Sending my sister off to Andover or Exeter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

sparky wrote:I'm wondering how I can prepare my elementary school sister to Andover or Exeter. I was always stressed out due to the competition in a magnet high school, and I hope my sister has a better secondary school experience. I did get into Princeton, however, but I don't think fighting for the spot in a public school isn't worth it vs going to a private school where 20% of the population go to an Ivy. I want help send her off to the Lower School and then the Upper school if possible. I talked to my parents and they seem to be positive about the idea, as the district they are moving to next year isn't the best. How should I help my sister go about this?

I call this a bad troll job.

1. Neither Andover nor Exeter have a lower school. They are high schools.

2. No older sister has this much influence over a younger sister's academic experience.

No American-born white older sister has this much influence over a younger sister's experience. You are forgetting that OP is an immigrant. Based on personal experience, I can 100% see parents looking to "the one that succeeded" to guide the younger one, given that they are in a new system themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

sparky wrote:I'm wondering how I can prepare my elementary school sister to Andover or Exeter. I was always stressed out due to the competition in a magnet high school, and I hope my sister has a better secondary school experience. I did get into Princeton, however, but I don't think fighting for the spot in a public school isn't worth it vs going to a private school where 20% of the population go to an Ivy. I want help send her off to the Lower School and then the Upper school if possible. I talked to my parents and they seem to be positive about the idea, as the district they are moving to next year isn't the best. How should I help my sister go about this?

I call this a bad troll job.

1. Neither Andover nor Exeter have a lower school. They are high schools.

2. No older sister has this much influence over a younger sister's academic experience.

Sorry, but this isn't a troll job. I can verify I am a Princetonian if you would like. I mistook Andover's lower school for a middle school. I got mixed up with the terminology from my local day school, where a lot of my friends attended. I didn't look into Andover/Exeter that deeply as well (didn't have too much time, should have done more)

If you haven't looked into them enough to even know that they're high schools, then why are you so sure that they're right for your sister? Andover doesn't even use the terminology "lower school." The only use of the term "lower" is to denote a second year student (the terminology for the grades is junior, lower, upper, senior).

Also, these are very intense places (I went to Andover, so I know). Succeeding at them requires your sister to be the one who wants to go. The worst thing you could do is try to force her into applying. For one, the schools will be able to tell it isn't her decision when they interview her, and if she does get in, she'll crash and burn if she doesn't want to be there. Andover's unofficial motto is "sink or swim." These places are not for the faint of heart.

For now, encourage your sister to do as well as she possibly can in her classes, and to pursue her passions. When she gets to 7th grade, research these schools and if they seem like a good fit for her at that point, then approach your parents and your sister about it. Until then, it's pointless to look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

sparky wrote:I'm wondering how I can prepare my elementary school sister to Andover or Exeter. I was always stressed out due to the competition in a magnet high school, and I hope my sister has a better secondary school experience. I did get into Princeton, however, but I don't think fighting for the spot in a public school isn't worth it vs going to a private school where 20% of the population go to an Ivy. I want help send her off to the Lower School and then the Upper school if possible. I talked to my parents and they seem to be positive about the idea, as the district they are moving to next year isn't the best. How should I help my sister go about this?

I call this a bad troll job.

1. Neither Andover nor Exeter have a lower school. They are high schools.

2. No older sister has this much influence over a younger sister's academic experience.

Sorry, but this isn't a troll job. I can verify I am a Princetonian if you would like. I mistook Andover's lower school for a middle school. I got mixed up with the terminology from my local day school, where a lot of my friends attended. I didn't look into Andover/Exeter that deeply as well (didn't have too much time, should have done more)

Reputation, stats. I was wrong to do that honestly

If you haven't looked into them enough to even know that they're high schools, then why are you so sure that they're right for your sister? Andover doesn't even use the terminology "lower school." The only use of the term "lower" is to denote a second year student (the terminology for the grades is junior, lower, upper, senior).

Also, these are very intense places (I went to Andover, so I know). Succeeding at them requires your sister to be the one who wants to go. The worst thing you could do is try to force her into applying. For one, the schools will be able to tell it isn't her decision when they interview her, and if she does get in, she'll crash and burn if she doesn't want to be there. Andover's unofficial motto is "sink or swim." These places are not for the faint of heart.

For now, encourage your sister to do as well as she possibly can in her classes, and to pursue her passions. When she gets to 7th grade, research these schools and if they seem like a good fit for her at that point, then approach your parents and your sister about it. Until then, it's pointless to look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

sparky wrote:I'm wondering how I can prepare my elementary school sister to Andover or Exeter. I was always stressed out due to the competition in a magnet high school, and I hope my sister has a better secondary school experience. I did get into Princeton, however, but I don't think fighting for the spot in a public school isn't worth it vs going to a private school where 20% of the population go to an Ivy. I want help send her off to the Lower School and then the Upper school if possible. I talked to my parents and they seem to be positive about the idea, as the district they are moving to next year isn't the best. How should I help my sister go about this?

I call this a bad troll job.

1. Neither Andover nor Exeter have a lower school. They are high schools.

2. No older sister has this much influence over a younger sister's academic experience.

Sorry, but this isn't a troll job. I can verify I am a Princetonian if you would like. I mistook Andover's lower school for a middle school. I got mixed up with the terminology from my local day school, where a lot of my friends attended. I didn't look into Andover/Exeter that deeply as well (didn't have too much time, should have done more)

If you haven't looked into them enough to even know that they're high schools, then why are you so sure that they're right for your sister? Andover doesn't even use the terminology "lower school." The only use of the term "lower" is to denote a second year student (the terminology for the grades is junior, lower, upper, senior).

Also, these are very intense places (I went to Andover, so I know). Succeeding at them requires your sister to be the one who wants to go. The worst thing you could do is try to force her into applying. For one, the schools will be able to tell it isn't her decision when they interview her, and if she does get in, she'll crash and burn if she doesn't want to be there. Andover's unofficial motto is "sink or swim." These places are not for the faint of heart.

For now, encourage your sister to do as well as she possibly can in her classes, and to pursue her passions. When she gets to 7th grade, research these schools and if they seem like a good fit for her at that point, then approach your parents and your sister about it. Until then, it's pointless to look.

reputation, stats. Was wrong to do that honestly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

sparky wrote:My parents prefer public school at this point however, as they saw me get into Ivies from them. However, they also saw me get stressed out due to the environment there, and might send my sister to a private school when she reaches middle school soon. Since I'm going off to college, my parents are seriously talking about it.

I hate to say this but tbh, with parents like these, I think there's no way your sister doesn't end up stressed out. I wager that it's the parents, not the school.

agree. the parents and sister need to get better informed. Boarding schools don't give full rides to ESOL "highly capable" students. It is merit and money based so if sis isn't grinding right now, she won't get in. If she is hard working, goal oriented, go for a URM ESOL spot at a local day school that gives lots of fin aid to such students.

Andover and Exeter don't give out merit aid (unless you define "merit" as getting into the school). They have need-blind admission, so they meet 100% of demonstrated financial aid, but aid is fully determined by need, not academic or athletic merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

sparky wrote:I'm wondering how I can prepare my elementary school sister to Andover or Exeter. I was always stressed out due to the competition in a magnet high school, and I hope my sister has a better secondary school experience. I did get into Princeton, however, but I don't think fighting for the spot in a public school isn't worth it vs going to a private school where 20% of the population go to an Ivy. I want help send her off to the Lower School and then the Upper school if possible. I talked to my parents and they seem to be positive about the idea, as the district they are moving to next year isn't the best. How should I help my sister go about this?

I call this a bad troll job.

1. Neither Andover nor Exeter have a lower school. They are high schools.

2. No older sister has this much influence over a younger sister's academic experience.

Sorry, but this isn't a troll job. I can verify I am a Princetonian if you would like. I mistook Andover's lower school for a middle school. I got mixed up with the terminology from my local day school, where a lot of my friends attended. I didn't look into Andover/Exeter that deeply as well (didn't have too much time, should have done more)

If you haven't looked into them enough to even know that they're high schools, then why are you so sure that they're right for your sister? Andover doesn't even use the terminology "lower school." The only use of the term "lower" is to denote a second year student (the terminology for the grades is junior, lower, upper, senior).

Also, these are very intense places (I went to Andover, so I know). Succeeding at them requires your sister to be the one who wants to go. The worst thing you could do is try to force her into applying. For one, the schools will be able to tell it isn't her decision when they interview her, and if she does get in, she'll crash and burn if she doesn't want to be there. Andover's unofficial motto is "sink or swim." These places are not for the faint of heart.

For now, encourage your sister to do as well as she possibly can in her classes, and to pursue her passions. When she gets to 7th grade, research these schools and if they seem like a good fit for her at that point, then approach your parents and your sister about it. Until then, it's pointless to look.

reputation, stats. Was wrong to do that honestly

It wasn't wrong to think of them as reputable schools. You just have to do some level of research on them before thinking that they're right for your sister.

[Anonymous]

Also calling BS on sparky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also calling BS on sparky.

Seriously. One would hope that a Princeton grad would be able to log onto Andover's or Exeter's websites and see in about 2.5 seconds that these are high schools.

Or even better -- google "Phillips Academy Andover" and you'll see a clip from the Wikipedia page that clearly states "Phillips Academy Andover is a co-educational university-preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also calling BS on sparky.

Seriously. One would hope that a Princeton grad would be able to log onto Andover's or Exeter's websites and see in about 2.5 seconds that these are high schools.

Or even better -- google "Phillips Academy Andover" and you'll see a clip from the Wikipedia page that clearly states "Phillips Academy Andover is a co-educational university-preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year."

I'm pretty surprised I got in as well

[Anonymous]

and to be honest, why would I troll about this to be honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and to be honest, why would I troll about this to be honest.

No idea, but your lack of the most basic knowledge about these schools is just sort of galling.

Also, why aren't you posting under your registered name?

[Anonymous]

In her defense, sparky never said she has graduated from Princeton.

Sparky, you may want to go do some actual research - a Princetonian knows how, right? - and let us know then if you have any Qs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:and to be honest, why would I troll about this to be honest.

No idea, but your lack of the most basic knowledge about these schools is just sort of galling.

Also, why aren't you posting under your registered name?

I'm too lazy to log in rn

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Andover has a lower school
https://www.andover.edu/learning/academic-curriculum

I believe Andover's lower school is 9th and 10th grade.

lol

sorry, this is just funny. you all don't know the terminology they're using (and you haven't read closely).

Junior = 9th grade
Lower = 10th grade
Upper = 11th grade
Senior = 12th grade

If you read more than the headers on that website, you'd see what they were talking about.

[Anonymous]

Jeez, people, give OP a break! A lot of snobbery here about how she should have done her research, considering that she goes to Princeton. I read this as OP getting anxious about her sister's future and taking time off from more important things to ask for advice from an internet message board to assuage her anxiety. She's in her friggin' late-teens, early-20s for god's sake. Were you all meticulous researchers at that age?