Is "Big 3" the entire world? In various posts, there are always some dingbats jumping out saying "in our big 3" ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you can afford it, hands down the best academic preparation for a young man or woman. Additionally, the social connections my children developed attending Big3 schools (at 2 of the 3) have continuously provided a significant life benefit, both professionally and in social circles. Really prepared them for life in ways a public school never could..

Yep. ‘Nother rich cracker doing rich cracker things. Thank goodness!

sorry if the truth hurts! the big3 is a wonderful experience for most kids, and provides clear and tangible lifetime benefits - but so does the grit and perseverance that successful public school kids are required to develop - neither path is “better”, only different

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you can afford it, hands down the best academic preparation for a young man or woman. Additionally, the social connections my children developed attending Big3 schools (at 2 of the 3) have continuously provided a significant life benefit, both professionally and in social circles. Really prepared them for life in ways a public school never could..

The trade-off? An average student at big 3 with a 3.5 gpa goes to T100 colleges. They could have been a straight A+ student in a public school.

grade deflation at big 3 only really impacts kids looking at UCs - but this isn’t a small number - my kiddo says the frosh and sophs at big 3 focus on Duke Vandy and UCs accounts for over half of college talk - these are the “cool” or “it” colleges of the moment

UCs rarely come up at our private, Ivies, other T50 and slacs. Most consider California too far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you can afford it, hands down the best academic preparation for a young man or woman. Additionally, the social connections my children developed attending Big3 schools (at 2 of the 3) have continuously provided a significant life benefit, both professionally and in social circles. Really prepared them for life in ways a public school never could..

The trade-off? An average student at big 3 with a 3.5 gpa goes to T100 colleges. They could have been a straight A+ student in a public school.

grade deflation at big 3 only really impacts kids looking at UCs - but this isn’t a small number - my kiddo says the frosh and sophs at big 3 focus on Duke Vandy and UCs accounts for over half of college talk - these are the “cool” or “it” colleges of the moment

UCs rarely come up at our private, Ivies, other T50 and slacs. Most consider California too far.

there is a big difference between what kids think is an “it” college and what the parents think - parents all want ivies - kids like the Duke/Vandy/UC vibes and top academics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you can afford it, hands down the best academic preparation for a young man or woman. Additionally, the social connections my children developed attending Big3 schools (at 2 of the 3) have continuously provided a significant life benefit, both professionally and in social circles. Really prepared them for life in ways a public school never could..

The trade-off? An average student at big 3 with a 3.5 gpa goes to T100 colleges. They could have been a straight A+ student in a public school.

No, because they need the coddling in every class in order to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you can afford it, hands down the best academic preparation for a young man or woman. Additionally, the social connections my children developed attending Big3 schools (at 2 of the 3) have continuously provided a significant life benefit, both professionally and in social circles. Really prepared them for life in ways a public school never could..

The trade-off? An average student at big 3 with a 3.5 gpa goes to T100 colleges. They could have been a straight A+ student in a public school.

No, because they need the coddling in every class in order to learn.

Define "coddling" for me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you can afford it, hands down the best academic preparation for a young man or woman. Additionally, the social connections my children developed attending Big3 schools (at 2 of the 3) have continuously provided a significant life benefit, both professionally and in social circles. Really prepared them for life in ways a public school never could..

Yep. ‘Nother rich cracker doing rich cracker things. Thank goodness!

sorry if the truth hurts! the big3 is a wonderful experience for most kids, and provides clear and tangible lifetime benefits - but so does the grit and perseverance that successful public school kids are required to develop - neither path is “better”, only different

Let’s not overstate the Big3 benefits…poor kids that go to a Big3 really don’t get much lifetime benefit unless they are able to cross the demographic divide (which most don’t). Even UMC get few lasting benefits.

It’s the same complaint about the poor kids going to Ivy schools and can never fully benefit because they just don’t have the ability to jump the income chasm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you can afford it, hands down the best academic preparation for a young man or woman. Additionally, the social connections my children developed attending Big3 schools (at 2 of the 3) have continuously provided a significant life benefit, both professionally and in social circles. Really prepared them for life in ways a public school never could..

The trade-off? An average student at big 3 with a 3.5 gpa goes to T100 colleges. They could have been a straight A+ student in a public school.

grade deflation at big 3 only really impacts kids looking at UCs - but this isn’t a small number - my kiddo says the frosh and sophs at big 3 focus on Duke Vandy and UCs accounts for over half of college talk - these are the “cool” or “it” colleges of the moment

Umm. No. Two kids at a big 3, both in hs. I just asked them and they said no one is talking about Vanderbilt, Duke, or the UC's. This isn't a focus.

[Anonymous]

Forgive my ignorance but what are the “big 3?”

[Anonymous]

I'm sure College admission counselors see a DMV Big 3 app and think "cha-ching", here's a full pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you can afford it, hands down the best academic preparation for a young man or woman. Additionally, the social connections my children developed attending Big3 schools (at 2 of the 3) have continuously provided a significant life benefit, both professionally and in social circles. Really prepared them for life in ways a public school never could..

The trade-off? An average student at big 3 with a 3.5 gpa goes to T100 colleges. They could have been a straight A+ student in a public school.

grade deflation at big 3 only really impacts kids looking at UCs - but this isn’t a small number - my kiddo says the frosh and sophs at big 3 focus on Duke Vandy and UCs accounts for over half of college talk - these are the “cool” or “it” colleges of the moment

Umm. No. Two kids at a big 3, both in hs. I just asked them and they said no one is talking about Vanderbilt, Duke, or the UC's. This isn't a focus.

Not my kids either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forgive my ignorance but what are the “big 3?”

That’s a question that has never been definitively answered since the beginning of DCUM.

It’s like DCUM needs a legend so at least when someone uses the term it means 3 specific schools to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The way works in your "big 3" does not necessarily apply to every school in the world.

And they seem to dominate this forum. It's an experience for such a few people, yet it always seems to be the focus here. Wish they'd keep it on the private school board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure College admission counselors see a DMV Big 3 app and think "cha-ching", here's a full pay.

Bingo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you can afford it, hands down the best academic preparation for a young man or woman. Additionally, the social connections my children developed attending Big3 schools (at 2 of the 3) have continuously provided a significant life benefit, both professionally and in social circles. Really prepared them for life in ways a public school never could..

Yep. ‘Nother rich cracker doing rich cracker things. Thank goodness!

sorry if the truth hurts! the big3 is a wonderful experience for most kids, and provides clear and tangible lifetime benefits - but so does the grit and perseverance that successful public school kids are required to develop - neither path is “better”, only different

DP You lead off with such an off target slam. "Sorry if the truth hurts?" You're not sorry. What is this "truth?" PP dies not seem hurt. You're just trying too hard to be a snob. Why would anyone listen to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forgive my ignorance but what are the “big 3?”

Pandora’s box here: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/99579.page