Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I couldn't agree with 13:37 more. My goal for my kids was to send them to a school where they would learn how to *learn,* to learn how to study; to think critically and to be exposed to great teaching in a stimulating environment. From the list of college acceptances at our school, I assume my kids will do just fine. I think there's a better shot of getting into a very good school from private when you're not necessarily at the top of your class then if you're in the middle at a big public. I could care less about the Ivy League - there are so many first-rate colleges and universities in this country and great grad schools also. In addition, I assume that my kids will be very well prepared for college as a result of their education in high school, unlike their dear old mom.

But a kid who is in the middle of his class at an academically competitive private perhaps would have been at the top of the class at a public.

You are woefully ignorant about the level of academic talent at the local public schools. Do not fool yourself into thinking that the publics are full of kids who can't make it academically at area privates. Their parents can't or choose not to pay hefty tuition, but plenty of academic heavy hitters at plenty of publics. These are kids that deserve respect not your ill-informed casual contempt.

Wow. As an earlier PP said about McLean High, this is definitely not true, too, about Langley. We've been in both privates and public and the stars at Langley are just unbeatable. Wth 600 in the class and an Asian American population of 19.5%, the competition is fierce. The head of my alma mater said that they would put Langley ahead of most privates in the area because they are well-aware of the quality of student, the fierce competition and the rigorous AP program.

I also agree with a PP who says that many kids in private go private for a reason. The child has ADHD, emotional issues, sensitivity to noise was mentioned by a PP, quirks, etc., and they hope that the private school will be more accommodating and nurturing than public. So you definitely cannot assume that all kids in private are super stars (mine weren't)

bump for 2013 admissions . . .

Anonymous wrote:http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/college-admits-2012/

Yikes! I can't believe those stats. I got into many of those schools 20 years ago that have a 10% or less acceptance rate and I'm not that smart. I guess the competition has really gotten stiff. I hope that it will be easier for my 4th grader to get in when it's her turn.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I couldn't agree with 13:37 more. My goal for my kids was to send them to a school where they would learn how to *learn,* to learn how to study; to think critically and to be exposed to great teaching in a stimulating environment. From the list of college acceptances at our school, I assume my kids will do just fine. I think there's a better shot of getting into a very good school from private when you're not necessarily at the top of your class then if you're in the middle at a big public. I could care less about the Ivy League - there are so many first-rate colleges and universities in this country and great grad schools also. In addition, I assume that my kids will be very well prepared for college as a result of their education in high school, unlike their dear old mom.

But a kid who is in the middle of his class at an academically competitive private perhaps would have been at the top of the class at a public.

You are woefully ignorant about the level of academic talent at the local public schools. Do not fool yourself into thinking that the publics are full of kids who can't make it academically at area privates. Their parents can't or choose not to pay hefty tuition, but plenty of academic heavy hitters at plenty of publics. These are kids that deserve respect not your ill-informed casual contempt.

Anonymous wrote:http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010-admissions-tally/?ref=edlife

Can someone post an updated chart?

Interesting read....

It's refreshing to find someone so honest on DCUM. My husband and I weren't smart enough either even if we had had the money (which we didn't).

I care very much that my child go to a college that will challenge him and prepare him well for whatever it is he decides he wants to do. I also care that he find himself amongst a cohort of kids who are bright and engaged in learning (not just there to fill the years between high school and work with a little schooling and a lot of partying) but also know how to have some fun. Just not too much! Which college that will be is not knowable this early and may not seem prestigious to other parents ... again too soon to know. There are so many good schools in this country ... we are very lucky.

So for now, I am just trying to give my child every opportunity to learn up to his potential and also enjoy his only childhood. I would not want to close off an opportunity to go to HPY later on, as I think they are highly regarded for good reason. But whichever college can allow him to continue the path of learning at a level appropriate for him at the time would not be disappointing.

Disclaimer: Neither my husband nor I were even close to smart enough for the "elite" private colleges, so it is much easier for us to feel comfortable with lesser thought of colleges, I'm sure.

That's a nice way to express it pp.

Anonymous wrote:Are there any parents who don't care where their kids end up going to college? If so, why don't you care?

Yes, if my kids don't get into the colleges of their choice, I will overnight become to the world a parent who doesn't care where my kids go. And after a while, I may be able to believe it myself. It takes a certain philosophical detachment not to care.

Are there any parents who don't care where their kids end up going to college? If so, why don't you care?

I'm not the PP who posted the link, but it is a chart of admissions stats for 2010 for 30 top American colleges, including number of applicants, number admitted, admit rate, number offered wait list status, number accepting wait list status, number admitted off wait list, and yield rate.

It's an interesting chart, but I am not sure how this is relevant to this thread. Someone has been posting this link on various threads today.

I can't open the link...can you just summarize in a sentence about the gist of the story? Thanks.