage pronouncements, if they come from someone who has achieved “perfect” SATs!</p>
<p>Thanks–have printed it out & put it with his sad thin envelope for him to read when he gets back from his band trip to Australia, as well as housing info from the school that wants him & is offering him $$. Still waiting on 5-6 other schools.</p>
<p>Thanks so much…I just printed this out for my D. So far she has 5 acceptances, but I feel that 3 rejections will be coming shortly, all reach schools, but rejection is still rejection.</p>
<p>I don’t at all agree, I mean who cares what someone got on their SAT? Is it really ever talked about except during this turbulent time of acceptances and rejections? NO! Who goes around thinking of “bob” got a 1450, his opinion really counts…I think not. Sure its great for the child to do well and have that inside knowledge but I sure hope he is not going around and bragging about it, which is the only way anyone would know. At my childrens private school in NY, it is considerd to be bad protocol and bad judgement to discuss them, good or bad. I think the only acception is that rare child who has gotten a perfect 1600 or 2400 now, yes that really is something to talk about, but honestly I think once they are all graduating, it is removed from their minds and I doubt it ever thankfully, comes back to torture them!</p>
<p>I will always love George Costanza’s answer to Elaine’s question “What did you get on your SAT?”</p>
<p>George said “Do you mean what I tell people I got or what I really got?”</p>
<p>I probably have the quote wrong, but the idea comes through. Anyone can claim they got almost anything on the SAT. Who can check?</p>