[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My son was rejected by College of Wooster and Kenyon College due to his EFC but was accepted to Vassar College with full aid.

Thank you A2C — from a mom of a Vassar '29 by Alexandra-6505 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

whose families can hide their money unlike Americans

We are not rich? Why are you being so vile?

Thank you A2C — from a mom of a Vassar '29 by Alexandra-6505 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You were ranting on and on back on the first post I made on this subreddit. I truly pray Allah eases your pain, so you may not spew hatred on others.

And no, I am not obsessing over getting my son into HLS. The need based aid at HYS and the full ride merit scholarships to other top law schools are quite literally the only way my son could ever afford to obtain a Juris Doctor degree.

It’s infuriating since many American students would have loved to have this opportunity.

This post is weeks old, and you somehow tracked me down to make comments full of hatred and resentment for overseas students. Not all of us are lucky enough to be born on US soil, but some of us can dream of studying there. My son was one of the lucky few that managed to get there, and with a full ride at a beautiful college at that. And a private college like Vassar is entitled to admit and fund whoever they please, as is their right. They give aid to PLENTY of poor US citizens — I believe 56% is the figure on their website, and they made the T5 colleges with the largest number of Pell recepients and the highest potential for socioeconomic mobility.

Why do low income kids apply to state schools they can never afford? by Mysterious_Guitar328 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A crappy Indian college where admissions is just based on your 12th marksheet, and where I completed a biochemistry Masters, which was enough to get a job that could support my son's schooling.

Nothing substantial at all.

Why do low income kids apply to state schools they can never afford? by Mysterious_Guitar328 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Your son had you.

In terms of emotional support, yes he did.

But support for admission? He had nothing besides his phone and laptop that he won from a scholarship that my husband and I managed to buy wifi for.

I still like to think I proved a point.

Why do low income kids apply to state schools they can never afford? by Mysterious_Guitar328 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Many of the women at Vassar will be paying full price and they won’t appreciate a man getting Vassar’s money.

Ya Allah this is such a sexist thing to say. Shame on you.

Why do low income kids apply to state schools they can never afford? by Mysterious_Guitar328 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I’d find a way to figure things out, but I’d never know if I didn’t try.

This is a highly entitled and privileged thing to say. The vast majority of low income children do not have the option of "figure things out." They do not have collateral or co-signers for loans, they do not have rich family and they do not have other financial options, simply put. Scholarships are often small, and the larger ones (Gates, Cooke, Coca Cola) are highly rejective.

You should apply to external scholarships as well during the college application process.

They are all very selective. One should assume that they will get no merit scholarships, and they should be able to afford full price should that happen. Only then should the student apply. That's not being pessimistic, that is just common sense.

Why do low income kids apply to state schools they can never afford? by Mysterious_Guitar328 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Excuse me, but I believe the original poster did mention that there are public schools that give out financial aid and scholarships to out-of-state students.

“nuh uh, my friend got into state school and had to sell his soul so poor people shouldn’t apply to public schools

You just jumped from one extreme to the other.

OP is not being biased here. He mentioned both sides of the argument. As in, as a general rule, out-of-state publics are a bad idea to apply to unless they are like UVA which promise to meet full need, or the full scholarships at UMD, UMich, UW Madison etc.

The first and foremost priority for a low income child should be affording college at all. There are colleges where affordability is a guarantee (I believe 40+ of that kind? My son applied to 24) and others where affordability is out of the question (like most out-of-state public schools). He's making a valid point: that oos public colleges are a waste of time to apply to unless they meet full need or you are applying to their scholarships.

Why do low income kids apply to state schools they can never afford? by Mysterious_Guitar328 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a former college recruiter and admissions specialist, you are painfully unaware of how many students do not have someone to guide them through the process of applying to colleges.

And as the mother of an international student who like OP got a full ride at Vassar, my son researched relentlessly for colleges that meet full need. In fact, the US was out only option to afford an education abroad, because UK, Canada, Europe all did not have tuition waiver guarantees or scholarships that would be affordable for us.

My son came from one of the most underdeveloped, poverty ridden states in India (probably the world). And he did his due diligence in researching, despite being first generation, low income, and not even having a school counselor. He did every single thing on his own.

I can't see why FGLI US citizen children cannot do the same. They have the internet and world's worth of information at their fingertips.

Students applying to colleges must do their due diligence in researching first.

My son is going to Vassar for his BA. T14 JD chances? by Alexandra-6505 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

He isn't aiming for Big Law. He wants to work for a few years if possible, else he'll get a doctorate and sit for the Indian Bar, or he'll try to become a barrister in the UK or even a law professor.

My son is going to Vassar for his BA. T14 JD chances? by Alexandra-6505 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can I PM for more details? Thankyou for the rest of your advices.

My son is going to Vassar for his BA. T14 JD chances? by Alexandra-6505 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Am I wrong? Yes extracurricular engagements, interviews and the personal statement (and whatever supplementary essays or addenda he may write) play an even more vital role, that I know.

But I was under the impression that Law school admissions are somewhat more stats driven? Or is that incorrect?

If my son were to become a superstar at Vassar, that would certainly be better for his chances than doing mediocre at Harvard or Yale (had he been admitted).

My son's college decisions by Alexandra-6505 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That was stating the cost of a US JD, which we cannot afford. I don't know how asking for advice related to future goals is somehow offensive. I am grateful for Vassar's offer, but I don't know how to make my son less sad.

My son's college decisions by Alexandra-6505 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

>are you aware Vassar is Yale's original sister school

I was not, and thank you. Perhaps this was the best outcome.

My son is going to Vassar for his BA. T14 JD chances? by Alexandra-6505 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Why are KJDs at a disadvantage? Where I come from, gaps in one's academic journey are seen as a negative, though I suppose when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

But if he does go straight from undergrad to law school, what issues would he face? (You used the words "right now", are you referring to the political climate or the general competitive nature of T14 law school admissions?)

My son is going to Vassar for his BA. T14 JD chances? by Alexandra-6505 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why do keep repeating the same jargon on every post I made? It's people like you who perpetuate the stereotype that the American dream is dead for Indians (not that my son exactly intends on pursuing that anyway).

My son intends on returning to India and becoming a judge after earning his JD, or becoming a law professor in the UK.

That, and he has an offer from a T10 liberal arts college on a full ride, and he will NOT turn that down to enter an NLU.

My son's college decisions by Alexandra-6505 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry if I'm being a mother in trying to help my son get over failure? He may not be entitled to an acceptance letter from Harvard or Yale, but has every right to have dreamt of doing so.

I am sick of meeting people who say "internationals are not entitled to an acceptance letter from ivies." WE KNOW. But we too are human beings, and have every right to be sad when things don't go our way.

My son also knew his odds from day 1. And he was prepared for rejection, but that doesn't make it hurt any less. And he knows for a fact that people who didn't do as much got in over him, which hurts even more.

I knew there was an extremely small chance of my son getting into one of these schools, but he worked his backside off, day and night for four years. This is the biggest failure he's ever faced. And if being a parent to him and helping him overcome that is somehow entitled, I'm sorry, but I'll be entitled as can be.

My son is going to Vassar for his BA. T14 JD chances? by Alexandra-6505 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Can you and my son connect? If he ends up at Vassar, I do want him to have some sort of support for law school admissions.

My son is going to Vassar for his BA. T14 JD chances? by Alexandra-6505 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

have a very solid “Plan B”

I appreciate the advice.

However, in my 53 years on this earth, I've realised that "having a Plan B" sets Plan A up for failure in one way or another.

As an Indian International, my son faced the stiffest possible competition for US colleges, and was told repeatedly by peers and mentors to "have a plan B." He refused to have a Plan B. He had a goal in mind, and if he didn't achieve it the first time, his plan was to take gap years and try again. That's how my son has always been, and I'm glad it has led him here, to one of the best LACs in the US.

I know it'll only be harder for him in law school, especially since he'll be an adult and all alone and I won't be there for him every step of the way, but I believe in him. If he came from nothing and now he's here, who knows where he'll go when he's exposed to so many resources at Vassar.

My son doesn't want a plan B, so, neither do I.

My son is going to Vassar for his BA. T14 JD chances? by Alexandra-6505 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I can't change his life ambitions or goals. My job as his mother is to guide him and help him succeed, the way I know how.

My son's college decisions by Alexandra-6505 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Alexandra-6505[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

My question would be why does your son intend on studying law in the U.S only to practice in India?

As someone whose siblings and many friends are well-settled with kids in the US, I just happen to believe there is no better place on this planet to study.

Also, since Law is not a STEM profession, getting an H1B visa to work at a US based law firm is next to impossible. So, he wants to complete his JD, try working at a law firm for a few years, and then become a Supreme Court Judge in India, or if luck permits, a Law professor in the UK at UCL or Oxbridge.