How can I start preparing son to join 'top dog' schools?

[derekkj 0]

Success isn't always about the big degree and the big bucks. It's about happiness.

Becca, I have been thinking the exact same thing as I read through this thread. I went to a top university, not Ivy but one of the best according to US News and World Reports. We studied hard AND play hard. And IMO, book learning is important, but so is learning how to socialize with others. The friends I made at college (and high school) are among my closest relationships, have gotten my through the worst of times and have truly become my family.

When my friends went off to get their MBA's or law degrees, I got my MA in Museum Studies and became a curator knowing full well that I would never make as much $$$ as they did, but also knowing that I would be doing something that I loved. I have never regretted it and all my friends agree that I have the coolest job.

God, you only have this one life and it's too short, so have enjoy living it!

[almaty 19]

Success isn't always about the big degree and the big bucks. It's about happiness.

Becca, I have been thinking the exact same thing as I read through this thread. I went to a top university, not Ivy but one of the best according to US News and World Reports. We studied hard AND play hard. And IMO, book learning is important, but so is learning how to socialize with others. The friends I made at college (and high school) are among my closest relationships, have gotten my through the worst of times and have truly become my family.

When my friends went off to get their MBA's or law degrees, I got my MA in Museum Studies and became a curator knowing full well that I would never make as much $$$ as they did, but also knowing that I would be doing something that I loved. I have never regretted it and all my friends agree that I have the coolest job.

God, you only have this one life and it's too short, so have enjoy living it!

excellent post ..

[rebeccajo 14]

Success isn't always about the big degree and the big bucks. It's about happiness.

Becca, I have been thinking the exact same thing as I read through this thread. I went to a top university, not Ivy but one of the best according to US News and World Reports. We studied hard AND play hard. And IMO, book learning is important, but so is learning how to socialize with others. The friends I made at college (and high school) are among my closest relationships, have gotten my through the worst of times and have truly become my family.

When my friends went off to get their MBA's or law degrees, I got my MA in Museum Studies and became a curator knowing full well that I would never make as much $$$ as they did, but also knowing that I would be doing something that I loved. I have never regretted it and all my friends agree that I have the coolest job.

God, you only have this one life and it's too short, so have enjoy living it!

excellent post ..

My son plans on majoring in music education. Lord knows he won't be rolling in the dough teaching school.

But in one of his scholarship essays, he wrote that perhaps he might one day influence a musical prodigy................

There must be SUCH a passion inside someone - to want to share a gift that much..........

Edited April 10, 2007 by rebeccajo

[almaty 19]

Success isn't always about the big degree and the big bucks. It's about happiness.

Becca, I have been thinking the exact same thing as I read through this thread. I went to a top university, not Ivy but one of the best according to US News and World Reports. We studied hard AND play hard. And IMO, book learning is important, but so is learning how to socialize with others. The friends I made at college (and high school) are among my closest relationships, have gotten my through the worst of times and have truly become my family.

When my friends went off to get their MBA's or law degrees, I got my MA in Museum Studies and became a curator knowing full well that I would never make as much $$$ as they did, but also knowing that I would be doing something that I loved. I have never regretted it and all my friends agree that I have the coolest job.

God, you only have this one life and it's too short, so have enjoy living it!

excellent post ..

My son plans on majoring in music education. Lord knows he won't be rolling in the dough teaching school.

But in one of his scholarship essays, he wrote that perhaps he might one day influence a musical prodigy................

There must be SUCH a passion inside someone - to want to share a gift that much..........

i applaud your son...first for his creativity and love of music...and second, that he has a drive and the inner motivation to do and choose a path that his knows will bring self-fulfillment

[derekkj 0]

i applaud your son...first for his creativity and love of music...and second, that he has a drive and the inner motivation to do and choose a path that his knows will bring self-fulfillment

[britbird 4]

Y'know what else is important? Helping your child to be comfortable talking infront of other people.

Self confidence like that isn't easy for a lot of people, but if you can encourage them to do some student theater or do a United Nations competition, or even just put up their hand and ask questions, they will have a far more fulfilled time when it comes to University.

My family is a good example - I'm the eldest and never much liked that, but forced myself into doing such things. Combination of that, a bit of intelligence and being in the right place at the right time, and I'm at one of the top law schools in the US.

My middle sister works in a shop. She has told me that the reason she doesn't want to go to college is because she is scared of talking infront of other people or giving a presentation. Sad. I also think that my folks let her give up on an art college course way too fast after she got a bad review of a piece of work she did.

Youngest sister does architecture/design at Uni in the UK. Of course UK uni's are ####### for that because their placement programs are inept. If she were doing the same thing over here at the same sort of ranked university she would have internships coming out of her ears.

So yeah, encouraging children to not be afraid to put up their hand, even if they make a mistake, is great. It's awesome infact. And when they get to be the sort of age where they could do an internship or work shadow, let them do it, and let them do it with stuff that they are really into, because even if it's at something like a skateboard shop, they are going to learn important life skills and learn how to interact with a bunch of different people. And that is worth a LOT. I'm a great believer in learning how to adapt to social situations, and it seems a lot of children today are not taught how to behave properly in a restaurant, or how to open doors for other people, or when to say thank you or please, and when to take an interest in what other people are telling them. Simple things like that will last a lifetime and be incredibly useful.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

having the right kind of confidence is one of the most important skills to have in life. unfortunately, it's not so easily learned if you haven't naturally got it.

[milimelo 4,870]

Have you heard of IB (International Baccalaureate) program and is it popular in the States? They attract highschool sophomores to spend their junior and senior year studying higher level courses. In foreign countries IB is all taught in English so kids get to perfect their English especially build on the vocabulary they would not normally learn (sciences and so on). Also, kids can go for a year to other IB school - even if it is on a different continent, receive their IB diploma there and further expand or learn a new language.

Their website is www.ibo.org

[CarolineM 0]

yes I work at an IB school - but IB diplomas don't guarantee aceptance any more than a solid AP/Honors diploma.

[almaty 19]

what happen to the orginal poster?

[CarolineM 0]

What EVER happens to the original posters....

[Anna C. 4]

I think it is important to establish a good relationship towards learning and studying early. My parents never pressured me but took me to hands-on museums, took me to instrument lessons, encouraged different languages, offered help with homework and so on. They guided my in the right direction without pressuring me. I had friends who got money for A's and were grounded for C's and worse grades, and that certainly didn't help them at all. Anyway, the point is to guide your kid into the right direction, to encourage. I ended up being accepted one of the top universities of Germany and I think my parent's guidance was a big part of my academic success.

Hubbie graduated from Dartmouth, and his generation is the first in his family to ever attend college. He had no relationships to any alumni. He had a very good GPA, extracurricular activities. He got a very good scholarship so that in the end he only paid about $20.000 for 4 years of Ivy League. He did all of this alone since his family was happy that he went to college, but didn't have time nor energy to support him with applications.

I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal how most successful CEOs didn't go to big and famous undergraduate colleges; they got their MBA though from the big players (Ivy League & friends). Interesting, isn't it?

Just my thoughts...