NCS college admissions if kid is not a legacy, URM, or athletic recruit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with private school and top college admissions is that colleges are going to take the top academic kids from each school. So if you are middle of the pack at private you are behind the top public school kids in the pecking order. And by the time admissions goes through the top public school kids all of the seats are allocated. So the bottom 70% of private school kids are at a disadvantage. I think that is the issue in a nutshell.

I have a kid in a Big 3, so I say this against interest, but the top kids at the top public high schools in this area (and there are at least a dozen), including the magnets like Blair/Poolesville SMCS/CAP, TJ, RMIB, etc., are going to be more than competitive against the "middle of the pack at private." Why people think it should be otherwise is beyond me. Those top public school kids as a group (and it's a large group) are going to be competitive against the top kids at the top privates, including the one our kid attends. And plenty of them have as many hooks.

I wish it were otherwise, but every year I interview for my HYP alma mater, and I am blown away by the qualifications of the kids who do not get in.

But but but what are we paying all this money for at NCS?

Again, this post is not about middle-of-the-pack private v top public but rather about the top private kids getting shut out. If DD has no Bs then she must be top 5 kids at NCS, presumably. If those kids are getting shut out of top 50 schools - despite being truly top of class - that is a problem for my kid.

Also, this is not meant to be a slight to athletes but rather ask a question about non-recruited athletes. It is also not meant to debate the importance of diversity or denigrate lower ranked schools (where you can definitely get a fine education).

I also take exception with the idea that this pressure is coming from me. If anything, I am trying to temper my child’s expectations with data that shows the admitted kids have a hook she doesn’t. Because she looks at the list and sees schools she wants to attend and has an idea that her grades are higher than many so she thinks maybe there is a chance. Also, while college office is saying the landscape is difficult, they are also saying go ahead and apply. But if you are telling me there isn’t a chance because we have no hook, we will try to get her to make a new plan.

Trying to gather data.

You paid $200k for your above average, but not great, student to go to Wisconsin isn't exactly a great sales pitch. Of course the school will encourage kids to apply, and those kids may just get lucky.

Again, we are not talking about “above average but not great” kids. All As with only a few A minuses at NCS is exceptional. Likely top 5 students in the class. Also Wisconsin is a top 50 school, so poster implied that is not an option either. This is a post about truly top kids getting shut out.

Way more than 5 students have all A/A-. DD graduated several yrs ago with 3.7+ GPA and wasn’t even in cum laude.

Interesting. Thought there was no grade inflation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The other adjustment needed is the idea that there is something special or essential about the rankings in USNWR.

Until people accept that hundreds of colleges have stellar students getting a stellar eduction from stellar professors and going on to have stellar careers, this anxiety producing nonsense about only 10-20 colleges being acceptable for strong students will not end.

If your top student is attending a school ranked 60, that school has a fantastic student who will go on to do great things -- likely better things than a hundred kids from Harvard. The workforce makes this obvious; look around you. On top of that, that top-ranked kid from your school might not even be the top student at that 60th ranked college. Yours isn't the only super bright kid attending those schools ranked in the 40-120 range. Do you really think there aren't any geniuses at 117-ranked RIT? There are.

T20 is probably a target that should go away, but there are not hundreds of stellar colleges. To take your "hundreds" literally, Ball State is 202 and Bellarmin University is 203 according to US news (there is a multiway tie for 196). Do you think any NCS student or parent sending their kid to NCS would think those are stellar schools?

You are forgetting the excellent options at small liberal arts and regional colleges, plus colleges abroad. I stand by hundreds of options.

It's not hundreds. It's actually about a hundred and that's being generious. Top 50 Universities, top 50 LACs. That's about it. I crack up when come on here talking about the thousands of colleges. If you come from a private in the DC area, that's just not true. It's hundreds of students competing for a small handful of the same schools. I will be disappointed if my kid winds up at College of Charleston or Elon, which unfortunately is what her counselor is going to recommend as matches (safe matches, but not even safeties). After attending a competitive school with bright, hardworking girls, can you imagine surrounding yourself with those who attend College of Charleston or Elon? It's a whole different world and would be a disappointment. There's no way that many of those girls are extremely disappointed.

Yes. The NCS college counselor recommend College of Charleston and Elon for my DD. 3.2 GPA and 34 ACT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The other adjustment needed is the idea that there is something special or essential about the rankings in USNWR.

Until people accept that hundreds of colleges have stellar students getting a stellar eduction from stellar professors and going on to have stellar careers, this anxiety producing nonsense about only 10-20 colleges being acceptable for strong students will not end.

If your top student is attending a school ranked 60, that school has a fantastic student who will go on to do great things -- likely better things than a hundred kids from Harvard. The workforce makes this obvious; look around you. On top of that, that top-ranked kid from your school might not even be the top student at that 60th ranked college. Yours isn't the only super bright kid attending those schools ranked in the 40-120 range. Do you really think there aren't any geniuses at 117-ranked RIT? There are.

T20 is probably a target that should go away, but there are not hundreds of stellar colleges. To take your "hundreds" literally, Ball State is 202 and Bellarmin University is 203 according to US news (there is a multiway tie for 196). Do you think any NCS student or parent sending their kid to NCS would think those are stellar schools?

You are forgetting the excellent options at small liberal arts and regional colleges, plus colleges abroad. I stand by hundreds of options.

It's not hundreds. It's actually about a hundred and that's being generious. Top 50 Universities, top 50 LACs. That's about it. I crack up when come on here talking about the thousands of colleges. If you come from a private in the DC area, that's just not true. It's hundreds of students competing for a small handful of the same schools. I will be disappointed if my kid winds up at College of Charleston or Elon, which unfortunately is what her counselor is going to recommend as matches (safe matches, but not even safeties). After attending a competitive school with bright, hardworking girls, can you imagine surrounding yourself with those who attend College of Charleston or Elon? It's a whole different world and would be a disappointment. There's no way that many of those girls are extremely disappointed.

Yes. The NCS college counselor recommend College of Charleston and Elon for my DD. 3.2 GPA and 34 ACT.

Would your daughter consider a university in England or elsewhere? Obviously not Oxford, but somewhere exciting and stimulating in another country? That might be a good option. (I don't say this to be nasty, but are there many girls with this sort of overall GPA, getting almost all B's?) When did your daughter start at NCS? Just Upper School or has she been there the whole time? I am really asking this in a positive spirit and don't mean any offense at all. Very curious as my DD will be starting this fall for 9th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with private school and top college admissions is that colleges are going to take the top academic kids from each school. So if you are middle of the pack at private you are behind the top public school kids in the pecking order. And by the time admissions goes through the top public school kids all of the seats are allocated. So the bottom 70% of private school kids are at a disadvantage. I think that is the issue in a nutshell.

I have a kid in a Big 3, so I say this against interest, but the top kids at the top public high schools in this area (and there are at least a dozen), including the magnets like Blair/Poolesville SMCS/CAP, TJ, RMIB, etc., are going to be more than competitive against the "middle of the pack at private." Why people think it should be otherwise is beyond me. Those top public school kids as a group (and it's a large group) are going to be competitive against the top kids at the top privates, including the one our kid attends. And plenty of them have as many hooks.

I wish it were otherwise, but every year I interview for my HYP alma mater, and I am blown away by the qualifications of the kids who do not get in.

But but but what are we paying all this money for at NCS?

Again, this post is not about middle-of-the-pack private v top public but rather about the top private kids getting shut out. If DD has no Bs then she must be top 5 kids at NCS, presumably. If those kids are getting shut out of top 50 schools - despite being truly top of class - that is a problem for my kid.

Also, this is not meant to be a slight to athletes but rather ask a question about non-recruited athletes. It is also not meant to debate the importance of diversity or denigrate lower ranked schools (where you can definitely get a fine education).

I also take exception with the idea that this pressure is coming from me. If anything, I am trying to temper my child’s expectations with data that shows the admitted kids have a hook she doesn’t. Because she looks at the list and sees schools she wants to attend and has an idea that her grades are higher than many so she thinks maybe there is a chance. Also, while college office is saying the landscape is difficult, they are also saying go ahead and apply. But if you are telling me there isn’t a chance because we have no hook, we will try to get her to make a new plan.

Trying to gather data.

You paid $200k for your above average, but not great, student to go to Wisconsin isn't exactly a great sales pitch. Of course the school will encourage kids to apply, and those kids may just get lucky.

Again, we are not talking about “above average but not great” kids. All As with only a few A minuses at NCS is exceptional. Likely top 5 students in the class. Also Wisconsin is a top 50 school, so poster implied that is not an option either. This is a post about truly top kids getting shut out.

Way more than 5 students have all A/A-. DD graduated several yrs ago with 3.7+ GPA and wasn’t even in cum laude.

3.7 would be as many Bs as As with a few A minuses thrown in.
All As and A minuses is more like a 3.85-3.9 which is far rarer at NCS than a 3.7.
I'd say there are probably 5-8 kids at that (A/A-) level in each class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The other adjustment needed is the idea that there is something special or essential about the rankings in USNWR.

Until people accept that hundreds of colleges have stellar students getting a stellar eduction from stellar professors and going on to have stellar careers, this anxiety producing nonsense about only 10-20 colleges being acceptable for strong students will not end.

If your top student is attending a school ranked 60, that school has a fantastic student who will go on to do great things -- likely better things than a hundred kids from Harvard. The workforce makes this obvious; look around you. On top of that, that top-ranked kid from your school might not even be the top student at that 60th ranked college. Yours isn't the only super bright kid attending those schools ranked in the 40-120 range. Do you really think there aren't any geniuses at 117-ranked RIT? There are.

T20 is probably a target that should go away, but there are not hundreds of stellar colleges. To take your "hundreds" literally, Ball State is 202 and Bellarmin University is 203 according to US news (there is a multiway tie for 196). Do you think any NCS student or parent sending their kid to NCS would think those are stellar schools?

You are forgetting the excellent options at small liberal arts and regional colleges, plus colleges abroad. I stand by hundreds of options.

It's not hundreds. It's actually about a hundred and that's being generious. Top 50 Universities, top 50 LACs. That's about it. I crack up when come on here talking about the thousands of colleges. If you come from a private in the DC area, that's just not true. It's hundreds of students competing for a small handful of the same schools. I will be disappointed if my kid winds up at College of Charleston or Elon, which unfortunately is what her counselor is going to recommend as matches (safe matches, but not even safeties). After attending a competitive school with bright, hardworking girls, can you imagine surrounding yourself with those who attend College of Charleston or Elon? It's a whole different world and would be a disappointment. There's no way that many of those girls are extremely disappointed.

Yes. The NCS college counselor recommend College of Charleston and Elon for my DD. 3.2 GPA and 34 ACT.

Junior? Or already through the process? If the latter, where did she wind up? That is a bit disturbing to hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The other adjustment needed is the idea that there is something special or essential about the rankings in USNWR.

Until people accept that hundreds of colleges have stellar students getting a stellar eduction from stellar professors and going on to have stellar careers, this anxiety producing nonsense about only 10-20 colleges being acceptable for strong students will not end.

If your top student is attending a school ranked 60, that school has a fantastic student who will go on to do great things -- likely better things than a hundred kids from Harvard. The workforce makes this obvious; look around you. On top of that, that top-ranked kid from your school might not even be the top student at that 60th ranked college. Yours isn't the only super bright kid attending those schools ranked in the 40-120 range. Do you really think there aren't any geniuses at 117-ranked RIT? There are.

T20 is probably a target that should go away, but there are not hundreds of stellar colleges. To take your "hundreds" literally, Ball State is 202 and Bellarmin University is 203 according to US news (there is a multiway tie for 196). Do you think any NCS student or parent sending their kid to NCS would think those are stellar schools?

You are forgetting the excellent options at small liberal arts and regional colleges, plus colleges abroad. I stand by hundreds of options.

It's not hundreds. It's actually about a hundred and that's being generious. Top 50 Universities, top 50 LACs. That's about it. I crack up when come on here talking about the thousands of colleges. If you come from a private in the DC area, that's just not true. It's hundreds of students competing for a small handful of the same schools. I will be disappointed if my kid winds up at College of Charleston or Elon, which unfortunately is what her counselor is going to recommend as matches (safe matches, but not even safeties). After attending a competitive school with bright, hardworking girls, can you imagine surrounding yourself with those who attend College of Charleston or Elon? It's a whole different world and would be a disappointment. There's no way that many of those girls are extremely disappointed.

Yes. The NCS college counselor recommend College of Charleston and Elon for my DD. 3.2 GPA and 34 ACT.

Would your daughter consider a university in England or elsewhere? Obviously not Oxford, but somewhere exciting and stimulating in another country? That might be a good option. (I don't say this to be nasty, but are there many girls with this sort of overall GPA, getting almost all B's?) When did your daughter start at NCS? Just Upper School or has she been there the whole time? I am really asking this in a positive spirit and don't mean any offense at all. Very curious as my DD will be starting this fall for 9th.

Started in 9th. Many friends have a similar GPA and test scores, according to DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with private school and top college admissions is that colleges are going to take the top academic kids from each school. So if you are middle of the pack at private you are behind the top public school kids in the pecking order. And by the time admissions goes through the top public school kids all of the seats are allocated. So the bottom 70% of private school kids are at a disadvantage. I think that is the issue in a nutshell.

I have a kid in a Big 3, so I say this against interest, but the top kids at the top public high schools in this area (and there are at least a dozen), including the magnets like Blair/Poolesville SMCS/CAP, TJ, RMIB, etc., are going to be more than competitive against the "middle of the pack at private." Why people think it should be otherwise is beyond me. Those top public school kids as a group (and it's a large group) are going to be competitive against the top kids at the top privates, including the one our kid attends. And plenty of them have as many hooks.

I wish it were otherwise, but every year I interview for my HYP alma mater, and I am blown away by the qualifications of the kids who do not get in.

But but but what are we paying all this money for at NCS?

Again, this post is not about middle-of-the-pack private v top public but rather about the top private kids getting shut out. If DD has no Bs then she must be top 5 kids at NCS, presumably. If those kids are getting shut out of top 50 schools - despite being truly top of class - that is a problem for my kid.

Also, this is not meant to be a slight to athletes but rather ask a question about non-recruited athletes. It is also not meant to debate the importance of diversity or denigrate lower ranked schools (where you can definitely get a fine education).

I also take exception with the idea that this pressure is coming from me. If anything, I am trying to temper my child’s expectations with data that shows the admitted kids have a hook she doesn’t. Because she looks at the list and sees schools she wants to attend and has an idea that her grades are higher than many so she thinks maybe there is a chance. Also, while college office is saying the landscape is difficult, they are also saying go ahead and apply. But if you are telling me there isn’t a chance because we have no hook, we will try to get her to make a new plan.

Trying to gather data.

You paid $200k for your above average, but not great, student to go to Wisconsin isn't exactly a great sales pitch. Of course the school will encourage kids to apply, and those kids may just get lucky.

Again, we are not talking about “above average but not great” kids. All As with only a few A minuses at NCS is exceptional. Likely top 5 students in the class. Also Wisconsin is a top 50 school, so poster implied that is not an option either. This is a post about truly top kids getting shut out.

Way more than 5 students have all A/A-. DD graduated several yrs ago with 3.7+ GPA and wasn’t even in cum laude.

3.7 would be as many Bs as As with a few A minuses thrown in.
All As and A minuses is more like a 3.85-3.9 which is far rarer at NCS than a 3.7.
I'd say there are probably 5-8 kids at that (A/A-) level in each class.

Is this how it is at other local private schools as well, like Potomac School?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with private school and top college admissions is that colleges are going to take the top academic kids from each school. So if you are middle of the pack at private you are behind the top public school kids in the pecking order. And by the time admissions goes through the top public school kids all of the seats are allocated. So the bottom 70% of private school kids are at a disadvantage. I think that is the issue in a nutshell.

I have a kid in a Big 3, so I say this against interest, but the top kids at the top public high schools in this area (and there are at least a dozen), including the magnets like Blair/Poolesville SMCS/CAP, TJ, RMIB, etc., are going to be more than competitive against the "middle of the pack at private." Why people think it should be otherwise is beyond me. Those top public school kids as a group (and it's a large group) are going to be competitive against the top kids at the top privates, including the one our kid attends. And plenty of them have as many hooks.

I wish it were otherwise, but every year I interview for my HYP alma mater, and I am blown away by the qualifications of the kids who do not get in.

But but but what are we paying all this money for at NCS?

Again, this post is not about middle-of-the-pack private v top public but rather about the top private kids getting shut out. If DD has no Bs then she must be top 5 kids at NCS, presumably. If those kids are getting shut out of top 50 schools - despite being truly top of class - that is a problem for my kid.

Also, this is not meant to be a slight to athletes but rather ask a question about non-recruited athletes. It is also not meant to debate the importance of diversity or denigrate lower ranked schools (where you can definitely get a fine education).

I also take exception with the idea that this pressure is coming from me. If anything, I am trying to temper my child’s expectations with data that shows the admitted kids have a hook she doesn’t. Because she looks at the list and sees schools she wants to attend and has an idea that her grades are higher than many so she thinks maybe there is a chance. Also, while college office is saying the landscape is difficult, they are also saying go ahead and apply. But if you are telling me there isn’t a chance because we have no hook, we will try to get her to make a new plan.

Trying to gather data.

You paid $200k for your above average, but not great, student to go to Wisconsin isn't exactly a great sales pitch. Of course the school will encourage kids to apply, and those kids may just get lucky.

Again, we are not talking about “above average but not great” kids. All As with only a few A minuses at NCS is exceptional. Likely top 5 students in the class. Also Wisconsin is a top 50 school, so poster implied that is not an option either. This is a post about truly top kids getting shut out.

Way more than 5 students have all A/A-. DD graduated several yrs ago with 3.7+ GPA and wasn’t even in cum laude.

3.7 would be as many Bs as As with a few A minuses thrown in.
All As and A minuses is more like a 3.85-3.9 which is far rarer at NCS than a 3.7.
I'd say there are probably 5-8 kids at that (A/A-) level in each class.

Is this how it is at other local private schools as well, like Potomac School?

More than 58, but not more than 12-15, out of 120 or so. Plenty of 3.7s, probably close to 0 4.0s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with private school and top college admissions is that colleges are going to take the top academic kids from each school. So if you are middle of the pack at private you are behind the top public school kids in the pecking order. And by the time admissions goes through the top public school kids all of the seats are allocated. So the bottom 70% of private school kids are at a disadvantage. I think that is the issue in a nutshell.

I have a kid in a Big 3, so I say this against interest, but the top kids at the top public high schools in this area (and there are at least a dozen), including the magnets like Blair/Poolesville SMCS/CAP, TJ, RMIB, etc., are going to be more than competitive against the "middle of the pack at private." Why people think it should be otherwise is beyond me. Those top public school kids as a group (and it's a large group) are going to be competitive against the top kids at the top privates, including the one our kid attends. And plenty of them have as many hooks.

I wish it were otherwise, but every year I interview for my HYP alma mater, and I am blown away by the qualifications of the kids who do not get in.

But but but what are we paying all this money for at NCS?

Again, this post is not about middle-of-the-pack private v top public but rather about the top private kids getting shut out. If DD has no Bs then she must be top 5 kids at NCS, presumably. If those kids are getting shut out of top 50 schools - despite being truly top of class - that is a problem for my kid.

Also, this is not meant to be a slight to athletes but rather ask a question about non-recruited athletes. It is also not meant to debate the importance of diversity or denigrate lower ranked schools (where you can definitely get a fine education).

I also take exception with the idea that this pressure is coming from me. If anything, I am trying to temper my child’s expectations with data that shows the admitted kids have a hook she doesn’t. Because she looks at the list and sees schools she wants to attend and has an idea that her grades are higher than many so she thinks maybe there is a chance. Also, while college office is saying the landscape is difficult, they are also saying go ahead and apply. But if you are telling me there isn’t a chance because we have no hook, we will try to get her to make a new plan.

Trying to gather data.

You paid $200k for your above average, but not great, student to go to Wisconsin isn't exactly a great sales pitch. Of course the school will encourage kids to apply, and those kids may just get lucky.

Again, we are not talking about “above average but not great” kids. All As with only a few A minuses at NCS is exceptional. Likely top 5 students in the class. Also Wisconsin is a top 50 school, so poster implied that is not an option either. This is a post about truly top kids getting shut out.

Way more than 5 students have all A/A-. DD graduated several yrs ago with 3.7+ GPA and wasn’t even in cum laude.

3.7 would be as many Bs as As with a few A minuses thrown in.
All As and A minuses is more like a 3.85-3.9 which is far rarer at NCS than a 3.7.
I'd say there are probably 5-8 kids at that (A/A-) level in each class.

Is this how it is at other local private schools as well, like Potomac School?

More than 58, but not more than 12-15, out of 120 or so. Plenty of 3.7s, probably close to 0 4.0s.

5-8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with private school and top college admissions is that colleges are going to take the top academic kids from each school. So if you are middle of the pack at private you are behind the top public school kids in the pecking order. And by the time admissions goes through the top public school kids all of the seats are allocated. So the bottom 70% of private school kids are at a disadvantage. I think that is the issue in a nutshell.

I have a kid in a Big 3, so I say this against interest, but the top kids at the top public high schools in this area (and there are at least a dozen), including the magnets like Blair/Poolesville SMCS/CAP, TJ, RMIB, etc., are going to be more than competitive against the "middle of the pack at private." Why people think it should be otherwise is beyond me. Those top public school kids as a group (and it's a large group) are going to be competitive against the top kids at the top privates, including the one our kid attends. And plenty of them have as many hooks.

I wish it were otherwise, but every year I interview for my HYP alma mater, and I am blown away by the qualifications of the kids who do not get in.

But but but what are we paying all this money for at NCS?

Again, this post is not about middle-of-the-pack private v top public but rather about the top private kids getting shut out. If DD has no Bs then she must be top 5 kids at NCS, presumably. If those kids are getting shut out of top 50 schools - despite being truly top of class - that is a problem for my kid.

Also, this is not meant to be a slight to athletes but rather ask a question about non-recruited athletes. It is also not meant to debate the importance of diversity or denigrate lower ranked schools (where you can definitely get a fine education).

I also take exception with the idea that this pressure is coming from me. If anything, I am trying to temper my child’s expectations with data that shows the admitted kids have a hook she doesn’t. Because she looks at the list and sees schools she wants to attend and has an idea that her grades are higher than many so she thinks maybe there is a chance. Also, while college office is saying the landscape is difficult, they are also saying go ahead and apply. But if you are telling me there isn’t a chance because we have no hook, we will try to get her to make a new plan.

Trying to gather data.

This poster is not an NCS parent. She is someone with a major axe to grind and she is stalking the Instagram list and on a mission to bash NCS. Gather data my ass. You are just stirring the pot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with private school and top college admissions is that colleges are going to take the top academic kids from each school. So if you are middle of the pack at private you are behind the top public school kids in the pecking order. And by the time admissions goes through the top public school kids all of the seats are allocated. So the bottom 70% of private school kids are at a disadvantage. I think that is the issue in a nutshell.

I have a kid in a Big 3, so I say this against interest, but the top kids at the top public high schools in this area (and there are at least a dozen), including the magnets like Blair/Poolesville SMCS/CAP, TJ, RMIB, etc., are going to be more than competitive against the "middle of the pack at private." Why people think it should be otherwise is beyond me. Those top public school kids as a group (and it's a large group) are going to be competitive against the top kids at the top privates, including the one our kid attends. And plenty of them have as many hooks.

I wish it were otherwise, but every year I interview for my HYP alma mater, and I am blown away by the qualifications of the kids who do not get in.

But but but what are we paying all this money for at NCS?

Again, this post is not about middle-of-the-pack private v top public but rather about the top private kids getting shut out. If DD has no Bs then she must be top 5 kids at NCS, presumably. If those kids are getting shut out of top 50 schools - despite being truly top of class - that is a problem for my kid.

Also, this is not meant to be a slight to athletes but rather ask a question about non-recruited athletes. It is also not meant to debate the importance of diversity or denigrate lower ranked schools (where you can definitely get a fine education).

I also take exception with the idea that this pressure is coming from me. If anything, I am trying to temper my child’s expectations with data that shows the admitted kids have a hook she doesn’t. Because she looks at the list and sees schools she wants to attend and has an idea that her grades are higher than many so she thinks maybe there is a chance. Also, while college office is saying the landscape is difficult, they are also saying go ahead and apply. But if you are telling me there isn’t a chance because we have no hook, we will try to get her to make a new plan.

Trying to gather data.

There is a chance. It is just extremely small without a hook. Everyone knows this by now...

FWIW I agree with this poster. If the odds are too low (and make the tuition not worth paying) best to leave the school.

Man DCs will be better served in their T20 pursuit by top local area publics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with private school and top college admissions is that colleges are going to take the top academic kids from each school. So if you are middle of the pack at private you are behind the top public school kids in the pecking order. And by the time admissions goes through the top public school kids all of the seats are allocated. So the bottom 70% of private school kids are at a disadvantage. I think that is the issue in a nutshell.

I have a kid in a Big 3, so I say this against interest, but the top kids at the top public high schools in this area (and there are at least a dozen), including the magnets like Blair/Poolesville SMCS/CAP, TJ, RMIB, etc., are going to be more than competitive against the "middle of the pack at private." Why people think it should be otherwise is beyond me. Those top public school kids as a group (and it's a large group) are going to be competitive against the top kids at the top privates, including the one our kid attends. And plenty of them have as many hooks.

I wish it were otherwise, but every year I interview for my HYP alma mater, and I am blown away by the qualifications of the kids who do not get in.

But but but what are we paying all this money for at NCS?

Again, this post is not about middle-of-the-pack private v top public but rather about the top private kids getting shut out. If DD has no Bs then she must be top 5 kids at NCS, presumably. If those kids are getting shut out of top 50 schools - despite being truly top of class - that is a problem for my kid.

Also, this is not meant to be a slight to athletes but rather ask a question about non-recruited athletes. It is also not meant to debate the importance of diversity or denigrate lower ranked schools (where you can definitely get a fine education).

I also take exception with the idea that this pressure is coming from me. If anything, I am trying to temper my child’s expectations with data that shows the admitted kids have a hook she doesn’t. Because she looks at the list and sees schools she wants to attend and has an idea that her grades are higher than many so she thinks maybe there is a chance. Also, while college office is saying the landscape is difficult, they are also saying go ahead and apply. But if you are telling me there isn’t a chance because we have no hook, we will try to get her to make a new plan.

Trying to gather data.

This poster is not an NCS parent. She is someone with a major axe to grind and she is stalking the Instagram list and on a mission to bash NCS. Gather data my ass. You are just stirring the pot.

Why do you think that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is almost a straight A student in lower high school (a few A minuses). She works really hard for these grades. I've been looking at the college admissions this year and it really seems like you have about 25 girls going ti top colleges and (outside of two girls) ALL are legacy, URM or crew athletes. Then the admissions seem to go off a cliff. thank goodness for u of Chicagj because that seems it be the solo outlier.
I am not looking for an IVY admit (at all) but I'm getting freaked out by the schools that girls outside of the above categories are attending. I won't name names but they're in instagram.

Tell it to my straight. A/a- student.
Did anyone apply their daughter from NCS this year? Where are we looking at?

I just looked at the list and I think the college acceptances were quite impressive. Not sure what you are talking about? Colleges make the decision not NCS. Complain to the colleges. They are the ones shutting out top students. As said the list of colleges tbeee seniors are going to is quite impressive.

[Anonymous]

Of the posts I saw on Instagram only about 5 schools listed looked "less impressive" and those students may have a good reason for going there, and will likely do very well once there. I find it hard to believe that ALL the others are legacy, recruits, etc at the particular school they will be attending. The thing a lot of people are missing is that even if you go to a school that is rated as in the top 50-100, if you get very impressive grades while there and rise to the top of your college class you have incredible opportunities for grad school and frankly that's what is career determining: where you go to grad school. I'm sure the education these girls have received at NCS will allow them to do just that if they decide to.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone think this is just a ploy to get someone to withdraw from their contract before May 31st...?
If not, what does the newish HOS have to say about this? Perhaps a change is afoot?