Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thinking ahead, I am wondering how long it will take for private high schools that grade harder to change their ways. While there certainly can be reasons to choose private high schools, it sounds like college admissions isn't one of them anymore. That's got to affect recruiting at these high schools eventually. Why pay when you can do as well or better in college admissions from a public high school, and do those reasons weigh heavily enough? The answer will differ by kid and family, but those living in an area with decent-but-not-even-stellar publics may find themselves leaning toward the public to the extent they heavily weigh college admissions outcomes.

We've been down this road with a private high school (not in the DC area), with older kid 3.4/1500, during the first admission season of test optional. A bit rough. Naviance was all wrong, as far as attempting to predict results. Our next kid attends a public with much easier grading but much weaker variety of EC options. Hard to guess on teaching quality, probably similar. Also similar average test scores between the schools. The private wasn't really worth it. Last kid will attend the private for other reasons (friends and activities), but we are wary of the grading situation - kid will have to tend to the GPA carefully.

I think there's a big difference among private schools. There are are outlier schools with extraordinarily good academic reputations among college admissions officers and those who work with independent schools. In DC, these would be the "Big-3" give or take. Most private schools, the vast majority, are good, but not exceptional. If money is an issue (which it is for most people), I'm not sure that paying private school tuition is worth it unless the school is in the Big-3 range or your child has specific needs that can't be met by a good public school. (Of course, if you have crap public schools and can't move, then I would pay for private school if it's a better learning environment.)

It's actually the reverse---the Big3 clout isn't working because they have grade deflation. The next rung of schools is actually doing better this year because they have more reasonable grading---i.e. As are actually attainable to kids who do the work. Landon is a good example---they appear to be doing quite well this year because the academic standard is decent but not unattainable. In contrast you have NCS who often gives the strongest students Bs. They (by all reports) are having a horrible admissions year, especially at state schools.

College admissions 2023 are very, very grim at NCS if you have a B student (and most of us do).

Anonymous wrote:Vassar ED

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you that they don’t go to the University of Tennessee. My B student, 33 ACT was WL at Tennessee last night.

My B+ from one of the so-called "Big 3" was also waitlisted last night. I am somewhat relieved. Already accepted into two schools that to me are better choices, but Tennessee was their first choice. Taking it surprisingly well. It's all very confusing.

It really isn't that confusing. Big state schools are using algorithms to admit students. How many Big 3 kids actually attend a school like University of Tennessee if they get in. Not many. The algorithm determined that your kid was not likely to accept. If a big State U is your kid's dream, you are better off at a public school OR a more academically comprehensive private (not an elite prep school).

GDS sends a lot of kids to Wisconsin. Not sure you can generalize like this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you that they don’t go to the University of Tennessee. My B student, 33 ACT was WL at Tennessee last night.

My B+ from one of the so-called "Big 3" was also waitlisted last night. I am somewhat relieved. Already accepted into two schools that to me are better choices, but Tennessee was their first choice. Taking it surprisingly well. It's all very confusing.

It really isn't that confusing. Big state schools are using algorithms to admit students. How many Big 3 kids actually attend a school like University of Tennessee if they get in. Not many. The algorithm determined that your kid was not likely to accept. If a big State U is your kid's dream, you are better off at a public school OR a more academically comprehensive private (not an elite prep school).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thinking ahead, I am wondering how long it will take for private high schools that grade harder to change their ways. While there certainly can be reasons to choose private high schools, it sounds like college admissions isn't one of them anymore. That's got to affect recruiting at these high schools eventually. Why pay when you can do as well or better in college admissions from a public high school, and do those reasons weigh heavily enough? The answer will differ by kid and family, but those living in an area with decent-but-not-even-stellar publics may find themselves leaning toward the public to the extent they heavily weigh college admissions outcomes.

We've been down this road with a private high school (not in the DC area), with older kid 3.4/1500, during the first admission season of test optional. A bit rough. Naviance was all wrong, as far as attempting to predict results. Our next kid attends a public with much easier grading but much weaker variety of EC options. Hard to guess on teaching quality, probably similar. Also similar average test scores between the schools. The private wasn't really worth it. Last kid will attend the private for other reasons (friends and activities), but we are wary of the grading situation - kid will have to tend to the GPA carefully.

I think there's a big difference among private schools. There are are outlier schools with extraordinarily good academic reputations among college admissions officers and those who work with independent schools. In DC, these would be the "Big-3" give or take. Most private schools, the vast majority, are good, but not exceptional. If money is an issue (which it is for most people), I'm not sure that paying private school tuition is worth it unless the school is in the Big-3 range or your child has specific needs that can't be met by a good public school. (Of course, if you have crap public schools and can't move, then I would pay for private school if it's a better learning environment.)

It's actually the reverse---the Big3 clout isn't working because they have grade deflation. The next rung of schools is actually doing better this year because they have more reasonable grading---i.e. As are actually attainable to kids who do the work. Landon is a good example---they appear to be doing quite well this year because the academic standard is decent but not unattainable. In contrast you have NCS who often gives the strongest students Bs. They (by all reports) are having a horrible admissions year, especially at state schools.

Anonymous wrote:You chose private school for college admissions? Really? I am a private school grad and parent and I can't imagine paying 60k/ year for a vague promise of college admissions. I chose private for the education quality and overall experience. I think the college admissions are just related to the caliber of students in the school + wealth + connected parents.

Anonymous wrote:Thinking ahead, I am wondering how long it will take for private high schools that grade harder to change their ways. While there certainly can be reasons to choose private high schools, it sounds like college admissions isn't one of them anymore. That's got to affect recruiting at these high schools eventually. Why pay when you can do as well or better in college admissions from a public high school, and do those reasons weigh heavily enough? The answer will differ by kid and family, but those living in an area with decent-but-not-even-stellar publics may find themselves leaning toward the public to the extent they heavily weigh college admissions outcomes.

We've been down this road with a private high school (not in the DC area), with older kid 3.4/1500, during the first admission season of test optional. A bit rough. Naviance was all wrong, as far as attempting to predict results. Our next kid attends a public with much easier grading but much weaker variety of EC options. Hard to guess on teaching quality, probably similar. Also similar average test scores between the schools. The private wasn't really worth it. Last kid will attend the private for other reasons (friends and activities), but we are wary of the grading situation - kid will have to tend to the GPA carefully.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you that they don’t go to the University of Tennessee. My B student, 33 ACT was WL at Tennessee last night.

My B+ from one of the so-called "Big 3" was also waitlisted last night. I am somewhat relieved. Already accepted into two schools that to me are better choices, but Tennessee was their first choice. Taking it surprisingly well. It's all very confusing.

It really isn't that confusing. Big state schools are using algorithms to admit students. How many Big 3 kids actually attend a school like University of Tennessee if they get in. Not many. The algorithm determined that your kid was not likely to accept. If a big State U is your kid's dream, you are better off at a public school OR a more academically comprehensive private (not an elite prep school).

Make sense, I don't see kids from Elite Prep schools fitting in at Tennessee. But I do see a lot of the VA suburbs kids "fitting in". Maybe that's why the acceptance rate is higher around here...

You are not only a wanna-be snob. You are a total idiot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thinking ahead, I am wondering how long it will take for private high schools that grade harder to change their ways. While there certainly can be reasons to choose private high schools, it sounds like college admissions isn't one of them anymore. That's got to affect recruiting at these high schools eventually. Why pay when you can do as well or better in college admissions from a public high school, and do those reasons weigh heavily enough? The answer will differ by kid and family, but those living in an area with decent-but-not-even-stellar publics may find themselves leaning toward the public to the extent they heavily weigh college admissions outcomes.

We've been down this road with a private high school (not in the DC area), with older kid 3.4/1500, during the first admission season of test optional. A bit rough. Naviance was all wrong, as far as attempting to predict results. Our next kid attends a public with much easier grading but much weaker variety of EC options. Hard to guess on teaching quality, probably similar. Also similar average test scores between the schools. The private wasn't really worth it. Last kid will attend the private for other reasons (friends and activities), but we are wary of the grading situation - kid will have to tend to the GPA carefully.

I think there's a big difference among private schools. There are are outlier schools with extraordinarily good academic reputations among college admissions officers and those who work with independent schools. In DC, these would be the "Big-3" give or take. Most private schools, the vast majority, are good, but not exceptional. If money is an issue (which it is for most people), I'm not sure that paying private school tuition is worth it unless the school is in the Big-3 range or your child has specific needs that can't be met by a good public school. (Of course, if you have crap public schools and can't move, then I would pay for private school if it's a better learning environment.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you that they don’t go to the University of Tennessee. My B student, 33 ACT was WL at Tennessee last night.

My B+ from one of the so-called "Big 3" was also waitlisted last night. I am somewhat relieved. Already accepted into two schools that to me are better choices, but Tennessee was their first choice. Taking it surprisingly well. It's all very confusing.

It really isn't that confusing. Big state schools are using algorithms to admit students. How many Big 3 kids actually attend a school like University of Tennessee if they get in. Not many. The algorithm determined that your kid was not likely to accept. If a big State U is your kid's dream, you are better off at a public school OR a more academically comprehensive private (not an elite prep school).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you that they don’t go to the University of Tennessee. My B student, 33 ACT was WL at Tennessee last night.

My B+ from one of the so-called "Big 3" was also waitlisted last night. I am somewhat relieved. Already accepted into two schools that to me are better choices, but Tennessee was their first choice. Taking it surprisingly well. It's all very confusing.

It really isn't that confusing. Big state schools are using algorithms to admit students. How many Big 3 kids actually attend a school like University of Tennessee if they get in. Not many. The algorithm determined that your kid was not likely to accept. If a big State U is your kid's dream, you are better off at a public school OR a more academically comprehensive private (not an elite prep school).

Make sense, I don't see kids from Elite Prep schools fitting in at Tennessee. But I do see a lot of the VA suburbs kids "fitting in". Maybe that's why the acceptance rate is higher around here...

Anonymous wrote:Thinking ahead, I am wondering how long it will take for private high schools that grade harder to change their ways. While there certainly can be reasons to choose private high schools, it sounds like college admissions isn't one of them anymore. That's got to affect recruiting at these high schools eventually. Why pay when you can do as well or better in college admissions from a public high school, and do those reasons weigh heavily enough? The answer will differ by kid and family, but those living in an area with decent-but-not-even-stellar publics may find themselves leaning toward the public to the extent they heavily weigh college admissions outcomes.

We've been down this road with a private high school (not in the DC area), with older kid 3.4/1500, during the first admission season of test optional. A bit rough. Naviance was all wrong, as far as attempting to predict results. Our next kid attends a public with much easier grading but much weaker variety of EC options. Hard to guess on teaching quality, probably similar. Also similar average test scores between the schools. The private wasn't really worth it. Last kid will attend the private for other reasons (friends and activities), but we are wary of the grading situation - kid will have to tend to the GPA carefully.

Anonymous wrote:Thinking ahead, I am wondering how long it will take for private high schools that grade harder to change their ways. While there certainly can be reasons to choose private high schools, it sounds like college admissions isn't one of them anymore. That's got to affect recruiting at these high schools eventually. Why pay when you can do as well or better in college admissions from a public high school, and do those reasons weigh heavily enough? The answer will differ by kid and family, but those living in an area with decent-but-not-even-stellar publics may find themselves leaning toward the public to the extent they heavily weigh college admissions outcomes.

We've been down this road with a private high school (not in the DC area), with older kid 3.4/1500, during the first admission season of test optional. A bit rough. Naviance was all wrong, as far as attempting to predict results. Our next kid attends a public with much easier grading but much weaker variety of EC options. Hard to guess on teaching quality, probably similar. Also similar average test scores between the schools. The private wasn't really worth it. Last kid will attend the private for other reasons (friends and activities), but we are wary of the grading situation - kid will have to tend to the GPA carefully.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you that they don’t go to the University of Tennessee. My B student, 33 ACT was WL at Tennessee last night.

My B+ from one of the so-called "Big 3" was also waitlisted last night. I am somewhat relieved. Already accepted into two schools that to me are better choices, but Tennessee was their first choice. Taking it surprisingly well. It's all very confusing.

It really isn't that confusing. Big state schools are using algorithms to admit students. How many Big 3 kids actually attend a school like University of Tennessee if they get in. Not many. The algorithm determined that your kid was not likely to accept. If a big State U is your kid's dream, you are better off at a public school OR a more academically comprehensive private (not an elite prep school).