Do you think it is easier to get into a top college from public or private?

[Anonymous]

We live in a top public school (Langley High in McLean). My oldest is currently a junior and it feels like there are so many students who may sound similar on paper. He is targeting T20 schools like everyone else in the school.

I have 2 other kids and considering private schools for them. Cost is a non-factor. We gave our oldest the option to switch to private in middle school and he chose to stay with his friends. He does have a fantastic friend group. Wondering if we should switch our younger kids earlier.

[Anonymous]

Have you run the numbers? I mean do the colleges that interest your kids have data showing how many incoming freshmen are from public or private schools?

Anything you ask here will just be met with opinion and conjecture, sometime informed, sometimes less so.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, but you shouldn't decide how your children will spend 4 or more years of their academic (and social) life, and whether you should spend a huge amount of money, on the how it affects college admissions.

You should base your decision on how your children will learn and develop during those years. (And, by the way, how much they learn and develop will affect their college experience: to some extent where they will go, but more importantly what they do when they go there.)

[Anonymous]

Come on, OP. You’re smarter than that.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it’s easy to get into HYPMS from private schools. Outside T5, it becomes easier, especially for T15-T30. Some liberal arts colleges outside SWAP also like to take private school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in a top public school (Langley High in McLean). My oldest is currently a junior and it feels like there are so many students who may sound similar on paper. He is targeting T20 schools like everyone else in the school.

I have 2 other kids and considering private schools for them. Cost is a non-factor. We gave our oldest the option to switch to private in middle school and he chose to stay with his friends. He does have a fantastic friend group. Wondering if we should switch our younger kids earlier.

I think the better approach is to avoid focusing only on the "T20" like everyone else in your DC's school. Apply to 1-2 as reaches if there's something about them that's particularly well suited, or if anyone in the family is legacy, but otherwise it's a low odds lottery if you're only focused on admission to a handful of schools with far fewer seats than there is demand.

We're at a private school. We chose it for the curriculum and small class size (ranging from 12-18). We had the ability to afford it and chose it for those reasons, not their college matriculation list. College matriculation lists at strong private high schools are typically impressive because the families are well resourced and many are legacies at schools that still give advantages to children and grandchildren of alums.

So my advice would be: 1) broaden the college list far beyond the T20 (everyone thinks they can get in, but there's too many similar candidates vying to get in), and 2) only go private if you like the other aspects of what it has to offer (classes, class size, admin, teachers) and not because you expect that you will have an easier college admissions season. I don't think it makes much difference in terms of admissions between private vs. public when you take legacy, resources into account.

I hope that helps!

[Anonymous]

Fo course it’s easier, at least from the most academically rigorous private schools going to private colleges, especially when you look at admissions on per capita basis. Also disagree with the last poster, my spouse gets sent the results for our region as an interviewer for one of Y/P/H/S and the private schools do better.

For large public colleges, probably a wash.

[Anonymous]

Private or selective public, e.g. TJ for top 10

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s easy to get into HYPMS from private schools. Outside T5, it becomes easier, especially for T15-T30. Some liberal arts colleges outside SWAP also like to take private school kids.

Private school parent. Are it’s not easier at HYPSM.

For other colleges, yes.
2 kids at Ivy/T10.
3.8uw gpa for both or thereabouts.
One TO. One 34/1520.
Niche interests developed in a small high school that helped them stand out in a large pack.
Youngest in private HS too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fo course it’s easier, at least from the most academically rigorous private schools going to private colleges, especially when you look at admissions on per capita basis. Also disagree with the last poster, my spouse gets sent the results for our region as an interviewer for one of Y/P/H/S and the private schools do better.

For large public colleges, probably a wash.

+1 But keep in mind for the T20 that assumes that your kid(s) have highest rigor and top of their private school class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fo course it’s easier, at least from the most academically rigorous private schools going to private colleges, especially when you look at admissions on per capita basis. Also disagree with the last poster, my spouse gets sent the results for our region as an interviewer for one of Y/P/H/S and the private schools do better.

For large public colleges, probably a wash.

OP here. The smart kids at public are super smart. It is hard to differentiate yourself.

DH and I went to public, went to T20 colleges and T10 grad schools. Most of our professional colleagues send their kids to private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fo course it’s easier, at least from the most academically rigorous private schools going to private colleges, especially when you look at admissions on per capita basis. Also disagree with the last poster, my spouse gets sent the results for our region as an interviewer for one of Y/P/H/S and the private schools do better.

For large public colleges, probably a wash.

OP here. The smart kids at public are super smart. It is hard to differentiate yourself.

DH and I went to public, went to T20 colleges and T10 grad schools. Most of our professional colleagues send their kids to private.

Time has changed. It’s a lot more difficult now to get into T20 than parents generation. Competition at top public schools is fierce. That’s why your colleagues send kids to private.

[Anonymous]

A quick search shows that most Ivies take 35 to 40 percent of the class from private high schools.

[Anonymous]

My public school daughter had a .500 (2 for 4) batting average in getting into top 20 schools. Smart kid but there was some luck involved. She didn't obsess about just going to a top 20 school. She would have been happy at one of her targets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fo course it’s easier, at least from the most academically rigorous private schools going to private colleges, especially when you look at admissions on per capita basis. Also disagree with the last poster, my spouse gets sent the results for our region as an interviewer for one of Y/P/H/S and the private schools do better.

For large public colleges, probably a wash.

OP here. The smart kids at public are super smart. It is hard to differentiate yourself.

DH and I went to public, went to T20 colleges and T10 grad schools. Most of our professional colleagues send their kids to private.

Time has changed. It’s a lot more difficult now to get into T20 than parents generation. Competition at top public schools is fierce. That’s why your colleagues send kids to private.

Its also the smaller class size, more resources (i.e. enough lab space/equipment for all students). Importantly, the smaller class sizes mean teachers really get to know students which leads to more impactful letters of recommendation.