Better to be big fish in small pond (Field/Burke) or small fish in big pond (GDS/STA NCA/Sidwell)

[Anonymous]

For HS. What do colleges prefer? All else being equal.

[Anonymous]

Colleges know the differences in rigor amongst these schools. a 3.8 in a small pond is vastly different than 3.8 in a big pond. FACT!

A strong SAT/ACT can help to show parity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For HS. What do colleges prefer? All else being equal.

Big fish in small pond, especially under Test Optional.

[Anonymous]

This is a silly question. Think about what your kid needs, not about the college bumper sticker.

Where will you child thrive and be happy? At a quirky progressive school like Field/Burke? Or a more rigorous traditional one like STA.

[Anonymous]

This question is so weird. All things are never equal. That aside, even thinking in abstract, a better question is whether your child would thrive being a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond. For us, we thought being pushed in a big pond may benefit our child, so we went with that. Not sure we’d make the same choice for our second.

[Anonymous]

Agree that the most important thing is fit for each child. That said, there is something to being a big fish in a small pond. Read “Who gets in and Why”. It is eye opening.

[Anonymous]

But it’s all about the journey!!!

[Anonymous]

None of those ponds are actually big. Some might be bigger than others but are still not relatively large.

[Anonymous]

Phrased differently, the top 5-10% of students at Burke and Field go the same top schools as the top of other schools viewed as more prestigious. In that way, it's a great hack as the workload and stress is unquestionably less.

That said, the middle 60% at STA/GDS/SFS are typically getting into better schools than the middle 60% at Field and Burke.

Most importantly, the schools are very very different. Different socially, academically, stylistically and athletically. Figure out what is best for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Phrased differently, the top 5-10% of students at Burke and Field go the same top schools as the top of other schools viewed as more prestigious. In that way, it's a great hack as the workload and stress is unquestionably less.

That said, the middle 60% at STA/GDS/SFS are typically getting into better schools than the middle 60% at Field and Burke.

Most importantly, the schools are very very different. Different socially, academically, stylistically and athletically. Figure out what is best for your kid.

Right on point!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Phrased differently, the top 5-10% of students at Burke and Field go the same top schools as the top of other schools viewed as more prestigious. In that way, it's a great hack as the workload and stress is unquestionably less.

That said, the middle 60% at STA/GDS/SFS are typically getting into better schools than the middle 60% at Field and Burke.

Most importantly, the schools are very very different. Different socially, academically, stylistically and athletically. Figure out what is best for your kid.

This exactly!

[Anonymous]

Assuming you have this choice, which group of kids are more like your child? Where will he or she make closer friends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Phrased differently, the top 5-10% of students at Burke and Field go the same top schools as the top of other schools viewed as more prestigious. In that way, it's a great hack as the workload and stress is unquestionably less.

That said, the middle 60% at STA/GDS/SFS are typically getting into better schools than the middle 60% at Field and Burke.

Most importantly, the schools are very very different. Different socially, academically, stylistically and athletically. Figure out what is best for your kid.

This post should be lined at the top!

I have a high flyer kid who works her ass off to stay in the top students at NCS. She would probably have gotten into just as good of a college from Burke/Field because again she'd be at the top but not have to work half as hard.
I have a less driven kid who is middle of the road at STA who would have settled beneath the top at another school too. if the expectations were less, he's do less. STA is a great fit and will probably boost his college options.

[Anonymous]

I have one who thrives in a big pond and needs a big pond because he’s very social and one who needs a small pond. Different kids, different needs.

[Anonymous]

I went to NCS and really liked it, but was probably somewhere in the middle of my class. In hindsight, I likely would have been better off as a big fish on a little pond, as I had some leadership qualities but got overwhelmed by the workload. I don't think there was a way to know this when I was in sixth grade and applying out to other schools, as I had always been a very strong student in elementary school.

Point being, really think about your kid's strengths, and be willing to pivot if needed