Harvard, Yale "feeders"

[Anonymous]

I hesitate to ask which top independent school in the area is a Harvard feeder because no school is truly a "feeder" anymore. But which school is best known to and trusted by the Harvard admissions office and seems to have the strongest track record of sending more of its graduates on to Harvard? What about Yale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hesitate to ask which top independent school in the area is a Harvard feeder because no school is truly a "feeder" anymore. But which school is best known to and trusted by the Harvard admissions office and seems to have the strongest track record of sending more of its graduates on to Harvard? What about Yale?

no school is truly a "feeder"

[Anonymous]

In the DMV or the country?

Many of the NE prep schools come as close as you are going to come.

[Anonymous]

There are NONE in DC anymore. Sorry. I know you like to think that you can buy your kids into Yale or Harvard by sending them to the so-called Big 3 or whatever, but it's not a ticket anymore or even close. The large majority of kids attending DC's top privates will NOT get into Harvard or Yale. Sure, a somewhat larger percentage might get in than at other schools, but they'll still be a distinct minority and they're going to be the same kids who would've gotten in had they gone to school anywhere in this area.

[Anonymous]

I know of schools in other, larger metropolitan areas whose students' have had success in earning their admissions in respectable numbers to the H/P/S/Ys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know of schools in other, larger metropolitan areas whose students' have had success in earning their admissions in respectable numbers to the H/P/S/Ys.

And what exactly does this have to do with OP's question???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are NONE in DC anymore. Sorry. I know you like to think that you can buy your kids into Yale or Harvard by sending them to the so-called Big 3 or whatever, but it's not a ticket anymore or even close. The large majority of kids attending DC's top privates will NOT get into Harvard or Yale. Sure, a somewhat larger percentage might get in than at other schools, but they'll still be a distinct minority and they're going to be the same kids who would've gotten in had they gone to school anywhere in this area.

I don't think any school in the entire country is a guaranteed ticket into Yale or Harvard that you can buy. And of course the majority of kids attending any of DC's top private schools (or frankly any school in the entire nation) will not be admitted to Yale or Harvard. No one's seriously contesting those straw arguments.

But as you note, there's a much larger percentage of students getting admitted to Yale & Harvard every year from some schools than from others. You seem to think it was inevitable that those children would be admitted no matter where they'd gone to high school. I agree with you that most of those kids are probably very smart and capable, and would carry those characteristics with them wherever they go. But I don't think either of us can say definitively that the schooling did not add anything. Indeed, I suspect most of those schools did a lot to encourage those naturally capable students to grow to their full potential. If those kids had attended different schools, they might never have reached their potential.

And that's not to suggest only expensive private schools can allow children to grow to their potential. I'm sure some children would do fine in a magnet program, or others in a local public school (maybe even better than they'd do in a private school). It all depends on the particular school and the particular child.

[Anonymous]

In some cases it is actually better to be a stand out kid at a good public than come from a "feeder" if that is truly your goal; you're competing against your classmates since HYP value geographic and cultural diversity as much as they do the "name" of your high school.

[Anonymous]

Because of the number of legacies who are also academically and or athletically talented who attend private schools in this area, I wouldn't consider any school a feeder.

If you are set on Harvard or Yale, you should probably look at an area where "Harvard/Yale types" aren't over represented. Getting into ivys was easier when I was applying to college, but living in the middle of nowhere helped me a lot, I'm sure.

[Anonymous]

All of the top 10 or so privates in DC typically have some kids go to each of the schools. The counselors and staff at those schools may have slightly differing relationships with the admittance staff at HYP - but not by much in terms of actual admittance results they get - that only goes so far really. The percentage of kids admitted to HYP is always going to be higher at the elite privates than any public by sheer size ratios. So your 'odds' are highest at the top 5-10 DC privates - so flip a coin or spin a wheel or whatever. But all the other factors (academics, special accomplishments, test scores, legacy parents, diversity, etc) will always weigh in. You are better off trying to cultivate a famous or influential alum from a given school - or giving a ridiculously large amount of money to the school - if you are looking for strings to pull.

[Anonymous]

STA!

As the matter of fact, when you apply, make sure you let them know your goal and write them a large donation check! Your DS will be all set for life after that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are NONE in DC anymore. Sorry. I know you like to think that you can buy your kids into Yale or Harvard by sending them to the so-called Big 3 or whatever, but it's not a ticket anymore or even close. The large majority of kids attending DC's top privates will NOT get into Harvard or Yale. Sure, a somewhat larger percentage might get in than at other schools, but they'll still be a distinct minority and they're going to be the same kids who would've gotten in had they gone to school anywhere in this area.

I don't think any school in the entire country is a guaranteed ticket into Yale or Harvard that you can buy. And of course the majority of kids attending any of DC's top private schools (or frankly any school in the entire nation) will not be admitted to Yale or Harvard. No one's seriously contesting those straw arguments.

But as you note, there's a much larger percentage of students getting admitted to Yale & Harvard every year from some schools than from others. You seem to think it was inevitable that those children would be admitted no matter where they'd gone to high school. I agree with you that most of those kids are probably very smart and capable, and would carry those characteristics with them wherever they go. But I don't think either of us can say definitively that the schooling did not add anything. Indeed, I suspect most of those schools did a lot to encourage those naturally capable students to grow to their full potential. If those kids had attended different schools, they might never have reached their potential.

And that's not to suggest only expensive private schools can allow children to grow to their potential. I'm sure some children would do fine in a magnet program, or others in a local public school (maybe even better than they'd do in a private school). It all depends on the particular school and the particular child.

Where did I say "much larger percentage?" I said "somewhat larger." Big difference. The point is that it's a small number everywhere, so small that it's more likely the kid than the school. In this area, at least.

Way to twist my words.

[Anonymous]

Better to be a very top student at a public than in a herd of strong applicants at a prep now. If you consider how small the classes are at Harvard and Yale, next consider 15% is spoken for by international students. Then there are regional quotas to consider all over the U.S. There aren't 150-200 acceptances going to DMV area kids, not nearly. Schools don't get imbalanced preferences, even if they are well regarded preps. I true irony now

[Anonymous]

Folks: This question was answered years ago. GDS sends more kids to Harvard than any other school in the country

[Anonymous]

OP -- the answer is no. Each year different ones of the top 6 privates send more to H,Y,P than the others. As someone eluded to -- the number can change based on the numbers of legacies in the various schools, as well as athletic recruits. For a kid to get in without a hook -- you better pray.