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<p>This is so completely off the mark that I am left almost speechless. </p>
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<p>Indeed, but not in coureur. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>xiggi, I haven’t seen the young lady on tv OR read any explanations of what she intended or did not intend. I base my opinion solely on having read the piece.</p>
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<p>IMO, Bull.</p>
<p>Please find the statement in my post which said or implied that having a degree from Swarthmore or any other elite was “worthless.” NEVER said, NOR implied same.</p>
<p>DID say this: </p>
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<p>and this:</p>
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<p>and finally said,</p>
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<p>There is not (and as far as I’ve seen has never been) any argument that the “elite schools” are not great schools and that people who go there cannot or do not go far in life. The argument which presents itself again and again on CC is that one who does NOT go to a top whatever school is disadvantaged in some way, that these other grads will have the best jobs, a leg up on them professionally, etc., etc. The “best companies” are mainly hiring from these very few top institutions, these kids will be making bigger salaries, blah blah. My post had nothing to do with the quality of education to be had at Ivies “and their ilk,” but everything to do with the fact that there are many other avenues to success in most of this big ole country of ours. As someone else pointed out, in numbers, the graduates of these super schools are minute in comparison to “all the rest;” therefore when you look at the vast numbers of successful people distinguishing themselves in business or professional life, having happy lives, and loving life, you will find lots and lots and lots of grads who attended not only their state flagship, but state school number 2 or 3 or down the line and the little private which never makes any kind of list one way or the other. </p>
<p>I have nothing against “elite schools.” D1 applied to many and was accepted to most, not all of them. She was a little sad to get an outright no to Stanford and I was sad because she was. She ended up at a public which is frequently referred to as “prestigious.” Fine by me. She’ll still have to work her butt off to make it in her profession, so it’s all up to her.</p>
<p>D2 is attending an in-state public university, NOT our flagship. Also fine by me. It is a good fit for her. I have NO doubt she will succeed in her profession because she is bright enough, will network, has an incredible work ethic, and has more determination in her little finger than I do in my entire body. Had she wanted to go to a top LAC or similar school, I would gladly have supported that too.</p>
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<p>I see this statement made alot, and maybe I don’t read enough threads, but I have never seen anyone state that Ivies aren’t all that great or might even be mediocre. I would bet that if you could actually somehow analyze the data on this site, you would find that the overwhelming majority of posters, even gung ho public school advocates, would almost universally agree that the Ivy League schools and many other similarly revered schools actually ARE great places to get an education. It almost goes without saying. How is stating that it is ALSO possible to find professional and personal life success at numerous other places somehow tarnishing those institutions? And considering that most kids can’t get into these schools no matter how brilliant they are, we should all be very happy that this is the case!</p>
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<p>It isn’t, and every sensible person would agree.</p>
<p>That is not the type of statement to which coureur refers.</p>
<p>^^^Well, pretty much every time I see a post which says “Ivies aren’t the only avenue to success,” it is generally followed by a post lamenting the “Ivy Bashing.”</p>
<p>But, just because I’ve never personally seen a post claiming that the Ivy schools are “mediocre” doesn’t mean it isn’t said. But in the 5 years I’ve been reading this site, I’ve certainly not seen that sentiment posted in any great numbers.</p>
<p>LF:
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<p>So you are in favor of accepting those who will make best use of academic resources (defined as ability to take unusually advanced level course work) over students less academically accelerated? </p>
<p>also hoping you will respond to #763</p>
<p>I took a look at the thread mentioned by poetgrl in post #773 (which includes the MIT-fest that inexplicably managed to occur without my participation).</p>
<p>I am only part way through that thread, but in post #196, on March 31 of this year, ExieMITAlum writes: “. . .the Institute doesn’t want robots and clones . . .”</p>
<p>Good news for MIT: Human clones do not yet exist. Robots are generally quite easy to distinguish from human beings at this point, replicants being merely a feature of science fiction.</p>
<p>I realize that ExieMITAlum is a volunteer, and not a member of the Admissions staff at MIT; however, this sort of remark makes me wonder whether this view of applicants is endemic there.</p>
<p>Does anyone outside my usual group of supporters object to the remark?
(I will take it as read that Pizzagirl thinks I am being too literal.)</p>
<p>^^I couldn’t find it. Though I did find whole areas of CC I never knew existed. Could someone help me again, please? Maybe the thread title?</p>
<p>I can’t remember another thread where so many good and wise posters started turning on each other like we’re all stuck in too small a raft. I’m not generally into pleading for nicey-nicey, but may I suggest some or all of us take a breath?</p>
<p>Because these threads are such interesting exchanges. We both learn from each other and learn about each other. We see our own ideas tested, even if that occurs in private. When it gets nasty and defensive, it gets shut down.</p>
<p>I think something was edited out before I caught up. Perhaps about me. No matter.</p>
<p>I accept that some posters liked Suzy.</p>
<p>Ah, Suzy’s okay.</p>
<p>We probably haven’t seen the last of her. :)</p>
<p>okay - found the thread!</p>
<p>I am sympathetic to Suzy. I am not very sympathetic towards the adults in her life.</p>
<p>Does it make me a horrible human being that post 788 had me laughing out loud?</p>
<p>I hope the humor was intended. </p>
<p>I almost posted on that thread, QM, that I thought it was bad form to post anything like that on the commiseration thread, just since the OP was so sad for her kid. I think the first week or two after Ivy Day there needs to be a kind of space for people to be sad and annoyed about their rejections and financial aid offers without being critiqued.</p>
<p>But I’m known for being more sympathetic to the kids than the parents.</p>
<p>Alh, I don’t think we came to agreement what “resources” means. I have never thought it was limited to academics and am not in agreement that it refers to kids able to slide into unusually advanced courses. Not at all. From my perspective, it’s about the resources of the U, as a whole.</p>
<p>I am hoping this thread will not morph into the closed MIT thread that went over and over certain phrases and words.</p>
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<p>Really? I remember those little Hitler clones. And Arnold… ;)</p>
<p>Good to see you here, QM! I missed out on the last MIT-bashing, so I’m overdue. And what happened to this year’s annual “I’m Asian and didn’t get into any Ivies” thread?</p>
<p>I agree, lookingforward. People are really flamed up here and I really don’t understand why. </p>
<p>QuantMech, I appreciate your self-deprecation and think we should all be able to laugh at ourselves. Also, it would be amusing sometime to do an entire thread sometime where everyone played someone else’s typical role.</p>
<p>I think it would be difficult for anybody to “do” tex or LI, personally, though it would either be fun or, more likely, people would end up being hurt.</p>
<p>As for 763, I’ve said what I find wrong with Suzy’s approach and do not wish to be dragged back into the MIT brouhaha.</p>
<p>I’m not really sure why LF is being asked to be the MIT apologist here. It’s not like you have to defend every position you’ve ever taken on CC for the rest of the time you post here.</p>
<p>I one time compared staying on the waiting list to agreeing to go to prom with one guy but keeping your options open. I’m not defending that position. So nobody better bring it up. :D</p>
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<p>Oh, do me! Do me! :)</p>
<p>Hmm… that sounds a little promiscuous…</p>