Is Westminster School the best school on Earth? STATESMOM returns

[statesmom]

I have a lot to say, don't know if anyone remembers the thread. Let me know if you want to hear from me.

Someone from the UK might be at an advantage because Ivies also have a diversity element in their admissions, which includes geographic diversity. There's too many bright, aggressively tutored kids coming out of NYC private schools. That's why those kids are so competitive. They do have a legacy advantage in some cases, which makes it even more brutal for the upper middle class state school kids, particularly from the East Coast. Conversely, if you are a really bright kid from, say, rural Kansas, you will be judged by a different yardstick. They know you don't have parents who got you a lab internship. You'd still be expected to have the same regular basic qualifications (grades, tests) but they'll know you didn't have the same opportunities for extras.

As for tutoring in American circles: In my experience (middle to upper middle class state school) tutoring happens. Immigrant parents tend to be the most open about it (see things like the Russian School of Mathematics or Indian parents who prep their kids for math competitions and spelling bees). For white American parents, they talk about it if asked but don't boast.

@user149799568 All Ivies are 100% met for international students but Penn, Columbia and Cornell are needs aware for international students so they know how much financial aid an international student needs when deciding on admission.

It makes it even more difficult for an international students who needs aid to be accepted in to these schools.

Brown's not there yet, either.

For future applicants it is but not for those starting this year.

This thread is a world I have absolutely no idea about and from reading it I'm very very glad.

Meanwhile, in London, tutoring does not exist; everything is attributed to innate intelligence.

“This thread is a world I have absolutely no idea about and from reading it I'm very very glad.“

This thread is just another version of the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.
US mom version in London. @statesmom could write a book/blog but will need a libel lawyer to check it over.

Culturally appropriate forms of aspiration are fascinating. They vary greatly from community to community, across different countries.

I agree it is fascinating, which is why I read it. It's so far from any conversation I have ever had with my fellow parents.

From someone who has yet to learn how to spell.

What's fascinating is that the OP is here to boast about her DS, but she is a completely anonymous person on the Internet.

Who cares if her son got into an Ivy College - somebody has to...

Plus she's wondering why posters are being hostile when she has compared all non Oxbridge British unis to 'Mexican whore houses' and Scottish unis to preschool.
I'm getting Katie Hopkins vibes.

OP what uni did you go to ?

I’m amused about the comments re Scottish unis.

Glasgow Uni had American unis headhunting students from their senior honours courses. Mind you, I’m sure that they weren’t the “best” unis…:p

I grew up poor to middle class, and went to the Ivy League. And it changed my life forever.

(not just in $$$$ people, OK? so don't start with that. In so many ways: meeting people from all over the world, opening my mind to new ideas. a hundrend things).

Would those new ideas be slagging off the unis in the country you live in?

What does it feel like, to not be able to vote in the most important elections of your lives?

You know, I'm just watching all of these Nato meetings, and it recalls for me the news a few years ago that Germany had 4 working fighter jets:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/02/luftwaffe-four-combat-ready-eurofighters-pressure-builds-weak/

That is fewer than the Vermont National Guard.

We're talking about the US versus the UK here.

I mean, it's a joke. Who would want their kids to spend their lives on this third world continent?

I mean, the Vermont National Guard could take over the skies of Germany.

Who in the world cares this flaccid continent? So irrelevant.

Get your kids to to America, I say.

Meaning, power, happiness, future, wealth, examination.

It is not even close, people.

@statesmom Do you know much about the history of Germany?

So Europe is a third world continent now? Wow! That Ivy League education really served you well didn’t it? Shame it didn’t teach manners.

What do you want to talk about regarding manners?

I am stating a fact that, well, a few years ago I don't know what it's like now, THE VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD HAD MORE WORKING FIGHTER JETS THAN GERMANY.

Is there something, uh, ill mannered about pointing that out?

Yes and I happen to know a ton about the history of Germany.

They've never done anything wrong, have they? Wonderful country.

The country we're living in has 2 aircraft carriers, and neither of them work. Neither of their propellers work:

https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-navy-ships-breaking-down-britain-struggling-hms-queen-elizabeth-2024-2

Brittania rules the waves!!!

In any case, we love our townhouse in central London. Having our children live their lives in this obviously dilapidating country? Not so much, no.

As soon as it gets too much, we're on the last flight out back to JFK and we'll be back in our house in Manhattan.

There we have it: a troll to the Nth degree.

I'm now convinced that "statesmom" is a male troll: the flag waving and language - "flaccid", for example - is so BetaMale.

Nice work, though!

@statesmom will you please just shut up.

As soon as it gets too much, we're on the last flight out back to JFK and we'll be back in our house in Manhattan.

What can we do to encourage you to go sooner? Like tomorrow - and stay there in your beloved USofA with the idiots who want to see the Trumpster in charge.

I don’t live in the uk now but did for many years. We were very happy and earned considerable salaries. Our DT’s were born there and had an excellent education achieving 1st class degrees from Russsell Grp.

We weren’t and haven’t since moved for power or further wealth. Our financial situation was built in the UK.
Neither of my DT’s want to live in the US - they live in mainland Europe (being trilingual helps) and have successful graduate jobs.
Being happy and successful doesn’t rest on being in the US.