Applying to NCS (7th grade entry) from public

[Anonymous]

Looking for experience and anecdotes. I've always wanted same sex education for my very bright daughter who is currently in public (Arlington) and NCS appeals to me the most. What's it like applying at the middle school level? How many girls typically come in at this stage? She has always done very well on standardized tests and has other ECs going for her (sports, music, etc). I realize no guarantee when it comes to admissions, but let's put that aside for right now. The finances would be a stretch but in some ways I think middle and high school education are more important than college. I am horrified by the writing skills of public school graduates and have other concerns as well so looking at private options.

[Anonymous]

My daughter came from public in 7th; NCS is definitely very open to admitting girls from public school.
I'm very grateful that she made the move in 7th vs 9th. She was a top public school student but the academic jump was significant. She had friends that joined in 9th and they struggled (and those grades count for college)

[Anonymous]

As someone who has been through this process (applying out from public in 7th grade), I would recommend the following:
1. Make sure your kid keeps her grades up. She will need all A’s to get into the top schools, as well as great extracurriculars, stellar teacher recommendations.
2. Start the appl process early next Fall. Schedule tours and shadow days (some schools don’t do these until after admittance)
3. Cast a wide net. I know you have your eyes set on NCS, but privates are extremely competitive in a post-COVID world. Apply to 4-4 schools that may interest you.
4. Maybe ask your question on the private board, you’ll get more feedback from people who have gone through the process at NCS.

Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for experience and anecdotes. I've always wanted same sex education for my very bright daughter who is currently in public (Arlington) and NCS appeals to me the most. What's it like applying at the middle school level? How many girls typically come in at this stage? She has always done very well on standardized tests and has other ECs going for her (sports, music, etc). I realize no guarantee when it comes to admissions, but let's put that aside for right now. The finances would be a stretch but in some ways I think middle and high school education are more important than college. I am horrified by the writing skills of public school graduates and have other concerns as well so looking at private options.

You’re going to make her take out loans in her name for college after YOU decided to spend her college fund on private hs?

[Anonymous]

Several years ago the parents of my daughter’s happy and high performing BFF pulled her out of Arlington schools for NCS (after not getting her into TJ) starting in sixth grade. She did very well at NCS academically and social although she continued to center her social life around her neighborhood friends, who were far more convenient and life long friends, all of whom stayed in the public schools.

In the end she was waitlisted or rejected by every Ivy League school she applied to (no hooks) and ended up at UVA with my daughter - who, I will say, is also smart and accomplished but would be the first to say she’s not really in her BFF’s league.

Had the girl stayed in Arlington, I have no doubt she would have been a true star in her class and would have had better luck with top 10 colleges. I don’t think the parents have any regrets, because money really is not an issue for them, but it appears to be an issue for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Several years ago the parents of my daughter’s happy and high performing BFF pulled her out of Arlington schools for NCS (after not getting her into TJ) starting in sixth grade. She did very well at NCS academically and social although she continued to center her social life around her neighborhood friends, who were far more convenient and life long friends, all of whom stayed in the public schools.

In the end she was waitlisted or rejected by every Ivy League school she applied to (no hooks) and ended up at UVA with my daughter - who, I will say, is also smart and accomplished but would be the first to say she’s not really in her BFF’s league.

Had the girl stayed in Arlington, I have no doubt she would have been a true star in her class and would have had better luck with top 10 colleges. I don’t think the parents have any regrets, because money really is not an issue for them, but it appears to be an issue for you.

It is about college preparation, not college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Several years ago the parents of my daughter’s happy and high performing BFF pulled her out of Arlington schools for NCS (after not getting her into TJ) starting in sixth grade. She did very well at NCS academically and social although she continued to center her social life around her neighborhood friends, who were far more convenient and life long friends, all of whom stayed in the public schools.

In the end she was waitlisted or rejected by every Ivy League school she applied to (no hooks) and ended up at UVA with my daughter - who, I will say, is also smart and accomplished but would be the first to say she’s not really in her BFF’s league.

Had the girl stayed in Arlington, I have no doubt she would have been a true star in her class and would have had better luck with top 10 colleges. I don’t think the parents have any regrets, because money really is not an issue for them, but it appears to be an issue for you.

It is about college preparation, not college admissions.

My daughter excelled at UVA. What gives you the impression that Arlington public high schools students are flailing in college? Do you have an data to support that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Several years ago the parents of my daughter’s happy and high performing BFF pulled her out of Arlington schools for NCS (after not getting her into TJ) starting in sixth grade. She did very well at NCS academically and social although she continued to center her social life around her neighborhood friends, who were far more convenient and life long friends, all of whom stayed in the public schools.

In the end she was waitlisted or rejected by every Ivy League school she applied to (no hooks) and ended up at UVA with my daughter - who, I will say, is also smart and accomplished but would be the first to say she’s not really in her BFF’s league.

Had the girl stayed in Arlington, I have no doubt she would have been a true star in her class and would have had better luck with top 10 colleges. I don’t think the parents have any regrets, because money really is not an issue for them, but it appears to be an issue for you.

That’s not how it works, troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for experience and anecdotes. I've always wanted same sex education for my very bright daughter who is currently in public (Arlington) and NCS appeals to me the most. What's it like applying at the middle school level? How many girls typically come in at this stage? She has always done very well on standardized tests and has other ECs going for her (sports, music, etc). I realize no guarantee when it comes to admissions, but let's put that aside for right now. The finances would be a stretch but in some ways I think middle and high school education are more important than college. I am horrified by the writing skills of public school graduates and have other concerns as well so looking at private options.

You’re going to make her take out loans in her name for college after YOU decided to spend her college fund on private hs?

I mean that I think state flagships are excellent, but college typically too late to learn great writing skulking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for experience and anecdotes. I've always wanted same sex education for my very bright daughter who is currently in public (Arlington) and NCS appeals to me the most. What's it like applying at the middle school level? How many girls typically come in at this stage? She has always done very well on standardized tests and has other ECs going for her (sports, music, etc). I realize no guarantee when it comes to admissions, but let's put that aside for right now. The finances would be a stretch but in some ways I think middle and high school education are more important than college. I am horrified by the writing skills of public school graduates and have other concerns as well so looking at private options.

You’re going to make her take out loans in her name for college after YOU decided to spend her college fund on private hs?

I mean that I think state flagships are excellent, but college typically too late to learn great writing skulking

Above should say skills

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Several years ago the parents of my daughter’s happy and high performing BFF pulled her out of Arlington schools for NCS (after not getting her into TJ) starting in sixth grade. She did very well at NCS academically and social although she continued to center her social life around her neighborhood friends, who were far more convenient and life long friends, all of whom stayed in the public schools.

In the end she was waitlisted or rejected by every Ivy League school she applied to (no hooks) and ended up at UVA with my daughter - who, I will say, is also smart and accomplished but would be the first to say she’s not really in her BFF’s league.

Had the girl stayed in Arlington, I have no doubt she would have been a true star in her class and would have had better luck with top 10 colleges. I don’t think the parents have any regrets, because money really is not an issue for them, but it appears to be an issue for you.

That’s not how it works, troll.

You know what? You’re right. I made a mistake. I said sixth grade when I meant 9th. The parents (not the girl) decided against the local public high school and had their daughter apply to TJ and privates. She didn’t get into TJ but did get into NCS. So that’s where she went.

Not trolling here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Several years ago the parents of my daughter’s happy and high performing BFF pulled her out of Arlington schools for NCS (after not getting her into TJ) starting in sixth grade. She did very well at NCS academically and social although she continued to center her social life around her neighborhood friends, who were far more convenient and life long friends, all of whom stayed in the public schools.

In the end she was waitlisted or rejected by every Ivy League school she applied to (no hooks) and ended up at UVA with my daughter - who, I will say, is also smart and accomplished but would be the first to say she’s not really in her BFF’s league.

Had the girl stayed in Arlington, I have no doubt she would have been a true star in her class and would have had better luck with top 10 colleges. I don’t think the parents have any regrets, because money really is not an issue for them, but it appears to be an issue for you.

It is about college preparation, not college admissions.

Exactly. I would be thrilled if she ended up at UVA or even a school of less rank. I truly just want a well rounded kid that can write.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Several years ago the parents of my daughter’s happy and high performing BFF pulled her out of Arlington schools for NCS (after not getting her into TJ) starting in sixth grade. She did very well at NCS academically and social although she continued to center her social life around her neighborhood friends, who were far more convenient and life long friends, all of whom stayed in the public schools.

In the end she was waitlisted or rejected by every Ivy League school she applied to (no hooks) and ended up at UVA with my daughter - who, I will say, is also smart and accomplished but would be the first to say she’s not really in her BFF’s league.

Had the girl stayed in Arlington, I have no doubt she would have been a true star in her class and would have had better luck with top 10 colleges. I don’t think the parents have any regrets, because money really is not an issue for them, but it appears to be an issue for you.

It is about college preparation, not college admissions.

I'm a rising senior NCS parent who came from public and I agree with both you and the previous poster.

1)It is about preparation and my NCS daughter is well (I would say over) prepared for college.
2)I have no doubt that she will be getting into a WORSE college coming from NCS than she would have from public. She was (is) one of those hyper over-achieving types. In public she was in the top of her cohort--straight As, Algebra in 6th grade, 99% SSAT, etc. (which is why she
was accepted to NCS in the first place)
At NCS she also has all As (a few A minuses) but she's in a class full of legacy and VIP kids that I know will get the edge over her in college admissions to whatever colleges they have legacy status for. I've seen this happen time and time again at NCS and with my son
who is at another "Big3" school. It happened this year--some of the smartest girls/hardest workers/most impressive girls were shut out from top 20 schools. This is no slight on the legacy girls (they are no slouches either!!) but it can't be ignored that it's the reality of college admissions in 2023 and is exacerbated when you are in a class full of kids whose parents went to top colleges (and are also big donors, VIPs, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Several years ago the parents of my daughter’s happy and high performing BFF pulled her out of Arlington schools for NCS (after not getting her into TJ) starting in sixth grade. She did very well at NCS academically and social although she continued to center her social life around her neighborhood friends, who were far more convenient and life long friends, all of whom stayed in the public schools.

In the end she was waitlisted or rejected by every Ivy League school she applied to (no hooks) and ended up at UVA with my daughter - who, I will say, is also smart and accomplished but would be the first to say she’s not really in her BFF’s league.

Had the girl stayed in Arlington, I have no doubt she would have been a true star in her class and would have had better luck with top 10 colleges. I don’t think the parents have any regrets, because money really is not an issue for them, but it appears to be an issue for you.

It is about college preparation, not college admissions.

Exactly. I would be thrilled if she ended up at UVA or even a school of less rank. I truly just want a well rounded kid that can write.

You mean a well round kid “who” can write.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Several years ago the parents of my daughter’s happy and high performing BFF pulled her out of Arlington schools for NCS (after not getting her into TJ) starting in sixth grade. She did very well at NCS academically and social although she continued to center her social life around her neighborhood friends, who were far more convenient and life long friends, all of whom stayed in the public schools.

In the end she was waitlisted or rejected by every Ivy League school she applied to (no hooks) and ended up at UVA with my daughter - who, I will say, is also smart and accomplished but would be the first to say she’s not really in her BFF’s league.

Had the girl stayed in Arlington, I have no doubt she would have been a true star in her class and would have had better luck with top 10 colleges. I don’t think the parents have any regrets, because money really is not an issue for them, but it appears to be an issue for you.

The last paragraph is the kicker. "I have no doubt" = "I guess."