View of privates from a former college admissions staffer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It must have been a really college. You do not even know how to spell. It is " Ivies" not " Ivys". I call BS on you.

Yes. Must have been a really college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dated.

What I have heard from recent college admin is that the private school kids are coming in very well-prepared to do college level work. They are seeing so many kids arrive and need remedial help, need tutoring in required courses which should not be so difficult to anyone that took the courses in college--calc, etc. Writing is awful.

They do really seriously take into account high school rigor. Our private, not a big 3 (about half the cost) had an amazing year last year. I do know based on looking at our public school's listed results, my kid likely wouldn't have gotten into several of the schools he did from our big public.

Uninformed speculation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dated.

What I have heard from recent college admin is that the private school kids are coming in very well-prepared to do college level work. They are seeing so many kids arrive and need remedial help, need tutoring in required courses which should not be so difficult to anyone that took the courses in college--calc, etc. Writing is awful.

They do really seriously take into account high school rigor. Our private, not a big 3 (about half the cost) had an amazing year last year. I do know based on looking at our public school's listed results, my kid likely wouldn't have gotten into several of the schools he did from our big public.

You don’t know where people from the public school applied. You think you are comparing apples to apples but you’re missing data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dated.

What I have heard from recent college admin is that the private school kids are coming in very well-prepared to do college level work. They are seeing so many kids arrive and need remedial help, need tutoring in required courses which should not be so difficult to anyone that took the courses in college--calc, etc. Writing is awful.

They do really seriously take into account high school rigor. Our private, not a big 3 (about half the cost) had an amazing year last year. I do know based on looking at our public school's listed results, my kid likely wouldn't have gotten into several of the schools he did from our big public.

Not sure what is Dated. Your post actually completely agrees with OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dated.

What I have heard from recent college admin is that the private school kids are coming in very well-prepared to do college level work. They are seeing so many kids arrive and need remedial help, need tutoring in required courses which should not be so difficult to anyone that took the courses in college--calc, etc. Writing is awful.

They do really seriously take into account high school rigor. Our private, not a big 3 (about half the cost) had an amazing year last year. I do know based on looking at our public school's listed results, my kid likely wouldn't have gotten into several of the schools he did from our big public.

added to that is private school teachers can, in general, give much better recommendations than public school teachers. With smaller classes, the teachers get to know students better and have fewer to write, so they are allegedly much more personal and revealing. Also, private school college counselors have better ties to some colleges and will advocate for certain students.

[Anonymous]

I think there is merit to OP’s post. I think there is a bubble about to happen in DC private schools. The reality it that it may be better to be at a less “Coveted” private for college when you take legacy off the table. Unless private schools do more for college admissions, there may not be the return investment that parents hoped for. I still believe private has benefit over public because the small classes are helpful and you do know that you will have teachers definitely prioritizing recommendations and your ancillary documents will get in on time. Time will tell. Last year’s admission cycle at our school was fine but not great. Two years in a row will start to show a trend and that isn’t good. I am sure schools like St. Andrews, Bullis and SJC are seeing an opening to up their status. These schools do a lot for their seniors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long ago was your experience? Asking because conventional wisdom now is that college admission chances are better from public, so I was surprised to see your point about an advantage to schools that send 100% to college.

You drank too much public school koolaid. No one in my circle thinks this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long ago was your experience? Asking because conventional wisdom now is that college admission chances are better from public, so I was surprised to see your point about an advantage to schools that send 100% to college.

You drank too much public school koolaid. No one in my circle thinks this.

No, the PP has been listening for too long to private school parents (people in your circle?) complaining that admissions are so hard from their private school for their disadvantaged kids who can no longer count on admission to a T20. ED and TO are affirmative action for wealthy white people. Privates are doing fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cool story, but, with the exception of Bullis, the quality of the college acceptances tend to track with the rankings

You don't get it....they covered this.

That's because Ivy parents covet Big 3 (or Big 5) over Bullis and the legacy status follows where the kid is enrolled. They are saying if that the same Ivy family with a smart high performing kid went to public, Big 5, Bullis - their chances of getting into that Ivy follow the kid...not which school they chose.

[Anonymous]

I also worked in College Admissions. While it was over a decade ago, I think one of the biggest reasons many of these schools have successful entrance rates at top colleges is this -

Many of the things the top schools are looking for when they admit your kid are the same things these elite colleges are looking for. This is especially true when it comes to 9th grade admissions. Chances are, that 9th grader who was impressive is still impressive for many of the same reasons four years later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dated.

What I have heard from recent college admin is that the private school kids are coming in very well-prepared to do college level work. They are seeing so many kids arrive and need remedial help, need tutoring in required courses which should not be so difficult to anyone that took the courses in college--calc, etc. Writing is awful.

They do really seriously take into account high school rigor. Our private, not a big 3 (about half the cost) had an amazing year last year. I do know based on looking at our public school's listed results, my kid likely wouldn't have gotten into several of the schools he did from our big public.

Not trying to troll, but you could use some remedial writing classes. To use your words, "writing is awful." What are you trying to say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cool story, but, with the exception of Bullis, the quality of the college acceptances tend to track with the rankings

Because they track with the income of the parents. Not the school. The top schools tend to have the wealthiest parents, not necessarily the best students. Those students have parents who can pay for any college their kids get into.

[Anonymous]

Public schools are just so tenuous these days, at least FCPS. These 130 year old private schools are a known entity and an advantage for college admissions. They have a proven record of producing top notch students. That definitely counts for something.

[Anonymous]

And having families who have paid for four to fourteen years of tuition. That’s the part that counts.

[Anonymous]

Eventually people from these forums will come to the realization that not all families send their children to private schools because of college admissions. Some families simply don't want to deal with public schools.