private school admissions--what sets kids apart?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't realize private middle school = Harvard admissions

Have you seen some of the acceptance rates? Many of the schools only accept 20-60 new students per class. When you consider hundreds apply, it’s very competitive.

For our DD, who applied during non-entry year, her school only accepted 4-6 students. It felt like a dry-run for college applications.

It definitely help if the parents are VIPs (former cabinet members, elite authors, rich CEOs, etc). And we get plenty of those in DMV. Of course, they want such children as they are also meant to get admitted to HYP. When there are 5 spots, i bet most go to these and the rest have to be shared by some sort of diversity/strategy token, unless, of course the 6th grader is a virtuoso violinist or solved a math proof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you being honest with yourself?

Are your kids participating, and theirs are excelling? Are your kids on the team, but theirs are player of the game/all tournament types? Are all of the kids in the all state band/orchestra, but their kids are the concert master or section leader?

Take your mommy goggles off and be realistic.

It is nearly impossible to see these differences in kids in 4th/5th grade applications. Everybody is RSM, everybody is 2-3 level in Levine, everyone is in DC/PPA soccer, some are slightly more outgoing than other. The only significant difference is the parents.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, you should not underestimate ability to pay full freight. That goes a long way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, you should not underestimate ability to pay full freight. That goes a long way.

Of course, these schools need lots of money to operate and around 70% of the kids are full pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private school AD's use a software program that allows them to see your professional background, University & Grad schools attended and , importantly same for your parents, boards you serve on and same for your parents, assets, and donor profile.

That should make you barf, but this is Washington.

You might be right that your kid and theirs' are same/same in terms of ability and talents, but that is the myth about these schools and it is a cruel one. Yes, they are looking for bright and talented kids, but they are also always looking towards their endowment, their prestige and how much influence their alumni network can exert.

Best rec in DC for a private: is from one of the main partners in the old, long time DC law firms especially if said law partner is a founding member and say the GP of the kid applicant. In the last 10-15 years Cyber, Defense and Tech Company Counsel is also throwing its weight around town and these schools want these parents in their schools and on their boards.

I am sorry I dug this out. If this is true, it is truly unethical and depressing. oh well.

[Anonymous]

NP but this is the case everywhere. I own a business and without any sophistication, the development people at schools to which my kid applied were all over my LinkedIn. They didn't even fork over the $20/month to be able to do it anonymously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP but this is the case everywhere. I own a business and without any sophistication, the development people at schools to which my kid applied were all over my LinkedIn. They didn't even fork over the $20/month to be able to do it anonymously.

All over your LinkedIn. Why is this a reliable measure of VIP status?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP but this is the case everywhere. I own a business and without any sophistication, the development people at schools to which my kid applied were all over my LinkedIn. They didn't even fork over the $20/month to be able to do it anonymously.

All over your LinkedIn. Why is this a reliable measure of VIP status?

They can see my company and easily see the revenue and connect the dots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you being honest with yourself?

Are your kids participating, and theirs are excelling? Are your kids on the team, but theirs are player of the game/all tournament types? Are all of the kids in the all state band/orchestra, but their kids are the concert master or section leader?

Take your mommy goggles off and be realistic.

Yes so what should one do? Go to deal and hope for the best?



It is nearly impossible to see these differences in kids in 4th/5th grade applications. Everybody is RSM, everybody is 2-3 level in Levine, everyone is in DC/PPA soccer, some are slightly more outgoing than other. The only significant difference is the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school AD's use a software program that allows them to see your professional background, University & Grad schools attended and , importantly same for your parents, boards you serve on and same for your parents, assets, and donor profile.

That should make you barf, but this is Washington.

You might be right that your kid and theirs' are same/same in terms of ability and talents, but that is the myth about these schools and it is a cruel one. Yes, they are looking for bright and talented kids, but they are also always looking towards their endowment, their prestige and how much influence their alumni network can exert.

Best rec in DC for a private: is from one of the main partners in the old, long time DC law firms especially if said law partner is a founding member and say the GP of the kid applicant. In the last 10-15 years Cyber, Defense and Tech Company Counsel is also throwing its weight around town and these schools want these parents in their schools and on their boards.

I am sorry I dug this out. If this is true, it is truly unethical and depressing. oh well.

They don’t need a “software” you willing give this information when you apply. Hilarious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP but this is the case everywhere. I own a business and without any sophistication, the development people at schools to which my kid applied were all over my LinkedIn. They didn't even fork over the $20/month to be able to do it anonymously.

All over your LinkedIn. Why is this a reliable measure of VIP status?

Seeing if you have a real job vs being someone on https://www.reddit.com/r/LinkedInLunatics/