Why so focused on school prestige?

[Anonymous]

I'm new to this board because DD is applying for private middle schools - our public middle and high school has gone downhill and is incredibly overcrowded, so we want her to be in a better environment. This board has been great for providing information about the process.

I've seen that a number of parents are laser-focused on their kids getting into the "Big 3" or "Big 5" or whatever the prestige rankings are. As someone who worked in a college admissions office for a few years after graduating, I'm a little surprised by how focused they are on this. At least in my experience, the prestige of a private school will not make a big difference in admission. I know that all colleges vary a bit, but the main areas where the applicant's high school mattered were the percentage of their graduates who went to college (which I'm sure for any of the local private schools is above 95 percent) and how the school's graduates have historically done at our college (which was always quite good for pretty much any private school). It's a different story if you're comparing a private school with an overcrowded public school that sends 40 percent of its students to college.

Of course, students at the very top private schools are having more success at the ivies, but that has far more to do with the students than it does with the reputation of their private school. A student who gets into Potomac at grade 7 probably has a better chance of getting a very high SAT and a boatload of AP classes.

I'd also imagine that most of these students will go on to law school or medical school or an MBA program, where undergraduate school matters, but not nearly as much as undergrad grades and standardized test scores.

Anyway, that's all to say that we applied with a focus on factors other than prestige - things like the proximity to our house, transportation, the types of activities available, bullying prevention, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm new to this board because DD is applying for private middle schools - our public middle and high school has gone downhill and is incredibly overcrowded, so we want her to be in a better environment. This board has been great for providing information about the process.

I've seen that a number of parents are laser-focused on their kids getting into the "Big 3" or "Big 5" or whatever the prestige rankings are. As someone who worked in a college admissions office for a few years after graduating, I'm a little surprised by how focused they are on this. At least in my experience, the prestige of a private school will not make a big difference in admission. I know that all colleges vary a bit, but the main areas where the applicant's high school mattered were the percentage of their graduates who went to college (which I'm sure for any of the local private schools is above 95 percent) and how the school's graduates have historically done at our college (which was always quite good for pretty much any private school). It's a different story if you're comparing a private school with an overcrowded public school that sends 40 percent of its students to college.

Of course, students at the very top private schools are having more success at the ivies, but that has far more to do with the students than it does with the reputation of their private school. A student who gets into Potomac at grade 7 probably has a better chance of getting a very high SAT and a boatload of AP classes.

I'd also imagine that most of these students will go on to law school or medical school or an MBA program, where undergraduate school matters, but not nearly as much as undergrad grades and standardized test scores.

Anyway, that's all to say that we applied with a focus on factors other than prestige - things like the proximity to our house, transportation, the types of activities available, bullying prevention, etc.

It is all a matter of the family's priorities. For us, it was religious affiliation, rigor, and location (in that order).

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of people who choose their private schools for reasons other than prestige or perceived college outcomes, they just tend to get drowned out on this board.

[Anonymous]

Our older child went to a Big 3. He had a reasonably good experience there, though teaching varied in quality and the place was an academic and social pressure-cooker in a very unpleasant way. He went to his first-choice college, so I guess all's well that ends well. Our younger child was accepted at the same secondary school, but didn't like the girls in her grade. By contrast, she immediately felt at home with the school we had seen as her safety and wanted to go there. With some qualms, we went with her choice. She got a great education there (teachers were excellent), made lovely friends, was accepted at her first-choice college. If we had it to do over again, we'd send both kids to the less prestigious school.

[Anonymous]

It's DC, you can't be surprised.

I agree with PP that many choose other schools for other reasons. We purposely did not choose one of the top 3/5/whatever because it would not be a good fit for our child and we had other priorities. Our child has anxiety so a pressure cooker was not going to be good for their mental health.

[Anonymous]

You're insane to think these schools aren't feeders.

We also have a lot of achievers in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

The perceived prestige is not about college admissions thinking the high school is prestigious (they generally don't as you know from your experience in admissions); its about social prestige in the community and particularly country club. It's dumb.

Also, many people do not agree with the perceptions that people post on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:its about social prestige in the community and particularly country club. It's dumb.

We have enjoyed no prestige from having our kids at a so-called Big 3 school, nor do we care.

[Anonymous]

We have to focus on things like image, otherwise people might realize we’re not better than them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our older child went to a Big 3. He had a reasonably good experience there, though teaching varied in quality and the place was an academic and social pressure-cooker in a very unpleasant way. He went to his first-choice college, so I guess all's well that ends well. Our younger child was accepted at the same secondary school, but didn't like the girls in her grade. By contrast, she immediately felt at home with the school we had seen as her safety and wanted to go there. With some qualms, we went with her choice. She got a great education there (teachers were excellent), made lovely friends, was accepted at her first-choice college. If we had it to do over again, we'd send both kids to the less prestigious school.

Please name the less prestigious school?

[Anonymous]

The only reason we had kids was to tell people what schools they attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:its about social prestige in the community and particularly country club. It's dumb.

We have enjoyed no prestige from having our kids at a so-called Big 3 school, nor do we care.

Make sure you keep telling people how above it all you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only reason we had kids was to tell people what schools they attend.

Sadly, I'm not sure if everyone on this list will know that this was a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:its about social prestige in the community and particularly country club. It's dumb.

We have enjoyed no prestige from having our kids at a so-called Big 3 school, nor do we care.

Make sure you keep telling people how above it all you are.

I don't. Only here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only reason we had kids was to tell people what schools they attend.

Sadly, I'm not sure if everyone on this list will know that this was a joke.

Was it though?