Does going to a Big 3 school really help with college admissions?

[Anonymous]

For STEM kid who is motivated and capable of being in big school, then public schools may be better than a Big 3 private.

College counselors told us point blank that certain STEM schools ( CalTech, MIT) were looking for kids who at a minimum took numerous science APs ( physics, chem, bio and computer science) and competed in the Intel ISEF ( not necessarily winning, but at least competing).
I asked where these students were since they are not at our Big 3, and I was told they are in the public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ you essentially agree with the posters main point though. Top 10% at good public’s are working just as hard and are just as bright as the kids at $45k+ per year Big 3s. I can understand the bitterness that they feel when they realize all that $ paid didn’t confer an admission advantage.

I’m not that bitter. $90k ( we have two) just isn’t that much money. And probably worth it to get away from desperate, bitter people like you. We’ll get our third house after they’re done with college. It’s not that big a sacrifice.

Ha. We already have a third house. We chose public because the douche factor was so high at the privates we toured.

We chose magnets from a k-12 private because the SJW brainwashing was so high at half the upper schools.

And they’re better off for your absence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For STEM kid who is motivated and capable of being in big school, then public schools may be better than a Big 3 private.

College counselors told us point blank that certain STEM schools ( CalTech, MIT) were looking for kids who at a minimum took numerous science APs ( physics, chem, bio and computer science) and competed in the Intel ISEF ( not necessarily winning, but at least competing).
I asked where these students were since they are not at our Big 3, and I was told they are in the public schools.

If your kid wants to attend MIT or Cal Tech go to a public magnet.

[Anonymous]

Moving to a state with less than 5M population or no large 2M pp urban areas would help.

Applying from this area is a crapshoot, but you'll get something good within your GPA and ECs band.

Only other thing I'd add is the as a top 10%-er in private school, if you have a top pick college (say MIT) and a big donor kid with similar stats as you has the same college (not even same program necessarily), the HOS and Counselor will give the nod to the donor kid. That sux but your runner up colleges will be Ivy anyhow and you'll get in.

Secondly, top 10% kids of private schools are pushed to apply to 5 or 6 max colleges. No hoovering up all the spots, leave some for others.

Public schools do not play that game. You want to go there, you apply. Counselors won't throttle down your app #, nor push two top students against each other when MIT AdCom calls. Private schools (everywhere in the country) will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For STEM kid who is motivated and capable of being in big school, then public schools may be better than a Big 3 private.

College counselors told us point blank that certain STEM schools ( CalTech, MIT) were looking for kids who at a minimum took numerous science APs ( physics, chem, bio and computer science) and competed in the Intel ISEF ( not necessarily winning, but at least competing).
I asked where these students were since they are not at our Big 3, and I was told they are in the public schools.

They know that. How many STEM major college applicants are there at a social humanities place like GDS anyhow? 10%? 15%?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving to a state with less than 5M population or no large 2M pp urban areas would help.

Applying from this area is a crapshoot, but you'll get something good within your GPA and ECs band.

Only other thing I'd add is the as a top 10%-er in private school, if you have a top pick college (say MIT) and a big donor kid with similar stats as you has the same college (not even same program necessarily), the HOS and Counselor will give the nod to the donor kid. That sux but your runner up colleges will be Ivy anyhow and you'll get in.

Secondly, top 10% kids of private schools are pushed to apply to 5 or 6 max colleges. No hoovering up all the spots, leave some for others.

Public schools do not play that game. You want to go there, you apply. Counselors won't throttle down your app #, nor push two top students against each other when MIT AdCom calls. Private schools (everywhere in the country) will.

Based on observation at our private school, none of this happens.

[Anonymous]

+1. Load of crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moving to a state with less than 5M population or no large 2M pp urban areas would help.

Applying from this area is a crapshoot, but you'll get something good within your GPA and ECs band.

Only other thing I'd add is the as a top 10%-er in private school, if you have a top pick college (say MIT) and a big donor kid with similar stats as you has the same college (not even same program necessarily), the HOS and Counselor will give the nod to the donor kid. That sux but your runner up colleges will be Ivy anyhow and you'll get in.

Secondly, top 10% kids of private schools are pushed to apply to 5 or 6 max colleges. No hoovering up all the spots, leave some for others.

Public schools do not play that game. You want to go there, you apply. Counselors won't throttle down your app #, nor push two top students against each other when MIT AdCom calls. Private schools (everywhere in the country) will.

Based on observation at our private school, none of this happens.

How many colleges do the top 10% of the class apply to at your school? Why?

How many non-athlete academic super stars on fin aid got in to their absolute 1st choice? I know it's splitting hairs of Yale vs MIT vs Princeton but I mean absolute first choice, going in to November or ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving to a state with less than 5M population or no large 2M pp urban areas would help.

Applying from this area is a crapshoot, but you'll get something good within your GPA and ECs band.

Only other thing I'd add is the as a top 10%-er in private school, if you have a top pick college (say MIT) and a big donor kid with similar stats as you has the same college (not even same program necessarily), the HOS and Counselor will give the nod to the donor kid. That sux but your runner up colleges will be Ivy anyhow and you'll get in.

Secondly, top 10% kids of private schools are pushed to apply to 5 or 6 max colleges. No hoovering up all the spots, leave some for others.

Public schools do not play that game. You want to go there, you apply. Counselors won't throttle down your app #, nor push two top students against each other when MIT AdCom calls. Private schools (everywhere in the country) will.

experienced this horse trading big time in England when applying to one of the colleges of OxBridge system. HoS lined up all the top students and said, let's maximize the school's admittances, who's applying where and who won't be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moving to a state with less than 5M population or no large 2M pp urban areas would help.

Applying from this area is a crapshoot, but you'll get something good within your GPA and ECs band.

Only other thing I'd add is the as a top 10%-er in private school, if you have a top pick college (say MIT) and a big donor kid with similar stats as you has the same college (not even same program necessarily), the HOS and Counselor will give the nod to the donor kid. That sux but your runner up colleges will be Ivy anyhow and you'll get in.

Secondly, top 10% kids of private schools are pushed to apply to 5 or 6 max colleges. No hoovering up all the spots, leave some for others.

Public schools do not play that game. You want to go there, you apply. Counselors won't throttle down your app #, nor push two top students against each other when MIT AdCom calls. Private schools (everywhere in the country) will.

Based on observation at our private school, none of this happens.

How many colleges do the top 10% of the class apply to at your school? Why?

How many non-athlete academic super stars on fin aid got in to their absolute 1st choice? I know it's splitting hairs of Yale vs MIT vs Princeton but I mean absolute first choice, going in to November or ED.

All students are asked to have at least 9 schools those who get in early to a top choice apply to less. Others apply to as many as they feel they need. No limitations.

The second question is pretty tacky. We don’t ask who is on financial aid. If you’re talking just non athletes, then probably about 80%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ you essentially agree with the posters main point though. Top 10% at good public’s are working just as hard and are just as bright as the kids at $45k+ per year Big 3s. I can understand the bitterness that they feel when they realize all that $ paid didn’t confer an admission advantage.

I’m not that bitter. $90k ( we have two) just isn’t that much money. And probably worth it to get away from desperate, bitter people like you. We’ll get our third house after they’re done with college. It’s not that big a sacrifice.

Ha. We already have a third house. We chose public because the douche factor was so high at the privates we toured.

Ha. It seems that the douche factor is not a "private" exclusiity.

So when their kid gets into college we can just say they bought their way in.

Yes, you are doing us a big favor, PP. Keep making our point for us. Don’t choke on your bile.

[Anonymous]

Does anybody have Naviance data or similar info on this?

[Anonymous]

Our experience based on kids who were top of their class in public school through 8th grade, then Big 3 for 9th through 12th. I do think they and their peers at the private school had better outcomes than their peers who stayed in public. But you have to look at it in the aggregate. Will each top Big 3 student get into a top 10 college? No. Will most of them get into a top 20? Yes. Moreso than is the case with the top students at their public. But top 20 may not be deemed good enough for the parents on this thread. Your individual kid, even if they end up at the absolute top of the private school class, is not guaranteed a spot at HYPSM.

But they have some advantages in the college application process. In addition to getting more personalized attention for teacher and counselor recommendations, the private school kids also get more opportunities to participate and have leadership roles in extracurriculars. In public school, you need to be the best of the best to land the top theater roles, compete on academic teams and sports teams, etc. Because there are so many fewer kids in the private school, they can participate in anything that interests them. Colleges like to see that a super high-achiever will also bring other contributions to campus life. So, imho, it isn’t because the private school is “better” but there are advantages to being in a smaller cohort. And I do find that the private school peers are much more well-rounded interesting PEOPLE, regardless of the college they end up in. And this makes it worth it to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moving to a state with less than 5M population or no large 2M pp urban areas would help.

Applying from this area is a crapshoot, but you'll get something good within your GPA and ECs band.

Only other thing I'd add is the as a top 10%-er in private school, if you have a top pick college (say MIT) and a big donor kid with similar stats as you has the same college (not even same program necessarily), the HOS and Counselor will give the nod to the donor kid. That sux but your runner up colleges will be Ivy anyhow and you'll get in.

Secondly, top 10% kids of private schools are pushed to apply to 5 or 6 max colleges. No hoovering up all the spots, leave some for others.

Public schools do not play that game. You want to go there, you apply. Counselors won't throttle down your app #, nor push two top students against each other when MIT AdCom calls. Private schools (everywhere in the country) will.

Based on observation at our private school, none of this happens.

How many colleges do the top 10% of the class apply to at your school? Why?

How many non-athlete academic super stars on fin aid got in to their absolute 1st choice? I know it's splitting hairs of Yale vs MIT vs Princeton but I mean absolute first choice, going in to November or ED.

All students are asked to have at least 9 schools those who get in early to a top choice apply to less. Others apply to as many as they feel they need. No limitations.

The second question is pretty tacky. We don’t ask who is on financial aid. If you’re talking just non athletes, then probably about 80%.

OTOH, I do see threads each year where parents complain that their school will only support a limited number of applications. It always seems like they don’t feel they can apply to as many as they like regardless of what the school says.

[Anonymous]

There is one other thing, connections. There are alumni and VIPs at universities who have connections to certain schools who will put their weight, for whatever it is worth, behind their school's applicants. Once case I heard of from another part of the country is a big donor university alum who gives the admin a list of a set number of names from his alma mater high school every year. Every year those List kids get offers.

Or they did until Varsity Blues hit.