# Anti-achievement at its finest: Acceptance by 20 colleges called "obnoxious" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 13, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353 "2018-04-13T16:51:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/41 "2018-04-13T22:38:42Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Apparently FOX news anchors are intimidated by the intelligent. They’re the ones who bring up climate change, evolution, and other sinful topics. Perhaps segments like this are the TV equivalent of the spelling and grammar errors in Nigerian Scam letters - a filter to weed out the people who are too smart to be taken in. If you’re intelligent enough to be aware of the concept of the “second round offer” (not a high bar) then you’re too intelligent to be their [del]mark[/del] … uh … viewer ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/42 "2018-04-13T23:37:20Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > “Bold” (typeset) in Spanish is “negrita.” > > Just sayin’. I thought about that as I applied the tag. Rather meta, or a pun. Take your pick. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/43 "2018-04-13T23:40:25Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Perhaps segments like this are the TV equivalent of the spelling and grammar errors in Nigerian Scam letters - a filter to weed out the people who are too smart to be taken in. > > If you’re intelligent enough to be aware of the concept of the “second round offer” (not a high bar) then you’re too intelligent to be their [del]mark[/del] … uh … viewer Is it possible? Is it possible the anchor _did not know_ that this kid did not tie up the other 19 spots??? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/44 "2018-04-13T23:53:01Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Is it possible? Is it possible the anchor _did not know_ that this kid did not tie up the other 19 spots??? It is a rabbit hole with no end to try to determine the things that a fox news anchor may not be aware of. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/45 "2018-04-13T23:56:58Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Is it possible? Is it possible the anchor _did not know_ that this kid did not tie up the other 19 spots??? Most likely if the anchor had never applied to a college. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/46 "2018-04-14T00:03:35Z")
Just as a data point, most kids don’t apply to 20 colleges, even if they have stellar GPAs and high SATs, because except for the first four or five schools (I forget, it’s been awhile) they charge money to apply. Some colleges waive those application fees. It’s common for them to be waived for kids who don’t have a family tradition of going to college, i.e., if you’re the first in your family, but for most of us who aren’t in that category, 20 does sound like a lot. Among other things a Fox news anchor might be unaware of. I sure don’t understand why it’s obnoxious, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/47 "2018-04-14T00:09:53Z")
Just another black kid showing off his intellectual prowess. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/48 "2018-04-14T00:13:47Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Fox News: New day, new low. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Apparently FOX news anchors are intimidated by the intelligent. They’re the ones who bring up climate change, evolution, and other sinful topics. > [@3trew](#): > > WE know that, but he is black after all, and I’m pretty sure the average Fox viewer thinks that he could have 19 of his fellow gangbangers (cite: he’s black) take those spots (since there’s no known way of telling young black men apart) and then claim that the school is racist and has to give them doctorates as reparations. Only, y’know, without the words of greater than two syllables. Minor nitpick. This is a local Fox network affiliate, not the same as Fox News. They are still crap, but usually in a sensationalistic “What product in your house is killing your children? Tune in at 11:00” rather than a “All liberals are traitors” kind of way. Otherwise carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/49 "2018-04-14T00:17:29Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Minor nitpick. This is a local Fox network affiliate, not the same as Fox News. They are still crap, but usually in a sensationalistic “What product in your house is killing your children tune in at 11:00” rather than a “All liberals are traitors” kind of way. Maybe I’m drunk but aren’t they all required to read from the same script? I think I’m just drunk. But at least in limited scope, isn’t that true? Or am I confusing things? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/50 "2018-04-14T00:21:27Z")
I am thoroughly enjoying all these youngsters clapping back at these so-called adults. We need more of this. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/51 "2018-04-14T00:42:40Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > But it’s interesting to note that, as the holder of a J.D., Ingraham is technically just as entitled to the honorific as Schlesinger. I hate to say it, but Ingraham is actually a classier act than Shlessinger, as Ingraham doesn’t actually use her title (as it’s kind of irrelevant to her career as a “journalist”), while Schlessinger, whose doctorate is in physiology, not psychology, and only holds a certificate and CA state license in family therapy, actually styles herself as “Doctor”. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/52 "2018-04-14T00:47:31Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Is it possible? Is it possible the anchor _did not know_ that this kid did not tie up the other 19 spots??? Of course it’s possible. We’re talking TV news anchors, who do not typically achieve their positions on the basis of knowledge and common sense. The kid was crazy for applying to 20 schools. Think of filling out all those damn forms, and what if they ask for essays on different subjects? I shudder at the labor involved. Other than developing hand/wrist disorders from typing out all that crap and the application fees involved, why shouldn’t the kid apply to a big bunch of schools, if only for the satisfaction of being able to say he was accepted at all of them?\* I wouldn’t have thought that racial prejudice was why he was being criticized by the dumbass women cited in the OP, but if all you’ve got is a hammer, most anything looks like a racist nail. \*speaking as someone who was only accepted into one college out of a half-dozen or so, but it worked out nicely, especially because I met Mrs. J. there. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/53 "2018-04-14T00:47:50Z")
My daughter is a high school senior. Anecdotal evidence only, but she’s got plenty of classmates that applied to 20 or 30 universities. One that impressed me applied to about 30 Universities and a different major at each. 😉 (China bambina only applied to 3, got into 3 and nothing near a full ride to 2 of the 3). My talks with other parents revealed that many had their kids apply to a LOT of schools for their first kid, and about 10% that number for their second. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/54 "2018-04-14T00:54:29Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Just another black kid showing off his intellectual prowess. :mad: I think the unabridged translation is “Uppity n\*\*\*er.” Which tells you everything you need to know about the “Fair and Balanced” perspective of Fox News. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/55 "2018-04-14T01:02:44Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I think the unabridged translation is “Uppity n\*\*\*er.” Which tells you everything you need to know about the “Fair and Balanced” perspective of Fox News. > > Stranger Note: this wasn’t Fox News, but a local Fox affiliate. Two different things. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/56 "2018-04-14T01:32:35Z")
Doesn’t matter. White trash need local news too. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/57 "2018-04-14T01:51:51Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Is it possible? Is it possible the anchor _did not know_ that this kid did not tie up the other 19 spots??? Well, there are people out there who will tell you that they don’t want to make more money than they are currently doing, because it will “push them into a higher tax bracket”. And this despite the fact that paying tax is something these people actually do, so you’d think they’d have a rudimentary understanding of how it works. I’m sure there are people out there in the viewership who’ve never been to college and don’t have even a rudimentary understanding of how the admissions system works. As long as the anchor thinks some of her listeners will nod sagely at her argument and say “gee whiz, she’s got a point there” it’s probably immaterial whether or not she herself believes it. (I’m leaning towards “maybe she does” though. It’s possible for even educated, competent-in-their-field but generally incurious people to have some remarkable gaps in their knowledge) ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/58 "2018-04-14T01:56:56Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Is it possible? Is it possible the anchor _did not know_ that this kid did not tie up the other 19 spots??? I thinks the anchors know how it works, but they were thinking all they had to do was associate a black kid applying to a bunch of schools with him stealing spots from more deserving students and their audience would buy that. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/59 "2018-04-14T01:59:11Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/60 "2018-04-14T02:36:20Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Just as a data point, most kids don’t apply to 20 colleges, even if they have stellar GPAs and high SATs, because except for the first four or five schools (I forget, it’s been awhile) they charge money to apply. Granted, it’s been 25 years, but I don’t remember any of the applications being free. I was the first from my family to go to college, but I only applied to two schools (both of which I got into) after narrowing it down from four schools specifically so I wouldn’t be wasting my parent’s money in applications. If that’s the case now, I hope it remains the case when my kids go to school! 🙂 But, yeah, good for him! If I had the ability to apply to 20 schools (or even had 20 schools I wanted to go to), I definitely would apply to them all. Who wouldn’t? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353.md?page=4)