Irvine vs Surrounding Cities?

[eyephone]

Is this rant about the options after HS?

Please don't misunderstand me. Troy, Oxford, Del Norte, Sagehill, Sunny Hills, they all have a bunch of tracks/tiers. So there might not be too much harm in letting your high schooler chill in the lower tracks at some of the best high schools, where they can stay out of the rat race at the top.

The problem is when the student and parents want the best at the top track but that school's AP/IB track doesn't match the rep/commercial.

It's like that famous sales mantra: What you don't know can't hurt you. I would amend that for the present context in the following way: What you don't know can and probably will hurt you; you just don't know it yet.

Yes, pretty much going to a high school that gives the student a REALLY good chance to get into the top colleges, and the IUSD high schools are no longer designed for that.

With all due respect. I think there are other threads that specifically talk about this in detail. That you should take a look at it that might answer your question. That includes someone that interviews candidates from a top tier school. (The process that an alumni interview the candidates. Certain schools top tier schools do this.)  In addition, there are criteria that colleges have that not necessarily is the HS fault. Such as UC admission has a certain percentage of student per HS. The other threads talked about other extra curricular activities that colleges look at not just gpa. I think there are other things that I am missing.

There is only x amount of spots. You can not admit everybody. gg

So in that 2015 thread with WillJoy and Bones and you, there was some misunderstanding with what Bones meant when he said he sees a "humanitarian" trip to a third-world country as inauthentic. Bones simply meant it needs to be a real, extended effort over a number of years that shows real initiative and that the effort is a part of the student's life, not just signing up for a convenient vacation with, say, IvyMax's trips to Nepal or Ningsha, the latter of which is promoted as involving helping the local farmers with construction and modern farming technology but in fact involves students doing nothing but hanging out, digging holes in the ground for toilets that never arrive, and some students going into town to get alcohol or even dates/escorts.

Another similar activity is rocket club or robotics club. Lots of dead weight on those teams, people doing nothing but spectating and socializing/hanging out. Also, those rockets are same ol' same ol' baby stuff year after year after year, nothing close to a real rocket. Same with FBLA, one of the biggest fake academic extracurricular activities. Colleges and Bones can see right through these resume padders as lacking any real substance.

Now there will be applicants with similar activities that ARE deep, "uniquely" unique, and authentic, and people like Bones can easily tell when they see/hear it.

There is also a community college route. I think some people look down on it. But it may the cheapest and easiest way to a top college. idk

 

[misme]

anyway, regardless if it?s over-hype or not, as long as people buy into the idea of Irvine schools, it?s protective of your property value if you buy here, even if you decide to send your kid to private school.

 

[eyephone]

anyway, regardless if it?s over-hype or not, as long as people buy into the idea of Irvine schools, it?s protective of your property value if you buy here, even if you decide to send your kid to private school.

It is up to the individual to get accepted to college. It does not say that on the RE docs when buying a house. (guarantee to a good college)

 

[CogNeuroSci]

[quote author=eyephone
[/quote]

There is also a community college route. I think some people look down on it. But it may the cheapest and easiest way to a top college. idk
[/quote]

In life, you rarely get a true second chance at anything, but community college is exactly that. If you maintain at least half A's and half B's at a California community college, you'll have a UC waiting for you. And when you apply to a 4-year school, they no longer need an SAT score or high school transcripts.  You truly get to start over.

 

[eyephone]

[quote author=eyephone

There is also a community college route. I think some people look down on it. But it may the cheapest and easiest way to a top college. idk
[/quote]

In life, you rarely get a true second chance at anything, but community college is exactly that. If you maintain at least half A's and half B's at a California community college, you'll have a UC waiting for you. And when you apply to a 4-year school, they no longer need an SAT score or high school transcripts.  You truly get to start over.
[/quote]

Yes!
Also, not all jcs are the same. I think some are really easy compared to others.

 

[eyephone]

[quote author=eyephone

There is also a community college route. I think some people look down on it. But it may the cheapest and easiest way to a top college. idk
[/quote]

In life, you rarely get a true second chance at anything, but community college is exactly that. If you maintain at least half A's and half B's at a California community college, you'll have a UC waiting for you. And when you apply to a 4-year school, they no longer need an SAT score or high school transcripts.  You truly get to start over.
[/quote]

Also, a person can transfer to a top college from a jc. But I think other extra curricular activities may be required or not. 

 

[bones]

The thinking used to be (still is?) that you would have your child/children attend IUSD schools, which would set them up for being accepted to UCLA or Berkeley.  In addition, the parents made their children do the "check the box" activities such as volunteer, music, sports, etc. so their child would stand out.  Thing is, even with all this, the reality is that your child is one of tens of thousands of children nationwide who possess the same qualifications.... all applying for the same few spots at top tier universities nationwide.  If you're trying to get your child into UCLA or Berkeley, I think it's currently easier if you are underprivileged growing up in a poor neighborhood in a non-nuclear family.  Additional spots have been opened up to these applicants and also to people who pay out of state tuition.  If you budget allows, choose the latter route and send your child to a top out of state school.  Your child will still need good grades and a well-rounded application, but you expand your chances of your child getting into a good university. 

Many out of state universities offer grants and scholarships for high achieving students.  For example, my son was offered $11k/year scholarship at Indiana University on top of an admit to their business school (which is highly regarded).  That would have brought his net out of state tuition down to $22k/year.  That's only about $8k more than say UCI or UCSD.  Factor in much lower housing costs in Indiana and the differential is more like $3-4k a year.

The best thing I ever did for my son's college applications is hire a good consultant.  So much of what I knew was inaccurate and I credit her knowledge and guidance to my son being admitted to the Ross business school at University of Michigan.  Ross is on the same level as Haas over at Berkeley.

I've shared our experience with friends that were preparing their children for college.  What surprised me was the level of fixation on attending UCLA or Berkeley.  Credit personal bias but each friend thought their child was extra special and would get accepted into the UC of their choice.  Sadly each was disappointed when their child ended up going to say a UCI or UCSD.

This is a good share. A lot of parents (not just IUSD but wealthy well to do parents) think their kids are special snowflakes.

And beyond what was said here, think about the next decade. Thousands of new homes have been built in the last 5 years. What?s the racial makeup of the people (and school aged kids) moving in? You can split hairs here between Uni/Irvine/northwood/portola but all college see is Irvine.

 

[CogNeuroSci]

anyway, regardless if it?s over-hype or not, as long as people buy into the idea of Irvine schools, it?s protective of your property value if you buy here, even if you decide to send your kid to private school.

No one has asked what is a solution that any student from any high school has access to.

My message all along wasn't really to bash IUSD high schools; it was to clarify the truth of things. For my own baby, when the time comes, I won't be worried about which high school he goes to. We'll stay with a public high school and avoid all Catholic high schools like Mater Dei or Rancho Santa Margarita.

My message was that, other than steering clear of Catholic high schools and Servite, it's not going to really matter much. It's not going to matter that some schools force students to wait to take certain AP classes and it?s not going to matter if you'll need the Principal to sign off on community college courses and he won't sign off unless students are at least juniors. We'll put my son into whatever college classes at whatever age he's ready, and it doesn't matter if it won't be on the high school transcript. We'll be able to enter these classes and grades on the college application.

And this is a solution that anyone at any high school can have access to.

 

[misme]

anyway, regardless if it?s over-hype or not, as long as people buy into the idea of Irvine schools, it?s protective of your property value if you buy here, even if you decide to send your kid to private school.

No one has asked what is a solution that any student from any high school has access to.

My message all along wasn't really to bash IUSD high schools; it was to clarify the truth of things. For my own baby, when the time comes, I won't be worried about which high school he goes to. We'll stay with a public high school and avoid all Catholic high schools like Mater Dei or Rancho Santa Margarita.

My message was that, other than steering clear of Catholic high schools and Servite, it's not going to really matter much. It's not going to matter that some schools force students to wait to take certain AP classes and it?s not going to matter if you'll need the Principal to sign off on community college courses and he won't sign off unless students are at least juniors. We'll put my son into whatever college classes at whatever age he's ready, and it doesn't matter if it won't be on the high school transcript. We'll be able to enter these classes and grades on the college application.

And this is a solution that anyone at any high school can have access to.

I?m curious as to why you are categorically steering clear of all Catholic schools?

 

[eyephone]

anyway, regardless if it?s over-hype or not, as long as people buy into the idea of Irvine schools, it?s protective of your property value if you buy here, even if you decide to send your kid to private school.

No one has asked what is a solution that any student from any high school has access to.

My message all along wasn't really to bash IUSD high schools; it was to clarify the truth of things. For my own baby, when the time comes, I won't be worried about which high school he goes to. We'll stay with a public high school and avoid all Catholic high schools like Mater Dei or Rancho Santa Margarita.

My message was that, other than steering clear of Catholic high schools and Servite, it's not going to really matter much. It's not going to matter that some schools force students to wait to take certain AP classes and it?s not going to matter if you'll need the Principal to sign off on community college courses and he won't sign off unless students are at least juniors. We'll put my son into whatever college classes at whatever age he's ready, and it doesn't matter if it won't be on the high school transcript. We'll be able to enter these classes and grades on the college application.

And this is a solution that anyone at any high school can have access to.

I?m curious as to why you are categorically steering clear of all Catholic schools?

Independent and Catholic schools might be another low key way to get in. I think they have volunteer requirements and stuff * for high school, that helps the student when they apply to college. (just saying) Also, sometimes I hear the alumni might help.

* other stuff [trips, activities, etc. ]

 

[bones]

I'm worried about what the IUSD high schools are clearly trying to do: slow down students who want to try to be more advanced. The net result is a lot of straight-A students who are very run-of-the-mill and have no chance (but they and their poor parents don't know it yet) of getting into the best schools that they want. Imagine putting your child into a high school that you thought would position your child for the ultimate gains but actually was designed to impede separation at the top and as a direct result prevent any good chance of getting into the top schools.

Some anecdotal color: A few years ago, two kids from the same IB program at Foothill High School were admitted from my interview list of ~20. The remaining ~18 IUSD kids were all rejected. Doesn't mean a whole lot or maybe you can take away a morsel of something. YMMV.

 

[CogNeuroSci]

anyway, regardless if it?s over-hype or not, as long as people buy into the idea of Irvine schools, it?s protective of your property value if you buy here, even if you decide to send your kid to private school.

No one has asked what is a solution that any student from any high school has access to.

My message all along wasn't really to bash IUSD high schools; it was to clarify the truth of things. For my own baby, when the time comes, I won't be worried about which high school he goes to. We'll stay with a public high school and avoid all Catholic high schools like Mater Dei or Rancho Santa Margarita.

My message was that, other than steering clear of Catholic high schools and Servite, it's not going to really matter much. It's not going to matter that some schools force students to wait to take certain AP classes and it?s not going to matter if you'll need the Principal to sign off on community college courses and he won't sign off unless students are at least juniors. We'll put my son into whatever college classes at whatever age he's ready, and it doesn't matter if it won't be on the high school transcript. We'll be able to enter these classes and grades on the college application.

And this is a solution that anyone at any high school can have access to.

I?m curious as to why you are categorically steering clear of all Catholic schools?

These schools are notorious for super-elevated GPA. Even worse, colleges know! If your goal is to get rejected by the top colleges even though you have straight-A's, then by all means enroll. However, if your child hates studying, you can enroll him in a Catholic high school as a strategy.

 

[CogNeuroSci]

I'm worried about what the IUSD high schools are clearly trying to do: slow down students who want to try to be more advanced. The net result is a lot of straight-A students who are very run-of-the-mill and have no chance (but they and their poor parents don't know it yet) of getting into the best schools that they want. Imagine putting your child into a high school that you thought would position your child for the ultimate gains but actually was designed to impede separation at the top and as a direct result prevent any good chance of getting into the top schools.

Some anecdotal color: A few years ago, two kids from the same IB program at Foothill High School were admitted from my interview list of ~20. The remaining ~18 IUSD kids were all rejected. Doesn't mean a whole lot or maybe you can take away a morsel of something. YMMV.

What were the 2 admitted into?

 

[eyephone]

Isnt that kinda confidential?

 

[bones]

An (overrated) Ivy

 

[CogNeuroSci]

An (overrated) Ivy

I got this! You're talking about U. Penn.

 

[bones]

An (overrated) Ivy

I got this! You're talking about U. Penn.

Well, per this board, they?re all overrated

 

[CogNeuroSci]

An (overrated) Ivy

I got this! You're talking about U. Penn.

Well, per this board, they?re all overrated

But this board is filled with people who move into the IUSD specifically in order to get their child into Berkeley and UCLA. That is the level of their aspiration.

On another note, no one should be moving into IUSD to try to maximize chances of getting into Berkeley or UCLA. If that's all you're hoping for, you should specifically NOT move into IUSD, because you might be decreasing your child's chances.

So the only thing that kind of makes sense (although naively) is to move into the IUSD in order to get into Stanford, Williams, Pomona College, Ivy leagues, MIT, etc. However, as mentioned above, the reality is IUSD is not designed for that goal either.

 

[bones]

An (overrated) Ivy

I got this! You're talking about U. Penn.

Well, per this board, they?re all overrated

But this board is filled with people who move into the IUSD specifically in order to get their child into Berkeley and UCLA. That is the level of their aspiration.

On another note, no one should be moving into IUSD to try to maximize chances of getting into Berkeley or UCLA.  If that's all you're hoping for, you should specifically NOT move into IUSD, because you might be decreasing your child's chances.

So the only thing that kind of makes sense (although naively) is to move into the IUSD in order to get into Stanford, Williams, Pomona College, Ivy leagues, MIT, etc. However, as mentioned above, the reality is IUSD is not designed for that goal either.

I think it?s pretty clear from the posts that IUSD is designed to keep property values up and rising. Although, that also may not be true (versus surrounding cities) depending on who you read here

 

[CogNeuroSci]

Irvine is the only OC option for the kind of public schools that register with college admissions officers, unless your kid is really smart and you feel he/she can dominate at a less competitive school.

I would choose Beckman over all Irvine high schools for superior public high school.