<p>I think part of the original point was that the poster did not want to suffer extraordinary stress in order to meet parental pressures to go to an Ivy or other elite school. In other words, is it worth it to suffer in the way the OP seems to be suffering, in order to get into these schools? And he seems worried about his parent’s ideas that if he doesn’t go to a top school, he won’t be able to support himself and/or “succeed.”</p>
<p>His parents are under some misconceptions that may be cultural. It would help if someone outside the family, like a guidance counselor or therapist, could help with the misconceptions as well as the pressures on the OP.</p>
<p>Of course people do fine graduating from colleges that are not Ivies etc. I know many kids who went to state universities and colleges who are doing wonderfully. I confess to having had one at an Ivy and one at community college then a mid-range LAC, and there is honestly no difference in their level of success and happiness at this point. Thank heavens they went to a low key high school and didn’t suffer this kind of stress.</p>