Pretty damn cool. MIT picking from the public school ranks.

[The Backlash Cometh]

Two, count 'um, two valedictorians from public schools were selected to go to MIT just in one county. I looked at MIT's stats a couple of years ago and it was almost all private schools.

<snip>

But for a select group of this year's high-school graduates in Central Florida, Ivy League and other top colleges represent the opportunity of a lifetime. They will have renowned professors, study with other students equally smart and earn a degree from an institution whose name can open doors to further education and good jobs.

In Seminole County alone, nine of the 15 valedictorians and salutatorians for the class of 2006 are heading to top-20 schools.

"I am looking for a challenge," said Jennifer Lai, a senior at Winter Springs High School who will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study engineering. "I want to really push myself and see how far I can go."

<snip>

"Nimish Ramanlal, this year's valedictorian at Seminole High, said he and his parents will have to cover much of the cost for his years at MIT, but the family agreed it is a good investment. Rigorous academics plus research and career opportunities sold them on MIT, where he will study math, physics and computer science."
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-topgrads2106may21,0,3735264.story?page=1



The times, they are a 'changin.

[WindRavenX]

1. Public school kids go to great schools all the time

I go to BC, and about half of the students are from public schools. This is true at Harvard, MIT, NYU, and other great schools.

So, really, this doesn't suprise me :shrug:

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. The way that the public schools have taken a bashing under the

Republican agenda, it's time to turn things around and point out the obvious.

[WindRavenX]

5. Public schools are still a majority of students at MIT and other top tier

...schools.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Don't let me stop you. Tell that to the Republicans.

Just five years ago Florida was considered an educational wasteland. Now they're claiming that Florida students are being sought after by outside states. Are you going to give the No Child Left Behind program credit? Or have the stats remained the same in the last ten years? Would be interesting to find out.

[WindRavenX]

13. ?

What are you talking about?

The education system in this country is horrible, especially southern states like Florida. The NCLB act has nothing to do with top tier schools accepting public school high school graduates.

The NCLB act is a hindrance to many children from becoming competitive students to these institutions, but the fact remains that top tier schools do not prefer privately schooled students; this should be something to praise considering those students of privilege have so many advantages over their public schooled peers.

I really just don't understand why your anger is directed at MIT :shrug:

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. What anger?

Just commenting on something that for my local area is news. (It did take up a lot of white space in the paper for a reason. Because for this area, it's NEWS.)

The media & Republicans have done a wonderful job of trashing public schools, especially in Florida, so I'm glad to see this happen. I don't think the NCLB has done anybody any good, except for maybe the private schools' administrative costs, but I expect the NCLB to get the credit for it anyways.

[WindRavenX]

15. ah I see

Now I understand.

I've had a long day at work, my brain cells aren't so great right now, lol.

[Berry Cool]

3. I didn't realize MIT had a reputation of recruiting private-school grads

and not public-school kids.

Sheesh, if they do, that makes them even snootier than Harvard.

And I want to know...if MIT is recruiting these kids, it must think they are good. Why the hell isn't it giving them more scholarship money?

I wonder if anyone has told these kids that they can "have renowned professors, study with other students equally smart and earn a degree from an institution whose name can open doors to further education and good jobs" by going to some really good state universities, too. Or other private schools that don't cost as much as some or will help them foot more of the bill.

Or if anyone has told them that at some of those schools, they won't see a professor for two years because all their courses are being taught by teaching assistants, not the prestigious scholars depicted in the college recruiting viewbook.

Or that they may be so deep in the financial hole by the time they graduate that their job options are limited. They may not be able to afford to accept anything but a job that pays top dollar--assuming they can find one--even if they want to. And taking a year off to travel or volunteer or something? Forget it.

If someone did tell them these things, they might think twice about assuming the sacrifice will be worth it.

[WindRavenX]

4. MIT does NOT recruit private school kids

From MIT's admission page:

67% attended public high school

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. It may be a local thing.

MIT recommends interviews with their alumnis who live in the area. So, I'm sure their input makes a difference. Perhaps some areas are more democratic than others in their selection.

[WindRavenX]

8. interviews are standard for any competitive college

I had to interview for Harvard, NYU, BC, and Amherst.

All my interviewers were public school grads.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Do you live in a Democratic county/state? Or a Republican one?

[WindRavenX]

11. mixed

It was a middle class county, but the wealthy individuals where I lived were extremely red. 2 of my interviewers (Harvard and Yale) were wealthy.

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. Obviously, I live in Florida.

As I mentioned before, it would be interesting to take a look at the stats over a ten year period for my region to see if there was a preference for private school.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. A couple of years back...

the local MIT contacts were a bit snooty in pointing out that they only accepted five kids in the local area and they had come from private schools. Made us all feel like we need not bother applying. I'm very happy for the kids and if MIT isn't offering money, it's because the kid is well off already.

[papau]

17. Tech is very fair-but if you're poor it is likely you'll graduate w/ loans

of twice your first year salary, despite getting scholarships.

It was that way 45 years ago and it is that way now.

Tech's endowment has grown from a modest amount back then to a large amount now, but the cost has grown even faster

[seabeyond]

16. my kids did private for 6 years. pulled them out middle school year

last year. this year has been the BEST year for the boys all around. especially academically, having high expectation and demand, and reward system for their hard work

i talk to the principal just yesterday adn thanked her for her and the teachers consistancy in creating a wonderful learning environment for the children. this has been by far the best year all around for my boys in the perspective schools. one elementary, one middle school.

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. There are some very pleasant surprises in public schools.

The only negative in this county have been the high school counselors. Majority of the teachers and the school curriculum have been wonderfully challenging.

[eppur_se_muova]

18. Worth keeping in mind that the area around the Cape (Kennedy Space Center)

has always employed an exceptionally high number of engineers and scientists, who have high expectations of their kids AND their school systems. 25-30 yrs ago the county around the Cape (can't remember the name offhand) had the best rep of any school system in FL. Okaloosa Co (home of Eglin AF Base) was 2nd, IIRC. I went to high school in Okaloosa Co and went on to MIT. Some of the people I met there were from private schools in the NYC area, and they just couldn't believe that *anyone* would go to a public school. I had to explain that it was normal everywhere I knew of. They made it clear that the public schools in their area were not held in high regard at all. If not for that, probably the number of private school students at MIT would be even lower. They want people who can accomplish something, not inbred bluebloods.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. Good observation about the Cape area.

We also have a high concentration of jet oil in our blood. Must be a connection somewhere. ;-)

[papau]

21. LOL - really no "inbreds" ?- just curious - how did you find the housing?

Dorm or Frat? I won't let my kids go there because of the sink or swim attitude - this may of course have changed - were there tutors/contact with Prof's?

I know they redid Burton/Conners a while back - but everything looks like it has been preserved in time.

I once thought there was a rich Arab or Hindu quota or Brit quota - because of Number 9 Club Housing and its residents - but I drove by a few years ago and Number 7 was gone! So I guess Tech has got more democratic!

[eppur_se_muova]

22. I was guaranteed dorm housing, because of age.

There are a number of entering students each year who are under 18 and can't legally sign leases, so get guaranteed housing. I was one of them.

We had house tutors, and the profs in my majors were approachable. I just didn't take advantage of it enough until very late in the game. If you can figure out the system in time, it's great. By the time I reached my senior year, I knew how to do my freshman year right, but too late.

I did think the attitude was a little bit too much sink or swim. I liked the independence -- certainly it's preferable to the stifling control I see elsewhere -- but there needs to be some provision for students who don't have a tradition of college in their family, and so don't even know what questions to ask, or even that they should be asking questions sometimes.