Does anyone know how the college admissions results this year for students in the blair high school magnet program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of students that accepted to be listed in the magazine are about 60 out of ~100. My kid ('26) knows at least 3 more accepted at UMD and not in the magazine.
He never heard about a colleague being accepted at MIT and going to UMD (that person might very well exist).

We'd probably choose UMD over MIT because of the cost and wanting to pay for grad school. Not everyone can pay $100K a year.

This kid got a free ride to MIT (Questbridge) and turned it down for UMD

So this kid got free admission to MIT through Questbridge but decided to go to UMD (probably also free do to low income). 🤔
Problem here is Questbridge is binding, so he couldn't turn down MIT offer. Fishy ...

Stop embarrassing yourself in a permanently archived forum.

MIT Questbridge is not binding.

https://questbridge.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/218777167-Is-QuestBridge-binding

Make sense. He got admitted through a less competitive low income program (Questbridge), got scared by the possibility to attend, and picked instead a less intense but still great school like UMD.

I don't know this kid, but that's the least generous read I've ever seen, and honestly either racist, classist, or both.

There are a million reasons someone would decide not to attend MIT, but my first guess is that a Questbridge kid is also a kid who has more familial responsibilities than your average UMC white kid from Potomac, and they may have wanted to stay close for that reason. OR...that kid realized they were going to be shockingly underrepresented at MIT, and might have wanted to pursue their education in a space that is more culturally competent.

You are upper class if you live in Potomac except for the low income housing. If you can afford a 1-5 million dollar house you can afford college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

My Blair kid (4.8 WGPA, 1600 SAT) didn't apply to elite schools because we couldn't afford them.

That's a very unusual situation because many elite schools give steep discounts even to families earning $200k/yr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

Right but this is why it is a big deal that it’s getting harder to get into UMD from the magnet.

Again look at Naviance stats for Blair. Kids with 4.0/4.8 plus, 1530 SAT+ are not being rejected. Most of the magnet have those stats or better.

Many, many people did not have access to Naviance stats for Blair at the moment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats to anyone admitted to MIT. Wheaton has 1 going in the fall. It’s not just the county-wide magnets

Engineering magnet or home school program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of students that accepted to be listed in the magazine are about 60 out of ~100. My kid ('26) knows at least 3 more accepted at UMD and not in the magazine.
He never heard about a colleague being accepted at MIT and going to UMD (that person might very well exist).

We'd probably choose UMD over MIT because of the cost and wanting to pay for grad school. Not everyone can pay $100K a year.

This kid got a free ride to MIT (Questbridge) and turned it down for UMD

So this kid got free admission to MIT through Questbridge but decided to go to UMD (probably also free do to low income). 🤔
Problem here is Questbridge is binding, so he couldn't turn down MIT offer. Fishy ...

Stop embarrassing yourself in a permanently archived forum.

MIT Questbridge is not binding.

https://questbridge.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/218777167-Is-QuestBridge-binding

Make sense. He got admitted through a less competitive low income program (Questbridge), got scared by the possibility to attend, and picked instead a less intense but still great school like UMD.

MIT does not admit. and has no interest in admitting, students incapable of graduating MIT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

My Blair kid (4.8 WGPA, 1600 SAT) didn't apply to elite schools because we couldn't afford them.

That's a very unusual situation because many elite schools give steep discounts even to families earning $200k/yr.

I’m not the PP you are responding to but we are in the same situation. Our income is just below $200k but what you are missing here is assets. They only give you aid if you have “typical assets”. What they define as typical is not much. We don’t qualify for anything and yet our assets are largely for retirement though for various reasons not all in retirement accounts. Similar situation if you have a rental property - you are expected to sell it to pay for college even if it’s your entire retirement plan!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

Right but this is why it is a big deal that it’s getting harder to get into UMD from the magnet.

Again look at Naviance stats for Blair. Kids with 4.0/4.8 plus, 1530 SAT+ are not being rejected. Most of the magnet have those stats or better.

Many, many people did not have access to Naviance stats for Blair at the moment.

The parent who claimed this said she has a senior in the program. She can certainly see the data on Naviance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

My Blair kid (4.8 WGPA, 1600 SAT) didn't apply to elite schools because we couldn't afford them.

That's a very unusual situation because many elite schools give steep discounts even to families earning $200k/yr.

I’m not the PP you are responding to but we are in the same situation. Our income is just below $200k but what you are missing here is assets. They only give you aid if you have “typical assets”. What they define as typical is not much. We don’t qualify for anything and yet our assets are largely for retirement though for various reasons not all in retirement accounts. Similar situation if you have a rental property - you are expected to sell it to pay for college even if it’s your entire retirement plan!

The. You do have a lot of resources……yes it’s fair to expect you to sell a rental or use savings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of students that accepted to be listed in the magazine are about 60 out of ~100. My kid ('26) knows at least 3 more accepted at UMD and not in the magazine.
He never heard about a colleague being accepted at MIT and going to UMD (that person might very well exist).

We'd probably choose UMD over MIT because of the cost and wanting to pay for grad school. Not everyone can pay $100K a year.

This kid got a free ride to MIT (Questbridge) and turned it down for UMD

So this kid got free admission to MIT through Questbridge but decided to go to UMD (probably also free do to low income). 🤔
Problem here is Questbridge is binding, so he couldn't turn down MIT offer. Fishy ...

Stop embarrassing yourself in a permanently archived forum.

MIT Questbridge is not binding.

https://questbridge.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/218777167-Is-QuestBridge-binding

Make sense. He got admitted through a less competitive low income program (Questbridge), got scared by the possibility to attend, and picked instead a less intense but still great school like UMD.

I don't know this kid, but that's the least generous read I've ever seen, and honestly either racist, classist, or both.

There are a million reasons someone would decide not to attend MIT, but my first guess is that a Questbridge kid is also a kid who has more familial responsibilities than your average UMC white kid from Potomac, and they may have wanted to stay close for that reason. OR...that kid realized they were going to be shockingly underrepresented at MIT, and might have wanted to pursue their education in a space that is more culturally competent.

Judging everything through racism perspective. The same moronic arguments that ended us with the current president.
The kid applied to MIT and later backed up. It was his choice to apply there and his choice to pick another great school. And FYI the so called "racist" comment is the reality as told at school.
Be proud, you caught and resolved another "racist" problem today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

My Blair kid (4.8 WGPA, 1600 SAT) didn't apply to elite schools because we couldn't afford them.

That's a very unusual situation because many elite schools give steep discounts even to families earning $200k/yr.

I’m not the PP you are responding to but we are in the same situation. Our income is just below $200k but what you are missing here is assets. They only give you aid if you have “typical assets”. What they define as typical is not much. We don’t qualify for anything and yet our assets are largely for retirement though for various reasons not all in retirement accounts. Similar situation if you have a rental property - you are expected to sell it to pay for college even if it’s your entire retirement plan!

The. You do have a lot of resources……yes it’s fair to expect you to sell a rental or use savings.

But this is more a government own process since how much you afford to pay is decided by FAFSA score. Schools get the FAFSA and if that number is higher than annual education cost then parents pay everything. Schools don't own or decide the formula but government does.
Am I missing something? Please correct if wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

My Blair kid (4.8 WGPA, 1600 SAT) didn't apply to elite schools because we couldn't afford them.

That's a very unusual situation because many elite schools give steep discounts even to families earning $200k/yr.

Yes, I know, and no, it's not an unusual situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

My Blair kid (4.8 WGPA, 1600 SAT) didn't apply to elite schools because we couldn't afford them.

That's a very unusual situation because many elite schools give steep discounts even to families earning $200k/yr.

I’m not the PP you are responding to but we are in the same situation. Our income is just below $200k but what you are missing here is assets. They only give you aid if you have “typical assets”. What they define as typical is not much. We don’t qualify for anything and yet our assets are largely for retirement though for various reasons not all in retirement accounts. Similar situation if you have a rental property - you are expected to sell it to pay for college even if it’s your entire retirement plan!

The. You do have a lot of resources……yes it’s fair to expect you to sell a rental or use savings.

I don’t have a rental and fully expected to use savings. I can’t use ALL my savings though and I don’t earn enough in this high cost of living area to pay out of my pay check. The amount that is considered “typical” savings when calculating that the free tuition promise is not transparent and seems to discount anyone with moderate savings. 95 percent of DCUM posters wouldn’t be eligible even with income under $200K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

My Blair kid (4.8 WGPA, 1600 SAT) didn't apply to elite schools because we couldn't afford them.

That's a very unusual situation because many elite schools give steep discounts even to families earning $200k/yr.

I’m not the PP you are responding to but we are in the same situation. Our income is just below $200k but what you are missing here is assets. They only give you aid if you have “typical assets”. What they define as typical is not much. We don’t qualify for anything and yet our assets are largely for retirement though for various reasons not all in retirement accounts. Similar situation if you have a rental property - you are expected to sell it to pay for college even if it’s your entire retirement plan!

The. You do have a lot of resources……yes it’s fair to expect you to sell a rental or use savings.

I don’t have a rental and fully expected to use savings. I can’t use ALL my savings though and I don’t earn enough in this high cost of living area to pay out of my pay check. The amount that is considered “typical” savings when calculating that the free tuition promise is not transparent and seems to discount anyone with moderate savings. 95 percent of DCUM posters wouldn’t be eligible even with income under $200K.

Attending top schools is a privilege and comes with a high price tag. Unfortunately the middle class families are in the worst situation since they look like having enough to pay but the reality contradicting that. No solution other then sharing the cost (maybe 1/2 - 1/2) with the child through loans. If it worth it depends on multiple factors (most of the time the answer is no).
I understand the frustration since we are in the same boat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

My Blair kid (4.8 WGPA, 1600 SAT) didn't apply to elite schools because we couldn't afford them.

That's a very unusual situation because many elite schools give steep discounts even to families earning $200k/yr.

I’m not the PP you are responding to but we are in the same situation. Our income is just below $200k but what you are missing here is assets. They only give you aid if you have “typical assets”. What they define as typical is not much. We don’t qualify for anything and yet our assets are largely for retirement though for various reasons not all in retirement accounts. Similar situation if you have a rental property - you are expected to sell it to pay for college even if it’s your entire retirement plan!

The. You do have a lot of resources……yes it’s fair to expect you to sell a rental or use savings.

But this is more a government own process since how much you afford to pay is decided by FAFSA score. Schools get the FAFSA and if that number is higher than annual education cost then parents pay everything. Schools don't own or decide the formula but government does.
Am I missing something? Please correct if wrong.

How is this an issue? You choose to spend your money on houses and other things vs college. Or, retirement. You can pull from retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For useful results, you also need to know how many applied, not just where they are headed. Lots of high-achieving MCPS students prioritize UMD because it’s such a great financial deal.

Exactly, usually about a third of the class ends at Ivies, but many who would or were admitted just can't afford it. There are a lot of doughnut-holed families. People even making decent money can't usually shell out half their take home pay fro college.

My Blair kid (4.8 WGPA, 1600 SAT) didn't apply to elite schools because we couldn't afford them.

That's a very unusual situation because many elite schools give steep discounts even to families earning $200k/yr.

I’m not the PP you are responding to but we are in the same situation. Our income is just below $200k but what you are missing here is assets. They only give you aid if you have “typical assets”. What they define as typical is not much. We don’t qualify for anything and yet our assets are largely for retirement though for various reasons not all in retirement accounts. Similar situation if you have a rental property - you are expected to sell it to pay for college even if it’s your entire retirement plan!

The. You do have a lot of resources……yes it’s fair to expect you to sell a rental or use savings.

I don’t have a rental and fully expected to use savings. I can’t use ALL my savings though and I don’t earn enough in this high cost of living area to pay out of my pay check. The amount that is considered “typical” savings when calculating that the free tuition promise is not transparent and seems to discount anyone with moderate savings. 95 percent of DCUM posters wouldn’t be eligible even with income under $200K.

Attending top schools is a privilege and comes with a high price tag. Unfortunately the middle class families are in the worst situation since they look like having enough to pay but the reality contradicting that. No solution other then sharing the cost (maybe 1/2 - 1/2) with the child through loans. If it worth it depends on multiple factors (most of the time the answer is no).
I understand the frustration since we are in the same boat.

$200k income, two or more homes and large retirement savings is not middle class.