He Applied to 20 of the Best Schools....

[kadee79]

And  you will have to read the rest....

www.msn.com/en-us/news/good-news/he-applied-to-20-of-the-best-colleges-and-got-a-full-ride-to-all-of-them/ar-AAviAfI?ocid=spartanntp

[Tennesseer]

Good for this young man. He's got a great future ahead of him.

[billisonboard]

With a reasonable level of research, a student can determine with some confidence what colleges will and won't accept them. Playing it safe, the smart student applies to more than one school. A student with a clear sense of what they will major in can identify what schools offer the top flight departments in that major.

Could young Mr. Brown have narrowed his applications down to at least half as many schools maintaining a high level of confidence he would be getting a full ride into a high quality political science department? I think so. Would this have saved time and expense for ten schools? Yes. Would it have kept ten students off the alternate list? Yes.

To what degree is this accomplishment and to what degree the feeding of an ego?

[steff]

Mar 31, 2018 18:49:40 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

With a reasonable level of research, a student can determine with some confidence what colleges will and won't accept them. Playing it safe, the smart student applies to more than one school. A student with a clear sense of what they will major in can identify what schools offer the top flight departments in that major.

Could young Mr. Brown have narrowed his applications down to at least half as many schools maintaining a high level of confidence he would be getting a full ride into a high quality political science department? I think so. Would this have saved time and expense for ten schools? Yes. Would it have kept ten students off the alternate list? Yes.

To what degree is this accomplishment and to what degree the feeding of an ego?

Something to keep in mind is he is from Houston's 3rd ward.  Very low income, historically a minority area that is still probably 98% black.  The schools are not great in that area & graduation stats aren't impressive.  He most likely figured he wouldn't get into but 2 or 3 of the ones he applied to.  I don't see it as him feeding his ego as much as increasing his odds. 

[chiver78]

Mar 31, 2018 19:06:57 GMT -5 steff said:

Mar 31, 2018 18:49:40 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

With a reasonable level of research, a student can determine with some confidence what colleges will and won't accept them. Playing it safe, the smart student applies to more than one school. A student with a clear sense of what they will major in can identify what schools offer the top flight departments in that major.

Could young Mr. Brown have narrowed his applications down to at least half as many schools maintaining a high level of confidence he would be getting a full ride into a high quality political science department? I think so. Would this have saved time and expense for ten schools? Yes. Would it have kept ten students off the alternate list? Yes.

To what degree is this accomplishment and to what degree the feeding of an ego?

Something to keep in mind is he is from Houston's 3rd ward.  Very low income, historically a minority area that is still probably 98% black.  The schools are not great in that area & graduation stats aren't impressive.  He most likely figured he wouldn't get into but 2 or 3 of the ones he applied to.  I don't see it as him feeding his ego as much as increasing his odds. 

 

and to further things, the submission deadline for most schools is around the same time. so how do you really know if 20 applications are overkill? I applied to 6 schools in the fall of 1995, went 5 for 6. but the difference between 1995 and now is that my GPA back then wouldn't land me a spot at the community college now.  and I think of how I winced at my HS guidance counselor as she laughed at my eventual alma mater as she asked about my "stretch" schools, since I already found my "safety" school. um.....sorry, lady, Northeastern was already off the "safety school" list before I found it. we won't even get into how it was easily the best decision I ever made. 

sorry, \endrant 

[steff]

Mar 31, 2018 19:35:06 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Mar 31, 2018 19:06:57 GMT -5 steff said:

Something to keep in mind is he is from Houston's 3rd ward.  Very low income, historically a minority area that is still probably 98% black.  The schools are not great in that area & graduation stats aren't impressive.  He most likely figured he wouldn't get into but 2 or 3 of the ones he applied to.  I don't see it as him feeding his ego as much as increasing his odds. 

 

and to further things, the submission deadline for most schools is around the same time. so how do you really know if 20 applications are overkill? I applied to 6 schools in the fall of 1995, went 5 for 6. but the difference between 1995 and now is that my GPA back then wouldn't land me a spot at the community college now.  and I think of how I winced at my HS guidance counselor as she laughed at my eventual alma mater as she asked about my "stretch" schools, since I already found my "safety" school. um.....sorry, lady, Northeastern was already off the "safety school" list before I found it. we won't even get into how it was easily the best decision I ever made. 

sorry, \endrant  [img src="//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/embarrassed.png" alt="" class="smile"]

When I read all the extra work he did, the volunteering, the campaign work, my thought was that he knew he had to work harder than a white kid from a wealthy school in Houston.  He knew GPA & SAT scores weren't going to be enough.  The kid worked his ass off & was rewarded for all his hard work.  This is what we want kids to do & see.  Work hard & reap the rewards.   His reward was being accepted & full rides to more colleges than he could have ever thought to get. 

Also, I'd bet he was in need of a full ride scholarship.  There's most likely no college fund just waiting for him to pick a school.  The more applications, the more chances he had of finding the full ride offer. 

[chiver78]

all of that, yes......and I have to confess,  I was a recipient of an obscene amount of scholarships and grants. I've mentioned them before, so please let the hypocrisy vultures fly elsewhere. I'm not having it. I will explain myself again if need be. 

one of the things that I wanted to say at first pass on this article was that I am looking forward to seeing what he does with the gift he's been given. 

[Jaguar]

Mar 31, 2018 19:55:08 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

all of that, yes......and I have to confess,  I was a recipient of an obscene amount of scholarships and grants. I've mentioned them before, so please let the hypocrisy vultures fly elsewhere. I'm not having it. I will explain myself again if need be. 

one of the things that I wanted to say at first pass on this article was that I am looking forward to seeing what he does with the gift he's been given. 

^^^^^^ This so much !