Montgomery Blair vs elite privates

[Anonymous]

I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

I don't know the % acceptance at private. They accept a little over 100 for 800 applicants at Blair magnet. That's about 12.5% acceptance.

I think the criteria is just different. Blair magnet is based on test scores (for good or bad - it's a bit brutal in the approach). My understanding of private schools is that they take into consideration more factors and parents connections, where they went to middle school, siblings, etc would impact acceptance into private school. Grades, for example. Although the catholic school in our neighborhood has over 50% valedictorians so I don't think grades help differentiate that much. Oh, and athletics. If you will start on the basketball team, you will get in and get a scholarship. It is not test scores.

That's not to say that Blair's approach is 'better' as many hard working, late blooming, bad test-takers don't get in who perhaps could do ok. On the other hand, private schools are known to be based on your family/parents accomplishments rather than the students'. Blair has no idea who I am or what I do (or what my spouse does) or where we went to school, etc. They just know my students' test scores. Honestly, I don't even think they read recommendations or look at grades other than in passing. Again, that's not to say it's a better approach, just very, very different. And I would say that brutality and indifference carries into how the grading is in the classroom once you get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

I should add that I don't know of anyone who applied to private and Blair Magnet at the same time -- they could exist but I have never heard of it through parents or through my children (kids talk about what else they are considering in 8th grade). I've had two children go through admittance cycles. Students apply to other programs -- like RM's IB program -- within MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

Apples to oranges, right? The elite privates are taking a more holistic approach in admissions while the Blair SMAC is more purely data driven (test score). For example, the Blair administrators are not assessing a candidate's "leadership qualities" for admission.

A bright all-around kid may be admitted to Maret but not have the scores for Blair, whereas a kid who scores off the charts on the test but also is on the Asbergers spectrum might be admitted to Blair but be deemed a poor fit at an elite private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

I don't know the % acceptance at private. They accept a little over 100 for 800 applicants at Blair magnet. That's about 12.5% acceptance.

I think the criteria is just different. Blair magnet is based on test scores (for good or bad - it's a bit brutal in the approach). My understanding of private schools is that they take into consideration more factors and parents connections, where they went to middle school, siblings, etc would impact acceptance into private school. Grades, for example. Although the catholic school in our neighborhood has over 50% valedictorians so I don't think grades help differentiate that much. Oh, and athletics. If you will start on the basketball team, you will get in and get a scholarship. It is not test scores.

That's not to say that Blair's approach is 'better' as many hard working, late blooming, bad test-takers don't get in who perhaps could do ok. On the other hand, private schools are known to be based on your family/parents accomplishments rather than the students'. Blair has no idea who I am or what I do (or what my spouse does) or where we went to school, etc. They just know my students' test scores. Honestly, I don't even think they read recommendations or look at grades other than in passing. Again, that's not to say it's a better approach, just very, very different. And I would say that brutality and indifference carries into how the grading is in the classroom once you get in.

They accept more than 100 (some kids choose different school/program) but the final class size is about 100. They usually get 800-1000 apps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

Apples to oranges, right? The elite privates are taking a more holistic approach in admissions while the Blair SMAC is more purely data driven (test score). For example, the Blair administrators are not assessing a candidate's "leadership qualities" for admission.

A bright all-around kid may be admitted to Maret but not have the scores for Blair, whereas a kid who scores off the charts on the test but also is on the Asbergers spectrum might be admitted to Blair but be deemed a poor fit at an elite private.

Boy, you assume A LOT. Your whole post is one big assumption and 0 facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

Apples to oranges, right? The elite privates are taking a more holistic approach in admissions while the Blair SMAC is more purely data driven (test score). For example, the Blair administrators are not assessing a candidate's "leadership qualities" for admission.

A bright all-around kid may be admitted to Maret but not have the scores for Blair, whereas a kid who scores off the charts on the test but also is on the Asbergers spectrum might be admitted to Blair but be deemed a poor fit at an elite private.

That sounds really concerning. A lot of Asperger kids at Blair SMAC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

Apples to oranges, right? The elite privates are taking a more holistic approach in admissions while the Blair SMAC is more purely data driven (test score). For example, the Blair administrators are not assessing a candidate's "leadership qualities" for admission.

A bright all-around kid may be admitted to Maret but not have the scores for Blair, whereas a kid who scores off the charts on the test but also is on the Asbergers spectrum might be admitted to Blair but be deemed a poor fit at an elite private.

That sounds really concerning. A lot of Asperger kids at Blair SMAC?

Why does that sound really concerning to you that a kid on the spectrum might get admitted to Blair science magnet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

Apples to oranges, right? The elite privates are taking a more holistic approach in admissions while the Blair SMAC is more purely data driven (test score). For example, the Blair administrators are not assessing a candidate's "leadership qualities" for admission.

A bright all-around kid may be admitted to Maret but not have the scores for Blair, whereas a kid who scores off the charts on the test but also is on the Asbergers spectrum might be admitted to Blair but be deemed a poor fit at an elite private.

Boy, you assume A LOT. Your whole post is one big assumption and 0 facts.

Not PP, but I disagree with your take. PP simply gave an example, and wasn't making broader assumptions. Her example was slanted towards the private I will give you. An example the other way would be a rich, connected kid of an alumnus might get into the elite private even though his grades are nowhere near what would be needed at the magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

Apples to oranges, right? The elite privates are taking a more holistic approach in admissions while the Blair SMAC is more purely data driven (test score). For example, the Blair administrators are not assessing a candidate's "leadership qualities" for admission.

A bright all-around kid may be admitted to Maret but not have the scores for Blair, whereas a kid who scores off the charts on the test but also is on the Asbergers spectrum might be admitted to Blair but be deemed a poor fit at an elite private.

Boy, you assume A LOT. Your whole post is one big assumption and 0 facts.

Not PP, but I disagree with your take. PP simply gave an example, and wasn't making broader assumptions. Her example was slanted towards the private I will give you. An example the other way would be a rich, connected kid of an alumnus might get into the elite private even though his grades are nowhere near what would be needed at the magnet.

I'm not the PP you refer to (I'm the first responder in this stream) but I didn't read her post as slanted towards the private schools. There may be people on the spectrum who are brilliant but would not do well as an 8th grader interviewing for a private school spot nor are their parents former lacrosse players for that private school. It is interesting that the PP's post is seen as a negative by some for Blair. I see it as a positive. And my kids go to Blair.

They have very different criteria for what it takes to be successful at their respective institutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering, for folks whose kids are at the Blair Magnet, whether you think it is harder to get into the Blair magnet or the top tier privates (Sidwell, Maret, etc.). I was assuming many kids apply to public magnets and privates at the same time - which was more difficult?

Apples to oranges, right? The elite privates are taking a more holistic approach in admissions while the Blair SMAC is more purely data driven (test score). For example, the Blair administrators are not assessing a candidate's "leadership qualities" for admission.

A bright all-around kid may be admitted to Maret but not have the scores for Blair, whereas a kid who scores off the charts on the test but also is on the Asbergers spectrum might be admitted to Blair but be deemed a poor fit at an elite private.

Boy, you assume A LOT. Your whole post is one big assumption and 0 facts.

Not PP, but I disagree with your take. PP simply gave an example, and wasn't making broader assumptions. Her example was slanted towards the private I will give you. An example the other way would be a rich, connected kid of an alumnus might get into the elite private even though his grades are nowhere near what would be needed at the magnet.

I'm not the PP you refer to (I'm the first responder in this stream) but I didn't read her post as slanted towards the private schools. There may be people on the spectrum who are brilliant but would not do well as an 8th grader interviewing for a private school spot nor are their parents former lacrosse players for that private school. It is interesting that the PP's post is seen as a negative by some for Blair. I see it as a positive. And my kids go to Blair.

They have very different criteria for what it takes to be successful at their respective institutions.

For the record, I am the PP who has been deemed anti-Blair, which is funny because I have two kids at Blair, one in the magnet. This fellow Blair parent got my point exactly.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We are a typical family in this area, both well- educated but no real connections and with smart kids but who knows if smart enough or will test well enough for the magnet. I was just curious about people who looked at both options, both how hard admission was relatively and why you guys made the choice you made. Thanks for the responses so far.

[Anonymous]

My child is a Blair magnet kid but we never considered applying to any privates. Just seems like two different markets.

[Anonymous]

It is admittedly a very small sample, but the kids I know in the Blair science magnet are well rounded kids with lots of varied interests. They also have good social skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is admittedly a very small sample, but the kids I know in the Blair science magnet are well rounded kids with lots of varied interests. They also have good social skills.

Yes, fine, I agree. My kid and his friends in the magnet are all personable and reasonably well-rounded. The point, simply, was that their social skills, leadership qualities or extracurricular talents have no bearing in how they're assessed for the program. It's simply how talented they are in math and science.