Agreed 23:30. And I say this only because you mentioned that you attended an ivy league school undergrad, my SAES grad also attends an ivy league school (I didn't) and was well prepared at SAES while still enjoying high school very much. Your child sounds like a great addition to SAES and you sound like a great addition to the parent community. You are making a well-informed choice for your child and family. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The desperation in these posts says a lot. Nearly all SAES kids are Big 3 rejects.

Interesting, I suspect you aren't an adult, but I'll answer anyway. We are only applying to SAES, not any Big 3, despite having a straight-A student with high SSATs. Why? Because the friends I have with kids at the 2 of the Big 3 that I'm familiar with report that their kids are seriously stressed in high school. I don't want that and think it's unnecessary. (Ivy undergrad and professional degrees myself, and didn't go to pressure cooker high school, so feel pretty good about that decision.)

SAES fan and parent of alum here. In fairness, the above poster should know going into this that there likely will be times of real stress in high school -- even at SAES -- if your child pushes himself/herself. From what I understand, it will be less stress than at some better known downtown schools -- that which you call seriously stressed, but there will be stress, particularly if your child is actively engagement the wide range of ECs available. My own view is that is partly because maybe a quarter/third of the SAES class is pushing to attend top 20 schools, not half the class which is my impression of some downtown schools. And IMHO, it is also because the grounded religion-lite culture subtly reminds students that there are more important things in life than where you go to college or what grade you got in x class, if you are trying you best, kind to others, respectful, etc.

I'm the PP, and yes, I appreciate that point. I don't think there's any way to avoid high school stress (at least in this area, private or public). But at least it seems to be less and there's a value placed on balance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The desperation in these posts says a lot. Nearly all SAES kids are Big 3 rejects.

Interesting, I suspect you aren't an adult, but I'll answer anyway. We are only applying to SAES, not any Big 3, despite having a straight-A student with high SSATs. Why? Because the friends I have with kids at the 2 of the Big 3 that I'm familiar with report that their kids are seriously stressed in high school. I don't want that and think it's unnecessary. (Ivy undergrad and professional degrees myself, and didn't go to pressure cooker high school, so feel pretty good about that decision.)

SAES fan and parent of alum here. In fairness, the above poster should know going into this that there likely will be times of real stress in high school -- even at SAES -- if your child pushes himself/herself. From what I understand, it will be less stress than at some better known downtown schools -- that which you call seriously stressed, but there will be stress, particularly if your child is actively engagement the wide range of ECs available. My own view is that is partly because maybe a quarter/third of the SAES class is pushing to attend top 20 schools, not half the class which is my impression of some downtown schools. And IMHO, it is also because the grounded religion-lite culture subtly reminds students that there are more important things in life than where you go to college or what grade you got in x class, if you are trying you best, kind to others, respectful, etc.

Anonymous wrote:The desperation in these posts says a lot. Nearly all SAES kids are Big 3 rejects.

Interesting, I suspect you aren't an adult, but I'll answer anyway. We are only applying to SAES, not any Big 3, despite having a straight-A student with high SSATs. Why? Because the friends I have with kids at the 2 of the Big 3 that I'm familiar with report that their kids are seriously stressed in high school. I don't want that and think it's unnecessary. (Ivy undergrad and professional degrees myself, and didn't go to pressure cooker high school, so feel pretty good about that decision.)

Anonymous wrote:Seems as if the best thing is to let the school speak for itself:

https://youtu.be/4zqH7dteQr0

in a sales pitch?

Seems as if the best thing is to let the school speak for itself:

https://youtu.be/4zqH7dteQr0

One thing is certain in all these posts... SAES parents are loquacious!

Not considering the source. You can't fix stupid.

OP -- I worked with a smart lawyer who sent his kid there because the kid had some learning issues. He liked the school and never reported being bullied (he was the type of kid that a bully would zero in on). Visit and decide for yourself.

For those blasting the school for taking Baron...I dislike the Prez more than most but the kid has to go somewhere and it's bad to blame the kid for the sins of the dad. It reminds me of people criticizing kids on government benefits. What are they supposed to do about their parents?

Perhaps their values extend to compassion for children unlike those that fault them on this forum.

+1. The snarky PP’s comment says more about her own weak psyche.

Anonymous wrote:The desperation in these posts says a lot. Nearly all SAES kids are Big 3 rejects.

Oooo - aren’t you brave, being a bully on an anonymous board. Please...

I have a child at St. Andrew’s and a big 3 (there are several families in this situation) and I could not disagree with you more. I am not denying there are some who are at SAES because they did not get offered admissions at more competitive schools, but that is by far the exception. For the most part children and families we know at SAES specifically chose the school as a first choice. Some would have been competitive at a big 3/5 and actively chose a more compassionate learning environment. There are also children at SAES who would never have considered any of the big 3/5. SAES is a more versatile environment than any of the more competitive schools and SAES graduates attend the same caliber colleges and universities (although admittedly SAES does not have as many elite college legacy families as the big 3/5 so the numbers matriculating at top schools do not compare).

Your post is intentionally demeaning as well as irrelevant. It reflects your lack of understanding of our educational community.

My “big 3 rejects” landed at the same top colleges that the most ambitious “big 3” students aspire to. I think they’ll take that trade off any time — and they enjoyed their high school years immensely along the way.