Any Parents Privately Disappointed with College Placement?

[Anonymous]

Sorry for typos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any schools that doesn't provide a matriculation list that identifies where students actually end up is risking disappointment. Schools have tricks to improve the appearance of the matriculation list, such as
" in the past five years students have been ADMITTED to the following schools . . ." to allow listing of all top schools that the one or two superstars were admitted to. Another trick is vague (unverifiable) stats referring to percentages being accepted in to some undefined category of elite schools.

These "tricks" create the impression that the school offers a ticket to a better school than the DC might otherwise qualify for. A list that identifies students by name a school attending provides a far more realistic snapshot and real bench-marking. BUT parents of students attending the less impressive schools are sometimes humiliated by such lists.

FWIW, I agree with much of this. I get suspicious when schools provide partial lists of graduates who went to only certain colleges, or lists of admits only without matriculation info. It suggests to me they are painting a partial picture. Personally though, I don't think a school needs to provide actual names of particular students matched to particular colleges. And quite frankly, if my child's name was being published by the school on a college list, I might even be annoyed at the breach of privacy.

Sam2

[Anonymous]

What do you know about the Landon kid who was a starter on Havard's basketball team? Was he a strong student at Landon?

Not sure why you ask, but here you go:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/5/8/harvard-mens-basketball-webster-community-service-cuba-full-court/?page=1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What do you know about the Landon kid who was a starter on Havard's basketball team? Was he a strong student at Landon?

Not sure why you ask, but here you go:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/5/8/harvard-mens-basketball-webster-community-service-cuba-full-court/?page=1

Here is something else:

"Awarded the 2009 All-Met Distinguished Michael L. Trilling Award which goes to one male and one female recipient out of every high school sport in the greater D.C. area who excels both athletically and academically and serves their communities beyond the field and the classroom"

http://www.gocrimson.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/bios/Christian%20Webster%20Bio

[Anonymous]

I know a family whose kid attended prestigious private in area for high school, after spending all of PK through 8 in another private. High SATs, sports, good grades, etc. Turned down or waitlisted at most of their first choice colleges, which really shocked the family. Finally committed to another very good school that offered significant merit aid, but one that hadn't been among the top choices. They then found out that child of another friend whose kid went to DCPS PK through 12 got into the same school. Didn't get the aid offer, but still...it was a tough pill to swallow in some ways...DCPS kid eventually chose another college to attend.

Many families choose private schools and are willing to spend the money because it is the right place for their child, or maybe it's just their family tradition. My point is, if you're doing it primarily because you think it will enhance your chances of getting into the best or "right" colleges/universities, that's not always the case, and you may wonder whether spending 30-40K a year for 12 years was really worth it.

[Anonymous]

Many families choose private schools and are willing to spend the money because it is the right place for their child, or maybe it's just their family tradition. My point is, if you're doing it primarily because you think it will enhance your chances of getting into the best or "right" colleges/universities, that's not always the case, and you may wonder whether spending 30-40K a year for 12 years was really worth it.

Okay...most of us are fully aware of this gamble.

There are some families who are foundation builders and want their child to receive an excellent education prior to college. My hope is that my children are life-long learners. We tried DC public schools and noticed that they were yawning and disengaging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any schools that doesn't provide a matriculation list that identifies where students actually end up is risking disappointment. Schools have tricks to improve the appearance of the matriculation list, such as
" in the past five years students have been ADMITTED to the following schools . . ." to allow listing of all top schools that the one or two superstars were admitted to. Another trick is vague (unverifiable) stats referring to percentages being accepted in to some undefined category of elite schools.

These "tricks" create the impression that the school offers a ticket to a better school than the DC might otherwise qualify for. A list that identifies students by name a school attending provides a far more realistic snapshot and real bench-marking. BUT parents of students attending the less impressive schools are sometimes humiliated by such lists.

I mostly agree with this too. I think a bigger problem with the list of students linked to their schools is that the students maybe humiliated or puffed up, which seems particularly unfair to the kids when admission to the top schools depends so much on luck. Imagine the backbiting: "X only got in because he's a legacy/dumb jock". And the humiliation: "I knew Y was applying to HYP, he must have been rejected from all three." Ick!

Maybe one solution is to provide a list of colleges where kids are matriculating (not the acceptances). Something like Princeton (1), Cornell (2), U Chicago (2)....

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]14:47 again. It just dawned on me, you're saying that 2 legacy applicants are rejected for every legacy applicant that is accepted. So 33% of legacy applicants are accepted, not 100% like some might think. In a world where Ivies take 10% of all applicants, though, that's still a large thumb on the scale. [/quote]

The name Bush comes to mind.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]14:47 again. It just dawned on me, you're saying that 2 legacy applicants are rejected for every legacy applicant that is accepted. So 33% of legacy applicants are accepted, not 100% like some might think. In a world where Ivies take 10% of all applicants, though, that's still a large thumb on the scale. [/quote]

The name Bush comes to mind.[/quote]

Except there's a huge difference between legacies and the kids of celebrities/bigwigs. The Bushes were in the latter category by the time W was applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any schools that doesn't provide a matriculation list that identifies where students actually end up is risking disappointment. Schools have tricks to improve the appearance of the matriculation list, such as
" in the past five years students have been ADMITTED to the following schools . . ." to allow listing of all top schools that the one or two superstars were admitted to. Another trick is vague (unverifiable) stats referring to percentages being accepted in to some undefined category of elite schools.

These "tricks" create the impression that the school offers a ticket to a better school than the DC might otherwise qualify for. A list that identifies students by name a school attending provides a far more realistic snapshot and real bench-marking. BUT parents of students attending the less impressive schools are sometimes humiliated by such lists.

I mostly agree with this too. I think a bigger problem with the list of students linked to their schools is that the students maybe humiliated or puffed up, which seems particularly unfair to the kids when admission to the top schools depends so much on luck. Imagine the backbiting: "X only got in because he's a legacy/dumb jock". And the humiliation: "I knew Y was applying to HYP, he must have been rejected from all three." Ick!

Maybe one solution is to provide a list of colleges where kids are matriculating (not the acceptances). Something like Princeton (1), Cornell (2), U Chicago (2)....

1. Mostly it the parents who are complete psychos about this, not the kids;
2. Some schools do post such lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a family whose kid attended prestigious private in area for high school, after spending all of PK through 8 in another private. High SATs, sports, good grades, etc. Turned down or waitlisted at most of their first choice colleges, which really shocked the family. Finally committed to another very good school that offered significant merit aid, but one that hadn't been among the top choices. They then found out that child of another friend whose kid went to DCPS PK through 12 got into the same school. Didn't get the aid offer, but still...it was a tough pill to swallow in some ways...DCPS kid eventually chose another college to attend.

Many families choose private schools and are willing to spend the money because it is the right place for their child, or maybe it's just their family tradition. My point is, if you're doing it primarily because you think it will enhance your chances of getting into the best or "right" colleges/universities, that's not always the case, and you may wonder whether spending 30-40K a year for 12 years was really worth it.

Duh - even the most selective schools have about 60% of their students coming from public schools. Of course kids from public schools get in to selective colleges. My public school kid is going to a more competitive college than my private school kid. I don't regret paying tuition for the private school kid though. It was the right fit for each.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going to Indiana from STA is a disappointment.

Apparently, this STA parent is privately disappointed with their son's college placement. Didn't the school's counselor tell you it's a great fit for your son and a wonderful school? The way everyone here from the community is raving, Indiana-Bloomington is brag worthy, why the letdown, PP?

Two STA grads headed to Indiana

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA grad going to Indiana, is he going for music? If so, should not be a disappointment, IMO.

There's one or two STA grads going to Indiana as far as I know.

Some parents didn't come from a private school background and/or attended a large, public school themselves and hoped for a different outcome for their son. They may or may not have expected that as a STA graduate their son would attend a more prestigious college than they, perhaps in hindsight they're feeling right now that he could have had this college admission outcome after attending a public school.

Man, you people know nothing. One of the guys going to Indiana is attempting to walk on to the football team (and is thrilled for the chance). Why would you opine about things you know nothing about?

"One of the guys going to Indiana is attempting to walk on to the football team "
Oh great career plan!- I'm going to walk on to the football team at a basketball school - sounds like someone could have used a bit of guidance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a family whose kid attended prestigious private in area for high school, after spending all of PK through 8 in another private. High SATs, sports, good grades, etc. Turned down or waitlisted at most of their first choice colleges, which really shocked the family. Finally committed to another very good school that offered significant merit aid, but one that hadn't been among the top choices. They then found out that child of another friend whose kid went to DCPS PK through 12 got into the same school. Didn't get the aid offer, but still...it was a tough pill to swallow in some ways...DCPS kid eventually chose another college to attend.

Many families choose private schools and are willing to spend the money because it is the right place for their child, or maybe it's just their family tradition. My point is, if you're doing it primarily because you think it will enhance your chances of getting into the best or "right" colleges/universities, that's not always the case, and you may wonder whether spending 30-40K a year for 12 years was really worth it.

So true! We attend one of the so-called Big schools, and we chose it for probably different reasons than most. While academics were/are important, we did not want to worry about safety or inadequate after school activity if we couldn't get there right away for pickup. This may sound trivial to some but we didn't care. We can't work and concentrate if we have to worry about the care and safety of our kids. It has paid off in spades and would do it again in a heartbeat. Two down, one to go.

[Anonymous]

10:23-- It would have been a far worse plan for a basketball player. All student/athletes on the collegiate level are not interested in professional sports careers. I won't assume anything about this kid's desires or career aspirations.