Blair SMAC vs strong private

[Anonymous]

Totally different experiences. What does your child want? Sports vary widely year to year at Blair. Some years they are not so good. For example, basketball was pretty bad this year after being decent last year.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about privates, but DC is a Blair magnet graduate. The cons for Blair magnet is 1. very intense 4 years 2. disadvantaged college acceptance results
The pros: much better preparation for STEM related fields at college

What do you mean by disadvantaged college acceptance results? Being in the Blair magnet puts you at a disadvantage compared to students who aren’t in a magnet? What are you saying??

You compete against other students in your school/program for college admission to top schools. It doesn’t matter how amazing the kids are, colleges are only going to admit 2 or 3 from the same school (yes, MIT admits 6-7 from SMCS). Sometimes it’s hard for a kid to distinguish themselves when everyone is taking same classes, same ECs, same high scores. A kid doesn’t stand out in the cohort of 100 SMCS kids the same way they would in the top 10 at their home school.

I see. So let me get this right. My kid, whose home school is Blair should turn down the magnet place because he’ll have a better chance for college applications if he’s in the general population at Blair not magnet. Did I get that right?

Basically yes. If you are optimizing for college admissions

So Blair non- magnet is looked at differently than Blair magnet by college admissions? That’s what you’re saying? I’m just not buying it.

Magnet parent here. My sense is that the admissions people look at the classes the student took to determine rigor. A non-magnet can take magnet classes if they meet the prerequisites. I would think a non-magnet student and a magnet student with the same electives, same GPA, and same test scores would be on even ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about privates, but DC is a Blair magnet graduate. The cons for Blair magnet is 1. very intense 4 years 2. disadvantaged college acceptance results
The pros: much better preparation for STEM related fields at college

What do you mean by disadvantaged college acceptance results? Being in the Blair magnet puts you at a disadvantage compared to students who aren’t in a magnet? What are you saying??

You compete against other students in your school/program for college admission to top schools. It doesn’t matter how amazing the kids are, colleges are only going to admit 2 or 3 from the same school (yes, MIT admits 6-7 from SMCS). Sometimes it’s hard for a kid to distinguish themselves when everyone is taking same classes, same ECs, same high scores. A kid doesn’t stand out in the cohort of 100 SMCS kids the same way they would in the top 10 at their home school.

I see. So let me get this right. My kid, whose home school is Blair should turn down the magnet place because he’ll have a better chance for college applications if he’s in the general population at Blair not magnet. Did I get that right?

Basically yes. If you are optimizing for college admissions

So Blair non- magnet is looked at differently than Blair magnet by college admissions? That’s what you’re saying? I’m just not buying it.

Magnet parent here. My sense is that the admissions people look at the classes the student took to determine rigor. A non-magnet can take magnet classes if they meet the prerequisites. I would think a non-magnet student and a magnet student with the same electives, same GPA, and same test scores would be on even ground.

No that wasn’t the question. The assertion was that if you go to your homeschool you’ll do better in college admissions than in the Blair magnet. My kid’s home school is Blair. By that reckoning he’d do better in college admissions to turn down the magnet and just go to regular Blair, where he allegedly wouldn’t be compared with the magnet students. None of that makes any sense to me and I also question this assertion that there are quotas for schools or states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about privates, but DC is a Blair magnet graduate. The cons for Blair magnet is 1. very intense 4 years 2. disadvantaged college acceptance results
The pros: much better preparation for STEM related fields at college

What do you mean by disadvantaged college acceptance results? Being in the Blair magnet puts you at a disadvantage compared to students who aren’t in a magnet? What are you saying??

You compete against other students in your school/program for college admission to top schools. It doesn’t matter how amazing the kids are, colleges are only going to admit 2 or 3 from the same school (yes, MIT admits 6-7 from SMCS). Sometimes it’s hard for a kid to distinguish themselves when everyone is taking same classes, same ECs, same high scores. A kid doesn’t stand out in the cohort of 100 SMCS kids the same way they would in the top 10 at their home school.

I see. So let me get this right. My kid, whose home school is Blair should turn down the magnet place because he’ll have a better chance for college applications if he’s in the general population at Blair not magnet. Did I get that right?

Basically yes. If you are optimizing for college admissions

So Blair non- magnet is looked at differently than Blair magnet by college admissions? That’s what you’re saying? I’m just not buying it.

Magnet parent here. My sense is that the admissions people look at the classes the student took to determine rigor. A non-magnet can take magnet classes if they meet the prerequisites. I would think a non-magnet student and a magnet student with the same electives, same GPA, and same test scores would be on even ground.

My DD has a non-mag Blair friend who just got into an Ivy early, so it's not mag/Cap or bust on college admissions. I think the look at the student's classes compared to what is available. FWIW, I don't think there are quotas or separate "pools" between magnet, CAP, non-mag, but what constitutes rigor might be slightly different depending on the program. Sure, non mag students can take mag classes, but it may be hard to get the pre reqs for some or there may not be space available. So, I don't think that would be an expectation for non mag or Cap students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about privates, but DC is a Blair magnet graduate. The cons for Blair magnet is 1. very intense 4 years 2. disadvantaged college acceptance results
The pros: much better preparation for STEM related fields at college

What do you mean by disadvantaged college acceptance results? Being in the Blair magnet puts you at a disadvantage compared to students who aren’t in a magnet? What are you saying??

You compete against other students in your school/program for college admission to top schools. It doesn’t matter how amazing the kids are, colleges are only going to admit 2 or 3 from the same school (yes, MIT admits 6-7 from SMCS). Sometimes it’s hard for a kid to distinguish themselves when everyone is taking same classes, same ECs, same high scores. A kid doesn’t stand out in the cohort of 100 SMCS kids the same way they would in the top 10 at their home school.

I see. So let me get this right. My kid, whose home school is Blair should turn down the magnet place because he’ll have a better chance for college applications if he’s in the general population at Blair not magnet. Did I get that right?

Basically yes. If you are optimizing for college admissions

So Blair non- magnet is looked at differently than Blair magnet by college admissions? That’s what you’re saying? I’m just not buying it.

Magnet parent here. My sense is that the admissions people look at the classes the student took to determine rigor. A non-magnet can take magnet classes if they meet the prerequisites. I would think a non-magnet student and a magnet student with the same electives, same GPA, and same test scores would be on even ground.

No that wasn’t the question. The assertion was that if you go to your homeschool you’ll do better in college admissions than in the Blair magnet. My kid’s home school is Blair. By that reckoning he’d do better in college admissions to turn down the magnet and just go to regular Blair, where he allegedly wouldn’t be compared with the magnet students. None of that makes any sense to me and I also question this assertion that there are quotas for schools or states.

There is a desire without a guestion to increase diversity across geographical regions, states, schools, etc. So coming to Blair magnet from another school may indeed affect the decisions. But in your situation where your home school is already Blair, I don't know. If your child is interested, I would encourage him/her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about privates, but DC is a Blair magnet graduate. The cons for Blair magnet is 1. very intense 4 years 2. disadvantaged college acceptance results
The pros: much better preparation for STEM related fields at college

What do you mean by disadvantaged college acceptance results? Being in the Blair magnet puts you at a disadvantage compared to students who aren’t in a magnet? What are you saying??

You compete against other students in your school/program for college admission to top schools. It doesn’t matter how amazing the kids are, colleges are only going to admit 2 or 3 from the same school (yes, MIT admits 6-7 from SMCS). Sometimes it’s hard for a kid to distinguish themselves when everyone is taking same classes, same ECs, same high scores. A kid doesn’t stand out in the cohort of 100 SMCS kids the same way they would in the top 10 at their home school.

I see. So let me get this right. My kid, whose home school is Blair should turn down the magnet place because he’ll have a better chance for college applications if he’s in the general population at Blair not magnet. Did I get that right?

Basically yes. If you are optimizing for college admissions

So Blair non- magnet is looked at differently than Blair magnet by college admissions? That’s what you’re saying? I’m just not buying it.

Magnet parent here. My sense is that the admissions people look at the classes the student took to determine rigor. A non-magnet can take magnet classes if they meet the prerequisites. I would think a non-magnet student and a magnet student with the same electives, same GPA, and same test scores would be on even ground.

No that wasn’t the question. The assertion was that if you go to your homeschool you’ll do better in college admissions than in the Blair magnet. My kid’s home school is Blair. By that reckoning he’d do better in college admissions to turn down the magnet and just go to regular Blair, where he allegedly wouldn’t be compared with the magnet students. None of that makes any sense to me and I also question this assertion that there are quotas for schools or states.

It makes sense from the perspective of a parent hoping to discourage others from accepting in order to create waitlist movement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about privates, but DC is a Blair magnet graduate. The cons for Blair magnet is 1. very intense 4 years 2. disadvantaged college acceptance results
The pros: much better preparation for STEM related fields at college

What do you mean by disadvantaged college acceptance results? Being in the Blair magnet puts you at a disadvantage compared to students who aren’t in a magnet? What are you saying??

You compete against other students in your school/program for college admission to top schools. It doesn’t matter how amazing the kids are, colleges are only going to admit 2 or 3 from the same school (yes, MIT admits 6-7 from SMCS). Sometimes it’s hard for a kid to distinguish themselves when everyone is taking same classes, same ECs, same high scores. A kid doesn’t stand out in the cohort of 100 SMCS kids the same way they would in the top 10 at their home school.

I see. So let me get this right. My kid, whose home school is Blair should turn down the magnet place because he’ll have a better chance for college applications if he’s in the general population at Blair not magnet. Did I get that right?

Basically yes. If you are optimizing for college admissions

So Blair non- magnet is looked at differently than Blair magnet by college admissions? That’s what you’re saying? I’m just not buying it.

Magnet parent here. My sense is that the admissions people look at the classes the student took to determine rigor. A non-magnet can take magnet classes if they meet the prerequisites. I would think a non-magnet student and a magnet student with the same electives, same GPA, and same test scores would be on even ground.

My DD has a non-mag Blair friend who just got into an Ivy early, so it's not mag/Cap or bust on college admissions. I think the look at the student's classes compared to what is available. FWIW, I don't think there are quotas or separate "pools" between magnet, CAP, non-mag, but what constitutes rigor might be slightly different depending on the program. Sure, non mag students can take mag classes, but it may be hard to get the pre reqs for some or there may not be space available. So, I don't think that would be an expectation for non mag or Cap students.

The MCPS course catalog treats magnet classes as comparable to APs. It seems likely most colleges use their own algorithm to compute GPA by assigning point values to courses using the data from the county's own catalog. For example, an honors class may get 4.5 whereas an AP or magnet class has a 5.0. Similarly, they may ignore non-academic classes. Some Universities like UC Bereley even discount everything before 10th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about privates, but DC is a Blair magnet graduate. The cons for Blair magnet is 1. very intense 4 years 2. disadvantaged college acceptance results
The pros: much better preparation for STEM related fields at college

What do you mean by disadvantaged college acceptance results? Being in the Blair magnet puts you at a disadvantage compared to students who aren’t in a magnet? What are you saying??

You compete against other students in your school/program for college admission to top schools. It doesn’t matter how amazing the kids are, colleges are only going to admit 2 or 3 from the same school (yes, MIT admits 6-7 from SMCS). Sometimes it’s hard for a kid to distinguish themselves when everyone is taking same classes, same ECs, same high scores. A kid doesn’t stand out in the cohort of 100 SMCS kids the same way they would in the top 10 at their home school.

I see. So let me get this right. My kid, whose home school is Blair should turn down the magnet place because he’ll have a better chance for college applications if he’s in the general population at Blair not magnet. Did I get that right?

Basically yes. If you are optimizing for college admissions

So Blair non- magnet is looked at differently than Blair magnet by college admissions? That’s what you’re saying? I’m just not buying it.

Magnet parent here. My sense is that the admissions people look at the classes the student took to determine rigor. A non-magnet can take magnet classes if they meet the prerequisites. I would think a non-magnet student and a magnet student with the same electives, same GPA, and same test scores would be on even ground.

My DD has a non-mag Blair friend who just got into an Ivy early, so it's not mag/Cap or bust on college admissions. I think the look at the student's classes compared to what is available. FWIW, I don't think there are quotas or separate "pools" between magnet, CAP, non-mag, but what constitutes rigor might be slightly different depending on the program. Sure, non mag students can take mag classes, but it may be hard to get the pre reqs for some or there may not be space available. So, I don't think that would be an expectation for non mag or Cap students.

The MCPS course catalog treats magnet classes as comparable to APs. It seems likely most colleges use their own algorithm to compute GPA by assigning point values to courses using the data from the county's own catalog. For example, an honors class may get 4.5 whereas an AP or magnet class has a 5.0. Similarly, they may ignore non-academic classes. Some Universities like UC Bereley even discount everything before 10th grade.

PP here. They actually designate magnet classes as "advanced" on the Common App. Not the same designation as AP, but likely similar esteem (maybe higher or lower depending on the course -- say Mag Linear Alg higher, Mag Bio - lower). Enough schools are familiar with the Blair program that they have their own means of computing. My point was that it's unlikely that students from non-mag or CAP would be expected to have upper level mag courses or compared directly against a student with them, even though it is theoretically possible they could take some. AOs are aware of the program and calculate it as they will.

[Anonymous]

Blair’s STEM program is well known at any ‘elite’ college, as is RMIB program. The admissions people at colleges have regional staff, so they know all the schools in their area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about privates, but DC is a Blair magnet graduate. The cons for Blair magnet is 1. very intense 4 years 2. disadvantaged college acceptance results
The pros: much better preparation for STEM related fields at college

What do you mean by disadvantaged college acceptance results? Being in the Blair magnet puts you at a disadvantage compared to students who aren’t in a magnet? What are you saying??

You compete against other students in your school/program for college admission to top schools. It doesn’t matter how amazing the kids are, colleges are only going to admit 2 or 3 from the same school (yes, MIT admits 6-7 from SMCS). Sometimes it’s hard for a kid to distinguish themselves when everyone is taking same classes, same ECs, same high scores. A kid doesn’t stand out in the cohort of 100 SMCS kids the same way they would in the top 10 at their home school.

I see. So let me get this right. My kid, whose home school is Blair should turn down the magnet place because he’ll have a better chance for college applications if he’s in the general population at Blair not magnet. Did I get that right?

I think that strategy is aimed at people whose home school isn’t also Blair.
I’m sending my DC to Blair and am worried about the big fish/big pond aspect, but the hs experience will be so good, we’ll worry about college when the time comes. I don’t want to have them spend four years in a program that’s less of a good fit, just to try to game college admissions. We’re from close-in MoCo and that means tons of very strong applicants, even from non-magnets.

[Anonymous]

What does your child think after visiting the top private? Maybe they'll just love the campus and really feel like they belong there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about privates, but DC is a Blair magnet graduate. The cons for Blair magnet is 1. very intense 4 years 2. disadvantaged college acceptance results
The pros: much better preparation for STEM related fields at college

What do you mean by disadvantaged college acceptance results? Being in the Blair magnet puts you at a disadvantage compared to students who aren’t in a magnet? What are you saying??

You compete against other students in your school/program for college admission to top schools. It doesn’t matter how amazing the kids are, colleges are only going to admit 2 or 3 from the same school (yes, MIT admits 6-7 from SMCS). Sometimes it’s hard for a kid to distinguish themselves when everyone is taking same classes, same ECs, same high scores. A kid doesn’t stand out in the cohort of 100 SMCS kids the same way they would in the top 10 at their home school.

I see. So let me get this right. My kid, whose home school is Blair should turn down the magnet place because he’ll have a better chance for college applications if he’s in the general population at Blair not magnet. Did I get that right?

I think that strategy is aimed at people whose home school isn’t also Blair.
I’m sending my DC to Blair and am worried about the big fish/big pond aspect, but the hs experience will be so good, we’ll worry about college when the time comes. I don’t want to have them spend four years in a program that’s less of a good fit, just to try to game college admissions. We’re from close-in MoCo and that means tons of very strong applicants, even from non-magnets.

I wouldn't worry too much about this (not that you are, just affirming you here), especially if your kid follows some passions that help him/her stand out from the cohort. Mine did not do any stem ECs. Was passionate about arts and music and had some honors to support that passion. Several T15 admissions. I think they liked the compliment of the magnet classes and arts achievements. Enjoy the program and Blair!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair’s STEM program is well known at any ‘elite’ college, as is RMIB program. The admissions people at colleges have regional staff, so they know all the schools in their area.

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Not like it used to be, unfortunately. MCPS tends to break everything good they have going and the Blair STEM Magnet is just another victim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair’s STEM program is well known at any ‘elite’ college, as is RMIB program. The admissions people at colleges have regional staff, so they know all the schools in their area.

.
Not like it used to be, unfortunately. MCPS tends to break everything good they have going and the Blair STEM Magnet is just another victim.

Can you be more specific…what is failing about Blair stem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about privates, but DC is a Blair magnet graduate. The cons for Blair magnet is 1. very intense 4 years 2. disadvantaged college acceptance results
The pros: much better preparation for STEM related fields at college

What do you mean by disadvantaged college acceptance results? Being in the Blair magnet puts you at a disadvantage compared to students who aren’t in a magnet? What are you saying??

You compete against other students in your school/program for college admission to top schools. It doesn’t matter how amazing the kids are, colleges are only going to admit 2 or 3 from the same school (yes, MIT admits 6-7 from SMCS). Sometimes it’s hard for a kid to distinguish themselves when everyone is taking same classes, same ECs, same high scores. A kid doesn’t stand out in the cohort of 100 SMCS kids the same way they would in the top 10 at their home school.

I see. So let me get this right. My kid, whose home school is Blair should turn down the magnet place because he’ll have a better chance for college applications if he’s in the general population at Blair not magnet. Did I get that right?

Basically yes. If you are optimizing for college admissions

So Blair non- magnet is looked at differently than Blair magnet by college admissions? That’s what you’re saying? I’m just not buying it.

Magnet parent here. My sense is that the admissions people look at the classes the student took to determine rigor. A non-magnet can take magnet classes if they meet the prerequisites. I would think a non-magnet student and a magnet student with the same electives, same GPA, and same test scores would be on even ground.

My DD has a non-mag Blair friend who just got into an Ivy early, so it's not mag/Cap or bust on college admissions. I think the look at the student's classes compared to what is available. FWIW, I don't think there are quotas or separate "pools" between magnet, CAP, non-mag, but what constitutes rigor might be slightly different depending on the program. Sure, non mag students can take mag classes, but it may be hard to get the pre reqs for some or there may not be space available. So, I don't think that would be an expectation for non mag or Cap students.

Statistically, there are more murderers at Blair than Ivy kids not in the magnet

Wow. Did you really just type that?