Comment by bilbo0s | Hacker News Reader

Comment by bilbo0s | Hacker News Reader

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First, lots of kids get 1500+. Even the kids getting special consideration would have such an SAT score. So if you can't match that score, I'd strongly urge you to give serious consideration to some "safety" schools.

Second, kids from rural Idaho, (kids from rural anywhere really), are given special consideration at most elite schools. They're essentially given the same consideration as poor minorities. Most elite schools have a mandate that you must admit a certain number of males and females from every state in the union. Which means the easiest way into a lot of these schools is not a wicked three point shot, but rather to graduate high school in Wyoming.

Third, if you're from Idaho and are not admitted, it means there were better candidates that these schools selected in lieu of yourself. (Remember, a lot of schools have a mandate, so they definitely admitted someone.) So introspection is in order. What did the other Idaho candidates have that you did not?

>Second, kids from rural Idaho, (kids from rural anywhere really), are given special consideration at most elite schools. They're essentially given the same consideration as poor minorities. Most elite schools have a mandate that you must admit a certain number of males and females from every state in the union.

That may be true. But to tell a kid from rural Idaho she has a shot at MIT, when her parents never graduated from high school, may not be something she'd believe, even if she could get into MIT. Even if she'd get a full ride, her parents may encourage her not to apply, since they'd tell her it's too expensive, and she may believe that over reality. Just because a university tries to help such people, she may never get the message. It isn't like rural America is where Harvard is sending their representatives to educate poor rural kids their opportunities. A talented poor person may not realize they could actually get into Harvard, so why waste an application fee? Being poor effects you in ways most non-poor people cannot begin to understand. It effects your mindset, attitude and outlook on life. It can artificially lower your goals and scope.

But none of that is specific to being from Idaho. None of it is specific to being rural. And none of it is specific even to being poor.

There can be poor, minority kids in North Little Rock, Arkansas equally unaware of these opportunities. And believe it or not, even a middle class kid from Lincoln, Nebraska can be unaware of the fact that they can get into Harvard.

My point is, no one is really special in this regard.

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