Where do "B" average Big-3 students go to college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, my 3.2 gpa "big 3" DD just outright rejected from CU Boulder. I am flabbergasted. This is the most messed up college admissions cycle we have experienced yet. What a mess.

I'm so sorry. This must be stressful. Did DD submit SAT or ACT scores? I do wonder if at these large schools it's harder for Big-3 students to complete bc of the lack of grade inflation, and so students need to submit standardized test scores. Did DD apply to any schools early?

She did submit. It was not a high ACT, but was above the 50th% range, so counselor said definitely submit. It's all about GPA now that TO is the norm. With so much grade inflation everywhere else, anything lower than a 3.7, no matter the school, is automatically out at large universities. I wish my kids had never attended the school they did. Not just because of college acceptances, but because they never felt anything other than like they were the stupid kids and end their senior year feeling ilke failures because the majority of their classmates are attending top 30 colleges and universities. I wish they had just had normal childhoods, surrounded by normal people who don't judge based on college matriculation.

yikes - $160k on hs to come out feeling like the stupid kid - empathize with you and totally agree that it was a mistake - hard pass on the private route for me.

I was weak and let my husband and his family force this. I fought for years to get them out, but couldn't win. The only option was to divorce and that seemed extreme. Honestly, I wish I had and had hired a lawyer to win the fight. You are making the right choice. It was an absolutely horrible experience and I live with regret everyday that we don't get a do-over for my poor kids.

Try not to look at private school as having failed your child: your child will probably be more prepared for his/her first year of college than others. My DS is rocking his first year of college, because he is prepared.

It’s fine to assume your kid will be well prepared, but don’t assume they’ll be “more” prepared than others. My public school DS with his “fake” high school GPA is crushing it as a premed chemistry major in his top 5 SLAC and his roommate is a public school kid from Indiana who basically carried their entire friend group through organic chemistry, and the international students from Asian countries are settling the bar for all of them. And doing this while balancing work study jobs.

I’m not denying the quality of a private school education but it’s the height of arrogance to think that public school kids at top colleges and universities aren’t going to be equally well prepared.

Also don’t assume top publics grade inflate or are easy. We are at a top public in New England, an A in an AP is hard to come by, and the B+ students face an uphill battle with admissions despite high test scores. I am convinced if my kids went to the less competitive public in a nearby town; they would have 4.0 and get into college easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sorry for experience for you son. very disappointing. is dream NESCAC same school or different?

Thanks! Same school. Had straight As first semester senior year and college counselor was told by school admissions office that in fact, the actual admissions cycle--ED or RD--is more holistic than the athletic pre-read, so he's going for it, but realizes it is very very unlikely.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why people are so dubious of my story. I won't share the sport or school because I am very paranoid about posting on here. It is not football or basketball, but is a very popular sport--not track--that lots of kids play around here. The coach was fairly familiar with our private and said, yeah, these grades are a little low, but admissions understands the rigor, it should be fine. The coach texted my kid on June 28 and said something along the lines of, can't wait to call you on Friday! (which was July 1). Friday came and went with no call, so we knew there was a problem. Monday was a holiday. Coach called at 8 am on Tuesday, July 6, and said they worked all weekend to try to convince admissions but they said, no way. Kid then spent the summer weighing a D3 offer at a lower ranked school that he really liked with the D1 offer he had had since January. The D1 school has a much higher academic reputation, but was just never the kid's first choice and he was never really intent on playing D1 because of academic concerns and wanting to play but also enjoy college. He is very good at his sport. Not top D1, but top NESCAC and lower D1 level. I hope these details will convince you all that I am not making it up. A 3.2 from a rigorous DC private was not enough to get a top NESCAC recruit past the pre-read.

I totally believe this parent. We were on a recruiting webinar with men's lax coaches from Williams, Swarthmore & Wesleyan and Tufts. The Williams coach was brutally honest explaining it doesn't matter how amazing you are on the field, if you don't have the grades, you won't get past the pre-read. He said they turn away great players all the time because NESCAC schools prioritize academics over athletics. He said we take the "student" in "student athlete" very seriously. It stinks and I'm sorry for your son, but getting the pre-read at least gave him a chance to shift gears and re-consider his options. The coaches all encouraged the kids to think about life beyond lacrosse and to make the best choice based on their life goals. Best of luck to your son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. I went to a crappy public and then Ivy League for college. Got a few bad grades early in first trimester and then adjusted. Tutored many a kid from big national privates (Andover, Choate, St. Albans). They were terrible writers. Decent communicators but needed serious help organizing their thoughts in writing. I Graduated summa and went to Ivy law school. No private high school required.

To be fair, freshman fall is brutal for a lot of kids- especially if you challenge yourself and don’t take 103 type classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, my 3.2 gpa "big 3" DD just outright rejected from CU Boulder. I am flabbergasted. This is the most messed up college admissions cycle we have experienced yet. What a mess.

I'm so sorry. This must be stressful. Did DD submit SAT or ACT scores? I do wonder if at these large schools it's harder for Big-3 students to complete bc of the lack of grade inflation, and so students need to submit standardized test scores. Did DD apply to any schools early?

She did submit. It was not a high ACT, but was above the 50th% range, so counselor said definitely submit. It's all about GPA now that TO is the norm. With so much grade inflation everywhere else, anything lower than a 3.7, no matter the school, is automatically out at large universities. I wish my kids had never attended the school they did. Not just because of college acceptances, but because they never felt anything other than like they were the stupid kids and end their senior year feeling ilke failures because the majority of their classmates are attending top 30 colleges and universities. I wish they had just had normal childhoods, surrounded by normal people who don't judge based on college matriculation.

yikes - $160k on hs to come out feeling like the stupid kid - empathize with you and totally agree that it was a mistake - hard pass on the private route for me.

I was weak and let my husband and his family force this. I fought for years to get them out, but couldn't win. The only option was to divorce and that seemed extreme. Honestly, I wish I had and had hired a lawyer to win the fight. You are making the right choice. It was an absolutely horrible experience and I live with regret everyday that we don't get a do-over for my poor kids.

Try not to look at private school as having failed your child: your child will probably be more prepared for his/her first year of college than others. My DS is rocking his first year of college, because he is prepared.

It’s fine to assume your kid will be well prepared, but don’t assume they’ll be “more” prepared than others. My public school DS with his “fake” high school GPA is crushing it as a premed chemistry major in his top 5 SLAC and his roommate is a public school kid from Indiana who basically carried their entire friend group through organic chemistry, and the international students from Asian countries are settling the bar for all of them. And doing this while balancing work study jobs.

I’m not denying the quality of a private school education but it’s the height of arrogance to think that public school kids at top colleges and universities aren’t going to be equally well prepared.

Also don’t assume top publics grade inflate or are easy. We are at a top public in New England, an A in an AP is hard to come by, and the B+ students face an uphill battle with admissions despite high test scores. I am convinced if my kids went to the less competitive public in a nearby town; they would have 4.0 and get into college easily.

NP. I agree with you, 100%

What I don't quite understand is the reliance on grades being so extra-heavy even when scores are present. High GPA plus no score >>> "Low" GPA plus high score. The treatment of GPA as if it's standardized (regardless of what is said to the contrary about context) is bizarre, but that seems to be the current situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is an OK student at a Big-3 (Sidwell/GDS/StA)--B average, with a good number of AP/honors/"upper level" courses. SATs average for the school (1400s). Let's assume no hook, or small hook. Full pay (no FA or scholarship needed.) Will probably write a strong essay, but not astonishingly good. What are typical target schools for this kind of student? Thank you!

Any Top 10-30 SLAC.

Tulane ED.

Unfortunately, this is incorrect. True, maybe Tulane ED. But no way for anything under top 25 SLAC. No Hamilton, no Colby, not with a straight B average. My kid is between B and B+ from a Big 3 and even as a top athletic recruit--like the top--could not get past pre-reads for top 20 SLACS.

Are you full pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, my 3.2 gpa "big 3" DD just outright rejected from CU Boulder. I am flabbergasted. This is the most messed up college admissions cycle we have experienced yet. What a mess.

I'm so sorry. This must be stressful. Did DD submit SAT or ACT scores? I do wonder if at these large schools it's harder for Big-3 students to complete bc of the lack of grade inflation, and so students need to submit standardized test scores. Did DD apply to any schools early?

She did submit. It was not a high ACT, but was above the 50th% range, so counselor said definitely submit. It's all about GPA now that TO is the norm. With so much grade inflation everywhere else, anything lower than a 3.7, no matter the school, is automatically out at large universities. I wish my kids had never attended the school they did. Not just because of college acceptances, but because they never felt anything other than like they were the stupid kids and end their senior year feeling ilke failures because the majority of their classmates are attending top 30 colleges and universities. I wish they had just had normal childhoods, surrounded by normal people who don't judge based on college matriculation.

yikes - $160k on hs to come out feeling like the stupid kid - empathize with you and totally agree that it was a mistake - hard pass on the private route for me.

I was weak and let my husband and his family force this. I fought for years to get them out, but couldn't win. The only option was to divorce and that seemed extreme. Honestly, I wish I had and had hired a lawyer to win the fight. You are making the right choice. It was an absolutely horrible experience and I live with regret everyday that we don't get a do-over for my poor kids.

Try not to look at private school as having failed your child: your child will probably be more prepared for his/her first year of college than others. My DS is rocking his first year of college, because he is prepared.

It’s fine to assume your kid will be well prepared, but don’t assume they’ll be “more” prepared than others. My public school DS with his “fake” high school GPA is crushing it as a premed chemistry major in his top 5 SLAC and his roommate is a public school kid from Indiana who basically carried their entire friend group through organic chemistry, and the international students from Asian countries are settling the bar for all of them. And doing this while balancing work study jobs.

I’m not denying the quality of a private school education but it’s the height of arrogance to think that public school kids at top colleges and universities aren’t going to be equally well prepared.

Also don’t assume top publics grade inflate or are easy. We are at a top public in New England, an A in an AP is hard to come by, and the B+ students face an uphill battle with admissions despite high test scores. I am convinced if my kids went to the less competitive public in a nearby town; they would have 4.0 and get into college easily.

NP. I agree with you, 100%

What I don't quite understand is the reliance on grades being so extra-heavy even when scores are present. High GPA plus no score >>> "Low" GPA plus high score. The treatment of GPA as if it's standardized (regardless of what is said to the contrary about context) is bizarre, but that seems to be the current situation.

The losers in all this are the kids whose parents deliberately put them in a challenging rigorous school so they can develop intellectually. These are the very kids being weeded out… To an extent this is part of the war against “privilege”- the only rigorous schools are elite privates and publics in very affluent towns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know why people are so dubious of my story. I won't share the sport or school because I am very paranoid about posting on here. It is not football or basketball, but is a very popular sport--not track--that lots of kids play around here. The coach was fairly familiar with our private and said, yeah, these grades are a little low, but admissions understands the rigor, it should be fine. The coach texted my kid on June 28 and said something along the lines of, can't wait to call you on Friday! (which was July 1). Friday came and went with no call, so we knew there was a problem. Monday was a holiday. Coach called at 8 am on Tuesday, July 6, and said they worked all weekend to try to convince admissions but they said, no way. Kid then spent the summer weighing a D3 offer at a lower ranked school that he really liked with the D1 offer he had had since January. The D1 school has a much higher academic reputation, but was just never the kid's first choice and he was never really intent on playing D1 because of academic concerns and wanting to play but also enjoy college. He is very good at his sport. Not top D1, but top NESCAC and lower D1 level. I hope these details will convince you all that I am not making it up. A 3.2 from a rigorous DC private was not enough to get a top NESCAC recruit past the pre-read.

I totally believe this parent. We were on a recruiting webinar with men's lax coaches from Williams, Swarthmore & Wesleyan and Tufts. The Williams coach was brutally honest explaining it doesn't matter how amazing you are on the field, if you don't have the grades, you won't get past the pre-read. He said they turn away great players all the time because NESCAC schools prioritize academics over athletics. He said we take the "student" in "student athlete" very seriously. It stinks and I'm sorry for your son, but getting the pre-read at least gave him a chance to shift gears and re-consider his options. The coaches all encouraged the kids to think about life beyond lacrosse and to make the best choice based on their life goals. Best of luck to your son.

Word of advice - kid should not post “commitment” for a nescac until ED letter arrives in December. The lax bros and football players never usually heed this advice lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is an OK student at a Big-3 (Sidwell/GDS/StA)--B average, with a good number of AP/honors/"upper level" courses. SATs average for the school (1400s). Let's assume no hook, or small hook. Full pay (no FA or scholarship needed.) Will probably write a strong essay, but not astonishingly good. What are typical target schools for this kind of student? Thank you!

Any Top 10-30 SLAC.

Tulane ED.

Unfortunately, this is incorrect. True, maybe Tulane ED. But no way for anything under top 25 SLAC. No Hamilton, no Colby, not with a straight B average. My kid is between B and B+ from a Big 3 and even as a top athletic recruit--like the top--could not get past pre-reads for top 20 SLACS.

Interesting, a decent amount of kids in top 20 to 40 percent at our private get into T20 slacs.

Okay, but a B average at "big 3" doesn't put a student in the top 20 to 40 per cent. It typically puts them in the bottom third.

Not true -- the average GPA varies from big 3 to big 3. At NCS a B average puts you in the middle of the pack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is an OK student at a Big-3 (Sidwell/GDS/StA)--B average, with a good number of AP/honors/"upper level" courses. SATs average for the school (1400s). Let's assume no hook, or small hook. Full pay (no FA or scholarship needed.) Will probably write a strong essay, but not astonishingly good. What are typical target schools for this kind of student? Thank you!

Any Top 10-30 SLAC.

Tulane ED.

Unfortunately, this is incorrect. True, maybe Tulane ED. But no way for anything under top 25 SLAC. No Hamilton, no Colby, not with a straight B average. My kid is between B and B+ from a Big 3 and even as a top athletic recruit--like the top--could not get past pre-reads for top 20 SLACS.

Interesting, a decent amount of kids in top 20 to 40 percent at our private get into T20 slacs.

Okay, but a B average at "big 3" doesn't put a student in the top 20 to 40 per cent. It typically puts them in the bottom third.

Not true -- the average GPA varies from big 3 to big 3. At NCS a B average puts you in the middle of the pack.

+2 No way a B average is the bottom 1/3 at NCS. Every one of my DD’s close friends has a B average GPA. Does she know girls with higher GPAs? Yes, but they are outliers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know why people are so dubious of my story. I won't share the sport or school because I am very paranoid about posting on here. It is not football or basketball, but is a very popular sport--not track--that lots of kids play around here. The coach was fairly familiar with our private and said, yeah, these grades are a little low, but admissions understands the rigor, it should be fine. The coach texted my kid on June 28 and said something along the lines of, can't wait to call you on Friday! (which was July 1). Friday came and went with no call, so we knew there was a problem. Monday was a holiday. Coach called at 8 am on Tuesday, July 6, and said they worked all weekend to try to convince admissions but they said, no way. Kid then spent the summer weighing a D3 offer at a lower ranked school that he really liked with the D1 offer he had had since January. The D1 school has a much higher academic reputation, but was just never the kid's first choice and he was never really intent on playing D1 because of academic concerns and wanting to play but also enjoy college. He is very good at his sport. Not top D1, but top NESCAC and lower D1 level. I hope these details will convince you all that I am not making it up. A 3.2 from a rigorous DC private was not enough to get a top NESCAC recruit past the pre-read.

I totally believe this parent. We were on a recruiting webinar with men's lax coaches from Williams, Swarthmore & Wesleyan and Tufts. The Williams coach was brutally honest explaining it doesn't matter how amazing you are on the field, if you don't have the grades, you won't get past the pre-read. He said they turn away great players all the time because NESCAC schools prioritize academics over athletics. He said we take the "student" in "student athlete" very seriously. It stinks and I'm sorry for your son, but getting the pre-read at least gave him a chance to shift gears and re-consider his options. The coaches all encouraged the kids to think about life beyond lacrosse and to make the best choice based on their life goals. Best of luck to your son.

Word of advice - kid should not post “commitment” for a nescac until ED letter arrives in December. The lax bros and football players never usually heed this advice lol

I’m confused. Where in this exchange did any poster say they did this? Only reference is to pre-read, so no commitments announced. Weird post.

[Anonymous]

Skidmore, DD is loving it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, my 3.2 gpa "big 3" DD just outright rejected from CU Boulder. I am flabbergasted. This is the most messed up college admissions cycle we have experienced yet. What a mess.

I'm so sorry. This must be stressful. Did DD submit SAT or ACT scores? I do wonder if at these large schools it's harder for Big-3 students to complete bc of the lack of grade inflation, and so students need to submit standardized test scores. Did DD apply to any schools early?

She did submit. It was not a high ACT, but was above the 50th% range, so counselor said definitely submit. It's all about GPA now that TO is the norm. With so much grade inflation everywhere else, anything lower than a 3.7, no matter the school, is automatically out at large universities. I wish my kids had never attended the school they did. Not just because of college acceptances, but because they never felt anything other than like they were the stupid kids and end their senior year feeling ilke failures because the majority of their classmates are attending top 30 colleges and universities. I wish they had just had normal childhoods, surrounded by normal people who don't judge based on college matriculation.

yikes - $160k on hs to come out feeling like the stupid kid - empathize with you and totally agree that it was a mistake - hard pass on the private route for me.

I was weak and let my husband and his family force this. I fought for years to get them out, but couldn't win. The only option was to divorce and that seemed extreme. Honestly, I wish I had and had hired a lawyer to win the fight. You are making the right choice. It was an absolutely horrible experience and I live with regret everyday that we don't get a do-over for my poor kids.

Hoping this will help you feel a little bit better about your kids' educational route...I've had kids at both a "Big 3" and MCPS, at all grade levels. You're correct in your assessment that for a certain level of student, the college outcomes are not better at the top privates. But they're not worse, either, and where the difference becomes really clear is at the middle and bottom of the class. Great students and MCPA and privates do very well. My DC's debate team cohort at Whitman had college outcomes equal to any high school or prep school in the country. At the middle and bottom, the Big 3 kids do MUCH better than the publics. Not even close.

But the real difference is that the Big 3 kids acquire a better education. And they'll retain that for life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, my 3.2 gpa "big 3" DD just outright rejected from CU Boulder. I am flabbergasted. This is the most messed up college admissions cycle we have experienced yet. What a mess.

I'm so sorry. This must be stressful. Did DD submit SAT or ACT scores? I do wonder if at these large schools it's harder for Big-3 students to complete bc of the lack of grade inflation, and so students need to submit standardized test scores. Did DD apply to any schools early?

She did submit. It was not a high ACT, but was above the 50th% range, so counselor said definitely submit. It's all about GPA now that TO is the norm. With so much grade inflation everywhere else, anything lower than a 3.7, no matter the school, is automatically out at large universities. I wish my kids had never attended the school they did. Not just because of college acceptances, but because they never felt anything other than like they were the stupid kids and end their senior year feeling ilke failures because the majority of their classmates are attending top 30 colleges and universities. I wish they had just had normal childhoods, surrounded by normal people who don't judge based on college matriculation.

yikes - $160k on hs to come out feeling like the stupid kid - empathize with you and totally agree that it was a mistake - hard pass on the private route for me.

I was weak and let my husband and his family force this. I fought for years to get them out, but couldn't win. The only option was to divorce and that seemed extreme. Honestly, I wish I had and had hired a lawyer to win the fight. You are making the right choice. It was an absolutely horrible experience and I live with regret everyday that we don't get a do-over for my poor kids.

Try not to look at private school as having failed your child: your child will probably be more prepared for his/her first year of college than others. My DS is rocking his first year of college, because he is prepared.

It’s fine to assume your kid will be well prepared, but don’t assume they’ll be “more” prepared than others. My public school DS with his “fake” high school GPA is crushing it as a premed chemistry major in his top 5 SLAC and his roommate is a public school kid from Indiana who basically carried their entire friend group through organic chemistry, and the international students from Asian countries are settling the bar for all of them. And doing this while balancing work study jobs.

I’m not denying the quality of a private school education but it’s the height of arrogance to think that public school kids at top colleges and universities aren’t going to be equally well prepared.

Also don’t assume top publics grade inflate or are easy. We are at a top public in New England, an A in an AP is hard to come by, and the B+ students face an uphill battle with admissions despite high test scores. I am convinced if my kids went to the less competitive public in a nearby town; they would have 4.0 and get into college easily.

NP. I agree with you, 100%

What I don't quite understand is the reliance on grades being so extra-heavy even when scores are present. High GPA plus no score >>> "Low" GPA plus high score. The treatment of GPA as if it's standardized (regardless of what is said to the contrary about context) is bizarre, but that seems to be the current situation.

The losers in all this are the kids whose parents deliberately put them in a challenging rigorous school so they can develop intellectually. These are the very kids being weeded out… To an extent this is part of the war against “privilege”- the only rigorous schools are elite privates and publics in very affluent towns.

OMG the persecution mentality.

Nothing is stopping you from sending your kid to some “bad” public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, my 3.2 gpa "big 3" DD just outright rejected from CU Boulder. I am flabbergasted. This is the most messed up college admissions cycle we have experienced yet. What a mess.

I'm so sorry. This must be stressful. Did DD submit SAT or ACT scores? I do wonder if at these large schools it's harder for Big-3 students to complete bc of the lack of grade inflation, and so students need to submit standardized test scores. Did DD apply to any schools early?

She did submit. It was not a high ACT, but was above the 50th% range, so counselor said definitely submit. It's all about GPA now that TO is the norm. With so much grade inflation everywhere else, anything lower than a 3.7, no matter the school, is automatically out at large universities. I wish my kids had never attended the school they did. Not just because of college acceptances, but because they never felt anything other than like they were the stupid kids and end their senior year feeling ilke failures because the majority of their classmates are attending top 30 colleges and universities. I wish they had just had normal childhoods, surrounded by normal people who don't judge based on college matriculation.

yikes - $160k on hs to come out feeling like the stupid kid - empathize with you and totally agree that it was a mistake - hard pass on the private route for me.

I was weak and let my husband and his family force this. I fought for years to get them out, but couldn't win. The only option was to divorce and that seemed extreme. Honestly, I wish I had and had hired a lawyer to win the fight. You are making the right choice. It was an absolutely horrible experience and I live with regret everyday that we don't get a do-over for my poor kids.

Try not to look at private school as having failed your child: your child will probably be more prepared for his/her first year of college than others. My DS is rocking his first year of college, because he is prepared.

It’s fine to assume your kid will be well prepared, but don’t assume they’ll be “more” prepared than others. My public school DS with his “fake” high school GPA is crushing it as a premed chemistry major in his top 5 SLAC and his roommate is a public school kid from Indiana who basically carried their entire friend group through organic chemistry, and the international students from Asian countries are settling the bar for all of them. And doing this while balancing work study jobs.

I’m not denying the quality of a private school education but it’s the height of arrogance to think that public school kids at top colleges and universities aren’t going to be equally well prepared.

Also don’t assume top publics grade inflate or are easy. We are at a top public in New England, an A in an AP is hard to come by, and the B+ students face an uphill battle with admissions despite high test scores. I am convinced if my kids went to the less competitive public in a nearby town; they would have 4.0 and get into college easily.

NP. I agree with you, 100%

What I don't quite understand is the reliance on grades being so extra-heavy even when scores are present. High GPA plus no score >>> "Low" GPA plus high score. The treatment of GPA as if it's standardized (regardless of what is said to the contrary about context) is bizarre, but that seems to be the current situation.

The losers in all this are the kids whose parents deliberately put them in a challenging rigorous school so they can develop intellectually. These are the very kids being weeded out… To an extent this is part of the war against “privilege”- the only rigorous schools are elite privates and publics in very affluent towns.

Yes that’s why elite colleges are filled with kids from inner city public schools and all the private school kids are left going to community college.