Here's the problem comparing StA & public exmissions: money. Typically, StA parents with Ivy degrees can afford to send their legacy children to their schools. But, I have worked with TJ and Whitman parents who were undergraduate alums of P & Y, yet their children didn't even apply. Why? The parents could not afford it. Two working parents earning mid-level salaries won't get major Ivy FA. But they can’t pay full freight, particularly if they have several children. That's probably why hundreds of TJ grads attend W&M and U.Va each year. Those of us who can afford today's tuitition rates should coulnt our blessings. I have two extended family members who "turned down" Duke, and a friend whose daughter had to turn down several Ivys. It’s just a class issue, not a talent one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know from reading the bulletins that the STA grads place well at the Ivies. As a s/o of the "bottom half" private school thread, I wonder whether there are non-Ivy schools where the other half of the class typically place/feed/

STA grads do place well in the Ivies. But you have to realize that most are legacies. It's a cycle of sorts: many kids get into STA because of their parents (wealthy and/or somehow connected) and continue to top colleges via legacy admissions and/or those same connections. So you do have to look beyond the simple statistics. Once you do, you'll see that a school like TJ, for example, has a far more impressive Ivy admissions rate.

I don't want to make this about TJ -- I think for what TJ offers (high level math science surrounded by an unbelievably talented cohort for the STEM subjects, and for FREE no less) is unparalleled, as there National Merit Semifinalist rates suggest.

However, I can say from first-hand knowledge of the last couple of years that the "most are legacies" argument about St. Albans admissions is not accurate. It is a fair point that some are legacies, and it is a fair point that legacies get a big boost so that the college exmissions are favorably influenced by that. By my tentative count, in the last 2 years maybe 75-80% of the Ivy/Stanford/MIT admits have not been legacies. Moreoever (and this is a point that has been made), a lot of the students who are legacies are top students in their own right and would qualify for admission to the most selective schools without Ivy status. One young man who comes to mind attended the very selective Ivy where he was a legacy, but was such a stirling candidate that he had been offered a Morehouse Scholar.

So, in brief -- legacy matters, but it's not the whole story. STA attracts a very strong cohort (as the NMSF totals also suggest) and they do well in college admissions mostly on the numbers (grades and GPA). They get a boost with some athletic admits and some legacies, too, no doubt about it. But, again, the "most are legacies" argument really overstates the case.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current STA mom with second son applying this year. My younger son is a good kid, but not as smart or as athletic or as charming as my older boy. Is the sibling preference a strong one? Is it common or uncommon to have sibling brothers attending separate schools?

No offense, but I hope that "charming" is not among the criteria STA looks at in giving admissions!

Beg to differ, but STA looks for future leaders. Whether it is called "charm," or likability or EQ or people skills, it is absolutely STA looks at in admissions.

Most of all they look for bright, thoughtful kids. I promise you that a reserved or even shy applicant who is bright and thoughtful will do well in the applications process (which includes an essay, for just this reason, one assumes).

During the applications process my son was very quiet, hardly said a word.

In general, DS is a reserved and shy guy who is bright and thoughtful. He's doing very well at STA and has developed strong interpersonal skills and is quite the charming debater these days.

7:07 In September 2009, TJ admitted roughly 480 freshmen/freshwomen. St. Albans admitted 80. Given your pride in TJ's Ivy admissions, the numbers indicate TJ should have Ivy admissions six times that of St. Albans this year. If St. Albans has 8 - 10 Ivy admits, TJ should have 48 - 60 to approximate St. Albans. I would be surprised if they do. Even though TJ may have more Ivy Leaguers than other Fairfax County school, percentage-wise they do not come close to equalling many of the private schools in the area. However, TJ's matriculation percentage to MIT, CalTech, etc. surpasses the privates. Take pride in that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know from reading the bulletins that the STA grads place well at the Ivies. As a s/o of the "bottom half" private school thread, I wonder whether there are non-Ivy schools where the other half of the class typically place/feed/

STA grads do place well in the Ivies. But you have to realize that most are legacies. It's a cycle of sorts: many kids get into STA because of their parents (wealthy and/or somehow connected) and continue to top colleges via legacy admissions and/or those same connections. So you do have to look beyond the simple statistics. Once you do, you'll see that a school like TJ, for example, has a far more impressive Ivy admissions rate.

A lot of the TJ students are legacies, too.

Anonymous wrote:I know from reading the bulletins that the STA grads place well at the Ivies. As a s/o of the "bottom half" private school thread, I wonder whether there are non-Ivy schools where the other half of the class typically place/feed/

STA grads do place well in the Ivies. But you have to realize that most are legacies. It's a cycle of sorts: many kids get into STA because of their parents (wealthy and/or somehow connected) and continue to top colleges via legacy admissions and/or those same connections. So you do have to look beyond the simple statistics. Once you do, you'll see that a school like TJ, for example, has a far more impressive Ivy admissions rate.

6.12. That's normal. If younger kid accepts, older has better chance of getting off wait list.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current STA mom with second son applying this year. My younger son is a good kid, but not as smart or as athletic or as charming as my older boy. Is the sibling preference a strong one? Is it common or uncommon to have sibling brothers attending separate schools?

No offense, but I hope that "charming" is not among the criteria STA looks at in giving admissions!

Beg to differ, but STA looks for future leaders. Whether it is called "charm," or likability or EQ or people skills, it is absolutely STA looks at in admissions.

Most of all they look for bright, thoughtful kids. I promise you that a reserved or even shy applicant who is bright and thoughtful will do well in the applications process (which includes an essay, for just this reason, one assumes).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current STA mom with second son applying this year. My younger son is a good kid, but not as smart or as athletic or as charming as my older boy. Is the sibling preference a strong one? Is it common or uncommon to have sibling brothers attending separate schools?

No offense, but I hope that "charming" is not among the criteria STA looks at in giving admissions!

Beg to differ, but STA looks for future leaders. Whether it is called "charm," or likability or EQ or people skills, it is absolutely STA looks at in admissions.

Anonymous wrote:Current STA mom with second son applying this year. My younger son is a good kid, but not as smart or as athletic or as charming as my older boy. Is the sibling preference a strong one? Is it common or uncommon to have sibling brothers attending separate schools?

No offense, but I hope that "charming" is not among the criteria STA looks at in giving admissions!

Anonymous wrote:Current STA mom with second son applying this year. My younger son is a good kid, but not as smart or as athletic or as charming as my older boy. Is the sibling preference a strong one? Is it common or uncommon to have sibling brothers attending separate schools?

Different question - does sibling preference apply to brothers applying at same time? I've heard of an instance where the younger brother just got admitted but the older brother got waitlisted. Seems odd to me the school would do this.

Current STA mom with second son applying this year. My younger son is a good kid, but not as smart or as athletic or as charming as my older boy. Is the sibling preference a strong one? Is it common or uncommon to have sibling brothers attending separate schools?

Anonymous wrote:Our son is new to the school (middle school). Midterms are coming up. Has anyone looked at how much is expected to be covered? The scope and breadth are astounding. It's intimidating. Are there any other parents out there stressing out over this entire exercise? My son seems okay, but I am a wreck.

How about trying to come in and talk to the Academic Dean of the Lower School, Mrs. D[ ]? She's honest, straight-talking, and a pro and could probably give you a good sense of the realities of the experience and how kids handle it, what you as a parent might be able to do. Also, is your son using the STArtSmart resource? Maybe encouraging him to take advantage of STArtSmart in helping him organize his studying? Good luck!

Our son is new to the school (middle school). Midterms are coming up. Has anyone looked at how much is expected to be covered? The scope and breadth are astounding. It's intimidating. Are there any other parents out there stressing out over this entire exercise? My son seems okay, but I am a wreck.

I know from reading the bulletins that the STA grads place well at the Ivies. As a s/o of the "bottom half" private school thread, I wonder whether there are non-Ivy schools where the other half of the class typically place/feed/