Sarah Hughes Article - Washington Post

[Mazurka Girl]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41210-2002Dec11.html

It says she only applied to one college so far - Harvard :!:

[Alexeiskate]

I'm just curious...when a well-known public figure declares that she wants to attend a certain college, does that put a certain amount of pressure on the college's acceptance committee?

[sk8rzmom]

Ever visit Harvard? It's not the school you want to go to if you need scholarship help. No doubt, with a 3.9 form Great Neck High, and her family background she'll get it.

[Twizzler]

Originally posted by Alexeiskate
I'm just curious...when a well-known public figure declares that she wants to attend a certain college, does that put a certain amount of pressure on the college's acceptance committee?

Jody Foster went to Yale and Brooke Shields went to Princeton. I don't think those admission committees were intimidated by their fame.

[Mandy]

She should talk to Rory about backup schools. :)

[Halo girl]

Originally posted by Alexeiskate
I'm just curious...when a well-known public figure declares that she wants to attend a certain college, does that put a certain amount of pressure on the college's acceptance committee?

Maybe you should ask Paul Wylie.

However, I seriously doubt it because skating isn't a huge sport out in the "real world" outside of skating fans. Considering colleges don't have skating "teams" like football or basketball, I doubt that her skating will be much of a factor regardless of where she goes. I don't recall Tonia K, Paul, or Michelle, or any other skater who's expanded their education being put on a pedestal by the college. Now a football player or even an actor who might can get more publicity I could understand, but I don't think Sarah has a big name outside of the skating world.

Considering Harvard sounds like her first choice, it will be interesting to see what her other choices will be. I'm assuming she'll want to stay in the general area to be with her family and Robin.

[donnamarie]

I enjoyed the article and I'm glad that Sarah has a chance to compete before Nationals. It sounds like she's training hard and taking it seriously, getting fully ready to compete. The season, for me, hasn't been the same without her. I look forward to the competitions between Sarah and Sasha this season. As exciting as Sasha is, I still root for Sarah. I've missed her fresh, natural and joyous style on the ice.

[Scott]

Halo girl you are wrong. Paul Wyle brought Harvard a lot of "positive" attention and that school loved it. He was and still is a very popular figure on that campus, especially with the administrators. Elite skating is a big plus and I would think that most admissions committees would be duly impressed by an olympic gold medalist who has attained good grades and is well spoken and is applying to attend their school. Skating doesn't have to be a huge sport on campus to attract the attention of the admissions committees!

[JDC1]

They'd be crazy not to take her she'll be an asset wherever she goes. Doesn't she have or didn't she have a sibling at Harvard?

[Gingi]

My uncle was an alumni and a member of the faculty at one time. When my cousin was applying for admission he was on the board of trustees. My cousin got waitlisted. She was intelligent and attended some of the best schools in the world. My point is that Harvard can afford to picky about whom it chooses and fame, a gold medal, or a family lineage is not enough.

I wish Sarah the best but she would be a good candidate for admission regardless of the Olympic win.

[AxelAnnie22]

Originally posted by Twizzler
Jody Foster went to Yale and Brooke Shields went to Princeton. I don't think those admission committees were intimidated by their fame. It has been my experience with Admissions (and having served as President of the Board of a school for a number of years), that money and fame make up for a lot of low scores. I can't imagine any school that would turn down an Olympic Gold Medal Winner-----especially one who might even qualify on merit. The publicity that a Jodie Foster, or Sarah Hughes garners is well worth the slight "tweak" that might have to be made to the criteria. Most Admissions policies have places for "special" admissions.....usually covered in "diverse student body".

Also, home schooling is becoming less and less of an issue with admissions, as more and more really bright kids are being home schooled.

Although Sarah "attended" a regular hight school, she only went to one class a semester. I am not saying that her education is anything less than stellar - only that it does not fit within the "norm" for high school kids.

Admissions directors also give "points" for life experience, public service, extra curricular, etc. So, as I said, Sarah would be the feather in any school's cap.

The only thing I can't figure out is why she would want to go to college right now. She could wait a couple of years. Her education isn't age affected, but her skating is, at some point. And, it is not like she is not out there experiencing life! I hope she defers, and keeps on skating full out....so if she calls. I will tell her that :P

[Yazmeen]

I will backup AxelAnnie in an odd way: Fame like this can help. Debi Thomas got a residency in Orthopedic Surgery, the TOUGHEST medical residency to score, and one that traditionally has been "less than kind" when it comes to women applicants. She also got to take a year off before starting to have a child--this may not be fair, but that's darn near unheard of with a residency program like this. Now, I'm not saying she was unqualified, she was known to be a stellar college and med student, but did her fame, World Championship and Olympic medal help? IMO, darn tootin'!

I also think college is far more important to Sarah than skating. I wouldn't be surprised if this is her last eligible year. She also seems determined to become a doctor and not put her education off for long. Good luck to her in all her endeavors.

[Alexeiskate]

I just think it's better if a well-known personality doesn't make it public what school he wants to go to until he's accepted there. Then the acceptance committee will have freedom from the media to choose the best applicants to its school. I think Jodie Foster and Paul Wylie kept pretty quiet to the media about applying and getting into Yale and Harvard and that was very admirable of them. It was only once they're already in school that it was in print which school they were attending.

I remember Brooke Schield being very vocal to the media about wanting to attend Princeton. She was even photographed in People magazine visiting the campus. Now I don't know what Brook's academic records were or how high her SAT were, but (IMO) I have to think the publicity she generated about her desire to attend Princeton had to have some influence on the acceptance committee.

[michele]

Yasmeen, I thought the toughest residency to get is actually in dermatology? Sounds weird I know, but apparently there are very little spots and the lifestyle (less hours for more pay) is very appealing. But orthopedics is definitely right up there in any case.

Ob skating - derm admissions are also highly political and a lot depends on making the right connections. :)

[duane]

Originally posted by AxelAnnie22
money and fame make up for a lot of low scores. I can't imagine any school that would turn down an Olympic Gold Medal Winner-----especially one who might even qualify on merit. The publicity that a Jodie Foster, or Sarah Hughes garners is well worth the slight "tweak" that might have to be made to the criteria.

i agree.

jodie foster went to yale, and i clearly remember the publicity yale received because of it. brooke shields and princeton received tons of publicity when she attended. yes, these elite schools are prestigious, but they still compete with each other, and having a celebrity on campus can only be helpful.

cant wait to see sarah compete again! :)

[Show 42]

........Axel Annie said, "The only thing I can't figure out is why she would want to go to college right now. She could wait a couple of years. Her education isn't age affected, but her skating is, at some point. And, it is not like she is not out there experiencing life! I hope she defers, and keeps on skating full out...." AA, I totally agree with you, unless perhaps she is using school as an out not to have to skate anymore. I hope not. I would like to see her mature as a skater and develop a more definite style.

[nits]

Didn't Sarah plan to attend school whether or not she won Olympic Gold? I think I remember reading this somewhere. Sarah knows there is more to life for her than just skating.

[Toepoint]

I enjoyed the article. Can someone tell me if the LP they mentioned in the article is the one we saw Sarah skated earlier this year?:lol:

[Artistic Skaters]

According to Sarah's comments on the televised event today, she has been officially offered admission to Harvard.

[CMc]

Ok, I think I can say this with some kind of confidence...

Sarah Hughes wants to go to college and study medicine, and I think for a while believed that her competitive career would still fit in with that plan, but I just sense that her heart is leaning more towards school, and is trying to possibly phase her skating career out of it.
Personally, I wish to heck she'd stay, but if she feels academics and her future come first, I can't argue against it. I don't think she'd want to regret not having gone to medical school and stayed on the ice long after her prime. If this is Sarah taking a realistic approach, I hope it works out for her.
BUT...I hope I'm dead wrong!;)