(09-28-2015, 02:01 PM)Redrum link Wrote:"I would bet that more than 90% of the entering students at elite institutions had parents who did at least one of these things: "
*paid for extra college counseling. "Have you decided where you want to go to college? Oh, Stanford? That's nice dear, I hope you get in..."
*paid for SAT training "Remember to get lots of sleep, you've got the SAT tomorrow, dear"
* paid for lessons or memberships in extracurricular activities designed to enhance the application "OK, I cleared out the garage so we can pull the engine out of the MG."
* paid for study abroad opportunities "Why don't you take some classes at Pasadena City College, dear?"
* use personal connections to arrange for summer internships [Did my intern summer working construction building the new Lockheed Aircraft assembly plant in Palmdale ]
*paid for travel expenses for college visits and interviews. [Chipped in $20 for food so me and friend could pile into a car and piggyback on the freebees for Steve Jubb's football recruiting visit]
The numbers of students who could figure out how to do all of this by themselves without parental helicoptering is tiny.
"Statement..."Â (My parents / me)
"I would bet that more than 90% of the entering students at elite institutions had parents who did at least one of these things: "
*paid for extra college counseling. (Not at the point of a gun, just study harder for chrissake / yes, definitely)
*paid for SAT training (I bought my own SAT practice workbook for $6.99 in 1979 / two different SAT tutors, paid for by me)
* paid for lessons or memberships in extracurricular activities designed to enhance the application (Ha. Good one. Once more, not at the point of a gun / Yes, $5k per year for six years)
* paid for study abroad opportunities (as long as 'abroad" means "one county over" / Nope. What am I, made of money?)
* use personal connections to arrange for summer internships (had no personal connections / Chip off the old block. I had no personal connections either)
*paid for travel expenses for college visits and interviews. (Yelled at me for not filling up his tank when I drove the Camaro to Stanford for a visit in 1979 / Yes to Harv, Prin, UCLA/SD/B/SB and USC - which lasted maybe 8 minutes).