Let's talk about prestige

[Anonymous]

The saddest is when adults who went to a big 3 but a not so great college having a not so great career acting all high and mighty. I really feel sorry for these people. I actually meet these types of people somewhat frequently. They think they are the dc elite. They often are judgmental about others and rely on grandparents for tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The saddest is when adults who went to a big 3 but a not so great college having a not so great career acting all high and mighty. I really feel sorry for these people. I actually meet these types of people somewhat frequently. They think they are the dc elite. They often are judgmental about others and rely on grandparents for tuition.

That is not even close to the saddest thing. That is of zero consequence.

[Anonymous]

It means a lot to me. I am not paying $50k/year for a school that has no prestige just to say my kid went to private school. I am also mindful that the name-brand alone isn't what potentially makes a difference in outcomes. If I didn't have kids who I thought would/could take advantage of the opportunities that these schools afford, I would do public or Catholic and save some money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The saddest is when adults who went to a big 3 but a not so great college having a not so great career acting all high and mighty. I really feel sorry for these people. I actually meet these types of people somewhat frequently. They think they are the dc elite. They often are judgmental about others and rely on grandparents for tuition.

I dated someone who went to Collegiate, at age 35 he said no one was doing anything spectacular. He then went to work for his dads small co.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means a lot to me. I am not paying $50k/year for a school that has no prestige just to say my kid went to private school. I am also mindful that the name-brand alone isn't what potentially makes a difference in outcomes. If I didn't have kids who I thought would/could take advantage of the opportunities that these schools afford, I would do public or Catholic and save some money.

What kids are the ones that don't benefit from a prestigious private school education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means a lot to me. I am not paying $50k/year for a school that has no prestige just to say my kid went to private school. I am also mindful that the name-brand alone isn't what potentially makes a difference in outcomes. If I didn't have kids who I thought would/could take advantage of the opportunities that these schools afford, I would do public or Catholic and save some money.

What kids are the ones that don't benefit from a prestigious private school education?

One example - if the school is a pressure cooker - not all kids thrive in that environment (even very smart ones).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means a lot to me. I am not paying $50k/year for a school that has no prestige just to say my kid went to private school. I am also mindful that the name-brand alone isn't what potentially makes a difference in outcomes. If I didn't have kids who I thought would/could take advantage of the opportunities that these schools afford, I would do public or Catholic and save some money.

What kids are the ones that don't benefit from a prestigious private school education?

The ones who don't make a lot of friends/aren't social for example. One the benefits to me of a prestigious school is the network that you get and the ability to tap into the network. If you have a kid who isn't going to do that because that's not their personality, then they need to be at the absolute top of their class at that prestigious school for that name to move the needle for them, in my opinion. I realize what I am saying may sound crass to some people, but I think it's the way the world works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means a lot to me. I am not paying $50k/year for a school that has no prestige just to say my kid went to private school. I am also mindful that the name-brand alone isn't what potentially makes a difference in outcomes. If I didn't have kids who I thought would/could take advantage of the opportunities that these schools afford, I would do public or Catholic and save some money.

What kids are the ones that don't benefit from a prestigious private school education?

One example - if the school is a pressure cooker - not all kids thrive in that environment (even very smart ones).

What does pressure cooker have to with top private schools? Top public schools are pressure cookers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means a lot to me. I am not paying $50k/year for a school that has no prestige just to say my kid went to private school. I am also mindful that the name-brand alone isn't what potentially makes a difference in outcomes. If I didn't have kids who I thought would/could take advantage of the opportunities that these schools afford, I would do public or Catholic and save some money.

What kids are the ones that don't benefit from a prestigious private school education?

One example - if the school is a pressure cooker - not all kids thrive in that environment (even very smart ones).

What does pressure cooker have to with top private schools? Top public schools are pressure cookers

Top publics are large, tough, competitive pressure cookers. If your kid won't thrive in that environment and you can afford it, try private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The frenemies comment is on point. I have a recent graduate of Sidwell and a couple of acquaintances who are deeply striving but work hard to pretend they are not. It's amusing to feel their envy. NOTE I am not suggesting envy is widespread or that Sidwell > all other schools -- just that these two women clearly wish their same-age kids could've attended a school like Sidwell, if only they had the money at the time and their kids would be admitted.

I have so many questions about this post. PP, do you think these women are inferior to you for deeply striving? Or do you also include yourself as deeply striving, but you're better than them because you strived and "won" because your kid went to Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means a lot to me. I am not paying $50k/year for a school that has no prestige just to say my kid went to private school. I am also mindful that the name-brand alone isn't what potentially makes a difference in outcomes. If I didn't have kids who I thought would/could take advantage of the opportunities that these schools afford, I would do public or Catholic and save some money.

What kids are the ones that don't benefit from a prestigious private school education?

One example - if the school is a pressure cooker - not all kids thrive in that environment (even very smart ones).

What does pressure cooker have to with top private schools? Top public schools are pressure cookers

Many kids, maybe most, would benefit from less prestigious, less pressure-cooker type private schools where they can get more individualized attention and support. A lot of these kids would get lost in the public school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means a lot to me. I am not paying $50k/year for a school that has no prestige just to say my kid went to private school. I am also mindful that the name-brand alone isn't what potentially makes a difference in outcomes. If I didn't have kids who I thought would/could take advantage of the opportunities that these schools afford, I would do public or Catholic and save some money.

What kids are the ones that don't benefit from a prestigious private school education?

One example - if the school is a pressure cooker - not all kids thrive in that environment (even very smart ones).

What does pressure cooker have to with top private schools? Top public schools are pressure cookers

Many kids, maybe most, would benefit from less prestigious, less pressure-cooker type private schools where they can get more individualized attention and support. A lot of these kids would get lost in the public school system.

The real world is not big on individualized attention and support. Kids need to develop real world coping skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The frenemies comment is on point. I have a recent graduate of Sidwell and a couple of acquaintances who are deeply striving but work hard to pretend they are not. It's amusing to feel their envy. NOTE I am not suggesting envy is widespread or that Sidwell > all other schools -- just that these two women clearly wish their same-age kids could've attended a school like Sidwell, if only they had the money at the time and their kids would be admitted.

HAHAHAHAHA

Sidwell HAHAHAHAHA

I have graduates of Sidwell and public and Andover and other well-known schools. Public and Andover by far superior particularly in Math & Science.

Sidwell is a good school but it is not better than public, especially for college apps.

You I would never be friends with. An education is a gift clearly you missed the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does the prestige of a school mean to you? What do you see as the value add? What do you see as the pitfalls? How do you think prestige of a school has/will effect your child?

Elite prep boarding school.

The prestige wasn't really a consideration; primary considerations were the academic environment and the type of students, teachers, and administrators at this New England boarding school.

Turned long city commute into extra study or school related activity time.

6 day a week school minimized exposure to alcohol and other substances.

Allowed students to continue & to enhance their work ethic in an environment where academics, being involved in non-academic activities, and education was highly valued.

Great reasoning skills. Superior vocabulary.

Respect for others was lived and practiced daily.

All kids were admitted to great colleges & universities.

To the best of my knowledge, classmates are doing very well in the real world professionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means a lot to me. I am not paying $50k/year for a school that has no prestige just to say my kid went to private school. I am also mindful that the name-brand alone isn't what potentially makes a difference in outcomes. If I didn't have kids who I thought would/could take advantage of the opportunities that these schools afford, I would do public or Catholic and save some money.

What kids are the ones that don't benefit from a prestigious private school education?

One example - if the school is a pressure cooker - not all kids thrive in that environment (even very smart ones).

What does pressure cooker have to with top private schools? Top public schools are pressure cookers

Many kids, maybe most, would benefit from less prestigious, less pressure-cooker type private schools where they can get more individualized attention and support. A lot of these kids would get lost in the public school system.

The real world is not big on individualized attention and support. Kids need to develop real world coping skills.

Great point !