Are magnets worth it for college admission?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If your kid loves academic competitions, blair magnet provides many opportunities and peers.
However, no or very little improvement on their college admissions if the students can get same states and EC achievement.

Hard to reconcile this with the actual data that shows Blair has significantly better college admissions than other MCPS schools.

Where can this data be found?

Look at the link posted earlier in this thread for RMIB, or google the college edition of Bethesda Beat.

Here is the list from Bethesda magazine - I just was looking at it and it starts on page 68. It's hard to glean exactly hat is happening though because they don't separate the magnets from the rest of the school. And Blair is the biggest high school in MD so many of the applied and or accepted could be non-magnet kids. I wish they had a nice lost like the RMIB program does.

https://issuu.com/bethesdamagazine/docs/1sept-oct_22_digital_edition

Also Blair and RMIB are very diverse schools, and home school kids can take magnet classes. So a highperforming URM who appeals to top schools might not necessarily be in the magnet programs, which are ~90% Asian.

I dont know about RMIB, Blair Smac is about 50-60% Asian. Never 90%. I had two kids went through the magnet.

At the admitted students night this year for incoming 9th grade, the attendees were more than 80 percent Asian. Perhaps it will shake out differently with acceptances but it seems likely to be higher than 50-60%.

Maybe more Asian families showed up that night. That's not something Asian families would miss.

It’s not something any families would miss if they are intending to attend or seriously considering it. Why would you think Asian families care more???

There is definitely some selection bias in who goes to the admitted student nights. My kids went to two magnets, and I did go to the admitted student nights, but I knew plenty of parents that sent their kids there that did not attend the admitted student night, because they or their kids had already made up their mind, or because they were busy or whatever. I can't speak to whether Asian parents would be more likely to go, but I disagree with your premise that anyone seriously considering it would go.

At the admitted student night for Blair there were folders for each admitted child. Only a handful remained at the end of the evening. The suggestion that only Asian parents care enough to go to the admitted students night is insulting and racist.

Good lord. Good for you. Want a cookie?

You’re a piece of work aren’t you

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Don’t do magnet for college admission purposes. Some kids need more. If your kid is one of those then yes. If not, go to home school.

Totally agree! Mine needed the more that the Magnet gave; deeper classes/instruction, similar peers, etc… but IT DOES not help that much in terms of college acceptances. IT DOES help in being prepared better for college; time management, deeper understanding of info, work ethic, etc…

The college acceptances for RMIB as well as Blair SMCS are well documented and significantly above regular MCPS high schools. This fact contradicts your statement that it doesn't help.

You're not measuring the right thing. Of course RMIB acceptances are higher-- 100% of the kids are among the top in all of MCPS. At their home school, the vast majority wouldn't even hit a threshold to be looked at for admissions.

The right question is whether this given kid would have a better chance at their home school or at RMIB. I'm pretty convinced that they'd have a better chance at their home school. But they'll get a better HS education at the magnet, and that's probably more important.

We already know the answer to this by comparing outcomes from the homeschools versus outcomes from the magnets.

You are pulling top kids from their home schools. If they remained at their home school would they have the same acceptances. Probably. Maybe more. Less competition.

[Anonymous]

I think the magnet was helpful to my kid (and hopefully 2nd as well) for both learning and admissions. I have 2 kids with super artsy ECs but an interest in some areas of stem. I liked the idea of the magnets for the deeper learning but also to encourage them to keep stem as an option for major/career. I'll admit that I also thought the prestige was helpful. My #1 stood out and got several T15 admits in RD. I think the issue with some peers is that their portfolio of stuff (school, rigor, grades scores, ECs, honors etc) look too similar. My kid stood out. She is now pursuing math and arts in college. The magnet gave her a math depth that could not have been possible at other schools, and the arts helped differentiate her from other classmates. 2nd kid will mix stem magnet with being a classically trained singer, pro actor and artisan (in unique field). Hoping that will help her stand out. Both have the grades and scores. Also, these are ECs that my kids are genuinely passionate about. I know some magnet friends have been on a prescribed path of JH cty, math enrichment, amc/aime, strings/piano and golf/tennis. Maybe more lattitude in kids' activities would help.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Don’t do magnet for college admission purposes. Some kids need more. If your kid is one of those then yes. If not, go to home school.

Totally agree! Mine needed the more that the Magnet gave; deeper classes/instruction, similar peers, etc… but IT DOES not help that much in terms of college acceptances. IT DOES help in being prepared better for college; time management, deeper understanding of info, work ethic, etc…

The college acceptances for RMIB as well as Blair SMCS are well documented and significantly above regular MCPS high schools. This fact contradicts your statement that it doesn't help.

You're not measuring the right thing. Of course RMIB acceptances are higher-- 100% of the kids are among the top in all of MCPS. At their home school, the vast majority wouldn't even hit a threshold to be looked at for admissions.

The right question is whether this given kid would have a better chance at their home school or at RMIB. I'm pretty convinced that they'd have a better chance at their home school. But they'll get a better HS education at the magnet, and that's probably more important.

We already know the answer to this by comparing outcomes from the homeschools versus outcomes from the magnets.

Of course those are two completely different things. The students in the magnets are the best and brightest from the home schools. Even the kid ranked last in the magnet program would be in top 10 at home school. And top 10 kids at home school surely got into a top university. So all (or nearly all, assuming that the magnet selection process isn't perfect) magnet students should be getting into top universities... assuming they applied.

I wouldn't go this far. Yes, lots of bright and gifted students in the magnets, but I also know lots of equally bright and gifted kids who didn't get in or chose to stay at home school. Lots of bright kids in MCPS!
Both my kids were in all the magnets-- elem through hs.

[Anonymous]

I’m new to this site and just discovered it last week. My child is a freshman at phs smacs program and it’s crazy the amount of work they give these kids, they work all the time and have no breaks. They have yet to have even a field trip this school year, while all the other prgms have had multiple field trips.
The teachers in the prgm are so condescending, downright mean, and lack major communication skillsand don’t actually teach the kids and just lecture them. Two of the freshman teachers have been around for a LONG time, so I guess admin can’t do anything about there incompetence. All the kids have to learn physics and chemistry and everyhting else on their own using YouTube videos or khan Academy. I hope this helps/informs someone in the future realize that this program is NOT at all what it seems be. The program is relying on solely the kids to do well themselves and has nothing to do with the program or the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Yes for UMD STEM. Otherwise, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m new to this site and just discovered it last week. My child is a freshman at phs smacs program and it’s crazy the amount of work they give these kids, they work all the time and have no breaks. They have yet to have even a field trip this school year, while all the other prgms have had multiple field trips.
The teachers in the prgm are so condescending, downright mean, and lack major communication skillsand don’t actually teach the kids and just lecture them. Two of the freshman teachers have been around for a LONG time, so I guess admin can’t do anything about there incompetence. All the kids have to learn physics and chemistry and everyhting else on their own using YouTube videos or khan Academy. I hope this helps/informs someone in the future realize that this program is NOT at all what it seems be. The program is relying on solely the kids to do well themselves and has nothing to do with the program or the teachers.

If this is true, it is unfortunate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m new to this site and just discovered it last week. My child is a freshman at phs smacs program and it’s crazy the amount of work they give these kids, they work all the time and have no breaks. They have yet to have even a field trip this school year, while all the other prgms have had multiple field trips.
The teachers in the prgm are so condescending, downright mean, and lack major communication skillsand don’t actually teach the kids and just lecture them. Two of the freshman teachers have been around for a LONG time, so I guess admin can’t do anything about there incompetence. All the kids have to learn physics and chemistry and everyhting else on their own using YouTube videos or khan Academy. I hope this helps/informs someone in the future realize that this program is NOT at all what it seems be. The program is relying on solely the kids to do well themselves and has nothing to do with the program or the teachers.

I'm sorry that you had this bad experience. This year's 9th grade Fall teachers are fantastic. The physics teacher in particular has been winning awards for excellence for many, many years.

[Anonymous]

In terms of college admissions, it will depend on what the home school option is. Bright kids need a peer group to really get it going. And if that's not available at the local school, magnet is definitely the better option.

But if you are zoned in a high performing district with all the tracked and AP options, I don't see why anyone would chose a magnet. MIT and Stanford aren't taking more than a handful of students at best from any school, even the magnets.

As a parent, I would focus on peer group when deciding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm seeing some students from the various magnets not getting into the very top colleges. I'm wondering if the long bus ride, and work load are worth it now. Would it be better to stay at the home school and just focus on extra curricular activities? So many colleges now going test optional. Obviously you have to have the grades, but great grades from non magnets + great extra curriculars seem to be the way to go.

WDYT?

There are many excellent universities that are appropriate for magnet students. I don't see the point in just striving for the very top. Not going magnet and just taking a couple of levels of calculus and some AP science is fine too. Colleges like to see well rounded people, so those other electives and extra curricular activities mean something.

A high performer challenging themselves in a magnet is fine too. But certainly not the only path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In terms of college admissions, it will depend on what the home school option is. Bright kids need a peer group to really get it going. And if that's not available at the local school, magnet is definitely the better option.

But if you are zoned in a high performing district with all the tracked and AP options, I don't see why anyone would chose a magnet. MIT and Stanford aren't taking more than a handful of students at best from any school, even the magnets.

As a parent, I would focus on peer group when deciding.

MIT accepted at least 8 from Blair and 3 from RMIB this past cycle. 0-1 students at other MCPS schools (mostly 0). I think for students gunning for MIT/CalTech/Harvey Mudd/CMU, the magnets do give a significant admissions advantage. Yale, Harvard, Penn, Duke, and Hopkins seem to favor the magnet programs, too. Stanford, Princeton, and Brown, less so. Not sure about Cornell, seems to vary by year.

It isn't easy to stand out with so many high-stats, competitive peers. I do consistently hear RMIB's focus on analytical writing is excellent preparation for college, but it is a very tough workload that typically doesn't allow the time for competitions etc. that Blair does so well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In terms of college admissions, it will depend on what the home school option is. Bright kids need a peer group to really get it going. And if that's not available at the local school, magnet is definitely the better option.

But if you are zoned in a high performing district with all the tracked and AP options, I don't see why anyone would chose a magnet. MIT and Stanford aren't taking more than a handful of students at best from any school, even the magnets.

As a parent, I would focus on peer group when deciding.

I agree. For us, it's not just the peer group but also how early my kid would have to wake up.

We like our kid's MS magnet and will continue there, but having to wake up at 6am is difficult. I know many middle schoolers have to do this, but I think sleep is essential, and it's almost impossible for us to get to sleep earlier than we do.

I don't want my kid to have to wake up even earlier to commute to a magnet (due to the even earlier HS bell time).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In terms of college admissions, it will depend on what the home school option is. Bright kids need a peer group to really get it going. And if that's not available at the local school, magnet is definitely the better option.

But if you are zoned in a high performing district with all the tracked and AP options, I don't see why anyone would chose a magnet. MIT and Stanford aren't taking more than a handful of students at best from any school, even the magnets.

As a parent, I would focus on peer group when deciding.

MIT accepted at least 8 from Blair and 3 from RMIB this past cycle. 0-1 students at other MCPS schools (mostly 0). I think for students gunning for MIT/CalTech/Harvey Mudd/CMU, the magnets do give a significant admissions advantage. Yale, Harvard, Penn, Duke, and Hopkins seem to favor the magnet programs, too. Stanford, Princeton, and Brown, less so. Not sure about Cornell, seems to vary by year.

It isn't easy to stand out with so many high-stats, competitive peers. I do consistently hear RMIB's focus on analytical writing is excellent preparation for college, but it is a very tough workload that typically doesn't allow the time for competitions etc. that Blair does so well.

I'm not sure you can attribute that to Blair. It's possible those kids would have been accepted at those schools had they stayed at their home schools. Blair's program drew those kids. I'm not seeing evidence that Blair turned what otherwise would have been UMD students into MIT students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm seeing some students from the various magnets not getting into the very top colleges. I'm wondering if the long bus ride, and work load are worth it now. Would it be better to stay at the home school and just focus on extra curricular activities? So many colleges now going test optional. Obviously you have to have the grades, but great grades from non magnets + great extra curriculars seem to be the way to go.

WDYT?

There are many excellent universities that are appropriate for magnet students. I don't see the point in just striving for the very top. Not going magnet and just taking a couple of levels of calculus and some AP science is fine too. Colleges like to see well rounded people, so those other electives and extra curricular activities mean something.

A high performer challenging themselves in a magnet is fine too. But certainly not the only path.

A kid in the top 5-10% at any MCPS HS, magnet or no, is going to have excellent outcomes. If kid is serious about STEM, there is nothing like the Blair curriculum, though there is also nothing like the competition there. If you can get a 4.0 at Blair and get national/international awards, high probability of Ivy admission. If a strong student, but not competitive at that level, probably better off staying at the home school and working on interesting ECs. Same with RMIB which, contrary to the stereotype, has lots of STEM kids too, though more kids applying to humanities or social science majors than Blair of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In terms of college admissions, it will depend on what the home school option is. Bright kids need a peer group to really get it going. And if that's not available at the local school, magnet is definitely the better option.

But if you are zoned in a high performing district with all the tracked and AP options, I don't see why anyone would chose a magnet. MIT and Stanford aren't taking more than a handful of students at best from any school, even the magnets.

As a parent, I would focus on peer group when deciding.

I agree. For us, it's not just the peer group but also how early my kid would have to wake up.

We like our kid's MS magnet and will continue there, but having to wake up at 6am is difficult. I know many middle schoolers have to do this, but I think sleep is essential, and it's almost impossible for us to get to sleep earlier than we do.

I don't want my kid to have to wake up even earlier to commute to a magnet (due to the even earlier HS bell time).

My DC wakes up at 6:50 am if I drive, or 6:35 am if I send them to the nearest bus stop. We are living in one of the Ws, and it's not a painful drive as Blair is adjacent to 495. The three-year driving experience to TPMS was way much more painful so I let my younger one stay with local MS.
For my DC, peer group was the most important reason for them to choose Blair, and the second reason was the strong curriculum.