Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if I spent $50K a year on private school and my kid didnt get into Harvard or Yale.

Why? There are around 400K seniors in private school each year, and just over 4000 spots at Harvard and Yale.

I just find some of the snobbery on this thread a little perplexing. You spent $200,000 on a high school that got your kid into a university where most of the rest of the students attended their local public high schools at a cost to them of $0. Why is that an occasion for looking down your nose?

What’s it to you how someone else spent their money? There are families that have the funds so they use them for what they consider a better overall environment and experience. That’s the case for us where our barely accredited overcrowded public school has daily fights and many other severe problems (and, yes, even a murder a few years ago).

You're missing the point. No one cares about how you spend your money. All the sneering towards public schools and pretensions towards elitism seem a bit much though when your kids end up at the same (and sometimes worse) universities as public school kids. How elite can the education be if a kid in Sioux City got into the same university after attending the school down her street?

I agree, re: the disdain being unpleasant and unhelpful. But I don't think using college as the defining metric makes sense either. We'd all consider Harvard undergrad "elite" even though their grads end up at Harvard Law alongside grads from U. Nebraska and Iowa.

(I googled to be sure that was accurate: https://hls.harvard.edu/jdadmissions/apply-to-harvard-law-school/jdapplicants/hls-profile-and-facts/undergraduate-institutions/)

Of course it’s 1 student from Nebraska the class and 30 from Harvard. But sure it’s exactly the same.

Law school admissions are based almost entirely on GPA and LSAT. My understanding is that you don’t get much of a boost from attending an elite university for undergrad. When I was at my top-5 law school I was one of a very few who went to elite undergrads (think top-3). Nearly everyone had gone to state school

Exactly. And I am sure the state school kids were very smart. Some of the very smart state school kids did not know any better, so did not attend a top law school. Their top 5% in their law school meant nothing, as it turns out, even though they were undoubtedly better than 25-50% of top law school grads. Big law is funny that way; no logic.

In a class of 550 at Harvard only 163 schools are represented. If you don’t think the most represented schools at HLS aren’t Harvard, Yale and Princeton you’re trying to wish something into existence.

And the rest of rant on smart state school kids sounds a lot the washed up high school athletes who swear they could’ve made the pros. At some point - college, law school, job- you are what your records say you are.

PP from two posts ago. Look: if you went to an elite law school you'd know that they admit a lot of students who went to state schools for undergrad--possibly the majority. If you're going around claiming that most students at HLS went to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, then the only thing you're proving is that you didn't go to an elite law school. Also, some of the state school kids do extremely well in law school, and I really don't think that going to an elite undergrad gives you a leg up over the competition once you're in law school. The students who get into the truly top law schools tend to be excellent no matter where they went to undergrad. Also, I'm not sure what you're proving in saying that only 163 schools are represented in a class of 550... There are maybe 10-15 schools I'd consider to be elite universities, and 10-15 is a much smaller number than 163.

As to whether some of the state school kids were very smart but didn't know any better and therefor didn't attend top law schools, that strains credibility. It's possible that there are some who are trying to save money and thus go for in-state tuition, or aspire to go into state or local government and don't need elite credentials for that. But the vast majority of people applying to law school know the rankings quite well and understand that for high-paying positions and clerkships, you're almost always better-off at an elite school.

If you went to a top 5 law school and think these two statements are the same - I fear for your clients:

“ If you don’t think the most represented schools at HLS aren’t Harvard, Yale and Princeton”

“ If you're going around claiming that most students at HLS went to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton”

And I’ll do the math for you: 550 students from 163 schools means some of those schools had more than one student attending. And my point is that the schools with most students attending are the Harvard, Yale and Princetons not whatever state school you want to propose. Having 1 student from Indiana U and 25 students from Harvard doesn’t make them equal in representation

Actually, his ability to elide these two claims without generating cognitive dissonance is probably exactly what makes him a great attorney.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Hey Sidwell booster - not everyone wants to be part of your sad and lonely community. Most Sidwell kids are miserable and can’t wait to leave.

That’s what some people at lesser schools need tell themselves. None of the Sidwell kids I know would want to attend your children’s schools.

So sad and miserable. I guess that’s why I know so many Sidwell alums who send their children to the school. 🙄

Regardless of whether or not Sidwell is a good school, you sound like a child, which reflects poorly on the school.

This entire thread should be an embarrassment to the school. In fact, I would go so far to say DCUM in general has exposed the parent community...unless indeed there is one bad apple here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private Schools

D.C.

Burke: https://www.instagram.com/burkeseniors/
Field: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgrads25/
GDS: https://www.instagram.com/gdsseniors25/
Georgetown Visitation: https://www.instagram.com/visidcseniors_2025/
Maret: https://www.instagram.com/maret.frogs2025/
Sidwell: https://www.instagram.com/sidwellseniors2025/
SJC: https://www.instagram.com/sjc2025seniors/
WIS: https://www.instagram.com/wisclassof25/


Maryland

Academy of the Holy Cross: https://www.instagram.com/ahcseniors25/
Bryn Mawr: https://www.instagram.com/brynmawrclassof2025/
Bullis: https://www.instagram.com/bullis.seniors25/
Friends School of Baltimore: https://www.instagram.com/fsbclassof2025/
Gilman: https://www.instagram.com/gilman_2025/
Heights: https://www.instagram.com/heights25.seniors/
Holton: https://www.instagram.com/holtonarms2025/
Key: https://www.instagram.com/keyclassof2025/
Landon: https://www.instagram.com/landonseniors2025/
McDonogh: https://www.instagram.com/mcdclassof2025/
Sandy Spring Friends: https://www.instagram.com/ssfs2enior5/
Severn: https://www.instagram.com/severnclassof2025/
St. Andrews: https://www.instagram.com/saesdecisions2025/
St. Timothy's: https://www.instagram.com/sttclassof2025/
Stone Ridge: https://www.instagram.com/srseniors2025/


Virginia

Basis Independent Mclean: https://www.instagram.com/bimcommits2025/
Flint Hill: https://www.instagram.com/fh2enior5/
Madeira: https://www.instagram.com/madeiradecisions25/
Norfolk Academy: https://www.instagram.com/naseniors2025/
O'Connell: https://www.instagram.com/djodecision2025/
Potomac: http://www.instagram.com/potomacdecisions_2025/
St. Anne's - Belfield: https://www.instagram.com/saints.2025.sendoff/
St. Paul VI: https://www.instagram.com/pvi2025decisions/
St. Stephens and St. Agnes: https://www.instagram.com/sssas.decisions25/



Public Schools

D.C.

Banneker: https://www.instagram.com/bbahs2025decisions/
Jackson Reed: https://www.instagram.com/jacksonreed_2025/
School Without Walls: https://www.instagram.com/sww2025decisions/


Maryland

Bethesda-Chevy Chase: https://www.instagram.com/bccdecisions25/
Blake: https://www.instagram.com/wherethebengalsgo2025/
Clarksburg: https://www.instagram.com/coyotecommits2025/
Damascus: https://www.instagram.com/official.dmas2025commits/
Einstein: https://www.instagram.com/farewelltitans25/
Gaithersburg: https://www.instagram.com/gburgcommits25/
Kennedy: https://www.instagram.com/jfkcommits2025/
Magruder: https://www.instagram.com/whatcomingcolonels25/
Montgomery Blair: https://www.instagram.com/blaircommits25/
Northwest: https://www.instagram.com/nwhscommits25/
Northwood: https://www.instagram.com/gladiatorcommitments/
Poolesville: https://www.instagram.com/falconsflyhigh2025/
Quince Orchard: https://www.instagram.com/cougarcommits/
Richard Montgomery: https://www.instagram.com/blastoffrockets25/
River Hill: https://www.instagram.com/rhhs.25/
Rockville: https://www.instagram.com/rockvilleseniors25/
Seneca Valley: https://www.instagram.com/wheretheeaglessoar25/
Sherwood: https://www.instagram.com/sherwoodgrad25/
Springbrook: https://www.instagram.com/bluedevilsbound25/
Thomas S Wootton: https://www.instagram.com/peaceoutpatriots25/
Walt Whitman: https://www.instagram.com/vikingdestinations2025/
Winston Churchill: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebulldog25/
Walter Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/wherethewildcatsgo2025/


Virginia

Academies of Loudoun: https://www.instagram.com/acldecisions2025/
Alexandria City: https://www.instagram.com/achsdecisions_25/
Annandale: https://www.instagram.com/ahs25decisions/
Bryant: https://www.instagram.com/brydecisions25/
Carter G. Woodson: https://www.instagram.com/cgw25decisions/
Centreville: https://www.instagram.com/cvhsdecisions2025/
Chantilly: https://www.instagram.com/chantillydecisions2025/
Edison: https://www.instagram.com/ehs.25decisions/
Fairfax: https://www.instagram.com/fairfaxseniors2025/
Falls Church: https://www.instagram.com/fchs_25decisions/
George C. Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/gcmdecisions25/
Hayfield: https://www.instagram.com/hayfielddecisions25/
Herndon: https://www.instagram.com/hhs25decisions/
James Madison: https://www.instagram.com/madisondecisions2025/
Justice: https://www.instagram.com/justice25decisions/
Lake Braddock: https://www.instagram.com/lb25decisions/
Langley: https://www.instagram.com/langleydecisions2025/
Lewis: https://www.instagram.com/lewis25decisions/
Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/gcmdecisions25/
McLean: https://www.instagram.com/mcleancommits2025/
Meridian: https://www.instagram.com/meridiancommits25/
Mount Vernon: https://www.instagram.com/mvhs.decisions.25/
Mountain View: https://www.instagram.com/mvhsdecisions/
Oakton: https://www.instagram.com/oaktondecisions2025/
Robinson: https://www.instagram.com/robo25decisions_/
South County: https://www.instagram.com/soco.decisions.2025/
Thomas Jefferson: https://www.instagram.com/tj2025destinations/
Wakefield: https://www.instagram.com/whsdecisions25/
Washington-Liberty: https://www.instagram.com/wldecisions25/
Westfield: https://www.instagram.com/whs_decisions25/
West Potomac: https://www.instagram.com/wphs2025decisions/
West Springfield: https://www.instagram.com/wspf2025decisions/
Woodson: https://www.instagram.com/cgw25decisions/
Yorktown: https://www.instagram.com/yhsdecisions2025/

Eyeballing these I don't see much difference between Big 3, other privates and public. A few more Ivies in Big 3 but kids from all these schools get into very good universities.

Between Big 3 and other privates, maybe a couple of less Harvard, but other privates also have princeton, Univ. Chicago, Upenn, and Brown.

It's way too early to tell.

Over the long run, the big 3 do better than anyone in the area except TJ. Potomac also does about as well as the big 3. About twice as good as most others.

Does big include gds?

TJ - no.
Potomac is not on par with big 3 but very good for northern Virginia

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if I spent $50K a year on private school and my kid didnt get into Harvard or Yale.

Why? There are around 400K seniors in private school each year, and just over 4000 spots at Harvard and Yale.

I just find some of the snobbery on this thread a little perplexing. You spent $200,000 on a high school that got your kid into a university where most of the rest of the students attended their local public high schools at a cost to them of $0. Why is that an occasion for looking down your nose?

What’s it to you how someone else spent their money? There are families that have the funds so they use them for what they consider a better overall environment and experience. That’s the case for us where our barely accredited overcrowded public school has daily fights and many other severe problems (and, yes, even a murder a few years ago).

You're missing the point. No one cares about how you spend your money. All the sneering towards public schools and pretensions towards elitism seem a bit much though when your kids end up at the same (and sometimes worse) universities as public school kids. How elite can the education be if a kid in Sioux City got into the same university after attending the school down her street?

I agree, re: the disdain being unpleasant and unhelpful. But I don't think using college as the defining metric makes sense either. We'd all consider Harvard undergrad "elite" even though their grads end up at Harvard Law alongside grads from U. Nebraska and Iowa.

(I googled to be sure that was accurate: https://hls.harvard.edu/jdadmissions/apply-to-harvard-law-school/jdapplicants/hls-profile-and-facts/undergraduate-institutions/)

Of course it’s 1 student from Nebraska the class and 30 from Harvard. But sure it’s exactly the same.

Law school admissions are based almost entirely on GPA and LSAT. My understanding is that you don’t get much of a boost from attending an elite university for undergrad. When I was at my top-5 law school I was one of a very few who went to elite undergrads (think top-3). Nearly everyone had gone to state school

Exactly. And I am sure the state school kids were very smart. Some of the very smart state school kids did not know any better, so did not attend a top law school. Their top 5% in their law school meant nothing, as it turns out, even though they were undoubtedly better than 25-50% of top law school grads. Big law is funny that way; no logic.

In a class of 550 at Harvard only 163 schools are represented. If you don’t think the most represented schools at HLS aren’t Harvard, Yale and Princeton you’re trying to wish something into existence.

And the rest of rant on smart state school kids sounds a lot the washed up high school athletes who swear they could’ve made the pros. At some point - college, law school, job- you are what your records say you are.

PP from two posts ago. Look: if you went to an elite law school you'd know that they admit a lot of students who went to state schools for undergrad--possibly the majority. If you're going around claiming that most students at HLS went to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, then the only thing you're proving is that you didn't go to an elite law school. Also, some of the state school kids do extremely well in law school, and I really don't think that going to an elite undergrad gives you a leg up over the competition once you're in law school. The students who get into the truly top law schools tend to be excellent no matter where they went to undergrad. Also, I'm not sure what you're proving in saying that only 163 schools are represented in a class of 550... There are maybe 10-15 schools I'd consider to be elite universities, and 10-15 is a much smaller number than 163.

As to whether some of the state school kids were very smart but didn't know any better and therefor didn't attend top law schools, that strains credibility. It's possible that there are some who are trying to save money and thus go for in-state tuition, or aspire to go into state or local government and don't need elite credentials for that. But the vast majority of people applying to law school know the rankings quite well and understand that for high-paying positions and clerkships, you're almost always better-off at an elite school.

If you went to a top 5 law school and think these two statements are the same - I fear for your clients:

“ If you don’t think the most represented schools at HLS aren’t Harvard, Yale and Princeton”

“ If you're going around claiming that most students at HLS went to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton”

And I’ll do the math for you: 550 students from 163 schools means some of those schools had more than one student attending. And my point is that the schools with most students attending are the Harvard, Yale and Princetons not whatever state school you want to propose. Having 1 student from Indiana U and 25 students from Harvard doesn’t make them equal in representation

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private Schools

D.C.

Burke: https://www.instagram.com/burkeseniors/
Field: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgrads25/
GDS: https://www.instagram.com/gdsseniors25/
Georgetown Visitation: https://www.instagram.com/visidcseniors_2025/
Maret: https://www.instagram.com/maret.frogs2025/
Sidwell: https://www.instagram.com/sidwellseniors2025/
SJC: https://www.instagram.com/sjc2025seniors/
WIS: https://www.instagram.com/wisclassof25/


Maryland

Academy of the Holy Cross: https://www.instagram.com/ahcseniors25/
Bryn Mawr: https://www.instagram.com/brynmawrclassof2025/
Bullis: https://www.instagram.com/bullis.seniors25/
Friends School of Baltimore: https://www.instagram.com/fsbclassof2025/
Gilman: https://www.instagram.com/gilman_2025/
Heights: https://www.instagram.com/heights25.seniors/
Holton: https://www.instagram.com/holtonarms2025/
Key: https://www.instagram.com/keyclassof2025/
Landon: https://www.instagram.com/landonseniors2025/
McDonogh: https://www.instagram.com/mcdclassof2025/
Sandy Spring Friends: https://www.instagram.com/ssfs2enior5/
Severn: https://www.instagram.com/severnclassof2025/
St. Andrews: https://www.instagram.com/saesdecisions2025/
St. Timothy's: https://www.instagram.com/sttclassof2025/
Stone Ridge: https://www.instagram.com/srseniors2025/


Virginia

Basis Independent Mclean: https://www.instagram.com/bimcommits2025/
Flint Hill: https://www.instagram.com/fh2enior5/
Madeira: https://www.instagram.com/madeiradecisions25/
Norfolk Academy: https://www.instagram.com/naseniors2025/
O'Connell: https://www.instagram.com/djodecision2025/
Potomac: http://www.instagram.com/potomacdecisions_2025/
St. Anne's - Belfield: https://www.instagram.com/saints.2025.sendoff/
St. Paul VI: https://www.instagram.com/pvi2025decisions/
St. Stephens and St. Agnes: https://www.instagram.com/sssas.decisions25/



Public Schools

D.C.

Banneker: https://www.instagram.com/bbahs2025decisions/
Jackson Reed: https://www.instagram.com/jacksonreed_2025/
School Without Walls: https://www.instagram.com/sww2025decisions/


Maryland

Bethesda-Chevy Chase: https://www.instagram.com/bccdecisions25/
Blake: https://www.instagram.com/wherethebengalsgo2025/
Clarksburg: https://www.instagram.com/coyotecommits2025/
Damascus: https://www.instagram.com/official.dmas2025commits/
Einstein: https://www.instagram.com/farewelltitans25/
Gaithersburg: https://www.instagram.com/gburgcommits25/
Kennedy: https://www.instagram.com/jfkcommits2025/
Magruder: https://www.instagram.com/whatcomingcolonels25/
Montgomery Blair: https://www.instagram.com/blaircommits25/
Northwest: https://www.instagram.com/nwhscommits25/
Northwood: https://www.instagram.com/gladiatorcommitments/
Poolesville: https://www.instagram.com/falconsflyhigh2025/
Quince Orchard: https://www.instagram.com/cougarcommits/
Richard Montgomery: https://www.instagram.com/blastoffrockets25/
River Hill: https://www.instagram.com/rhhs.25/
Rockville: https://www.instagram.com/rockvilleseniors25/
Seneca Valley: https://www.instagram.com/wheretheeaglessoar25/
Sherwood: https://www.instagram.com/sherwoodgrad25/
Springbrook: https://www.instagram.com/bluedevilsbound25/
Thomas S Wootton: https://www.instagram.com/peaceoutpatriots25/
Walt Whitman: https://www.instagram.com/vikingdestinations2025/
Winston Churchill: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebulldog25/
Walter Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/wherethewildcatsgo2025/


Virginia

Academies of Loudoun: https://www.instagram.com/acldecisions2025/
Alexandria City: https://www.instagram.com/achsdecisions_25/
Annandale: https://www.instagram.com/ahs25decisions/
Bryant: https://www.instagram.com/brydecisions25/
Carter G. Woodson: https://www.instagram.com/cgw25decisions/
Centreville: https://www.instagram.com/cvhsdecisions2025/
Chantilly: https://www.instagram.com/chantillydecisions2025/
Edison: https://www.instagram.com/ehs.25decisions/
Fairfax: https://www.instagram.com/fairfaxseniors2025/
Falls Church: https://www.instagram.com/fchs_25decisions/
George C. Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/gcmdecisions25/
Hayfield: https://www.instagram.com/hayfielddecisions25/
Herndon: https://www.instagram.com/hhs25decisions/
James Madison: https://www.instagram.com/madisondecisions2025/
Justice: https://www.instagram.com/justice25decisions/
Lake Braddock: https://www.instagram.com/lb25decisions/
Langley: https://www.instagram.com/langleydecisions2025/
Lewis: https://www.instagram.com/lewis25decisions/
Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/gcmdecisions25/
McLean: https://www.instagram.com/mcleancommits2025/
Meridian: https://www.instagram.com/meridiancommits25/
Mount Vernon: https://www.instagram.com/mvhs.decisions.25/
Mountain View: https://www.instagram.com/mvhsdecisions/
Oakton: https://www.instagram.com/oaktondecisions2025/
Robinson: https://www.instagram.com/robo25decisions_/
South County: https://www.instagram.com/soco.decisions.2025/
Thomas Jefferson: https://www.instagram.com/tj2025destinations/
Wakefield: https://www.instagram.com/whsdecisions25/
Washington-Liberty: https://www.instagram.com/wldecisions25/
Westfield: https://www.instagram.com/whs_decisions25/
West Potomac: https://www.instagram.com/wphs2025decisions/
West Springfield: https://www.instagram.com/wspf2025decisions/
Woodson: https://www.instagram.com/cgw25decisions/
Yorktown: https://www.instagram.com/yhsdecisions2025/

Eyeballing these I don't see much difference between Big 3, other privates and public. A few more Ivies in Big 3 but kids from all these schools get into very good universities.

Between Big 3 and other privates, maybe a couple of less Harvard, but other privates also have princeton, Univ. Chicago, Upenn, and Brown.

It's way too early to tell.

Over the long run, the big 3 do better than anyone in the area except TJ. Potomac also does about as well as the big 3. About twice as good as most others.

Does big include gds?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private Schools

D.C.

Burke: https://www.instagram.com/burkeseniors/
Field: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgrads25/
GDS: https://www.instagram.com/gdsseniors25/
Georgetown Visitation: https://www.instagram.com/visidcseniors_2025/
Maret: https://www.instagram.com/maret.frogs2025/
Sidwell: https://www.instagram.com/sidwellseniors2025/
SJC: https://www.instagram.com/sjc2025seniors/
WIS: https://www.instagram.com/wisclassof25/


Maryland

Academy of the Holy Cross: https://www.instagram.com/ahcseniors25/
Bryn Mawr: https://www.instagram.com/brynmawrclassof2025/
Bullis: https://www.instagram.com/bullis.seniors25/
Friends School of Baltimore: https://www.instagram.com/fsbclassof2025/
Gilman: https://www.instagram.com/gilman_2025/
Heights: https://www.instagram.com/heights25.seniors/
Holton: https://www.instagram.com/holtonarms2025/
Key: https://www.instagram.com/keyclassof2025/
Landon: https://www.instagram.com/landonseniors2025/
McDonogh: https://www.instagram.com/mcdclassof2025/
Sandy Spring Friends: https://www.instagram.com/ssfs2enior5/
Severn: https://www.instagram.com/severnclassof2025/
St. Andrews: https://www.instagram.com/saesdecisions2025/
St. Timothy's: https://www.instagram.com/sttclassof2025/
Stone Ridge: https://www.instagram.com/srseniors2025/


Virginia

Basis Independent Mclean: https://www.instagram.com/bimcommits2025/
Flint Hill: https://www.instagram.com/fh2enior5/
Madeira: https://www.instagram.com/madeiradecisions25/
Norfolk Academy: https://www.instagram.com/naseniors2025/
O'Connell: https://www.instagram.com/djodecision2025/
Potomac: http://www.instagram.com/potomacdecisions_2025/
St. Anne's - Belfield: https://www.instagram.com/saints.2025.sendoff/
St. Paul VI: https://www.instagram.com/pvi2025decisions/
St. Stephens and St. Agnes: https://www.instagram.com/sssas.decisions25/



Public Schools

D.C.

Banneker: https://www.instagram.com/bbahs2025decisions/
Jackson Reed: https://www.instagram.com/jacksonreed_2025/
School Without Walls: https://www.instagram.com/sww2025decisions/


Maryland

Bethesda-Chevy Chase: https://www.instagram.com/bccdecisions25/
Blake: https://www.instagram.com/wherethebengalsgo2025/
Clarksburg: https://www.instagram.com/coyotecommits2025/
Damascus: https://www.instagram.com/official.dmas2025commits/
Einstein: https://www.instagram.com/farewelltitans25/
Gaithersburg: https://www.instagram.com/gburgcommits25/
Kennedy: https://www.instagram.com/jfkcommits2025/
Magruder: https://www.instagram.com/whatcomingcolonels25/
Montgomery Blair: https://www.instagram.com/blaircommits25/
Northwest: https://www.instagram.com/nwhscommits25/
Northwood: https://www.instagram.com/gladiatorcommitments/
Poolesville: https://www.instagram.com/falconsflyhigh2025/
Quince Orchard: https://www.instagram.com/cougarcommits/
Richard Montgomery: https://www.instagram.com/blastoffrockets25/
River Hill: https://www.instagram.com/rhhs.25/
Rockville: https://www.instagram.com/rockvilleseniors25/
Seneca Valley: https://www.instagram.com/wheretheeaglessoar25/
Sherwood: https://www.instagram.com/sherwoodgrad25/
Springbrook: https://www.instagram.com/bluedevilsbound25/
Thomas S Wootton: https://www.instagram.com/peaceoutpatriots25/
Walt Whitman: https://www.instagram.com/vikingdestinations2025/
Winston Churchill: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebulldog25/
Walter Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/wherethewildcatsgo2025/


Virginia

Academies of Loudoun: https://www.instagram.com/acldecisions2025/
Alexandria City: https://www.instagram.com/achsdecisions_25/
Annandale: https://www.instagram.com/ahs25decisions/
Bryant: https://www.instagram.com/brydecisions25/
Carter G. Woodson: https://www.instagram.com/cgw25decisions/
Centreville: https://www.instagram.com/cvhsdecisions2025/
Chantilly: https://www.instagram.com/chantillydecisions2025/
Edison: https://www.instagram.com/ehs.25decisions/
Fairfax: https://www.instagram.com/fairfaxseniors2025/
Falls Church: https://www.instagram.com/fchs_25decisions/
George C. Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/gcmdecisions25/
Hayfield: https://www.instagram.com/hayfielddecisions25/
Herndon: https://www.instagram.com/hhs25decisions/
James Madison: https://www.instagram.com/madisondecisions2025/
Justice: https://www.instagram.com/justice25decisions/
Lake Braddock: https://www.instagram.com/lb25decisions/
Langley: https://www.instagram.com/langleydecisions2025/
Lewis: https://www.instagram.com/lewis25decisions/
Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/gcmdecisions25/
McLean: https://www.instagram.com/mcleancommits2025/
Meridian: https://www.instagram.com/meridiancommits25/
Mount Vernon: https://www.instagram.com/mvhs.decisions.25/
Mountain View: https://www.instagram.com/mvhsdecisions/
Oakton: https://www.instagram.com/oaktondecisions2025/
Robinson: https://www.instagram.com/robo25decisions_/
South County: https://www.instagram.com/soco.decisions.2025/
Thomas Jefferson: https://www.instagram.com/tj2025destinations/
Wakefield: https://www.instagram.com/whsdecisions25/
Washington-Liberty: https://www.instagram.com/wldecisions25/
Westfield: https://www.instagram.com/whs_decisions25/
West Potomac: https://www.instagram.com/wphs2025decisions/
West Springfield: https://www.instagram.com/wspf2025decisions/
Woodson: https://www.instagram.com/cgw25decisions/
Yorktown: https://www.instagram.com/yhsdecisions2025/

Eyeballing these I don't see much difference between Big 3, other privates and public. A few more Ivies in Big 3 but kids from all these schools get into very good universities.

Between Big 3 and other privates, maybe a couple of less Harvard, but other privates also have princeton, Univ. Chicago, Upenn, and Brown.

It's way too early to tell.

Over the long run, the big 3 do better than anyone in the area except TJ. Potomac also does about as well as the big 3. About twice as good as most others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private Schools

D.C.

Burke: https://www.instagram.com/burkeseniors/
Field: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgrads25/
GDS: https://www.instagram.com/gdsseniors25/
Georgetown Visitation: https://www.instagram.com/visidcseniors_2025/
Maret: https://www.instagram.com/maret.frogs2025/
Sidwell: https://www.instagram.com/sidwellseniors2025/
SJC: https://www.instagram.com/sjc2025seniors/
WIS: https://www.instagram.com/wisclassof25/


Maryland

Academy of the Holy Cross: https://www.instagram.com/ahcseniors25/
Bryn Mawr: https://www.instagram.com/brynmawrclassof2025/
Bullis: https://www.instagram.com/bullis.seniors25/
Friends School of Baltimore: https://www.instagram.com/fsbclassof2025/
Gilman: https://www.instagram.com/gilman_2025/
Heights: https://www.instagram.com/heights25.seniors/
Holton: https://www.instagram.com/holtonarms2025/
Key: https://www.instagram.com/keyclassof2025/
Landon: https://www.instagram.com/landonseniors2025/
McDonogh: https://www.instagram.com/mcdclassof2025/
Sandy Spring Friends: https://www.instagram.com/ssfs2enior5/
Severn: https://www.instagram.com/severnclassof2025/
St. Andrews: https://www.instagram.com/saesdecisions2025/
St. Timothy's: https://www.instagram.com/sttclassof2025/
Stone Ridge: https://www.instagram.com/srseniors2025/


Virginia

Basis Independent Mclean: https://www.instagram.com/bimcommits2025/
Flint Hill: https://www.instagram.com/fh2enior5/
Madeira: https://www.instagram.com/madeiradecisions25/
Norfolk Academy: https://www.instagram.com/naseniors2025/
O'Connell: https://www.instagram.com/djodecision2025/
Potomac: http://www.instagram.com/potomacdecisions_2025/
St. Anne's - Belfield: https://www.instagram.com/saints.2025.sendoff/
St. Paul VI: https://www.instagram.com/pvi2025decisions/
St. Stephens and St. Agnes: https://www.instagram.com/sssas.decisions25/



Public Schools

D.C.

Banneker: https://www.instagram.com/bbahs2025decisions/
Jackson Reed: https://www.instagram.com/jacksonreed_2025/
School Without Walls: https://www.instagram.com/sww2025decisions/


Maryland

Bethesda-Chevy Chase: https://www.instagram.com/bccdecisions25/
Blake: https://www.instagram.com/wherethebengalsgo2025/
Clarksburg: https://www.instagram.com/coyotecommits2025/
Damascus: https://www.instagram.com/official.dmas2025commits/
Einstein: https://www.instagram.com/farewelltitans25/
Gaithersburg: https://www.instagram.com/gburgcommits25/
Kennedy: https://www.instagram.com/jfkcommits2025/
Magruder: https://www.instagram.com/whatcomingcolonels25/
Montgomery Blair: https://www.instagram.com/blaircommits25/
Northwest: https://www.instagram.com/nwhscommits25/
Northwood: https://www.instagram.com/gladiatorcommitments/
Poolesville: https://www.instagram.com/falconsflyhigh2025/
Quince Orchard: https://www.instagram.com/cougarcommits/
Richard Montgomery: https://www.instagram.com/blastoffrockets25/
River Hill: https://www.instagram.com/rhhs.25/
Rockville: https://www.instagram.com/rockvilleseniors25/
Seneca Valley: https://www.instagram.com/wheretheeaglessoar25/
Sherwood: https://www.instagram.com/sherwoodgrad25/
Springbrook: https://www.instagram.com/bluedevilsbound25/
Thomas S Wootton: https://www.instagram.com/peaceoutpatriots25/
Walt Whitman: https://www.instagram.com/vikingdestinations2025/
Winston Churchill: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebulldog25/
Walter Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/wherethewildcatsgo2025/


Virginia

Academies of Loudoun: https://www.instagram.com/acldecisions2025/
Alexandria City: https://www.instagram.com/achsdecisions_25/
Annandale: https://www.instagram.com/ahs25decisions/
Bryant: https://www.instagram.com/brydecisions25/
Carter G. Woodson: https://www.instagram.com/cgw25decisions/
Centreville: https://www.instagram.com/cvhsdecisions2025/
Chantilly: https://www.instagram.com/chantillydecisions2025/
Edison: https://www.instagram.com/ehs.25decisions/
Fairfax: https://www.instagram.com/fairfaxseniors2025/
Falls Church: https://www.instagram.com/fchs_25decisions/
George C. Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/gcmdecisions25/
Hayfield: https://www.instagram.com/hayfielddecisions25/
Herndon: https://www.instagram.com/hhs25decisions/
James Madison: https://www.instagram.com/madisondecisions2025/
Justice: https://www.instagram.com/justice25decisions/
Lake Braddock: https://www.instagram.com/lb25decisions/
Langley: https://www.instagram.com/langleydecisions2025/
Lewis: https://www.instagram.com/lewis25decisions/
Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/gcmdecisions25/
McLean: https://www.instagram.com/mcleancommits2025/
Meridian: https://www.instagram.com/meridiancommits25/
Mount Vernon: https://www.instagram.com/mvhs.decisions.25/
Mountain View: https://www.instagram.com/mvhsdecisions/
Oakton: https://www.instagram.com/oaktondecisions2025/
Robinson: https://www.instagram.com/robo25decisions_/
South County: https://www.instagram.com/soco.decisions.2025/
Thomas Jefferson: https://www.instagram.com/tj2025destinations/
Wakefield: https://www.instagram.com/whsdecisions25/
Washington-Liberty: https://www.instagram.com/wldecisions25/
Westfield: https://www.instagram.com/whs_decisions25/
West Potomac: https://www.instagram.com/wphs2025decisions/
West Springfield: https://www.instagram.com/wspf2025decisions/
Woodson: https://www.instagram.com/cgw25decisions/
Yorktown: https://www.instagram.com/yhsdecisions2025/

Eyeballing these I don't see much difference between Big 3, other privates and public. A few more Ivies in Big 3 but kids from all these schools get into very good universities.

Between Big 3 and other privates, maybe a couple of less Harvard, but other privates also have princeton, Univ. Chicago, Upenn, and Brown.

It's way too early to tell.

Over the long run, the big 3 do better than anyone in the area except TJ. Potomac also does about as well as the big 3. About twice as good as most others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private Schools

D.C.

Burke: https://www.instagram.com/burkeseniors/
Field: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgrads25/
GDS: https://www.instagram.com/gdsseniors25/
Georgetown Visitation: https://www.instagram.com/visidcseniors_2025/
Maret: https://www.instagram.com/maret.frogs2025/
Sidwell: https://www.instagram.com/sidwellseniors2025/
SJC: https://www.instagram.com/sjc2025seniors/
WIS: https://www.instagram.com/wisclassof25/


Maryland

Academy of the Holy Cross: https://www.instagram.com/ahcseniors25/
Bryn Mawr: https://www.instagram.com/brynmawrclassof2025/
Bullis: https://www.instagram.com/bullis.seniors25/
Friends School of Baltimore: https://www.instagram.com/fsbclassof2025/
Gilman: https://www.instagram.com/gilman_2025/
Heights: https://www.instagram.com/heights25.seniors/
Holton: https://www.instagram.com/holtonarms2025/
Key: https://www.instagram.com/keyclassof2025/
Landon: https://www.instagram.com/landonseniors2025/
McDonogh: https://www.instagram.com/mcdclassof2025/
Sandy Spring Friends: https://www.instagram.com/ssfs2enior5/
Severn: https://www.instagram.com/severnclassof2025/
St. Andrews: https://www.instagram.com/saesdecisions2025/
St. Timothy's: https://www.instagram.com/sttclassof2025/
Stone Ridge: https://www.instagram.com/srseniors2025/


Virginia

Basis Independent Mclean: https://www.instagram.com/bimcommits2025/
Flint Hill: https://www.instagram.com/fh2enior5/
Madeira: https://www.instagram.com/madeiradecisions25/
Norfolk Academy: https://www.instagram.com/naseniors2025/
O'Connell: https://www.instagram.com/djodecision2025/
Potomac: http://www.instagram.com/potomacdecisions_2025/
St. Anne's - Belfield: https://www.instagram.com/saints.2025.sendoff/
St. Paul VI: https://www.instagram.com/pvi2025decisions/
St. Stephens and St. Agnes: https://www.instagram.com/sssas.decisions25/



Public Schools

D.C.

Banneker: https://www.instagram.com/bbahs2025decisions/
Jackson Reed: https://www.instagram.com/jacksonreed_2025/
School Without Walls: https://www.instagram.com/sww2025decisions/


Maryland

Bethesda-Chevy Chase: https://www.instagram.com/bccdecisions25/
Blake: https://www.instagram.com/wherethebengalsgo2025/
Clarksburg: https://www.instagram.com/coyotecommits2025/
Damascus: https://www.instagram.com/official.dmas2025commits/
Einstein: https://www.instagram.com/farewelltitans25/
Gaithersburg: https://www.instagram.com/gburgcommits25/
Kennedy: https://www.instagram.com/jfkcommits2025/
Magruder: https://www.instagram.com/whatcomingcolonels25/
Montgomery Blair: https://www.instagram.com/blaircommits25/
Northwest: https://www.instagram.com/nwhscommits25/
Northwood: https://www.instagram.com/gladiatorcommitments/
Poolesville: https://www.instagram.com/falconsflyhigh2025/
Quince Orchard: https://www.instagram.com/cougarcommits/
Richard Montgomery: https://www.instagram.com/blastoffrockets25/
River Hill: https://www.instagram.com/rhhs.25/
Rockville: https://www.instagram.com/rockvilleseniors25/
Seneca Valley: https://www.instagram.com/wheretheeaglessoar25/
Sherwood: https://www.instagram.com/sherwoodgrad25/
Springbrook: https://www.instagram.com/bluedevilsbound25/
Thomas S Wootton: https://www.instagram.com/peaceoutpatriots25/
Walt Whitman: https://www.instagram.com/vikingdestinations2025/
Winston Churchill: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebulldog25/
Walter Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/wherethewildcatsgo2025/


Virginia

Academies of Loudoun: https://www.instagram.com/acldecisions2025/
Alexandria City: https://www.instagram.com/achsdecisions_25/
Annandale: https://www.instagram.com/ahs25decisions/
Bryant: https://www.instagram.com/brydecisions25/
Carter G. Woodson: https://www.instagram.com/cgw25decisions/
Centreville: https://www.instagram.com/cvhsdecisions2025/
Chantilly: https://www.instagram.com/chantillydecisions2025/
Edison: https://www.instagram.com/ehs.25decisions/
Fairfax: https://www.instagram.com/fairfaxseniors2025/
Falls Church: https://www.instagram.com/fchs_25decisions/
George C. Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/gcmdecisions25/
Hayfield: https://www.instagram.com/hayfielddecisions25/
Herndon: https://www.instagram.com/hhs25decisions/
James Madison: https://www.instagram.com/madisondecisions2025/
Justice: https://www.instagram.com/justice25decisions/
Lake Braddock: https://www.instagram.com/lb25decisions/
Langley: https://www.instagram.com/langleydecisions2025/
Lewis: https://www.instagram.com/lewis25decisions/
Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/gcmdecisions25/
McLean: https://www.instagram.com/mcleancommits2025/
Meridian: https://www.instagram.com/meridiancommits25/
Mount Vernon: https://www.instagram.com/mvhs.decisions.25/
Mountain View: https://www.instagram.com/mvhsdecisions/
Oakton: https://www.instagram.com/oaktondecisions2025/
Robinson: https://www.instagram.com/robo25decisions_/
South County: https://www.instagram.com/soco.decisions.2025/
Thomas Jefferson: https://www.instagram.com/tj2025destinations/
Wakefield: https://www.instagram.com/whsdecisions25/
Washington-Liberty: https://www.instagram.com/wldecisions25/
Westfield: https://www.instagram.com/whs_decisions25/
West Potomac: https://www.instagram.com/wphs2025decisions/
West Springfield: https://www.instagram.com/wspf2025decisions/
Woodson: https://www.instagram.com/cgw25decisions/
Yorktown: https://www.instagram.com/yhsdecisions2025/

Eyeballing these I don't see much difference between Big 3, other privates and public. A few more Ivies in Big 3 but kids from all these schools get into very good universities.

Between Big 3 and other privates, maybe a couple of less Harvard, but other privates also have princeton, Univ. Chicago, Upenn, and Brown.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can a school board member dictate which kids get admitted to a certain college from a school if they have strong connections at the college?

No.

How is it possible that their both of their best friends' kids keep getting admitted to the school over more qualified candidates?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if I spent $50K a year on private school and my kid didnt get into Harvard or Yale.

Why? There are around 400K seniors in private school each year, and just over 4000 spots at Harvard and Yale.

I just find some of the snobbery on this thread a little perplexing. You spent $200,000 on a high school that got your kid into a university where most of the rest of the students attended their local public high schools at a cost to them of $0. Why is that an occasion for looking down your nose?

What’s it to you how someone else spent their money? There are families that have the funds so they use them for what they consider a better overall environment and experience. That’s the case for us where our barely accredited overcrowded public school has daily fights and many other severe problems (and, yes, even a murder a few years ago).

You're missing the point. No one cares about how you spend your money. All the sneering towards public schools and pretensions towards elitism seem a bit much though when your kids end up at the same (and sometimes worse) universities as public school kids. How elite can the education be if a kid in Sioux City got into the same university after attending the school down her street?

I agree, re: the disdain being unpleasant and unhelpful. But I don't think using college as the defining metric makes sense either. We'd all consider Harvard undergrad "elite" even though their grads end up at Harvard Law alongside grads from U. Nebraska and Iowa.

(I googled to be sure that was accurate: https://hls.harvard.edu/jdadmissions/apply-to-harvard-law-school/jdapplicants/hls-profile-and-facts/undergraduate-institutions/)

Of course it’s 1 student from Nebraska the class and 30 from Harvard. But sure it’s exactly the same.

Law school admissions are based almost entirely on GPA and LSAT. My understanding is that you don’t get much of a boost from attending an elite university for undergrad. When I was at my top-5 law school I was one of a very few who went to elite undergrads (think top-3). Nearly everyone had gone to state school

Exactly. And I am sure the state school kids were very smart. Some of the very smart state school kids did not know any better, so did not attend a top law school. Their top 5% in their law school meant nothing, as it turns out, even though they were undoubtedly better than 25-50% of top law school grads. Big law is funny that way; no logic.

In a class of 550 at Harvard only 163 schools are represented. If you don’t think the most represented schools at HLS aren’t Harvard, Yale and Princeton you’re trying to wish something into existence.

And the rest of rant on smart state school kids sounds a lot the washed up high school athletes who swear they could’ve made the pros. At some point - college, law school, job- you are what your records say you are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if I spent $50K a year on private school and my kid didnt get into Harvard or Yale.

Why? There are around 400K seniors in private school each year, and just over 4000 spots at Harvard and Yale.

I just find some of the snobbery on this thread a little perplexing. You spent $200,000 on a high school that got your kid into a university where most of the rest of the students attended their local public high schools at a cost to them of $0. Why is that an occasion for looking down your nose?

What’s it to you how someone else spent their money? There are families that have the funds so they use them for what they consider a better overall environment and experience. That’s the case for us where our barely accredited overcrowded public school has daily fights and many other severe problems (and, yes, even a murder a few years ago).

You're missing the point. No one cares about how you spend your money. All the sneering towards public schools and pretensions towards elitism seem a bit much though when your kids end up at the same (and sometimes worse) universities as public school kids. How elite can the education be if a kid in Sioux City got into the same university after attending the school down her street?

00
DP. I think you’re missing the point. Many, BUT NOT ALL, wealthy people send their children to independent prep schools for:
1. The social status that comes with being a student/alum of that school, and 2. So their children attend school with and befriend a critical mass of other wealthy children. An Ivy Plus/T20 private college degree afterwards is great, but not essential.

Sending your child to 99% of the public schools in this country doesn’t confer BOTH of those benefits (one or the other isn’t the goal).

Donald Trump has entered the chat

No, but many of you are public school parents trying to get a peak behind the prep school curtain. That’s why you’re here—and making incorrect assumptions about the true reasons many wealthy parents send their children to independent schools. I answered your question. You’re welcome.

Your view of how the world works sounds like it's straight of a 1980s movie. The world in which I live is intensely competitive and, mostly, a meritocracy. There's lots of luck involved, but, generally speaking, those who are the smartest and work the hardest rise to the top. The idea that you can shortcut your way to the top by joining the right club or (eyeroll) going to the right high school seems utterly ridiculous.

Gosh. Sounds exciting. Please tell everyone about this exciting field where merit is the only thing that matters.

Your reading-comprehension skills need work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if I spent $50K a year on private school and my kid didnt get into Harvard or Yale.

Why? There are around 400K seniors in private school each year, and just over 4000 spots at Harvard and Yale.

I just find some of the snobbery on this thread a little perplexing. You spent $200,000 on a high school that got your kid into a university where most of the rest of the students attended their local public high schools at a cost to them of $0. Why is that an occasion for looking down your nose?

What’s it to you how someone else spent their money? There are families that have the funds so they use them for what they consider a better overall environment and experience. That’s the case for us where our barely accredited overcrowded public school has daily fights and many other severe problems (and, yes, even a murder a few years ago).

You're missing the point. No one cares about how you spend your money. All the sneering towards public schools and pretensions towards elitism seem a bit much though when your kids end up at the same (and sometimes worse) universities as public school kids. How elite can the education be if a kid in Sioux City got into the same university after attending the school down her street?

00
DP. I think you’re missing the point. Many, BUT NOT ALL, wealthy people send their children to independent prep schools for:
1. The social status that comes with being a student/alum of that school, and 2. So their children attend school with and befriend a critical mass of other wealthy children. An Ivy Plus/T20 private college degree afterwards is great, but not essential.

Sending your child to 99% of the public schools in this country doesn’t confer BOTH of those benefits (one or the other isn’t the goal).

Donald Trump has entered the chat

No, but many of you are public school parents trying to get a peak behind the prep school curtain. That’s why you’re here—and making incorrect assumptions about the true reasons many wealthy parents send their children to independent schools. I answered your question. You’re welcome.

Your view of how the world works sounds like it's straight of a 1980s movie. The world in which I live is intensely competitive and, mostly, a meritocracy. There's lots of luck involved, but, generally speaking, those who are the smartest and work the hardest rise to the top. The idea that you can shortcut your way to the top by joining the right club or (eyeroll) going to the right high school seems utterly ridiculous.

Lol—you lost me at meritocracy! 🤣
Have you been paying attention to the idiots running this current administration? I’ll let you guess how many of them attained their positions. Hint: it wasn’t based on merit (or in many cases, intelligence or hard work).

There’s a big difference between the way the world should be (your perspective), and the way the world is. Those in power depend on your continued belief in your worldview.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if I spent $50K a year on private school and my kid didnt get into Harvard or Yale.

Why? There are around 400K seniors in private school each year, and just over 4000 spots at Harvard and Yale.

I just find some of the snobbery on this thread a little perplexing. You spent $200,000 on a high school that got your kid into a university where most of the rest of the students attended their local public high schools at a cost to them of $0. Why is that an occasion for looking down your nose?

What’s it to you how someone else spent their money? There are families that have the funds so they use them for what they consider a better overall environment and experience. That’s the case for us where our barely accredited overcrowded public school has daily fights and many other severe problems (and, yes, even a murder a few years ago).

You're missing the point. No one cares about how you spend your money. All the sneering towards public schools and pretensions towards elitism seem a bit much though when your kids end up at the same (and sometimes worse) universities as public school kids. How elite can the education be if a kid in Sioux City got into the same university after attending the school down her street?

00
DP. I think you’re missing the point. Many, BUT NOT ALL, wealthy people send their children to independent prep schools for:
1. The social status that comes with being a student/alum of that school, and 2. So their children attend school with and befriend a critical mass of other wealthy children. An Ivy Plus/T20 private college degree afterwards is great, but not essential.

Sending your child to 99% of the public schools in this country doesn’t confer BOTH of those benefits (one or the other isn’t the goal).

Donald Trump has entered the chat

No, but many of you are public school parents trying to get a peak behind the prep school curtain. That’s why you’re here—and making incorrect assumptions about the true reasons many wealthy parents send their children to independent schools. I answered your question. You’re welcome.

Your view of how the world works sounds like it's straight of a 1980s movie. The world in which I live is intensely competitive and, mostly, a meritocracy. There's lots of luck involved, but, generally speaking, those who are the smartest and work the hardest rise to the top. The idea that you can shortcut your way to the top by joining the right club or (eyeroll) going to the right high school seems utterly ridiculous.

Lol—you lost me at meritocracy! 🤣
Have you been paying attention to the idiots running this current administration? I’ll let you guess how many of them attained their positions. Hint: it wasn’t based on merit (or in many cases, intelligence or hard work).

There’s a big difference between the way the world should be (your perspective), and the way the world is. Those in power depend on your continued belief in your worldview.

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Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if I spent $50K a year on private school and my kid didnt get into Harvard or Yale.

Why? There are around 400K seniors in private school each year, and just over 4000 spots at Harvard and Yale.

I just find some of the snobbery on this thread a little perplexing. You spent $200,000 on a high school that got your kid into a university where most of the rest of the students attended their local public high schools at a cost to them of $0. Why is that an occasion for looking down your nose?

What’s it to you how someone else spent their money? There are families that have the funds so they use them for what they consider a better overall environment and experience. That’s the case for us where our barely accredited overcrowded public school has daily fights and many other severe problems (and, yes, even a murder a few years ago).

You're missing the point. No one cares about how you spend your money. All the sneering towards public schools and pretensions towards elitism seem a bit much though when your kids end up at the same (and sometimes worse) universities as public school kids. How elite can the education be if a kid in Sioux City got into the same university after attending the school down her street?

DP. I think you’re missing the point. Many, BUT NOT ALL, wealthy people send their children to independent prep schools for:
1. The social status that comes with being a student/alum of that school, and 2. So their children attend school with and befriend a critical mass of other wealthy children. An Ivy Plus/T20 private college degree afterwards is great, but not essential.

Sending your child to 99% of the public schools in this country doesn’t confer BOTH of those benefits (one or the other isn’t the goal).