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As a current high school junior, I am in the thick of the college admissions process. I see myself with a decided advantage over my peers at my school in that my sister already went through the process and paved the way with my parents for this competitive game. Because this certainly applies to my life, I have been reading the article in the New York Times regarding college admissions. It, along with reading various internet forums and generally observing things has spawned some ideas which I would like to share.

I go to a small, rigorous, nationally recognized private school in Alabama (Indian Springs School if that means anything). I am a white female of considerable means. Paying for college and for my high school is not a problem. Both of my parents went to good colleges, but not top ones so I don't have that card to play. I recognize that I have led a very privileged life thus far and it makes me wonder why, when I look at comments on various forums, I almost feel guilty about going to a private college prep school. I don't have to overcome extensive difficulty, but I do work very hard and appreciate everything that I have been given. Why does reading all of these comments make me feel guilty? Is it out of jealousy or what that these people post? Would it have been better for me to go to my backwoods public school (please don't judge me on this statement, it really is a pretty bad school)and use double negatives and the word "ain't", go to my not-so-wonderful state school, then on to graduate school and real life?

Reading the posts has also made me think and rethink about my college choices. Right now I have my eyes on Princeton or Brown. Once again, I almost feel guilty for these choices. Am I, as it is so crudely referred to on another forum, a "prestige whore"? These places do offer wonderful educations but posts such as this one: "If you love your children and want the best for them, don't demand they go to Harvard or Yale. Help them go someplace they'll feel challenged and stimulated" and this one: "Students should rather choose a school that really fits them and where they will grow rather than shooting for what they think will look good on a resume" make me think long and hard. In the end, I come to the same conclusion each time. My parents are not pressuring me to go to Harvard or Yale or Princeton, but I, along with just about anybody else, would feel challenged and stimulated there. I am not thinking about a future resume in my search, but in making my decisions I find myself drawn to the elite institutions.

My school regularly sends multiple graduates every year to Ivy League schools. I see these places and other top colleges as schools with remarkable resources and the top students across the country. They don't have their reputations for nothing. Why not aspire to the top schools in the country?

So far, at my school with a junior class of approximately 55 students, I have been told that I am a prime candidate for these top schools. I'm dedicated to my extracurriculars which, though not recognized on state or national levels, are solid to excellent. I have found a passion, though I don't think I'll be able to play it up for college purposes. I have good SAT and ACT scores, and I did not pay a private tutor. I have very good grades in challenging courses and have developed relationships with several teachers. I have at my disposal a committed college counselor who has worked in the admissions department at Johns Hopkins(though she will be new next year and I don't know if she'll be good or not, I can only hope).

By now, unfortunately, I have forgotten the original point of this post. I congratulate anybody who has read this far. Basically, I have this feeling of guilt for having led a life of privilege and aiming for the best colleges in the country. I've been sitting on these thoughts for a while and I wanted to get them out there. Any comments would be appreciated. I apologize that this is so long. Have a nice day!

By Dave Berry on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 11:45 am: Edit

Leah, you don't have to apologize for the circumstances into which you were born. Let me guess the forum you're citing on which you were demeaned. Does it begin with the letters Princeton Review? Enough said. Please delete any aspects of respectability or pertinence you may have clinging to your thoughts about that board. Dysfunctional would be a charitable assessment of that site.

Anyway (resisting my instinct to launch into a long philosophical treatise here), let me say this to you: Use your privilege to get the best education you can and then go out and serve the broader cause of needful humanity with it. Become a doctor, a scientist, a writer, a philosopher, a poet, a musician, an artist, or whatever, but use your talents (passions) to better this world we live in and the people in it. The history of the world is dotted with the accomplishments of the privileged who have shared their wealth--on all levels--with the masses.

Again, I'm restraining myself from sounding overly and Romantically Idealistic here, but you sound like a sensitive and deep thinker. Use that sensitivity and intellectual power to do some good, to leave your mark. Remember Robin Williams' great line from Dead Poets Society when he asks his prep-school class "What will your verse be?" I think Leah's verse will be a memorable one, regardless if it's drafted at Princeton or UAB.

(BTW, what is that passion you mention? Do you feel free to share?)

By Leah on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 12:20 pm: Edit

Thank you for your response. My long, drawn out thoughts were mostly because of the princeton review forum, but combined with posts on the NY Times one they just got me thinking. Also I didn't much want to do my homework. Anyway, my passion (I don't much like using that word but oh well) is broadway musicals of all sorts. Unfortunately I don't have the talent to actually be in them and I don't really have the creativity to create them for myself. I basically just like watching them and knowing about them. I'll do that no matter what, but seeing as I'm going to try to paint a picture of myself for college admissions I'm sort of at a loss on how to get this across because I don't actually DO anything. I just listen and watch. Once again, thanks for your response and for actually reading my really long post.

By Scott on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 11:52 pm: Edit

Leah, I totally agree with Dave. There's nothing inherently "immoral" about enjoying affluence and status. Afterall, for a person of modest and practical ambitions, wealth and status are the two main goals of one's endeavors. As long as your priviledges do not create inside you a feeling of contempt toward the less priviledged, you should be totally comfortable attending Brown or Princeton.

By Been there. on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 09:29 am: Edit

Leah -- I agree with Dave and Scott, no need to beat yourself up over privileges you were fortunate enough to have been born with. However, your post does sound somewhat condescending towards people who go to "backwoods" public schools and don't speak correct English, go to "not so good" state universities and onto graduate school and real life. You should also recognize that while Yale and Princeton, etc., will certainly challenge you, so will many other less prestigious schools (some may challenge you even more).

By jenniferpa on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 10:33 am: Edit

Leah, you know, the one thing that worries me about this as a parent is the potential for disappointment. It's absolutely O.K. for you to set your sights as high as you wish BUT you should be aware (as I'm sure you are) that getting into an Ivy is rarely a sure thing. Yes, it sounds like your school has an excellent record in this area, but you can never be certain that the year you apply won't be the year that the rules change. Further, I'm concerned that you're getting caught up in the romance of the Ivies, and the belief that everyone is intellectually challenged and stimulated there, which I do not believe to be the whole truth. Please say you have really researched this choice, rather than making assumptions about the experience.

By ian on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 12:07 pm: Edit

Leah, actually, you _should_ feel guilty, and it is good that you do. It means you're questioning whether you really deserve what you were born with; and that you've reached outside of yourself to others, and questioned if they deserve what they were born with. The answer in both cases leans towards a no. Nonetheless, you DO deserve what you have worked for; and you should be happy and glad that you are where you are, and going where you're going.

Hopefully as you continue in college, and finish, you will transform your guilt and do some real good for the people who haven't been as privileged as you, for which you obviously feel for.

By Visionquest on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 02:16 pm: Edit

I have yet to hear anyone seriously express the belief that everyone is intellectually challenged and stimulated at the ivies, nor has anyone proposed that challenge and stimulation are unavailable at schools not in the ivy league, jenniferpa. Those extreme ideals are offered only by flamers and those use those flames to assume a defensive posture. It isn't necessary.

By Scott on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 10:38 pm: Edit

I think that for an undergraduate education, an Ivy League school is not definitively and significantly better than a good state school.

Ivy league or similar private schools receive huge endowments and government grants, but most of that money is used for research and projects.

There's a tendency for those schools to focus heavily on its graduate programs and academic research projects, rather than the fundamental education of undergraduates. For example, three nobel winning physicists at MIT would certainly contribute to its prestige, but do they really matter when it comes to teaching basic Physics to freshmen or sophomores? You need high powered scholars and scientists for writing papers and conducting high level research, but when it comes to teaching basic knowledge, how well can one teach is far more important than how much advanced research one can do.