We all like to think our children are the most incredible human beings; filled with curiosity, competition, and goals for college and life after that.
Often times however, reality gets in the way of those goals our students set for themselves.
How “special” is a high school graduate in the United States today?
Based on recent comments made by David McCullough, Jr. (no, not the historian… it’s the historian’s son!) at the Wellesley High School graduation, he would suggest there are not many special students anymore. And he’s right.
After all, with 37,000 high schools graduating a class this Spring, there will mathematically be 37,000 Valedictorians and 37,000 Salutatorians… meaning, the Top 20 Colleges and Universities already have three times as many applicants as they can admit! Right?!?
The College Board is apologizing this week for trying to run a “special” SAT test in August.
The program was offering a three week SAT test prep course at Amherst College. The course was to be limited to 50 students at a cost of $4,500 each. Additionally, participants would have taken the SAT test right after completing the course.
Talk about an unfair advantage for those “special” students who could afford that!
Fortunately, there was enough public outrage that the CollegeBoard decided to abide by it’s “non-profit” status and cancel that class.
A tailored standardized test, or a special program in a particular high school may or may not elevate a student to greatness. That more often comes from within.
The “race” should not be toward a perceived “finish line” based on peer pressure for today’s students. Rather, the students in this country (who have it pretty darn good compared to the other 7 billion people on the planet) should look at finding academic environments that fit their abilities and their family’s ability to help pay for it.
Time to be practical.
Get thee educated, young woman! And young man! Follow our blog and take a look at the membership site to learn how to take the right approach and find the right “fit” college.
