Anonymous wrote:My DD is at top private school. She is an average student and works hard. Her grades (and those of many of her friends) are lower than their public school counterparts. I hear anecdotes from parents at our public school talk about how kids have no homework now and they don't even have to turn in assignments in a timely manner. These kids are getting straight As. Will college admissions people recognize this?

OP: The question in your topic is totally reasonable. And the answer is affirmative: AOs at elite private schools will be aware of your top private school's curriculum and will assess applicants accordingly.

As for the boldfaced portion above, it's hyperbolic nonsense and it's kind of embarrassing that you'd entertain it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:bit of a contrarian response here - my two DCs are at what people on DCUM consider a top university and a top LAC. Both went to the same public, which would be considered middle of the road on DCUM. Both went TO. Both econ majors and both just under 4.0. They say they were better prepared for college since they weren’t coddled like their private/prep school friends, and public teacher quality/ curriculum was excellent, with a huge caveat - for the AP classes.

If it isnt a top 10 or at least 15 and it isnt WASP LAC then it isn't top. And if they had to go TO they are not top either.

I love this board! DCUM, don't ever change.

Anonymous wrote:My DD is at top private school. She is an average student and works hard. Her grades (and those of many of her friends) are lower than their public school counterparts. I hear anecdotes from parents at our public school talk about how kids have no homework now and they don't even have to turn in assignments in a timely manner. These kids are getting straight As. Will college admissions people recognize this?

What blows my mind about posts like this.... if this is what you actually believe, why the hell did you send your kid to private school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in ny so here the top public schools do great. Like Stuy. Problem is most colleges won’t take 30 kids from Stuy (some do) so bottom half of class have a tough time. And Stuy is tough to get grades in mid 90s

But anything past top 15 high schools (we have 400) not so much. You can retake tests, get extra credit. Lots of kids w 4.0s who don’t crack 1300 on SAT. On plus side, majority of class is urm or first gen or both. Have an interesting EC and go TO and it can word, just need to have the social capital to understand the game.

Privates run the gamut. The TT kids clean up. But it’s a very grade deflation, no retakes, no extra credit, total grind. 3.8 kids do just fine, Top 30 uni or top 12 LACs. 3.6 kids can get into places that are “fine” for this crowd. Like Kenyon

Then there are T2/T3 places that have a lot to trade inflation. Lots of 3.95s. With paid counseling they get into haverfords.

College regional officers were wiped out by Covid. Nobody wants to stand at a table in high school cafeterias, getting 50k and counting on those Marriott points. So how much these schools “know” your public or private is much reduced. You can work that to your advantage in some public’s. And some privates don’t do as well with the UGAs etc because those are the schools with the huge application load and without the expertise.

All of this is so accurate....AND here's another one.
If your private HS has had particularly good recent admissions and matriculations years, it can help future classes (think last 2 classes)....especially with these new AO reps who don't know their as* from their elbow....

So they use the previous matriculation guides to help them. So if top 50% of class last two years went to T25/30, then by golly, this kid with a 3.8 but TO and some niche EC will make it through for WashU or Vanderbilt etc.

Reputation matters A LOT for high schools. So much is written about this on here and on reddit (check the AMA).

How does this work? I'm worried because at our Big3 school, last year's class had some Covid grade inflation plus a cohort of super smart kids which together results in a lot of kids who graduated with a 3.95 (15+). They applied far and wide and got in (and matriculated at) all sorts of top schools. This year's class has a much lower average GPA. Many of the strongest kids have a 3.8 and change. What happens when these 3.8's apply to schools that last year received 3.95's from our school? Especially if they apply ED? Do the colleges say "no" because they're used to getting 3.95s? Or assume that 3.95s from this high school will be coming along in RD (which they won't be, this year)?

this is a question for your CCO. Ask point blank how your kid compares to the internal competition for your ED school and ask if the school's CCO letter will speak to the "top grades" in this class (I bet it will).

yes, the CCO thinks my kid has a great chance relative to current year competition. But his/her grades are quite a bit lower than last year's grads from this school. This current year has no 4.0 students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in ny so here the top public schools do great. Like Stuy. Problem is most colleges won’t take 30 kids from Stuy (some do) so bottom half of class have a tough time. And Stuy is tough to get grades in mid 90s

But anything past top 15 high schools (we have 400) not so much. You can retake tests, get extra credit. Lots of kids w 4.0s who don’t crack 1300 on SAT. On plus side, majority of class is urm or first gen or both. Have an interesting EC and go TO and it can word, just need to have the social capital to understand the game.

Privates run the gamut. The TT kids clean up. But it’s a very grade deflation, no retakes, no extra credit, total grind. 3.8 kids do just fine, Top 30 uni or top 12 LACs. 3.6 kids can get into places that are “fine” for this crowd. Like Kenyon

Then there are T2/T3 places that have a lot to trade inflation. Lots of 3.95s. With paid counseling they get into haverfords.

College regional officers were wiped out by Covid. Nobody wants to stand at a table in high school cafeterias, getting 50k and counting on those Marriott points. So how much these schools “know” your public or private is much reduced. You can work that to your advantage in some public’s. And some privates don’t do as well with the UGAs etc because those are the schools with the huge application load and without the expertise.

All of this is so accurate....AND here's another one.
If your private HS has had particularly good recent admissions and matriculations years, it can help future classes (think last 2 classes)....especially with these new AO reps who don't know their as* from their elbow....

So they use the previous matriculation guides to help them. So if top 50% of class last two years went to T25/30, then by golly, this kid with a 3.8 but TO and some niche EC will make it through for WashU or Vanderbilt etc.

Reputation matters A LOT for high schools. So much is written about this on here and on reddit (check the AMA).

How does this work? I'm worried because at our Big3 school, last year's class had some Covid grade inflation plus a cohort of super smart kids which together results in a lot of kids who graduated with a 3.95 (15+). They applied far and wide and got in (and matriculated at) all sorts of top schools. This year's class has a much lower average GPA. Many of the strongest kids have a 3.8 and change. What happens when these 3.8's apply to schools that last year received 3.95's from our school? Especially if they apply ED? Do the colleges say "no" because they're used to getting 3.95s? Or assume that 3.95s from this high school will be coming along in RD (which they won't be, this year)?

this is a question for your CCO. Ask point blank how your kid compares to the internal competition for your ED school and ask if the school's CCO letter will speak to the "top grades" in this class (I bet it will).

Our kids are at a small, rigorous private school (150 kids per year) in a large city that's not in DMV.

It's pretty sought after in our city to get into, 90% of applicants apparently get rejected. You pretty much have to be an A student in middle school with lots of ECs and passions to get in. So you can imagine it's hard to be in the top 10% or event top 25% of this student body.

The course load is very stimulating and difficult. The papers feel like my college papers (I went to Ivy undergrad). It is hard to get an A. They don't purchase AP curriculums from the College Board, but make their own versions that our in-state colleges treat as comparable to AP in terms of rigor.

We're very happy with the education and college prep our kids are getting but we realize it will be better to focus on colleges that know our HS well since they'll have the right context for our grading system (no inflation) and rigor.

I'd suggest you work with your college counselor to identify the list of colleges that are what your child is looking for, and that knows the rigor and depth of your school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in ny so here the top public schools do great. Like Stuy. Problem is most colleges won’t take 30 kids from Stuy (some do) so bottom half of class have a tough time. And Stuy is tough to get grades in mid 90s

But anything past top 15 high schools (we have 400) not so much. You can retake tests, get extra credit. Lots of kids w 4.0s who don’t crack 1300 on SAT. On plus side, majority of class is urm or first gen or both. Have an interesting EC and go TO and it can word, just need to have the social capital to understand the game.

Privates run the gamut. The TT kids clean up. But it’s a very grade deflation, no retakes, no extra credit, total grind. 3.8 kids do just fine, Top 30 uni or top 12 LACs. 3.6 kids can get into places that are “fine” for this crowd. Like Kenyon

Then there are T2/T3 places that have a lot to trade inflation. Lots of 3.95s. With paid counseling they get into haverfords.

College regional officers were wiped out by Covid. Nobody wants to stand at a table in high school cafeterias, getting 50k and counting on those Marriott points. So how much these schools “know” your public or private is much reduced. You can work that to your advantage in some public’s. And some privates don’t do as well with the UGAs etc because those are the schools with the huge application load and without the expertise.

All of this is so accurate....AND here's another one.
If your private HS has had particularly good recent admissions and matriculations years, it can help future classes (think last 2 classes)....especially with these new AO reps who don't know their as* from their elbow....

So they use the previous matriculation guides to help them. So if top 50% of class last two years went to T25/30, then by golly, this kid with a 3.8 but TO and some niche EC will make it through for WashU or Vanderbilt etc.

Reputation matters A LOT for high schools. So much is written about this on here and on reddit (check the AMA).

How does this work? I'm worried because at our Big3 school, last year's class had some Covid grade inflation plus a cohort of super smart kids which together results in a lot of kids who graduated with a 3.95 (15+). They applied far and wide and got in (and matriculated at) all sorts of top schools. This year's class has a much lower average GPA. Many of the strongest kids have a 3.8 and change. What happens when these 3.8's apply to schools that last year received 3.95's from our school? Especially if they apply ED? Do the colleges say "no" because they're used to getting 3.95s? Or assume that 3.95s from this high school will be coming along in RD (which they won't be, this year)?

Anonymous wrote:I’m in ny so here the top public schools do great. Like Stuy. Problem is most colleges won’t take 30 kids from Stuy (some do) so bottom half of class have a tough time. And Stuy is tough to get grades in mid 90s

But anything past top 15 high schools (we have 400) not so much. You can retake tests, get extra credit. Lots of kids w 4.0s who don’t crack 1300 on SAT. On plus side, majority of class is urm or first gen or both. Have an interesting EC and go TO and it can word, just need to have the social capital to understand the game.

Privates run the gamut. The TT kids clean up. But it’s a very grade deflation, no retakes, no extra credit, total grind. 3.8 kids do just fine, Top 30 uni or top 12 LACs. 3.6 kids can get into places that are “fine” for this crowd. Like Kenyon

Then there are T2/T3 places that have a lot to trade inflation. Lots of 3.95s. With paid counseling they get into haverfords.

College regional officers were wiped out by Covid. Nobody wants to stand at a table in high school cafeterias, getting 50k and counting on those Marriott points. So how much these schools “know” your public or private is much reduced. You can work that to your advantage in some public’s. And some privates don’t do as well with the UGAs etc because those are the schools with the huge application load and without the expertise.

All of this is so accurate....AND here's another one.
If your private HS has had particularly good recent admissions and matriculations years, it can help future classes (think last 2 classes)....especially with these new AO reps who don't know their as* from their elbow....

So they use the previous matriculation guides to help them. So if top 50% of class last two years went to T25/30, then by golly, this kid with a 3.8 but TO and some niche EC will make it through for WashU or Vanderbilt etc.

Reputation matters A LOT for high schools. So much is written about this on here and on reddit (check the AMA).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:bit of a contrarian response here - my two DCs are at what people on DCUM consider a top university and a top LAC. Both went to the same public, which would be considered middle of the road on DCUM. Both went TO. Both econ majors and both just under 4.0. They say they were better prepared for college since they weren’t coddled like their private/prep school friends, and public teacher quality/ curriculum was excellent, with a huge caveat - for the AP classes.

Coddled academically or some other way? Coddled how?

Private school kids are the ones who get to retest if they don’t like their grade. Their academic standards are much higher and I dare say they are coddled, at least academically, less than public school kids.

no retests at our private.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes, colleges know but the kids getting into top colleges from NCS, Sidwell, etc are getting close to perfect grades despite going to NCS and Sidwell. There are a dozen or so who get very, very high grades each year and these are the kids going on to top colleges, unhooked.

If you're not getting straight As or very close to it you're out of running for the Ivy league or similar. I think most parents don't realize this until it's too late. There is a this layer of kids at these top privates who DO manage to grind out top grades in top rigor classes. They work like maniacs but they do it.

Very true. An average/ a little above average student at a top private is not getting in to t10/ivy unless hooked. For landing a T30 though, an above average kid could easily get in, depending on high school and as long as they took most rigorous.
OP your kid will be compared to their HS and yes the top schools , private and public, will be aware of the high school curriculum and will easily be able to compare transcripts and gpa even if there is no official rank.

agree. aim for rice, washu, emory, georgetown or CMU

You can’t get into any of those schools without top grades. Not sure what you are smoking.

doesn't it depend on grades?

at our private, ED1 to Emory or WashU with a rigorous transcript and a 3.7+ might get you in. 3.75+ would be better....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:bit of a contrarian response here - my two DCs are at what people on DCUM consider a top university and a top LAC. Both went to the same public, which would be considered middle of the road on DCUM. Both went TO. Both econ majors and both just under 4.0. They say they were better prepared for college since they weren’t coddled like their private/prep school friends, and public teacher quality/ curriculum was excellent, with a huge caveat - for the AP classes.

Coddled academically or some other way? Coddled how?

Private school kids are the ones who get to retest if they don’t like their grade. Their academic standards are much higher and I dare say they are coddled, at least academically, less than public school kids.

Surely you realize that it varies by school and there is no absolute: some public schools allow retakes and some privates allow retakes. Here in the DMV, I know that FCPS allows retakes on tests and you can retake to get an A. I have had kids at 3 different private schools. Not one has allowed retakes or full credit late homework. All my private school kids have also had mid-terms and finals.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:bit of a contrarian response here - my two DCs are at what people on DCUM consider a top university and a top LAC. Both went to the same public, which would be considered middle of the road on DCUM. Both went TO. Both econ majors and both just under 4.0. They say they were better prepared for college since they weren’t coddled like their private/prep school friends, and public teacher quality/ curriculum was excellent, with a huge caveat - for the AP classes.

Coddled academically or some other way? Coddled how?

Private school kids are the ones who get to retest if they don’t like their grade. Their academic standards are much higher and I dare say they are coddled, at least academically, less than public school kids.

I’m in ny so here the top public schools do great. Like Stuy. Problem is most colleges won’t take 30 kids from Stuy (some do) so bottom half of class have a tough time. And Stuy is tough to get grades in mid 90s

But anything past top 15 high schools (we have 400) not so much. You can retake tests, get extra credit. Lots of kids w 4.0s who don’t crack 1300 on SAT. On plus side, majority of class is urm or first gen or both. Have an interesting EC and go TO and it can word, just need to have the social capital to understand the game.

Privates run the gamut. The TT kids clean up. But it’s a very grade deflation, no retakes, no extra credit, total grind. 3.8 kids do just fine, Top 30 uni or top 12 LACs. 3.6 kids can get into places that are “fine” for this crowd. Like Kenyon

Then there are T2/T3 places that have a lot to trade inflation. Lots of 3.95s. With paid counseling they get into haverfords.

College regional officers were wiped out by Covid. Nobody wants to stand at a table in high school cafeterias, getting 50k and counting on those Marriott points. So how much these schools “know” your public or private is much reduced. You can work that to your advantage in some public’s. And some privates don’t do as well with the UGAs etc because those are the schools with the huge application load and without the expertise.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is at top private school. She is an average student and works hard. Her grades (and those of many of her friends) are lower than their public school counterparts. I hear anecdotes from parents at our public school talk about how kids have no homework now and they don't even have to turn in assignments in a timely manner. These kids are getting straight As. Will college admissions people recognize this?

Yes. Colleges know. Be prepared for lots of snarky responses from people who are jealous you can send your kids to private school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes, colleges know but the kids getting into top colleges from NCS, Sidwell, etc are getting close to perfect grades despite going to NCS and Sidwell. There are a dozen or so who get very, very high grades each year and these are the kids going on to top colleges, unhooked.

If you're not getting straight As or very close to it you're out of running for the Ivy league or similar. I think most parents don't realize this until it's too late. There is a this layer of kids at these top privates who DO manage to grind out top grades in top rigor classes. They work like maniacs but they do it.

Very true. An average/ a little above average student at a top private is not getting in to t10/ivy unless hooked. For landing a T30 though, an above average kid could easily get in, depending on high school and as long as they took most rigorous.
OP your kid will be compared to their HS and yes the top schools , private and public, will be aware of the high school curriculum and will easily be able to compare transcripts and gpa even if there is no official rank.

agree. aim for rice, washu, emory, georgetown or CMU

Average students are not getting into Rice or Carnegie Mellon. And if they are, they are going to flunk out.

You aren't getting into rice or washu or Emory from NCS or similar unless you're top 20% in the class, probably more like top 10% (ie you need a 3.9)
Georgetown is a little different because they're local and tend to take kids with lower GPAs from local privates.

Basically if you want a top25 school from a DMV private (even the Big3) you have to get close to straight As. There are plenty of kids who do. If you get Bs, your options will be limited to liberal arts colleges ranked under top10, universities ranked 30+.

Many, many kids parents realize this too late. DCUM says "oh a 3.5 is fine from sidwell!" no, not in 2025. Look at the data from college counseling. The kids getting into top 20 schools are grinding out As--despite attending sidwell, ncs, etc.

100% agree. Sidwell isn’t teaching to a level that is so good that you can’t get As. As much as the private schools crowd loves dishing on APs and hyping their curricula, DC reports that at his t10 elite public high school grads do much better