My daughter deserves the absolute best college, which may be the problem

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Saturday, May 10, 2003 | Tom O'Boyle

[Let's Roll]

That link was to a Dallas Morning News story. I just checked and it's still their front page story.

This is their main link: http://www.dallasnews.com

If you can't open the story, it may be because you have to be registered with them. Registering is free.

[CurlyDave]

Is there some secret curriculum that is only taught at the upper crust schools. Do their professors have wells of ancient knowledge open only to them? Do they use some super secret textbooks? Is the calculus taught there a superior brand to that taught at East Overshoe U????

One thing that is true, whether we like it or not is the fact that the top-rated schools can select from the best candidates.

Most high school kids still take the SAT exams, and even though an 800 today might not mean as much as it did 30 years ago, being in the 95th percentile still means being better qualified than 95% of the others who took the test.

And, before anyone gets their knickers in a twist about relying on the SAT scores, most college administrators agree that the SAT is the single best performance predictor available.

What you get by being at a top-ranked school is associating with, and competing with the best students in the country.

And, while there are no super-secret textbooks, the calculus taught is a better brand. Why? It is taught from the most advanced textbooks, and the class progresses faster because less-qualified students who don't "get it" as fast aren't there. So, the class learns more math faster.

[Pukka Puck]

You article shows the exact opposite of what you are claiming.

"Ms. Ray, who has a 3.562 grade-point average, was on the honor roll at the selective private school. She's captain of her lacrosse and quiz bowl teams and scored 1110 on the SAT."

She has the extracurricular activities, but her weak SAT score kept her out of the University of Texas. If she had scored 1400 or 1500 she would have been accepted at the University of Texas, even if she had no extracurricular activities.

[Pukka Puck]

"relatively in-depth homework assignments on just a day or two's notice"

Those look like weasel words to me.

High school teachers do not assign homework that requires students to stay up all night on a day or two notice. It doesn't happen. Get real.

The kid my have to start homework a little easier than usual or stay up a little later, but all nighters are most definitely not necessary and if a kid is pulling lots of all nighters, it is not an indicator that the kid is a hard worker, it is an indicator that the kid is goofing off until the last minute.

We homeschooled our daughter. I think that is the way to go. She went to community college at 15, had a 4.0 average and scored well over 1400 on her SAT. She has had no problems getting into the college of her choice and getting a full scholarship to boot. Her activities revolve around music and church. She has never pulled an all nighter, although she has had to study late on occasion. On those occasions she could have avoided the late night work if she had worked earlier in the process, but she instead decided to enjoy herself and wait until late in the process to start on her project.

Your analogy does not work because the "boss" does pile on more work than usual, he does not routinely pile on so much work on short notice that it is necessary to stay up all night to get it done.

[Pukka Puck]

I am also claiming broad generalities and in the process I am claiming that high SAT and GPA trumps extra-curricular activities.

Let's Roll, in post # 54, wrote, "Just read this 10 minutes ago and it sounds like the better schools are also demanding extra-curricular and community activities now - not just top grades and SAT scores."

Nowhere in the article that Let's Roll referenced was the point made that schools are demanding more than top grades and SAT scores. Instead, the article mentioned some students who were not admitted to Texas and A&M who had mediocre grades and SAT scores. If one does have mediocre grades and SAT scores, one needs to spend a lot of time tutoring inner city kids. If one has excellent grades and SAT scores, extracurricular activities and volunteer service are not required.

[Pukka Puck]

"working late into the night"

There is a difference between all night and late into the night. There is also a difference between adults and high school kids.

That is why your analogy does not work.

[Pukka Puck]

"7:30 in the morning until about six o'clock at night"

They may have been there physically, but they were not busy on schoolwork the whole time.

I find only B.S. offensive. I prefer the truth.

[Pukka Puck]

It is not like we have a shortage of male pilots or that female pilots have proven to be better pilots.

[Pukka Puck]

Last minute work assignment that requires an adult to work late vs. last minute homework assignments that requires a child to stay up all night to complete. Nope, not the same thing at all.

Most people are quite comfortable requiring adults to do things that they not expect children to do. That is why high school teachers do not pile on last minute homework assignments that require high school students to stay up all night. That is the real world.

[Pukka Puck]

"some teacher wanted a three page paper on a book read"

If the student has read the book, a three-page paper should only take an hour or two, not all night.

I hope this helps.

[Pukka Puck]

Is Rice a Christian university, according to your definition?