This sassy young gal has written what so many young adults experience after working hard to get into the college of their choice. Suzy Lee Weiss’ academic record is stellar boasting a 4.25 GPA and a 2010 SAT score complimented by hours of community service, but none of that appeared solid enough to to get into several schools in which she applied.
Here’s a snippet from her editorial published by the Wall Street Journal –
By SUZY LEE WEISS
Like me, millions of high-school seniors with sour grapes are asking themselves this week how they failed to get into the colleges of their dreams. It’s simple: For years, they—we—were lied to.
Colleges tell you, “Just be yourself.” That is great advice, as long as yourself has nine extracurriculars, six leadership positions, three varsity sports, killer SAT scores and two moms. Then by all means, be yourself! If you work at a local pizza shop and are the slowest person on the cross-country team, consider taking your business elsewhere.
What could I have done differently over the past years?
For starters, had I known two years ago what I know now, I would have gladly worn a headdress to school. Show me to any closet, and I would’ve happily come out of it. “Diversity!” I offer about as much diversity as a saltine cracker. If it were up to me, I would’ve been any of the diversities: Navajo, Pacific Islander, anything. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, I salute you and your 1/32 Cherokee heritage.
Suzy Lee Weiss, a senior at Taylor Allderdice High School, on how colleges lie to prospective students. Photo: Associated Press
I also probably should have started a fake charity. Providing veterinary services for homeless people’s pets. Collecting donations for the underprivileged chimpanzees of the Congo. Raising awareness for Chapped-Lips-in-the-Winter Syndrome. Fun-runs, dance-a-thons, bake sales—as long as you’re using someone else’s misfortunes to try to propel yourself into the Ivy League, you’re golden.
Having a tiger mom helps, too. As the youngest of four daughters, I noticed long ago that my parents gave up on parenting me. It has been great in certain ways: Instead of “Be home by 11,” it’s “Don’t wake us up when you come through the door, we’re trying to sleep.” But my parents also left me with a dearth of hobbies that make admissions committees salivate. I’ve never sat down at a piano, never plucked a violin. Karate lasted about a week and the swim team didn’t last past the first lap. Why couldn’t Amy Chua have adopted me as one of her cubs?
Read the rest of Weiss’ letter by clicking – http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324000704578390340064578654.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read
And here is Weiss on Today’s Show talking about her editorial and the reaction it’s been receiving –
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So what do you think? Is she coming off as entitled as some have suggested or just a smart kid calling it like it is?
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