Anonymous wrote:Whatever you choose, try to choose a smaller, less rigorous school. It’s easier to shine and rise to the top there, and stand out as “one of the best” in the teacher rec forms. Do not seek out the most prestigious, rigorous high schools!!!

I am applying to privates for my younger child (my older is in public school) and one is smaller less rigorous, hoping they can stand out more. But my concern is the college matriculation list looks weaker and its hard to know if that is bc teacher recs aren't great or the counseling advice or kids are weaker?

Easiest is from a lower ranked, high FARMS, public HS - but only if in the top 5-10% of the graduating class.

Admissions from a low FARMS, higher ranked public HS ("W" HS) is a whole different animal.

Whatever you choose, try to choose a smaller, less rigorous school. It’s easier to shine and rise to the top there, and stand out as “one of the best” in the teacher rec forms. Do not seek out the most prestigious, rigorous high schools!!!

Anonymous wrote:Depends on major and narrative.

If non-Stem and humanities or social sciences with strong app narrative, private school gets you there much easier.

Why don’t people here understand this?

Anonymous wrote:Depends on major and narrative.

If non-Stem and humanities or social sciences with strong app narrative, private school gets you there much easier.

+1

Depends on major and narrative.

If non-Stem and humanities or social sciences with strong app narrative, private school gets you there much easier.

Our public school goes years without an Ivy admit and when it gets them it’s the Dartmouth/Cornell variety. Not too many WASP admits either. Some of this may be self selective by the applicants since I don’t think many families at our public want to pay $90k a year for college. It’s a donut hole type of school - not likely to get much need-based either.

Lots of UVA/UNC/UMD, the occasional Michigan, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Public or private doesn't matter.

You don't want a super high performing school with a high proportion of strivers.

You want a regular, decent school with a normal amount of opportunities/activities and fairly good teachers and lots of APs offered.

I agree. Know your kids well and where they will thrive. I stressed over this when my kids were in middle school, and due to a big move, they didn't get into any of the private schools in the area. The local public ended up being an amazing fit with balanced kids and curriculum. The social and emotional aspect is huge in high school as the kids need to be physically and mentally strong all four years. Our oldest was just accepted SCEA to his top choice so of course I am very pleased with his public education. We have many friends in the private schools, and some regret the move. But the private schools do have great Top 10/Ivy matriculation, but not so much in our circle of friends in private schools (all unhooked).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For an unhooked UMC smart kid?

We are trying to decide if we should switch our bright child to private school.

Depending on the kid and the school.

Generally speaking, for a smart unhooked kid but not ultra competitive, it's easier to get into non-ivy T20 or T10 lacs from a feeder private school.

For an ultra competitive kid, it's much easier to get in ivies and T5 from a really good public school.

If you can afford private you are likely not FGLI or URM, so you will eclipsed at most private school for competitive colleges. They are only taking so many kids from any given school district, and in public that is who get the slots — they know your life will be fine at Wake or Vandy.

Sorry, I meant you will be eclipsed at most public schools. They have a QuestBridge pipeline, and your UMC kid is out of the running

At private you are competing with more truly hooked kids than in public, even a high performing public will not have the same connections, donors and athletes.

Public or private doesn't matter.

You don't want a super high performing school with a high proportion of strivers.

You want a regular, decent school with a normal amount of opportunities/activities and fairly good teachers and lots of APs offered.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For an unhooked UMC smart kid?

We are trying to decide if we should switch our bright child to private school.

Depending on the kid and the school.

Generally speaking, for a smart unhooked kid but not ultra competitive, it's easier to get into non-ivy T20 or T10 lacs from a feeder private school.

For an ultra competitive kid, it's much easier to get in ivies and T5 from a really good public school.

If you can afford private you are likely not FGLI or URM, so you will eclipsed at most private school for competitive colleges. They are only taking so many kids from any given school district, and in public that is who get the slots — they know your life will be fine at Wake or Vandy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For an unhooked UMC smart kid?

We are trying to decide if we should switch our bright child to private school.

Depending on the kid and the school.

Generally speaking, for a smart unhooked kid but not ultra competitive, it's easier to get into non-ivy T20 or T10 lacs from a feeder private school.

For an ultra competitive kid, it's much easier to get in ivies and T5 from a really good public school.

Actually, it's exactly the REVERSE.

If you are ultra competitive from Sidwell, STA, NCS (i.e. you're top 5 in the class) you can almost guarantee a top5 school. I hate to say 100% but it's pretty close to 100%
I don't think you can say the same about publics.

Op here. I have seen some smart kids NOT get into ivy despite being double legacies and attending one of these privates. I assume they weren’t top students at their private.

I know people will say don’t pick private for college outcomes. We will be pissed if we spend 500k for our kid to end up at a college that could have been admitted from a public high.

We have a seven figure income and can pay for private but we aren’t rich rich. We are working rich.

If you have a 7 figure income you are rich. You might not be wealthy but you are quite rich. And, your kid is likely not going to a T10 because you are in a very competitive cohort. I hope they can play Lax or Volleyball.

What difference does it make?

Go to the HS that is the right fit - not because you think you need that to get into some particular college - that is a recipe for a dreadful life.

HS is life too!

Public school definitely has a better education than privates around DMV.

private