Class of '26 Instagram College Decisions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friends who are unhappy are the ones whose girls truly excel and at another school would be put into an actually accelerated model, one where you could get to linear algebra, win national math contests, etc. A quarter of any class at any of these schools (except maybe Hunter or Speyer) isn’t that kind of math student. They feel the program rewards the more averagely smart kid by holding back the truly talented ones. They complain that their daughters sail through the advanced math and are bored. Gifted kids work better in schools where they can take flight and the school holds those kids back. Not sure if it’s new phenom or a result of it’s equity emphasis — just don’t know.

Lol, here we go again. Yeah, the school holds kids back in math because of DEI. C'mon. Otherwise, I agree with the rest of the post. It is a humanities focused school for sure. If you want math, I would go to Stuy instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
But I do also agree it's the humanities and all around education that defines a school like Brearley, plus the culture of the school if it fits. I feel like strong STEM is less unique, including at the competitive public schools, but if that's the main criterion and one doesn't care about the other factors, then quite likely other places are doing more.

Obviously one cares about many different factors, it's how you weigh them. Great literature and history education is extremely important, but for the right type of kid a little less civics engagement vs e.g. more hands-on bio research experience is a valid preference.

Also: I was told by a friend that after an intense deep dive into Shakespeare at Brearley she truly learned to analyze his texts line-by-line... but she still doesn't really get that much enjoyment from reading him. Just something to ponder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friends who are unhappy are the ones whose girls truly excel and at another school would be put into an actually accelerated model, one where you could get to linear algebra, win national math contests, etc. A quarter of any class at any of these schools (except maybe Hunter or Speyer) isn’t that kind of math student. They feel the program rewards the more averagely smart kid by holding back the truly talented ones. They complain that their daughters sail through the advanced math and are bored. Gifted kids work better in schools where they can take flight and the school holds those kids back. Not sure if it’s new phenom or a result of it’s equity emphasis — just don’t know.

Lol, here we go again. Yeah, the school holds kids back in math because of DEI. C'mon. Otherwise, I agree with the rest of the post. It is a humanities focused school for sure. If you want math, I would go to Stuy instead.

Poster isn't explaining what grade they are talking about. Brearley doesn't start splitting up the math classes until 6th grade. And of course half the time it's the first grade parents complaining that the school is ruining their genius's STEM career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But I do also agree it's the humanities and all around education that defines a school like Brearley, plus the culture of the school if it fits. I feel like strong STEM is less unique, including at the competitive public schools, but if that's the main criterion and one doesn't care about the other factors, then quite likely other places are doing more.

Obviously one cares about many different factors, it's how you weigh them. Great literature and history education is extremely important, but for the right type of kid a little less civics engagement vs e.g. more hands-on bio research experience is a valid preference.

Also: I was told by a friend that after an intense deep dive into Shakespeare at Brearley she truly learned to analyze his texts line-by-line... but she still doesn't really get that much enjoyment from reading him. Just something to ponder.

For me a high school that teaches close reading like that is the main non-negotiable, because that's such an incredibly important life skill they don't really teach in college. And certainly I'm not saying at all it's only one school that does that. Happily, my DD's reading enjoyment has survived high school, but those were always her favorite classes.

[Anonymous]

All I meant was they have changed a lot in recent years and I don’t know how it has or hasn’t changed the way math is taught because I am not a quant. The parents who complained to me have a high schooler they didn’t know was eligible for all sorts of programs due to how good at math she was. The other was a middle schooler whose parents felt like she was bored in the advanced track. I’d love it if the focus in the humanities was on close reading complicated texts like Shakespeare, but they have shifted focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All I meant was they have changed a lot in recent years and I don’t know how it has or hasn’t changed the way math is taught because I am not a quant. The parents who complained to me have a high schooler they didn’t know was eligible for all sorts of programs due to how good at math she was. The other was a middle schooler whose parents felt like she was bored in the advanced track. I’d love it if the focus in the humanities was on close reading complicated texts like Shakespeare, but they have shifted focus.

Shifted focus in what way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Trevor hater is back to derail all conversations that mention it. Please go away.

It is on par with some of the other schools mentioned. Many very successful families choose these schools for a variety of reasons. And top kids at these schools do just as well as kids at TT schools. And often have a happier four years of HS doing so.

Not that I primarily focus on HS.

The top 10% of Trevor is not doing just as well as HM or Dalton.

are the trevor kids less intelligent, driven, motivated? or is it the teaching? or is it all about the parents $$, hooks etc?

I have no connection to Trevor but it seems like many of the kids are getting into good colleges. Maybe not HYP, but I see a lot of Cornell, Penn, Rice and others. If my kid could end up at Penn and have a relatively happy four years of high school I would be pretty happy. I would hate to have my kid's last 4 years at home be consumed by stress and anxiety. The Trevor results seem about on par with Grace and Sacred Heart so I'm not sure why there is so much hate.

There isn’t “hate.” There is pushback at claims that the top of Trevor has TT results. It’s untrue, and unfair to families looking for advice here. They shouldn’t spend 1mm for an inferior product. I hope Trevor is paying shills here, I wouldn’t do it for free.

inferior to what exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Trevor hater is back to derail all conversations that mention it. Please go away.

It is on par with some of the other schools mentioned. Many very successful families choose these schools for a variety of reasons. And top kids at these schools do just as well as kids at TT schools. And often have a happier four years of HS doing so.

Not that I primarily focus on HS.

The top 10% of Trevor is not doing just as well as HM or Dalton.

are the trevor kids less intelligent, driven, motivated? or is it the teaching? or is it all about the parents $$, hooks etc?

I have no connection to Trevor but it seems like many of the kids are getting into good colleges. Maybe not HYP, but I see a lot of Cornell, Penn, Rice and others. If my kid could end up at Penn and have a relatively happy four years of high school I would be pretty happy. I would hate to have my kid's last 4 years at home be consumed by stress and anxiety. The Trevor results seem about on par with Grace and Sacred Heart so I'm not sure why there is so much hate.

There isn’t “hate.” There is pushback at claims that the top of Trevor has TT results. It’s untrue, and unfair to families looking for advice here. They shouldn’t spend 1mm for an inferior product. I hope Trevor is paying shills here, I wouldn’t do it for free.

inferior to what exactly?

Inferior to 2T schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former Brearley parent. Year after year about 25% of class goes to HYPS. With those in particular, it is a lot of legacy, but plenty of normal legacies. Only about 1/3 maybe get into their early schools so most of what you see is not legacy. Plenty of fancy families but plenty of regular families

Other kid went to a different TT with great results as well but not quite the same.

Honestly, I can’t explain why colleges love Brearley so much. But I can say that these results are not reducible to hooks, which are common at all these schools. It plays a role, but the unhooked are doing fine as well.

i can't really explain it either with respect to Spence. The results are out of this world. I understand some of it is $$. But the broad based number of excellent schools across almost the entire student body says that it has to be something.

So far, Spence has 60 kids posted on Instagram which is probably their 99% or entire of the total senior population. the IVY+ Stanford+ MIT rate is 47%.. this is insane as i would think Spence is not as academically intense as Brearley or HM...

60 kids is 99% of the class? not sure that even works mathematically!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Trevor hater is back to derail all conversations that mention it. Please go away.

It is on par with some of the other schools mentioned. Many very successful families choose these schools for a variety of reasons. And top kids at these schools do just as well as kids at TT schools. And often have a happier four years of HS doing so.

Not that I primarily focus on HS.

The top 10% of Trevor is not doing just as well as HM or Dalton.

are the trevor kids less intelligent, driven, motivated? or is it the teaching? or is it all about the parents $$, hooks etc?

I have no connection to Trevor but it seems like many of the kids are getting into good colleges. Maybe not HYP, but I see a lot of Cornell, Penn, Rice and others. If my kid could end up at Penn and have a relatively happy four years of high school I would be pretty happy. I would hate to have my kid's last 4 years at home be consumed by stress and anxiety. The Trevor results seem about on par with Grace and Sacred Heart so I'm not sure why there is so much hate.

There isn’t “hate.” There is pushback at claims that the top of Trevor has TT results. It’s untrue, and unfair to families looking for advice here. They shouldn’t spend 1mm for an inferior product. I hope Trevor is paying shills here, I wouldn’t do it for free.

inferior to what exactly?

Inferior to 2T schools

maybe they liked it? maybe siblings go there? maybe a friend had a good experience? maybe they got some aid?

you don't think people take the time to decide where to send their kids? and do research? the data on college acceptance is available and you can speak with many current and former families to see if the school fits what you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former Brearley parent. Year after year about 25% of class goes to HYPS. With those in particular, it is a lot of legacy, but plenty of normal legacies. Only about 1/3 maybe get into their early schools so most of what you see is not legacy. Plenty of fancy families but plenty of regular families

Other kid went to a different TT with great results as well but not quite the same.

Honestly, I can’t explain why colleges love Brearley so much. But I can say that these results are not reducible to hooks, which are common at all these schools. It plays a role, but the unhooked are doing fine as well.

i can't really explain it either with respect to Spence. The results are out of this world. I understand some of it is $$. But the broad based number of excellent schools across almost the entire student body says that it has to be something.

So far, Spence has 60 kids posted on Instagram which is probably their 99% or entire of the total senior population. the IVY+ Stanford+ MIT rate is 47%.. this is insane as i would think Spence is not as academically intense as Brearley or HM...

As a Spence alum, I can vouch that it is very academically intense. Like, unpleasantly if it's not in your nature to study all the time on top of your other commitments. College and law school was easy after it.

oh for god's sake, just tell us how much your mommy and daddy paid to get you into college. because according to the experts here that's the only reason you got into the school you did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is sort of blood omertà among certain parents at these TT schools that they are indeed always everything they were promised to be and that anyone who feels different is just jealous. It’s weird and immature, and it means admin is never held accountable for anything other than getting rich kids into HYP, which isn’t a metric of anything other than getting rich kids into HYP. How do they once there, do they do well once they graduate? No one knows, because you aren’t allowed to ask. I didn’t quite believe there adults who believed in HYP the way kids believe in Santa Claus, but then my kid went to a TT. There are.

Feels like the majority of people are happy with the outcomes for TT and the demand for the product is still there.

If the bullying and poor outcomes were more consistently an issue - people would not be applying.

your daughter and a couple of others had a terrible experience due to one rich girl at one TT school. It sucks but it sure seems to be an outlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But I do also agree it's the humanities and all around education that defines a school like Brearley, plus the culture of the school if it fits. I feel like strong STEM is less unique, including at the competitive public schools, but if that's the main criterion and one doesn't care about the other factors, then quite likely other places are doing more.

Obviously one cares about many different factors, it's how you weigh them. Great literature and history education is extremely important, but for the right type of kid a little less civics engagement vs e.g. more hands-on bio research experience is a valid preference.

Also: I was told by a friend that after an intense deep dive into Shakespeare at Brearley she truly learned to analyze his texts line-by-line... but she still doesn't really get that much enjoyment from reading him. Just something to ponder.

So now Brearley teaches Shakespeare poorly? does the school do ANYTHING right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But I do also agree it's the humanities and all around education that defines a school like Brearley, plus the culture of the school if it fits. I feel like strong STEM is less unique, including at the competitive public schools, but if that's the main criterion and one doesn't care about the other factors, then quite likely other places are doing more.

Obviously one cares about many different factors, it's how you weigh them. Great literature and history education is extremely important, but for the right type of kid a little less civics engagement vs e.g. more hands-on bio research experience is a valid preference.

Also: I was told by a friend that after an intense deep dive into Shakespeare at Brearley she truly learned to analyze his texts line-by-line... but she still doesn't really get that much enjoyment from reading him. Just something to ponder.

So now Brearley teaches Shakespeare poorly? does the school do ANYTHING right?

C'mon, I am just sharing this anecdote, I am not even sure it's a reflection of Brearley specifically. FWIW, my kid really enjoyed the classes there on a revisit day, thought the discussions were of better quality than at her current middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But I do also agree it's the humanities and all around education that defines a school like Brearley, plus the culture of the school if it fits. I feel like strong STEM is less unique, including at the competitive public schools, but if that's the main criterion and one doesn't care about the other factors, then quite likely other places are doing more.

Obviously one cares about many different factors, it's how you weigh them. Great literature and history education is extremely important, but for the right type of kid a little less civics engagement vs e.g. more hands-on bio research experience is a valid preference.

Also: I was told by a friend that after an intense deep dive into Shakespeare at Brearley she truly learned to analyze his texts line-by-line... but she still doesn't really get that much enjoyment from reading him. Just something to ponder.

So now Brearley teaches Shakespeare poorly? does the school do ANYTHING right?

C'mon, I am just sharing this anecdote, I am not even sure it's a reflection of Brearley specifically. FWIW, my kid really enjoyed the classes there on a revisit day, thought the discussions were of better quality than at her current middle school.

Assumed you were the B parent whose daughter was endlessly bullied by a rich kid and had to transfer out.