If your private high school child was accepted at an elite college

[Anonymous]

If your child was accepted at an elite college, I’d be interested in your honest opinion as to whether your child would have been accepted at that school if they had attended a private school other than the one they attended? If not, what was it about the private school they attended that made a difference and is unique to their school (i.e., not available at other area private schools)?

I ask because I think that most children accepted at an elite college could have made it into that same college from any of the top private high schools in this area. I say this because most students that get into elite colleges get in either because they are smart and a good student and/or because they have some hook (legacy, diversity, athletics) separate from the high school they attended.

Please identify the school and use whatever definition of "elite" you'd like.

[Anonymous]

My private high school child was accepted into a community college where she took five years to get an associates degree. She would absolutely NOT have gotten into college without the private school because otherwise she'd have been left back and that would have caused her to drop out of public school.

[Anonymous]

My eldest son attended an Ivy League school where he played lacrosse. If my son had not attended Landon School I doubt he would've been noticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ask because I think that most children accepted at an elite college could have made it into that same college from any of the top private high schools in this area. I say this because most students that get into elite colleges get in either because they are smart and a good student and/or because they have some hook (legacy, diversity, athletics) separate from the high school they attended.

I think the argument you're trying to prove (that school does not matter for college admission) may miss an important point about strong high schools. Yes, college admission is driven largely by what the student herself brings to the table, and not the name of the high school that issues her diploma -- no argument there from me. But I think a strong high school helps a student "be all she can be" in many ways a weaker high school might not: for example, by encouraging her to apply herself, teaching her good study skills, ensuring she does not get lost in the pack, helping her find her extracurricular passion, giving her good advice about college applications, etc.

So, yes, a talented and hard-working student could make it to an elite college from any high school. But some high schools will do a better job than others at ensuring a student fully develops her talents and learns to work hard.

The hard part in picking a high school is to figure out which one will be best at developing your particular child's talent. It will be different high schools that are best for different students too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ask because I think that most children accepted at an elite college could have made it into that same college from any of the top private high schools in this area. I say this because most students that get into elite colleges get in either because they are smart and a good student and/or because they have some hook (legacy, diversity, athletics) separate from the high school they attended.

I think the argument you're trying to prove (that school does not matter for college admission) may miss an important point about strong high schools. Yes, college admission is driven largely by what the student herself brings to the table, and not the name of the high school that issues her diploma -- no argument there from me. But I think a strong high school helps a student "be all she can be" in many ways a weaker high school might not: for example, by encouraging her to apply herself, teaching her good study skills, ensuring she does not get lost in the pack, helping her find her extracurricular passion, giving her good advice about college applications, etc.

So, yes, a talented and hard-working student could make it to an elite college from any high school. But some high schools will do a better job than others at ensuring a student fully develops her talents and learns to work hard.

The hard part in picking a high school is to figure out which one will be best at developing your particular child's talent. It will be different high schools that are best for different students too.

Totally agree, but the question here is a different one. Do any of the top private high schools in this area offer something different that is not available at other top private high schools in this area? There is a right fit for everyone, but I'd like to know if there was something unique in the DC's school that allowed them to develop his/her talents and work hard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ask because I think that most children accepted at an elite college could have made it into that same college from any of the top private high schools in this area. I say this because most students that get into elite colleges get in either because they are smart and a good student and/or because they have some hook (legacy, diversity, athletics) separate from the high school they attended.

I think the argument you're trying to prove (that school does not matter for college admission) may miss an important point about strong high schools. Yes, college admission is driven largely by what the student herself brings to the table, and not the name of the high school that issues her diploma -- no argument there from me. But I think a strong high school helps a student "be all she can be" in many ways a weaker high school might not: for example, by encouraging her to apply herself, teaching her good study skills, ensuring she does not get lost in the pack, helping her find her extracurricular passion, giving her good advice about college applications, etc.So, yes, a talented and hard-working student could make it to an elite college from any high school. But some high schools will do a better job than others at ensuring a student fully develops her talents and learns to work hard.

The hard part in picking a high school is to figure out which one will be best at developing your particular child's talent. It will be different high schools that are best for different students too.

Totally agree, but the question here is a different one. Do any of the top private high schools in this area offer something different that is not available at other top private high schools in this area? There is a right fit for everyone, but I'd like to know if there was something unique in the DC's school that allowed them to develop his/her talents and work hard?

Didn't she answer that question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ask because I think that most children accepted at an elite college could have made it into that same college from any of the top private high schools in this area. I say this because most students that get into elite colleges get in either because they are smart and a good student and/or because they have some hook (legacy, diversity, athletics) separate from the high school they attended.

I think the argument you're trying to prove (that school does not matter for college admission) may miss an important point about strong high schools. Yes, college admission is driven largely by what the student herself brings to the table, and not the name of the high school that issues her diploma -- no argument there from me. But I think a strong high school helps a student "be all she can be" in many ways a weaker high school might not: for example, by encouraging her to apply herself, teaching her good study skills, ensuring she does not get lost in the pack, helping her find her extracurricular passion, giving her good advice about college applications, etc.So, yes, a talented and hard-working student could make it to an elite college from any high school. But some high schools will do a better job than others at ensuring a student fully develops her talents and learns to work hard.

The hard part in picking a high school is to figure out which one will be best at developing your particular child's talent. It will be different high schools that are best for different students too.

Totally agree, but the question here is a different one. Do any of the top private high schools in this area offer something different that is not available at other top private high schools in this area? There is a right fit for everyone, but I'd like to know if there was something unique in the DC's school that allowed them to develop his/her talents and work hard?

Didn't she answer that question.

If she did, the highlighted portion is a rather strange answer - there was no school named, but the unnamed school is supposedly unique in:

" encouraging her to apply herself, teaching her good study skills, ensuring she does not get lost in the pack, helping her find her extracurricular passion, giving her good advice about college applications, etc."

No other top private school would have done THAT?

[Anonymous]

No other top private school would have done THAT?

I will not speculate for the original poster. But she would have to speculate about the school she did not go to.

I think there are schools that DO NOT do that at all. It is a sink or swim environment and they are proud to tell you that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No other top private school would have done THAT?

I will not speculate for the original poster. But she would have to speculate about the school she did not go to.

I think there are schools that DO NOT do that at all. It is a sink or swim environment and they are proud to tell you that.

Really? Which s hooks proudly tell you that?

[Anonymous]

"Schools"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Schools"

auto correct?

I too would like to know which schools proudly tell you that they will NOT " encourage her to apply herself, teach her good study skills, ensure she does not get lost in the pack, help her find her extracurricular passion, give her good advice about college applications, etc."

I think every private school in the area claims to do that.

[Anonymous]

That is tough to answer OP. We don't know what would have happened if our DD would have gone to another school. So, for us, it was Holton and athletic recruitment. Not sure if it would have worked out as well otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is tough to answer OP. We don't know what would have happened if our DD would have gone to another school. So, for us, it was Holton and athletic recruitment. Not sure if it would have worked out as well otherwise.

Was there something about Holton that you felt was unique?

[Anonymous]

Yes pp. Holton was an absolute grind. My kid (like many others) could have skated through a lot of schools, but Holton had a way of taking just about any kid and turning them into something they couldn't automically see for themselves (and honestly, I didn't forsee such a positive outcome either). My kid didn't love Holton, but she learned a ton.

[Anonymous]

Certain schools may be better at developing and showcasing specific talents (see PP regarding lacrosse and Landon, would also put GDS and theater/arts/creative writing in that category; NCS/StA and Visi for crew, a sport not really done at a club level so kids recruited for crew 100% due to high school participation; for public TJ for math/science). Some schools also clearly have very strong relationships with particular highly selective colleges. But really the most important plus in terms of having had our DD at a school like Sidwell/NCS/GDS/Maret has been how exceedingly well-prepared our DD has been for the demands of college-she knew how to work really hard and didn't expect success without it based on how hard high school was, and also did not expect perfection having not achieved it in HS. She also really learned how to write and undertake large research projects. She feels she came in at least a year or two better prepared for college than many of her public school peers.