Unhooked kids - Why is private HS worth the diminished chances for top college admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In looking at college admissions and based on comments on this board it seems like most kids from top privates getting in to top schools are athletic recruits, donor kids or other heavily hooked kids. If your child is not hooked do you believe your child's chances are lower at getting into a good college from your private? Why or why not? If so, why did you decide to have your child in private anyway?

This Board is a small percentage of kids. So keep that in mind. These kids are doing amazing things. However, this Board diminishes the achievements and plays victimhood game. A lot of parents are simply not realistic about what their kids really is. So they tend to come up some fantasy as to why this or that happened. Plenty of kids from privates are being admitted to top schools with no so called "hooks." Focus on the best fit for your child and it will be fine. Don't do what you think everyone else is doing..plain and simple.

[Anonymous]

NP here -- do most people expect their kids to go to grad school? I sort of assume my ES kid will, although it's too soon to know what field she'll pursue. Of course I'd love her to get into top colleges (with full rides, while we're dreaming!) but personally, I went to an okay college and a great grad school, and the grad school is what opened doors for me. If you think your kid will get a graduate degree, is a top college really that important?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In looking at college admissions and based on comments on this board it seems like most kids from top privates getting in to top schools are athletic recruits, donor kids or other heavily hooked kids. If your child is not hooked do you believe your child's chances are lower at getting into a good college from your private? Why or why not? If so, why did you decide to have your child in private anyway?

This Board is a small percentage of kids. So keep that in mind. These kids are doing amazing things. However, this Board diminishes the achievements and plays victimhood game. A lot of parents are simply not realistic about what their kids really is. So they tend to come up some fantasy as to why this or that happened. Plenty of kids from privates are being admitted to top schools with no so called "hooks." Focus on the best fit for your child and it will be fine. Don't do what you think everyone else is doing..plain and simple.

But they're not this year. Do you have a senior?
It not, ask one. Putting your head in the sand doesn't help anything.
Things have changed dramatically since even last year. Regular decisions are still pending so who knows what will end up happening but so far things are quite different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to private because we strongly believe it is a better, more enriching and well-rounded experience. College admissions have nothing to do with it.

Same here. Small classes, personalized relationships with teachers in classes of 10-12 students, college like campus, religious component, and like minded students that are focused on academics and social service etc… no question it is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to private because we strongly believe it is a better, more enriching and well-rounded experience. College admissions have nothing to do with it.

Same here. Small classes, personalized relationships with teachers in classes of 10-12 students, college like campus, religious component, and like minded students that are focused on academics and social service etc… no question it is worth it.

+1

[Anonymous]

OP- some of us went to private schools and would never consider sending our kids to public. For some, it is a class thing. I have a hard time thinking that snything free (public) could be any good.

[Anonymous]

This has always been the case. 99.9% of students have no chance at those schools not matter how awesome they are as individuals and students. And they will be happier elsewhere anyway.

This obsession is ridiculous and unhealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In looking at college admissions and based on comments on this board it seems like most kids from top privates getting in to top schools are athletic recruits, donor kids or other heavily hooked kids. If your child is not hooked do you believe your child's chances are lower at getting into a good college from your private? Why or why not? If so, why did you decide to have your child in private anyway?

Well if you think about it if your child attends a great private for k - 12 or great combo of privates, then they are experiencing this for 13 years. The experience, etc will last a lifetime. Also a human brain develops mostly during adolescence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First 13 years matter far more than the four years at college. I don’t need or necessarily want a top 25 school for DC. No one in our families went to a school in the top 25. All are very successful and happy. We have physicians, lawyers, vets and IT professionals in my cousin cohort. I don’t care where kids go to college. I do care where they spend their first 13 years as the develop into adults.

They can't develop in adults unless they are cuddled?

I think you meant “coddled,” but if you think all a good private school does is coddle kids, then it’s clear you have no experience with them and are not qualified to be part of this conversation.

judgmental as expected. good day

But PP is right. You are making false claims, simply repeating what you've read on here about private schools, and you don't have the experience to know that this is a lie that you are perpetuating. Why are you doing that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This stupid reasoning game is played by everyone who couldn't get into college they wanted (or feel deserved) - private parents, public parents, hook families, unhooked families, rich, poor...etc. End of the day, the bottom line is your kid didn't bring what the college was looking for. Accept that and move on.

Or they did, but so did ten thousand other kids and you card wasn't drawn from the pile this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In looking at college admissions and based on comments on this board it seems like most kids from top privates getting in to top schools are athletic recruits, donor kids or other heavily hooked kids. If your child is not hooked do you believe your child's chances are lower at getting into a good college from your private? Why or why not? If so, why did you decide to have your child in private anyway?

NP but question for OP - are in public or private, or trying to decide between the two?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In looking at college admissions and based on comments on this board it seems like most kids from top privates getting in to top schools are athletic recruits, donor kids or other heavily hooked kids. If your child is not hooked do you believe your child's chances are lower at getting into a good college from your private? Why or why not? If so, why did you decide to have your child in private anyway?

NP but question for OP - are in public or private, or trying to decide between the two?

Sorry, typo. I was wondering if your kids are in public or private or if you are just trying to decide between the two?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here -- do most people expect their kids to go to grad school? I sort of assume my ES kid will, although it's too soon to know what field she'll pursue. Of course I'd love her to get into top colleges (with full rides, while we're dreaming!) but personally, I went to an okay college and a great grad school, and the grad school is what opened doors for me. If you think your kid will get a graduate degree, is a top college really that important?

If people are being honest here, what I am reading is people don't send their kids to private for that reason (i.e., top college admission). I don't know if I believe that but that's what they are saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In looking at college admissions and based on comments on this board it seems like most kids from top privates getting in to top schools are athletic recruits, donor kids or other heavily hooked kids. If your child is not hooked do you believe your child's chances are lower at getting into a good college from your private? Why or why not? If so, why did you decide to have your child in private anyway?

This Board is a small percentage of kids. So keep that in mind. These kids are doing amazing things. However, this Board diminishes the achievements and plays victimhood game. A lot of parents are simply not realistic about what their kids really is. So they tend to come up some fantasy as to why this or that happened. Plenty of kids from privates are being admitted to top schools with no so called "hooks." Focus on the best fit for your child and it will be fine. Don't do what you think everyone else is doing..plain and simple.

But they're not this year. Do you have a senior?
It not, ask one. Putting your head in the sand doesn't help anything.
Things have changed dramatically since even last year. Regular decisions are still pending so who knows what will end up happening but so far things are quite different.

No, I don't have a senior this year. But we have access to quite a few via friends, church, etc. So far two to Stanford, one to Northwestern, one to Vandy, etc. So your perception doesn't hold water for our peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In looking at college admissions and based on comments on this board it seems like most kids from top privates getting in to top schools are athletic recruits, donor kids or other heavily hooked kids. If your child is not hooked do you believe your child's chances are lower at getting into a good college from your private? Why or why not? If so, why did you decide to have your child in private anyway?

This Board is a small percentage of kids. So keep that in mind. These kids are doing amazing things. However, this Board diminishes the achievements and plays victimhood game. A lot of parents are simply not realistic about what their kids really is. So they tend to come up some fantasy as to why this or that happened. Plenty of kids from privates are being admitted to top schools with no so called "hooks." Focus on the best fit for your child and it will be fine. Don't do what you think everyone else is doing..plain and simple.

But they're not this year. Do you have a senior?
It not, ask one. Putting your head in the sand doesn't help anything.
Things have changed dramatically since even last year. Regular decisions are still pending so who knows what will end up happening but so far things are quite different.

No, I don't have a senior this year. But we have access to quite a few via friends, church, etc. So far two to Stanford, one to Northwestern, one to Vandy, etc. So your perception doesn't hold water for our peer group.

two unhooked DC private school kids to Stanford this year?