We all know what school you are talking about, FYI. IMO, why don't you write a letter to the school that details all of your valid concerns. I happen to know what school you are talking about because parents are always complaining about it in the private school forum. I can't understand why you don't organize, band together, write a letter/petition, and give it to the board. The school is founded on justice and using your influence in positive ways, so why don't you try that before pulling out of a school that your child enjoys?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think YOU are thinking these things- not your kid. No kid is talking about T30 and weighted GPAs. If YOU want to make this change, say so.

I can’t speak to the benefit of switching, just here to say I think you’re putting words in your kid’s mouth.

Also- college counseling is non existent at MCPS, so even “weak” and “disorganized “ beats … nonexistent!

Good point on college counseling.

I was not putting words in kid's mouth. You should see what the seniors are talking about. School had to have a meeting with seniors to tell kids to stop "bullying" URM kids who got into HYP. Kids are more sophisticated than you think. Like I said, i do not want the kid to change. But feel free to believe what floats your boat

that sounds miserable OP.

If your kid wants the more diverse and striving environment of BCC, let them do it! Seems like an absolute no-brainer. Put the money in a savings account for their first down payment after donating 5k to a charity of child’s choice. Tell them you are proud.

Colleges aren’t particularly interested in upper middle class white or Asian kids right now as an institutional priority. The high school matter less than the demographics.

School had to have a meeting with seniors to tell kids to stop "bullying" URM kids who got into HYP.

That’s a much better reason to leave the school than the one OP is considering.
NCS alum with a B-CC grad kid

I don’t think it’s a troll. Big 3 kids are pretty disappointed this year - esp with bigger state schools that just don’t understand any thing below a 4.0.
Not sure it’s easier at public school but could be more pleasant.
I am rethinking one of mine - not yet in high school - for the same reason

This seems genuinely weird to me. Like I think it is a troll.

Anonymous wrote:I think you are seriously underestimating the caliber of student coming out of top DMV publics. All schools weight differently. Colleges take away the weights and recalculate using their own super special formula.

College admissions are brutal all over unless you are hooked. Look at the thread about the 4.6W GPA from McLean (2nd best HS in FCPS) who was denied at UVA and WL at VT.

I have done this twice. If your kid has started HS, don’t move him midstream without an actual problem. If not, figure out which environment is better for your particular kid, academically and socially. Consider ECs, advanced APs, etc. The subteam captains from my kids robotics teams had fantastic results this year (Georgia Tech, UVA, VT, Michigan CMU, UMD Honors, Cornell) is CS and Engineering. No hooks. But very smart and very talented. In STEM, a DMV public may have more options. Humanities is a tougher call.

My kids both punched above their weight (25-50% GPAs with no hooks) by finding their niche and going all out in HS and applying ED to good match colleges that were a good fit for them and their interests. They had a narrative about what they did in HS, where they were going, and how this specific college will get you there.

And toss USNWR. The T30 emphasis doesn’t help. Your kid will be more successful out of #45 than #25 if #45 is stronger in their major, has more opportunities specific to their future goals and they have a good social fit.

TL;DR: assume your kid would have the exact same college results coming out of the Big 3 and DMV public. Which one better allows them to run with their strengths. And where will they be happier?

+1

And OP's post is so sad to me.

What grade is your kid in now? I would be hesitant to change if he is already in high school. Maybe if a freshman this year, but not after that.
MCPS kids probably do have a leg up for big state schools over the privates. But there are disappointed kids at the public schools as well. It’s a competitive environment and there are no guarantees anywhere.

I think you are seriously underestimating the caliber of student coming out of top DMV publics. All schools weight differently. Colleges take away the weights and recalculate using their own super special formula.

College admissions are brutal all over unless you are hooked. Look at the thread about the 4.6W GPA from McLean (2nd best HS in FCPS) who was denied at UVA and WL at VT.

I have done this twice. If your kid has started HS, don’t move him midstream without an actual problem. If not, figure out which environment is better for your particular kid, academically and socially. Consider ECs, advanced APs, etc. The subteam captains from my kids robotics teams had fantastic results this year (Georgia Tech, UVA, VT, Michigan CMU, UMD Honors, Cornell) is CS and Engineering. No hooks. But very smart and very talented. In STEM, a DMV public may have more options. Humanities is a tougher call.

My kids both punched above their weight (25-50% GPAs with no hooks) by finding their niche and going all out in HS and applying ED to good match colleges that were a good fit for them and their interests. They had a narrative about what they did in HS, where they were going, and how this specific college will get you there.

And toss USNWR. The T30 emphasis doesn’t help. Your kid will be more successful out of #45 than #25 if #45 is stronger in their major, has more opportunities specific to their future goals and they have a good social fit.

TL;DR: assume your kid would have the exact same college results coming out of the Big 3 and DMV public. Which one better allows them to run with their strengths. And where will they be happier?

She's going to have same issues at BCC except given its a larger graduating class, even more smart kids.

Anonymous wrote:I think YOU are thinking these things- not your kid. No kid is talking about T30 and weighted GPAs. If YOU want to make this change, say so.

I can’t speak to the benefit of switching, just here to say I think you’re putting words in your kid’s mouth.

Also- college counseling is non existent at MCPS, so even “weak” and “disorganized “ beats … nonexistent!

Good point on college counseling.

I was not putting words in kid's mouth. You should see what the seniors are talking about. School had to have a meeting with seniors to tell kids to stop "bullying" URM kids who got into HYP. Kids are more sophisticated than you think. Like I said, i do not want the kid to change. But feel free to believe what floats your boat

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a question?

I want to break out a tiny violin for you all. White, wealthy, top school and still your kid isn’t feeling it.

What is with this vitriol? The person asked a question. There is no reason to berate them here. Sounds like you are jealous and acting out. Sorry you had a bad day. Must suck to be you

Do you have a question?

I want to break out a tiny violin for you all. White, wealthy, top school and still your kid isn’t feeling it.

I think YOU are thinking these things- not your kid. No kid is talking about T30 and weighted GPAs. If YOU want to make this change, say so.

I can’t speak to the benefit of switching, just here to say I think you’re putting words in your kid’s mouth.

Also- college counseling is non existent at MCPS, so even “weak” and “disorganized “ beats … nonexistent!

Got a kid interested in transferring in high school from a Big 3 to BCC. Almost entirely for academic reasons as you will see below

Kid is well adjusted, very social, many good friends, straight As.

Is not happy with so many of their smartest senior friends this year who got pretty awful college results, entire lack of AP testing/coursework which is increasingly important for many top state flagships where kid wants to go, and overall environment at his school where high achievers are told "no extra summer work, no getting ahead" whenever they try to see what else they can do for enrichment

I would rather kid NOT leave the big 3 at this stage but kid is looking a few years ahead and seeing just a pile of middle SLAC and T50-100 admits for 3.7 to 3.8 kids with SATs in high 1400s/1500 and saying that's not what they want.

Senior friends have told him Big 3 college office was weak, process was disorganized, too much emphasis on "just relax", generally not awesome and school's relentless push on equity has made it tough to be out in the open that kid wants to actually be in a few AP courses, maybe do IB. School entirely prohibits/doesnt offer and when they add "AP equivalent classes" it is in subjects for which there is no AP test

Advice welcome.

I know the goal of life is NOT a T30 college but kid sees the purpose of a prep school as partly that and is pushing hard. Kid wondering why his Big 3 shuns AP courses as he watches friends in other parts of the country get great college admits this year and his Big 3 friends have a pretty rough year. Kid watched senior friends who thought they would get soe top 50 get shut out pf those and have to default to safeties. A bunch of unhappy senior friends telling kid to go gun for high weighted GPA and w/ bunch of APs that kid cant do at Big 3

Grade deflation and weighted GPA is kid other concern. No one at his school can really get over a 4.0 - and that is basically impossible given deflation in some departments like English at school. Kid wondering why they can't challenge themselves with AP courses, get a 4+ weighted GPA and likely avoid the anti-private school sentiment he's heard from senior friends colleges are casting.

Now of course BCC is one of the most competitive public schools in US, lots of high achievers who will want the same colleges kid does and socially transferirng in high school not fun.

Family is non legacy, unhooked, white - for college admit purposes.