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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=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. [/quote]

My experience with leaving as top kid from public (Deal) after 8 is that the kids who stayed behind at Wilson are attending and applying to the exact same colleges as those who left for a big3 private.  My kid is one who left.  The private school kids may have the bump from having more shots at traditional extracurriculars but the Wilson kids have a significant bump from going to an urban public school which is HUGE.   Also agree that there is no guarantee at all that your very bright kid from public will be in the top 10% at the private.  At all.  The big3 private cohort is by-in-large selected from top students from all over the DMV.  And well, only 10% can graduate in the top 10%.  Plenty of very bright kids who would have excelled in their home publics will graduate at the 75% or 50% mark in the private.  Plus you have the legacy and VIP factor which is prevalent every corner of the DMV but found exponentially at the big3 schools.

My experience is only with Wilson vs. Big3.  I don't know anything about MD or VA schools--things may vary there.  But in DC, it is very obvious to me that a very strong student will receive no admissions bump from a big3 vs. Wilson.  If anything it will be a bump down.  I know a pair of twins who is applying to college this year (one Wilson, one Big3).  Equal academic ability--both top students when they left middle school.  Guess what?  They're applying to the same level of schools.  Exact same.    [/quote]

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