It’s insane to uproot a family because of this one factor, but it’s absolutely true that academic achievement is a more entrenched priority in Boston than DC—even if dcum would make you think otherwise.

DC has a lot of very successful people who attended southern flagships, UVA, etc., plus west coasters who didn’t grow up with a lifelong college prestige obsession (even if they have one now).

I know many local wealthy families who would *prefer* their children attend, say, stone ridge, than NCS. Their sense of prestige is broader and more relaxed than in the NE where it’s still Harvard as the ultimate prize.

Following: Could someone tell me why kids in the midwest matriculate more often to colleges in the midwest? And what's the secret sauce for all the California kids matriculating to the best Cali schools? It almost seems as if statistically more kids go to colleges near to where they live?

/s

If you are considering moving somewhere to increase your kid's chances of getting into an Ivy (versus their chances of having a classmate get into an Ivy), move to Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, or other small rural state. Colleges love saying they have students from all 50 states.

Born in Boston, grew up just outside, went to one of the hyper-competitive private schools for high school -- and no, I wouldn't move back for that reason. The teachers were amazing, I went to an Ivy, etc., but I was hugely stressed until I managed to chill by sheer force of will in 12th grade. I would think seriously about putting my kids into that pressure cooker, even if they wanted it.

Save your money and then send them to Babson. Best bang for your buck in Boston.

Strange post. If you’re not a troll you need to get with the times. Most people have realized that college is a racket and it matters less and less.

Obviously a troll post

When I went to an elite New England university, quite a few students were faculty kids, not just at the university but whose parents taught at other prominent NE schools. And senior administrators too. I am sure that plays a role in the preponderance of elite admissions out of the Boston high schools. It would not be surprising for the culture of elite schools to quietly reward itself this way.

It’s sad that you’re evaluating this and making decisions based on matriculations. Why no questions re how the quality of life, values, extracurriculars, etc compare? Just do public if your priority is matriculation

You’re literally making decisions about where your family is going to live based on what could be a non-existent (and, at best, marginal) difference in college outcomes? And to extrapolate, you think that the competitive edge that your kid would get from going to a college that they would get into from Boston but not DC is so strong that you’d change cities for it?

Would make more sense if it was about your kid’s friends, happiness, a special program or whatever. Honestly, it sounds like an unhealthy obsession with the perceived prestige of your child’s college selection. It sounds more about you than your kid.

If you are just looking at HS as a means of getting into college you should go public

Lots of overachiever helicopter strivers here from a hyper competitive DCUM culture. MA may not routinely hore $40k application coaches.

The differences are driven by two factors that are both tied to the highly ranked schools disproportionately being located in New England
1) legacy preferences and the high number of graduates of New England highly rated schools who stay in the Boston area so Massachusetts schools have a lot of legacy parents
2) several colleges in Massachusetts give a slight preference to students from Massachusetts.

More probably get in from MA because more kids are hooked.

Question for any Boston, or Massachusetts, natives out there--- Looking for someone who understands where I am coming from.
Would you consider moving back for a MA private high school for your children? We are considering doing that, but I was curious to see if anyone else would do that as well? (Our jobs allow the flexibility to do so.)

The college matriculations in NOVA and DC, even at the best private schools, are not lining up with those in MA. (There are even some top public high schools in MA with better matriculations than the top private schools here! IYKYK!)

But, it is really confusing as to WHY?

Price point wise, the tuition at the top private high schools here are the same as in MA, so that cannot be the case. I am also 1000% sure these students work extremely hard and are wonderful college applicants, so that cannot be the case either!

I really cannot get past the differences in outcomes, (again, even compared to two top MA public schools). Has anyone originally from MA figured it out?

I feel very out of place living here. We have met amazing, wonderful people but the vibe around education is very different. (Again, IYKYK.) It is really hard for us to even consider having our children apply around here and, IF accepted, pay the same exact price with these differences. Thanks for reading.