College admission: Public vs. private
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Anonymous
| Do local independent school graduates have a higher chance than public school graduates of gaining acceptance to second tier colleges like Notre Dame, Duke, or equivalent (not interested in the Ivies)? |
Anonymous
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Hahaha...Duke is second tier with a 9.4% admit rate?
I have had kids apply from both a private and a top public and the school really didn't make much difference. My public school DC did better at competitive schools but that was more about scores and grades than school type. Private school probably helps for middling students but those aren't he students going to Duke. If you want Notre Dame then places like G Prep and Gonzaga are probably your best bets. |
Anonymous
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Lol. I concede...I'll rephrase that to "top colleges/universities, but not Ivies." I recognize that these are very competitive schools. Appreciate you sharing your experience with kids in both public and private. Very helpful.
While Notre Dame is first choice, G Prep and Gonzaga are not options for our daughter. 
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Anonymous
ND is whose first choice? You need to chill. Read Frank Bruni's book. Then give it to your daughter. And probably apologize to her. |
Anonymous
Since when is Notre Dame, Duke or the equivalent a 2nd tier school? LOL |
Anonymous
Then look at some of the Catholic independent co-ed or single sex schools. |
Anonymous
Did it ever occur to you its her daughter's first choice? Suffering from mommy issues are you? |
Anonymous
| The answer is that for the very top students public or private doesn't matter much, but for the kids with a B+ average it helps to come from a Big 3. Test scores for these kids are usually very good, and smaller classes mean that the teachers have time to fine tune their recommendations. There is more counselor support. Schools like Duke consider grade deflation in their decisions. |
Anonymous
| OP I would also consider the factor of how your kid will do in college. Geting into a great college in one aspect but being prepared to succeed is another. |
Anonymous
| It really depends OP. If you're talking suburban public, it's easier to get good grades. If you're talking urban public, most of the top colleges really respect a kid who can get good grades/scores coming from a "scruffy" school. For example, I know kids who graduated from Wilson H.S. and SWW in DC who did well for college acceptance. They would have been 'run of the mill' kids in private. |
Anonymous
But that kid will have a hard time graduating college with good stats. |
Anonymous
Parent of a "Big 3" student with lots of friends at Wilson and Walls. I know you were trying to be complimentary, but it comes off as patronizing. The students who do well at Walls and Wilson would do equally well at any of the selective private schools. They certainly wouldn't be run of the mill. Smart driven children are going to thrive anywhere that they are offered the opportunity to shine, regardless of their parents' ability to pay $40k/year. |
Anonymous
| Evidence? |
Anonymous
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Oops -- I was asking for evidence that Wilson and Walls kids have difficulty graduating from college with good stats.
ITA with 11:11. |
Anonymous
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For Notre Dame, you'll probably have a slight edge coming from a Catholic school, but an non-Catholic private v public wouldn't make any difference.
But really, wherever your kid is going to thrive in high school is where they should go. They'll get the best grades, be most involved, and really show their best selves if they're happy and engaged at school. |