Is it easier getting into top colleges from public vs. private schools?

[Anonymous]

Well, DK got easy As in FCPS public freshman year and has had to work hard for any As earned this year at the private school so I beg to differ that privates hand out easy As. In our case, our public did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges know that private schools give out A's like water, it's expected. An A at private school is a bought by the tuition. You can't compare apple to apples with private schools. Also public schools are more diversified and that better prepares students for college.

Dumbass +2

In here,
Only 4-5 kids got 4.5-4.6 GPA in the class-- class size is around 270 (top private school)
10% of the students got 4.6+ in the top public school. --class size is 500.
Their GPA scale is same.

[Anonymous]

I suspect the distinctions are not constant across student profiles. For example, it may be that the very top students at public and private have relatively equally shots at the top Ivy schools, Stanford, and MIT. My sense is that where kids at the top privates really get a benefit is in the middle of the class, especially if they are applying to SLACs. E.g., decent -- but not very top -- students at Sidwell, GDS, and Cathedral schools are getting to schools -- e.g., most NESACs (Middlebury, Wesleyan, Colby, etc.), Haverford, Colgate, etc. -- whereas kids at even the top publics need to be near the to for those schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect the distinctions are not constant across student profiles. For example, it may be that the very top students at public and private have relatively equally shots at the top Ivy schools, Stanford, and MIT. My sense is that where kids at the top privates really get a benefit is in the middle of the class, especially if they are applying to SLACs. E.g., decent -- but not very top -- students at Sidwell, GDS, and Cathedral schools are getting to schools -- e.g., most NESACs (Middlebury, Wesleyan, Colby, etc.), Haverford, Colgate, etc. -- whereas kids at even the top publics need to be near the to for those schools.

Well, kind of. Middle-range kids at private schools tend to go to schools like NESACs alright, but it's because their parents can afford to pay for them. Similar kids at public schools are much more likely to go to state universities even if they could get into Haverford, Colgate, etc. because they just don't get as much aid as they need or their parents never let them apply there in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Money is a huge factor and helps the private school kids a lot. The big thing these days at our private school is for private coaching for SAT or ACT for 3-6 months and then take the test up to 4 times if you are not happy with the score. 4 times has become common place. That is $$. Our private school counselors help with essay writing, interview prep, just about everything. Teachers realize that part of their job is to write glowing recommendations for students. I love all this about our private but I will be honest and admit that it is not a level playing field. Public school kids, especially middle and low income kids, have a tough uphill climb to compete at the same level. That is why I am totally fine with affirmative action and first gen. advantages. The growing divide between the rich and the poor makes me very uncomfortable. I don't think it is a healthy environment from anyone's perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Best thing would be to move to N Dakota or something."

This is not a short cut. All it does is move a large chunk of the work from HS to while you are at the Ivy.

Part of the reason to go to a solid HS and take the rigorous classes is to build a solid education.

You might get into and get though an Ivy from a school that offers no AP/IB classes but getting through an Ivy is easier if you learn more in HS.

Sorry but this is nonsense. The top Ivies, Stanford, MIT, etc all graduate 90%+ of their students. Getting in is the hardest part.

This is true. I had a professor at my LAC who had taught at an Ivy and he said that there is an assumption that all of the kids are smart and can do the work, so the grade inflation is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I think this is the year things changed.
Previously I would have said private.
Now it's public, esp. if you're first generation, Questbridge etc. Schools falling all over themselves to brag they're 40% POC.

[Anonymous]

Once admitted, It is easier for the private school kids to get into frats and sororities at the top schools.
The most popular frats/sororities/lunch clubs will always have kids from St. Albans, Holton, etc. and they will automatically give preference to kids coming from their HS whether they personally know them or not. The public school kids applying could be great but they don't have the connections and no one is pulling them in.
Just a fact of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once admitted, It is easier for the private school kids to get into frats and sororities at the top schools.
The most popular frats/sororities/lunch clubs will always have kids from St. Albans, Holton, etc. and they will automatically give preference to kids coming from their HS whether they personally know them or not. The public school kids applying could be great but they don't have the connections and no one is pulling them in.
Just a fact of life.

Eww. Who cares about getting into sororities or fraternities? Those kids will always use daddy’s connections in life anyway. And the general peer group
is stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once admitted, It is easier for the private school kids to get into frats and sororities at the top schools.
The most popular frats/sororities/lunch clubs will always have kids from St. Albans, Holton, etc. and they will automatically give preference to kids coming from their HS whether they personally know them or not. The public school kids applying could be great but they don't have the connections and no one is pulling them in.
Just a fact of life.

Eww. Who cares about getting into sororities or fraternities? Those kids will always use daddy’s connections in life anyway. And the general peer group
is stupid.

These days being part of fraternity is not what it used to be. some any issues with drinking, hazing and unfortunately deaths. I was part of a sorority and loved every minute but very hesitant to recommend my DS join a fraternity. Look at Penn State and Michigan and all the issues they are having.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once admitted, It is easier for the private school kids to get into frats and sororities at the top schools.
The most popular frats/sororities/lunch clubs will always have kids from St. Albans, Holton, etc. and they will automatically give preference to kids coming from their HS whether they personally know them or not. The public school kids applying could be great but they don't have the connections and no one is pulling them in.
Just a fact of life.

Eww. Who cares about getting into sororities or fraternities? Those kids will always use daddy’s connections in life anyway. And the general peer group
is stupid.

These days being part of fraternity is not what it used to be. some any issues with drinking, hazing and unfortunately deaths. I was part of a sorority and loved every minute but very hesitant to recommend my DS join a fraternity. Look at Penn State and Michigan and all the issues they are having.

Me too! I loved my sorority but being in a frat now is like having a target on your back. Only worth it if it's the only avenue to develop a close network.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect the distinctions are not constant across student profiles. For example, it may be that the very top students at public and private have relatively equally shots at the top Ivy schools, Stanford, and MIT. My sense is that where kids at the top privates really get a benefit is in the middle of the class, especially if they are applying to SLACs. E.g., decent -- but not very top -- students at Sidwell, GDS, and Cathedral schools are getting to schools -- e.g., most NESACs (Middlebury, Wesleyan, Colby, etc.), Haverford, Colgate, etc. -- whereas kids at even the top publics need to be near the to for those schools.

Well, kind of. Middle-range kids at private schools tend to go to schools like NESACs alright, but it's because their parents can afford to pay for them. Similar kids at public schools are much more likely to go to state universities even if they could get into Haverford, Colgate, etc. because they just don't get as much aid as they need or their parents never let them apply there in the first place.

+1

So many DCUM posts assume that money is no object, and/or that everyone who applies will get enough aid to make a given elite or other private school work. Many, maybe most of us in the donut hole never look at elite schools including NESCACs, because we can't pay for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[b]Money is a huge factor and helps the private school kids a lot.[/b] The big thing these days at our private school is for private coaching for SAT or ACT for 3-6 months and then take the test up to 4 times if you are not happy with the score. 4 times has become common place. That is $$. Our private school counselors help with essay writing, interview prep, just about everything. Teachers realize that part of their job is to write glowing recommendations for students. I love all this about our private but I will be honest and admit that it is not a level playing field. Public school kids, especially middle and low income kids, have a tough uphill climb to compete at the same level. That is why I am totally fine with affirmative action and first gen. advantages. The growing divide between the rich and the poor makes me very uncomfortable. I don't think it is a healthy environment from anyone's perspective.

+1

Money is THE factor that drives the application process for many of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once admitted, It is easier for the private school kids to get into frats and sororities at the top schools.
The most popular frats/sororities/lunch clubs will always have kids from St. Albans, Holton, etc. and they will automatically give preference to kids coming from their HS whether they personally know them or not. The public school kids applying could be great but they don't have the connections and no one is pulling them in.
Just a fact of life.

Eww. Who cares about getting into sororities or fraternities? Those kids will always use daddy’s connections in life anyway. And the general peer group
is stupid.

These days being part of fraternity is not what it used to be. some any issues with drinking, hazing and unfortunately deaths. I was part of a sorority and loved every minute but very hesitant to recommend my DS join a fraternity. Look at Penn State and Michigan and all the issues they are having.

Me too! I loved my sorority but being in a frat now is like having a target on your back. Only worth it if it's the only avenue to develop a close network.

A lot depends on the fraternity in question. You have to be selective and choose one that is service and academically oriented. Having fun is fine and preferable, just don't be completely idiotic about it or you will only attract idiots to your fraternity.

I think that when they are run with a reasonable amount of common sense and standards fraternities and sororities can be a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges know that private schools give out A's like water, it's expected. An A at private school is a bought by the tuition. You can't compare apple to apples with private schools. Also public schools are more diversified and that better prepares students for college.

This is NOT true. Sorry. DC in HS at a private school. As are earned and not easily.