Please help me understand: Potomac has only 1 to MIT in 6 years?

[Anonymous]

As we are considering Potomac and little Langley for my kids, any input will be highly appreciated. I have read all posts I could find here, but still have questions:
1. I think tons of people mentioned that Potomac is strong and rigorous in math and science, but I’m surprised to find out that during 2015-2020, only 1 admitted to MIT? vs. 6 to Harvard and 3 to Princeton. I’m curious is it true and how do you comprehend this?

2. I read in the news that little Langley had a terrific Robotics team year, they completed in World Championship. How do you compare it to Potomac’s robotics team?

3. One of my friends mentioned that Langley will repeat the study themes in a few years? Like they study about outer space, rainforest, ocean animals this year, and next year they are going to study the same things?

4. The same friend also mentioned that Potomac had more extracurricular activities and clubs?

My older one is active and somewhat athletic, and likes to compete but the younger one is very average in sports. But they are both at early elementary school age. And we will be interested in a school with strong curriculum, support and teaching staff in math, science, musical and robotics.

Would you please share your answers and direct / indirect experience with me, please. Thank you very much.

[Anonymous]

this is a 4 year snapshot of enrollment (not admission):

https://www.potomacschool.org/academics/college-counseling/where-our-students-go-to-college

[Anonymous]

I have kids at Langley. It sends children to Potomac and many other privates each year because it ends in 8th grade. Because it ends at 8th, and Potomac ends at 12th, it is kind of like comparing apples to oranges. OP maybe specify which grades at Langley or Potomac you are asking about. Also, this year Langley is bringing back the full array of extra-curriculars. Due to Covid, offerings the last two years have been very different. I would imagine that Potomac had to make similar adjustments. Therefore, when talking with parents about both schools be sure to gather information about the school in the time before Covid.

[Anonymous]

Public schools are where the truly high-performing math and science students are. Their parents work at NASA and NIH and can’t afford Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised to find out that during 2015-2020, only 1 admitted to MIT? vs. 6 to Harvard and 3 to Princeton. I’m curious is it true and how do you comprehend this? ]

I've got no connection to any of these schools, but my first question would be to ask how many applied during that time. My second question would be to ask how many might have been accepted but chose to go elsewhere. One raw number with no context says very little.

[Anonymous]

I am confused why going to Potomac would enhance gaining admissions to MIT, or any other T10 for that matter. Rich kids with more homework doesn’t mean more capable students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this is a 4 year snapshot of enrollment (not admission):

https://www.potomacschool.org/academics/college-counseling/where-our-students-go-to-college

Op here.

Thank you. From your link, zero was enrolled. I got my data from www.polarislist.com
It seems two sources echo to each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am confused why going to Potomac would enhance gaining admissions to MIT, or any other T10 for that matter. Rich kids with more homework doesn’t mean more capable students.

OP here. Because I read here that Potomac is very strong in STEM, and im trying to figure out what that means. i thought when people were saying the school is strong in STEM, they meant there would be more students from that school admitted to the most prestigious engineering/math/CS colleges, because of their passion and qualification. Like TJ here or Harker in the bay area.

But maybe I’m wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised to find out that during 2015-2020, only 1 admitted to MIT? vs. 6 to Harvard and 3 to Princeton. I’m curious is it true and how do you comprehend this? ]

I've got no connection to any of these schools, but my first question would be to ask how many applied during that time. My second question would be to ask how many might have been accepted but chose to go elsewhere. One raw number with no context says very little.

OP here. Thanks for your advice. I’ve no idea how I will be able to get that data. So wonder if anyone with connection would enlighten me a bit.

[Anonymous]

It's MIT, so let's do the numbers. Potomac School has just over 100 graduates every year, or 0.0027 percent of the approximately 3.65 million high school graduates each year just in the United States. For simplicity will ignore non-us applicants, though including such applicants would only make chances of any U.S. school having a large number of admits yet lower.

[Anonymous]

... the probability of any student in the United States getting admitted to MIT in a year is 0.036% (lower if you consider non-us admits). Against that one in about 500 kids across the course of 5 years at Potomac getting admitted, or 0.2 pct. Doesn't look bad at all.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps your expectations are a bit unrealistic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a 4 year snapshot of enrollment (not admission):

https://www.potomacschool.org/academics/college-counseling/where-our-students-go-to-college

Op here.

Thank you. From your link, zero was enrolled. I got my data from www.polarislist.com
It seems two sources echo to each other.

From the link above, 1 matriculated.

Most updated data is here (straight from the school): https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1633639751/potomac/ap4tmsd361kuo5zs7pg3/school-profile2021-22.pdf

2 matriculated from 2018-2021

other top schools:
California Institute of Technology
Harvard University (12)
Princeton University (4)
Stanford University (8)
Yale University (3)

[Anonymous]

I believe that 2 or 3 have been accepted in the last 5 years (not counting this year), with about 20 or so applying. MIT and Swarthmore are probably the two most competitive schools for the very top students. For instance, students that get into multiple top 5, including Yale, Princeton, and Penn, will get rejected from MIT and Swarthmore. I did hear there is one MIT admit this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:... the probability of any student in the United States getting admitted to MIT in a year is 0.036% (lower if you consider non-us admits). Against that one in about 500 kids across the course of 5 years at Potomac getting admitted, or 0.2 pct. Doesn't look bad at all.

Your math only makes sense if all students are similar and MIT is just picking at random. OP is assuming that Potomac students are more likely than others.