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How difficult is it to get into NCS with no connections?
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Anonymous
Hi. I'm the one who posted about my son. My son is not a legacy at any of the three schools; otherwise we would be "somebodies." My son really had no hook. I do not consider husband's and my having graduated from Harvard as a hook; there are lots of Ivy alumni in this area whose kids apply. My husband owns a small one-man business, and I am just a dime-a-dozen lawyer -- no connections at all. We knew no one at the schools and had no one write letters for us. Rather, he was accepted on his merits. Applying for entry in the 7th grade, my son had 87-percentile verbal and 99-percentile math on the SSAT, straight A's for the previous 3 years, elected and appointed student-government positions for the past two years, and extracurricular activities to which he had demonstrated a commitment by participating for several years (no major awards, 'though). I think my son interviews well. I think my husband and I also did well in the parent interviews. I do think the schools are looking for a good fit between the school and student, and between the school and the student's family. But I would not try to be how you think the school wants you to be; just be yourself, for you, too, are looking for a good fit. |
Anonymous
| PP you should be very careful about giving such specific information out about your son on the internet. You are now identifiable to everyone in your DS' school community. |
Anonymous
I'm PP. Don't worry -- I changed the facts to disguise who my son is. I know to do that on the internet. |
Anonymous
| People, all this talk of "how hard it is to get in" if you aren't connected is just part of the b.s. marketing of these schools. That way, "nobodies" will feel so honored and special when their kid gets in, that they will gladly pay 30-40k per year for the privilege of attendance. |
Anonymous
Not all nobodies feel especially honored and privileged just because the school accepts nobodies. Some nobodies KNOW that it's not so extraordinary for nobodies to be admitted. We feel no more privileged than anyone else to be at the school. |
Anonymous
| In fact, the nobodies bring the talent and brains. Not so much from the lifers from beauvior. |
Anonymous
| It is difficult to get into NCS whether someone is a "somebody" or a "nobody". NCS requires really high scores and grades. My kid was rejected outright and is now at a "Big 3" Ivy (HYP) |
Anonymous
| laughing at the person who thought that parents going to an Ivy wasn't a big deal Imagine if you are the parents who went to a trade school and a ho hum university.. That would be considered a nobody. |
Anonymous
Agree. There are MANY talented kids who get turned down at these schools every year. Just look at the numbers of applicants and you know this has to be true. |
Anonymous
| Schools love kids who are Ivy legacy. It increases the chances of the kid being admitted to their parents alma mater and this increases the schools Ivy matriculation numbers. So yes, Ivy parents are somebodies. |
Anonymous
The question was whether a girl can get in without connections to NCS, NOT about applicants' parents' connections to colleges. |
Anonymous
| Another parent described themselves as "nobodies" whose daughter got in and then said they both went to ivy's i.e. they are not considered "nobodies" in the snobby private school world even if they weren't very productive since college. |
Anonymous
| Unless they've changed the application, NCS does not ask where the parents went to college. Sidwell does. |
Anonymous
Good grief. |
Anonymous
So. |