Theory on Top Area Privates

[Anonymous]

I think if you are full pay, the worst school (assuming a decent standardized test score and a B/B+) you will likely get into is a top 20 SLAC or Top 40-50 National University.

[Anonymous]

This sounds about right. There are a lot of mid tier expensive schools that will draw from the bottom of a private school class through ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds about right. There are a lot of mid tier expensive schools that will draw from the bottom of a private school class through ED.

🙄🙄🙄

[Anonymous]

That was my kid, but liked a lower ranked school much better than the several higher ranked options, got more money from it and chose that one. Very happy there.

[Anonymous]

So the bottom of the class is getting into the likes of VT, UMD, CWRU, NEU, Colgate or Haverford. That seems optimistic.

I’d think more like JMU, Alabama, UVM, Muhlenberg, Ursinus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the bottom of the class is getting into the likes of VT, UMD, CWRU, NEU, Colgate or Haverford. That seems optimistic.

I’d think more like JMU, Alabama, UVM, Muhlenberg, Ursinus.

Agree! I know multiple kids for whom this did not work out. In fact, not even close. Haverford and Colgate have admit rates in the 12% range -- they do not take kids from the bottom of the class, regardless of ability to pay. NEU is significantly more competitive. This nonsense is nothing more than wishful thinking.

[Anonymous]

The crazy thing is that bottom of the class are sometimes former high A public school students. I know 2 of them. Straight high As in DPCS middle school. Very bright kids. Transfered to a Big3 in high school and got a C freshman year foreign language (because foreign language background was horrible in DCPS) and a B or B+ every year since in English and/or foreign language and now they're in the bottom of the class.

In retrospect these particular kids would have done much better staying in public.

[Anonymous]

At our NYC TT private, these kids go to Syracuse, Bucknell, SMU, GWU, Skidmore type schools. Definitely below top 20 SLAC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The crazy thing is that bottom of the class are sometimes former high A public school students. I know 2 of them. Straight high As in DPCS middle school. Very bright kids. Transfered to a Big3 in high school and got a C freshman year foreign language (because foreign language background was horrible in DCPS) and a B or B+ every year since in English and/or foreign language and now they're in the bottom of the class.

In retrospect these particular kids would have done much better staying in public.

Maybe better in terms of admissions, but by your own admission the public education was subpar. So what’s really the point? Getting into a prestigious college, or getting an actual education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The crazy thing is that bottom of the class are sometimes former high A public school students. I know 2 of them. Straight high As in DPCS middle school. Very bright kids. Transfered to a Big3 in high school and got a C freshman year foreign language (because foreign language background was horrible in DCPS) and a B or B+ every year since in English and/or foreign language and now they're in the bottom of the class.

In retrospect these particular kids would have done much better staying in public.

Maybe better in terms of admissions, but by your own admission the public education was subpar. So what’s really the point? Getting into a prestigious college, or getting an actual education?

Shhhhhh. That’s crazy talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The crazy thing is that bottom of the class are sometimes former high A public school students. I know 2 of them. Straight high As in DPCS middle school. Very bright kids. Transfered to a Big3 in high school and got a C freshman year foreign language (because foreign language background was horrible in DCPS) and a B or B+ every year since in English and/or foreign language and now they're in the bottom of the class.

In retrospect these particular kids would have done much better staying in public.

Except their B/B+ at a rigorous private school will translate to an A- or so at college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our NYC TT private, these kids go to Syracuse, Bucknell, SMU, GWU, Skidmore type schools. Definitely below top 20 SLAC!

Those aren't bad options. Kids who are bottom of the class probably do not want to be grinding in college anyways.

[Anonymous]

Can’t you just wait till the end of the cycle and then check the data on this? Why the need to theorize?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The crazy thing is that bottom of the class are sometimes former high A public school students. I know 2 of them. Straight high As in DPCS middle school. Very bright kids. Transfered to a Big3 in high school and got a C freshman year foreign language (because foreign language background was horrible in DCPS) and a B or B+ every year since in English and/or foreign language and now they're in the bottom of the class.

In retrospect these particular kids would have done much better staying in public.

Do you hear yourself? These particular kids would become adults who couldn't write their way out of a paper bag if they had stayed at JR or SWW. By your own description.

How is that "much better," exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The crazy thing is that bottom of the class are sometimes former high A public school students. I know 2 of them. Straight high As in DPCS middle school. Very bright kids. Transfered to a Big3 in high school and got a C freshman year foreign language (because foreign language background was horrible in DCPS) and a B or B+ every year since in English and/or foreign language and now they're in the bottom of the class.

In retrospect these particular kids would have done much better staying in public.

Do you hear yourself? These particular kids would become adults who couldn't write their way out of a paper bag if they had stayed at JR or SWW. By your own description.

How is that "much better," exactly?

I assume a B+ at one of the privates is a good grade, so in theory that wasn’t the big struggle.

It was the FL…which honestly should be considered an elective for everyone, everywhere. I don’t understand the point of FL requirements anymore. They are absolutely useless unless that’s what you want to major in college.