Anonymous wrote:I work for an organization that helps low-income, first-generation public school students apply to college (and then stay in to degree completion). We've seen a somewhat stronger than average admission cycle backed up with strong financial aid. I don't know whether that shift is because colleges and universities are walking the walk or if it's just that our students are competing against fewer demographically similar students since the past year has been so brutal for low-income students (in terms of money, access to support, uncertainty about the future, etc).

I think the schools are walking the walk. Test optional certainly helps, as they don’t have to be worried about taking a hit on average stats.

We will be full pay, and my kid goes to private school, but we live in a mostly rural zip code with a low average income. The email my DC gets from very highly ranked colleges is quite interesting. They are specifically, and actively, targeting less-privileged kids. I have no idea how admissions season will work out for my kid next year, but colleges do seem to be under the impression that my kid would fit in a specific category they’re looking to fill. I suspect they’ll figure it out when they look more closely, but it is an interesting insight into what they are actually doing to seek out and encourage these students.

Anonymous wrote:Lotta people on both sides making me sick to my stomach here.

Humans, people. That's what we are. Try and act accordingly.

Amen. I cannot believe how people talk and think on here.

It is amazing how people paint others with such broad brushstrokes. What private school parents hope for their kids varies by individual. Our family is made up mainly of nurses, social workers, teachers, etc. My Big 3 DD decided she is going to nursing school and we are happy for her. She was lucky to get into her top college choice. And that had to do with the program and also location. Not prestige, power, or social standing.

Lotta people on both sides making me sick to my stomach here.

Humans, people. That's what we are. Try and act accordingly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or do a whole lot of these posts read as "I paid a ton of money for my privileged kid to go to private high school with the expectation that they'd get into a fancy-ass college and I am big mad that they are being lapped by a bunch of public school kids I do not know who I assume are undeserving and not as worthy as my precious darling."

YIKES.

I feel that this is true, and SOME of these parents on DCUM do not even try to hide their disdain for public school kids and talk about them like they are totally unmotivated, undeserving morons.

And then, there are other Big 3 parents who are completely kind and normal and seem to get that you can be gifted and deserving from a public high school.

Product of public school, parent of a kid in private school here. I see very little disdain for public school kids vs the incredible vitriol that public school parents like to heap upon private school kids. You never see private school parents posting in the public school forums to sneer, but you see public school parents coming to the private school forums all the time to explicitly detail all the ways in which they think that private school kids are inferior. It's weird.

It was a no-brainer that this thread was going to end up populated by gleeful public school parents who are rubbing their hands together, delighted by any perceived disadvantage for private school kids. It's not a good look.

This x1000. Where is all the disdain for the public school kids??? All I see is nasty, snarky, and defensive crap directed at the private school kids. It is indeed, not a good look. It comes off as jealous or insecure. I have 2 kids, one in private (not big 3) and one in public. I 100% see way more nastiness from the public school parents.

Maybe it is due to all of the posts from people who are practically suicidal because their kids are going to wind up in the same colleges as our kids. And they paid a lot of money to avoid that outcome.

Nah. Half a million is worth ensuring our kids have polish and connections. They may end up at the same college as your kid, but they are already on third ready to steal home and your kid is on the verge of striking out.

Leaving the nastiness aside, I do have different definitions of "success" for my kid than friends who have kids in private school. Private school parents (at least in my small group) would like their kids to get social polish. They value education but to keep social standing. They want (like we all do) happiness for their kids and to minimize their burden later in life. They dont really care if their kid makes a huge contribution to society - that would be nice, but not the goal. For me, I want my kids to have an impact in whatever sphere they go into. The sphere may be small, but I believe they have to give back. They are smart, talented, and have a solid starting point. I want them to maximize their potential because they owe it to themselves, their family, and their society. If my kid ended up as, say, an NIH researcher, I would be really happy. I dont get the feeling that this is the type of "prestige job" that some private school parents would consider a plus (because it doesn't have social cache or money). On the other hand, there is probably a lot more that is in common for our hopes for our kids. Most parents want their kids to grow up to be kind, to be generous, and to have stable and happy lives. So there is definitely more that binds us than our differences.

We did not underwrite our kid's success. They earned it.

Your little Larla may fall on her face when Daddy is not there to bankroll her supposed accomplishments. Mine will not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or do a whole lot of these posts read as "I paid a ton of money for my privileged kid to go to private high school with the expectation that they'd get into a fancy-ass college and I am big mad that they are being lapped by a bunch of public school kids I do not know who I assume are undeserving and not as worthy as my precious darling."

YIKES.

I feel that this is true, and SOME of these parents on DCUM do not even try to hide their disdain for public school kids and talk about them like they are totally unmotivated, undeserving morons.

And then, there are other Big 3 parents who are completely kind and normal and seem to get that you can be gifted and deserving from a public high school.

Product of public school, parent of a kid in private school here. I see very little disdain for public school kids vs the incredible vitriol that public school parents like to heap upon private school kids. You never see private school parents posting in the public school forums to sneer, but you see public school parents coming to the private school forums all the time to explicitly detail all the ways in which they think that private school kids are inferior. It's weird.

It was a no-brainer that this thread was going to end up populated by gleeful public school parents who are rubbing their hands together, delighted by any perceived disadvantage for private school kids. It's not a good look.

This x1000. Where is all the disdain for the public school kids??? All I see is nasty, snarky, and defensive crap directed at the private school kids. It is indeed, not a good look. It comes off as jealous or insecure. I have 2 kids, one in private (not big 3) and one in public. I 100% see way more nastiness from the public school parents.

Maybe it is due to all of the posts from people who are practically suicidal because their kids are going to wind up in the same colleges as our kids. And they paid a lot of money to avoid that outcome.

Nah. Half a million is worth ensuring our kids have polish and connections. They may end up at the same college as your kid, but they are already on third ready to steal home and your kid is on the verge of striking out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or do a whole lot of these posts read as "I paid a ton of money for my privileged kid to go to private high school with the expectation that they'd get into a fancy-ass college and I am big mad that they are being lapped by a bunch of public school kids I do not know who I assume are undeserving and not as worthy as my precious darling."

YIKES.

I feel that this is true, and SOME of these parents on DCUM do not even try to hide their disdain for public school kids and talk about them like they are totally unmotivated, undeserving morons.

And then, there are other Big 3 parents who are completely kind and normal and seem to get that you can be gifted and deserving from a public high school.

Product of public school, parent of a kid in private school here. I see very little disdain for public school kids vs the incredible vitriol that public school parents like to heap upon private school kids. You never see private school parents posting in the public school forums to sneer, but you see public school parents coming to the private school forums all the time to explicitly detail all the ways in which they think that private school kids are inferior. It's weird.

It was a no-brainer that this thread was going to end up populated by gleeful public school parents who are rubbing their hands together, delighted by any perceived disadvantage for private school kids. It's not a good look.

This x1000. Where is all the disdain for the public school kids??? All I see is nasty, snarky, and defensive crap directed at the private school kids. It is indeed, not a good look. It comes off as jealous or insecure. I have 2 kids, one in private (not big 3) and one in public. I 100% see way more nastiness from the public school parents.

Maybe it is due to all of the posts from people who are practically suicidal because their kids are going to wind up in the same colleges as our kids. And they paid a lot of money to avoid that outcome.

I work for an organization that helps low-income, first-generation public school students apply to college (and then stay in to degree completion). We've seen a somewhat stronger than average admission cycle backed up with strong financial aid. I don't know whether that shift is because colleges and universities are walking the walk or if it's just that our students are competing against fewer demographically similar students since the past year has been so brutal for low-income students (in terms of money, access to support, uncertainty about the future, etc).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or do a whole lot of these posts read as "I paid a ton of money for my privileged kid to go to private high school with the expectation that they'd get into a fancy-ass college and I am big mad that they are being lapped by a bunch of public school kids I do not know who I assume are undeserving and not as worthy as my precious darling."

YIKES.

I feel that this is true, and SOME of these parents on DCUM do not even try to hide their disdain for public school kids and talk about them like they are totally unmotivated, undeserving morons.

And then, there are other Big 3 parents who are completely kind and normal and seem to get that you can be gifted and deserving from a public high school.

Product of public school, parent of a kid in private school here. I see very little disdain for public school kids vs the incredible vitriol that public school parents like to heap upon private school kids. You never see private school parents posting in the public school forums to sneer, but you see public school parents coming to the private school forums all the time to explicitly detail all the ways in which they think that private school kids are inferior. It's weird.

It was a no-brainer that this thread was going to end up populated by gleeful public school parents who are rubbing their hands together, delighted by any perceived disadvantage for private school kids. It's not a good look.

This x1000. Where is all the disdain for the public school kids??? All I see is nasty, snarky, and defensive crap directed at the private school kids. It is indeed, not a good look. It comes off as jealous or insecure. I have 2 kids, one in private (not big 3) and one in public. I 100% see way more nastiness from the public school parents.

FOMO is a powerful driver of nastiness. And FOYKMO (fear of your kids missing out) seems to make people absolutely, instantly insane.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or do a whole lot of these posts read as "I paid a ton of money for my privileged kid to go to private high school with the expectation that they'd get into a fancy-ass college and I am big mad that they are being lapped by a bunch of public school kids I do not know who I assume are undeserving and not as worthy as my precious darling."

YIKES.

I feel that this is true, and SOME of these parents on DCUM do not even try to hide their disdain for public school kids and talk about them like they are totally unmotivated, undeserving morons.

And then, there are other Big 3 parents who are completely kind and normal and seem to get that you can be gifted and deserving from a public high school.

Product of public school, parent of a kid in private school here. I see very little disdain for public school kids vs the incredible vitriol that public school parents like to heap upon private school kids. You never see private school parents posting in the public school forums to sneer, but you see public school parents coming to the private school forums all the time to explicitly detail all the ways in which they think that private school kids are inferior. It's weird.

It was a no-brainer that this thread was going to end up populated by gleeful public school parents who are rubbing their hands together, delighted by any perceived disadvantage for private school kids. It's not a good look.

This x1000. Where is all the disdain for the public school kids??? All I see is nasty, snarky, and defensive crap directed at the private school kids. It is indeed, not a good look. It comes off as jealous or insecure. I have 2 kids, one in private (not big 3) and one in public. I 100% see way more nastiness from the public school parents.

Why should there be disdain for ANY kids? It's ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or do a whole lot of these posts read as "I paid a ton of money for my privileged kid to go to private high school with the expectation that they'd get into a fancy-ass college and I am big mad that they are being lapped by a bunch of public school kids I do not know who I assume are undeserving and not as worthy as my precious darling."

YIKES.

I feel that this is true, and SOME of these parents on DCUM do not even try to hide their disdain for public school kids and talk about them like they are totally unmotivated, undeserving morons.

And then, there are other Big 3 parents who are completely kind and normal and seem to get that you can be gifted and deserving from a public high school.

Product of public school, parent of a kid in private school here. I see very little disdain for public school kids vs the incredible vitriol that public school parents like to heap upon private school kids. You never see private school parents posting in the public school forums to sneer, but you see public school parents coming to the private school forums all the time to explicitly detail all the ways in which they think that private school kids are inferior. It's weird.

It was a no-brainer that this thread was going to end up populated by gleeful public school parents who are rubbing their hands together, delighted by any perceived disadvantage for private school kids. It's not a good look.

This x1000. Where is all the disdain for the public school kids??? All I see is nasty, snarky, and defensive crap directed at the private school kids. It is indeed, not a good look. It comes off as jealous or insecure. I have 2 kids, one in private (not big 3) and one in public. I 100% see way more nastiness from the public school parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid who is a sophomore at a Big 3 and by that let's say I mean St Albans/NCS, GDS, Sidwell or Maret. I have heard through my school grapevine that this year the kids at the elite privates are having terrible results-
especially the unhooked kids. I have heard that they are negatively affected by test-optional, the elimination of AP's and grade deflation.

Ok please tell me your experiences- Big 3 parents only please...I am not interested in hearing how well your W school kid did, or how stupid you think I am for paying private school tuition.

I think about half our class is settled with results similar to last year. Here's what I know.

Harvard (multiple), Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth (multiple), Cornell, Chicago (multiple), Bates, Bowdoin (multiple), Berkeley, Denver, Duke, Notre Dame, Richmond, Rollins, Temple, Tulane, Wash U, Wesleyan, West Point, Washington and Lee, UNC

This is about a third of the class. I think the big factor in assessing whether this proves to be a good year or not is what happens to the other two thirds. I think it'll depend on how the wait list situation works out.

I recognize the list, and I will add, to speak to OP's question, that about half of the Ivy admissions and a handful of the others are recruited athletes. No idea about other hooks.

I recognize that list as well and you can add Virginia, Michigan, Boston College, and at least another Yale.

Add Pomona and U. Miami (or Miami U, not sure).

Anonymous wrote:At par with MCPS magnet results too.

Disagree My D is in an MCPS magnet. We have MIT and Carnegie Mellon but probably fewer SLACS. We have tons of UMD Honors. Ivies among top 10-20 percent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I recognize the list, and I will add, to speak to OP's question, that about half of the Ivy admissions and a handful of the others are recruited athletes. No idea about other hooks.

This is just obvious BS.

The Ivies collectively have about 10% of their incoming class as recruited athletes.

For your statement to be true, it would have to be the case that both (1) the Big 3 are crushing it in HS athletics and (2) the Big 3 can’t get anyone in otherwise.

Here's an interesting map of where Ivy athletes come from. I think it is from 2019:
https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2019/10/ivy-league-athletics-are-the-new-money-ball