Most Prestigious Private HS In US Suffers Elite College Matriculation Decline, Parents/Admins Reeling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I send my kid to private because it’s the best fit for DC now, not for any supposed boost into elite colleges. Those admissions are always a crapshoot even for the tippy top students from any school.

This this this

Sure but having to attend a second tier school will make you rethink your choices.

No it won’t. Kid is currently 4.0 unweighted taking all honors/APs, excellent PSAT (no SAT/ACT yet), strong ECs, beloved by teachers, yadda yadda. But we need to chase merit/stay in state and also don’t need or want an uber competitive environment for DC (“we” being both parents and kid in agreement). Current top choice is W&M and all would be thrilled with that outcome. Also high on the list is Mary Washington. Would also be delighted with that outcome. No second guessing our choices needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions in this cycle are very different this year than they were for the class of 2024 across all DMV privates, so I think the OP has a point. At our Big 5 private, very few Ivy admits this year or even top 20. All Ivy admits were legacies that I know of or athletes. This seems to be the case everywhere- for example, GDS had 7 Harvard admits last year, and only a couple this year per those posting on Instagram. So yes, it would appear the tides are turning across the board for elite privates and college admissions this year. Top kids have to “settle” for UVA. With the economy taking a turn for the worse maybe next year will be better for these kids.

That’s not true for Sidwell. About 25% of the class is heading to an Ivy+ and all of them are not “hooked.” You should check out Sidwell’s IG account.

On a related note, the admissions tide is turning towards private school full pay families. Wealth has never/will never go out of style. Colleges are businesses and the current administration’s funding cuts will make them even more cautious about admitting too many students with too much financial need.

Your Sidwell insecurities are showing.

No, but your Sidwell jealousy is on full display. Cope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re underestimating the network you get from boarding school even if you don’t go to an Ivy. I went to Milton as a day student and I would 100% send my kid to a boarding school as a day student even if they ended up at BU or Tulane. My brother got his job at a hedge fund during the Great Recession in past because of a prep school connection.

Very true. A seriously outsized percentage of those 400-1200 kids at each of the top 25 or so boarding schools are very well connected. The concentration of wealth and influence is noteworthy. If, in addition to seeking an outstanding education, you would like your child to enter adulthood with friends in high places, you will do far better at Exeter or Deerfield than you will at Penn or Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions in this cycle are very different this year than they were for the class of 2024 across all DMV privates, so I think the OP has a point. At our Big 5 private, very few Ivy admits this year or even top 20. All Ivy admits were legacies that I know of or athletes. This seems to be the case everywhere- for example, GDS had 7 Harvard admits last year, and only a couple this year per those posting on Instagram. So yes, it would appear the tides are turning across the board for elite privates and college admissions this year. Top kids have to “settle” for UVA. With the economy taking a turn for the worse maybe next year will be better for these kids.

That’s not true for Sidwell. About 25% of the class is heading to an Ivy+ and all of them are not “hooked.” You should check out Sidwell’s IG account.

On a related note, the admissions tide is turning towards private school full pay families. Wealth has never/will never go out of style. Colleges are businesses and the current administration’s funding cuts will make them even more cautious about admitting too many students with too much financial need.

Your Sidwell insecurities are showing.

No, but your Sidwell jealousy is on full display. Cope.

Honey, you're the one blasting Sidwell all over, on a thread not about Sidwell.
The insecurity is strong with you and you just proved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I send my kid to private because it’s the best fit for DC now, not for any supposed boost into elite colleges. Those admissions are always a crapshoot even for the tippy top students from any school.

This this this

Sure but having to attend a second tier school will make you rethink your choices.

No it won’t. Kid is currently 4.0 unweighted taking all honors/APs, excellent PSAT (no SAT/ACT yet), strong ECs, beloved by teachers, yadda yadda. But we need to chase merit/stay in state and also don’t need or want an uber competitive environment for DC (“we” being both parents and kid in agreement). Current top choice is W&M and all would be thrilled with that outcome. Also high on the list is Mary Washington. Would also be delighted with that outcome. No second guessing our choices needed.

You seem pretty content with mediocrity, why are you even in private high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I send my kid to private because it’s the best fit for DC now, not for any supposed boost into elite colleges. Those admissions are always a crapshoot even for the tippy top students from any school.

This this this

Sure but having to attend a second tier school will make you rethink your choices.

No it won’t. Kid is currently 4.0 unweighted taking all honors/APs, excellent PSAT (no SAT/ACT yet), strong ECs, beloved by teachers, yadda yadda. But we need to chase merit/stay in state and also don’t need or want an uber competitive environment for DC (“we” being both parents and kid in agreement). Current top choice is W&M and all would be thrilled with that outcome. Also high on the list is Mary Washington. Would also be delighted with that outcome. No second guessing our choices needed.

You seem pretty content with mediocrity, why are you even in private high school?

Mediocrity is almost always a function of the student, not the school. There are mediocre students (barely study, skip classes, don't engage in extracurriculars) at top schools, and top students at "second-rate" schools. The student described above will do great at W&M or Mary Washington if they continue to put in the work. (By second-rate, I don't mean East Podunk Texas Regional College, but strong but not elite schools.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Phillips Academy Andover, the most elite prep school in America only got 4 kids into Harvard in 2025. In the class of 2023 12 kids got into Harvard. Similar trends are at other top schools with only 6 getting into Yale in 2025 and 12 getting in 2023. Only 4 matriculated to Penn in 2025 compared to 7 in 2023. Only 13 got into UChicago, compared to 21 getting into UChicago in 2023. The trend holds across most elite schools such as Northwestern, Duke, etc.

There seems to be serious anti-elite trends in college admissions. They clearly see these kids as "privileged" and are holding it against them. In this new era, you might just be better off sending your kid to public school.

https://d2e3a5v56wj8r4.cloudfront.net/files/CCO_Profile_2024-2025.pdf

https://d2e3a5v56wj8r4.cloudfront.net/files/SchoolProfile2023-2024.pdf

Wow, you are really reaching here. These are great stats — even if less impressive than the prior year. And where does it say anyone (except you) is “reeling”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about the parents' connections, not the schools. Uber wealthy well connected parents are still getting their kids in. But with the emphasis on FGLI and athletic recruits at many elite universities and colleges, there simply are fewer open slots. "Regular" wealthy and connected families don't have the advantages they used to.

Nevertheless, Sidwell is still getting kids into Ivies at a far higher rate than the VA and MD magnet schools, despite the latter groups of students having tremendous academic accomplishments and sky-high test scores (plus few parents who use paid college consultants).

Wrong

Why do you think this statement is wrong? Do you have data to back up your assertion?

[Anonymous]

Isn't the int'l student population at Phillips Andover over 10%? These kids may be looking at universities in other countries now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the int'l student population at Phillips Andover over 10%? These kids may be looking at universities in other countries now.

Heck, thy may be looking for high schools in other countries now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I send my kid to private because it’s the best fit for DC now, not for any supposed boost into elite colleges. Those admissions are always a crapshoot even for the tippy top students from any school.

This this this

Sure but having to attend a second tier school will make you rethink your choices.

No it won’t. Kid is currently 4.0 unweighted taking all honors/APs, excellent PSAT (no SAT/ACT yet), strong ECs, beloved by teachers, yadda yadda. But we need to chase merit/stay in state and also don’t need or want an uber competitive environment for DC (“we” being both parents and kid in agreement). Current top choice is W&M and all would be thrilled with that outcome. Also high on the list is Mary Washington. Would also be delighted with that outcome. No second guessing our choices needed.

You seem pretty content with mediocrity, why are you even in private high school?

Mediocrity is almost always a function of the student, not the school. There are mediocre students (barely study, skip classes, don't engage in extracurriculars) at top schools, and top students at "second-rate" schools. The student described above will do great at W&M or Mary Washington if they continue to put in the work. (By second-rate, I don't mean East Podunk Texas Regional College, but strong but not elite schools.)

No, in this case mediocrity is a function of the parents. Shame on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions in this cycle are very different this year than they were for the class of 2024 across all DMV privates, so I think the OP has a point. At our Big 5 private, very few Ivy admits this year or even top 20. All Ivy admits were legacies that I know of or athletes. This seems to be the case everywhere- for example, GDS had 7 Harvard admits last year, and only a couple this year per those posting on Instagram. So yes, it would appear the tides are turning across the board for elite privates and college admissions this year. Top kids have to “settle” for UVA. With the economy taking a turn for the worse maybe next year will be better for these kids.

That’s not true for Sidwell. About 25% of the class is heading to an Ivy+ and all of them are not “hooked.” You should check out Sidwell’s IG account.

On a related note, the admissions tide is turning towards private school full pay families. Wealth has never/will never go out of style. Colleges are businesses and the current administration’s funding cuts will make them even more cautious about admitting too many students with too much financial need.

Your Sidwell insecurities are showing.

No, but your Sidwell jealousy is on full display. Cope.

Honey, you're the one blasting Sidwell all over, on a thread not about Sidwell.
The insecurity is strong with you and you just proved it.

Your projection is a confession. You should just keep scrolling whenever you see a Sidwell post. It clearly triggers your feelings of insecurity AND inferiority…honey. 🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Phillips Academy Andover, the most elite prep school in America only got 4 kids into Harvard in 2025. In the class of 2023 12 kids got into Harvard. Similar trends are at other top schools with only 6 getting into Yale in 2025 and 12 getting in 2023. Only 4 matriculated to Penn in 2025 compared to 7 in 2023. Only 13 got into UChicago, compared to 21 getting into UChicago in 2023. The trend holds across most elite schools such as Northwestern, Duke, etc.

There seems to be serious anti-elite trends in college admissions. They clearly see these kids as "privileged" and are holding it against them. In this new era, you might just be better off sending your kid to public school.

https://d2e3a5v56wj8r4.cloudfront.net/files/CCO_Profile_2024-2025.pdf

https://d2e3a5v56wj8r4.cloudfront.net/files/SchoolProfile2023-2024.pdf

I don't think you understand the difference between being accepted to a school and matriculating (i.e. enrolling). Based on your sources, we have no idea how many students got into Harvard, we just know how many decided to attend. Maybe the students are down on those schools!

Excellent point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I send my kid to private because it’s the best fit for DC now, not for any supposed boost into elite colleges. Those admissions are always a crapshoot even for the tippy top students from any school.

This this this

Sure but having to attend a second tier school will make you rethink your choices.

No it won’t. Kid is currently 4.0 unweighted taking all honors/APs, excellent PSAT (no SAT/ACT yet), strong ECs, beloved by teachers, yadda yadda. But we need to chase merit/stay in state and also don’t need or want an uber competitive environment for DC (“we” being both parents and kid in agreement). Current top choice is W&M and all would be thrilled with that outcome. Also high on the list is Mary Washington. Would also be delighted with that outcome. No second guessing our choices needed.

I am confused by this comment. Are you on FA at a top private HS? Why wouldn't you then look to elite colleges that are most generous with aid?

Also, in what universe would you be fine with Mary Washington and why? Almost better they skip college entirely and go learn a skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re underestimating the network you get from boarding school even if you don’t go to an Ivy. I went to Milton as a day student and I would 100% send my kid to a boarding school as a day student even if they ended up at BU or Tulane. My brother got his job at a hedge fund during the Great Recession in past because of a prep school connection.

Very true. A seriously outsized percentage of those 400-1200 kids at each of the top 25 or so boarding schools are very well connected. The concentration of wealth and influence is noteworthy. If, in addition to seeking an outstanding education, you would like your child to enter adulthood with friends in high places, you will do far better at Exeter or Deerfield than you will at Penn or Harvard.

Exeter and Deerfield now are at 50%+ of students on significant financial aid. Not sure if the connections are the same as they may have been even 5 or 10 years ago...but perhaps the other 50% are all billionaires (vs. just mostly full pay kids of doctors or lawyers without much in the way of connections).