Anonymous
05/28/2025 13:39
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
My DD's loudoun public had around 35 UVA admits this year. Most were in early action.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:https://www.potomacschool.org/academics/college-counseling/matriculation
Huge # going to UVA, Wake Forest, W&M, and surprisingly many going to W&L. Here's the list for Virginia schools:
College of William & Mary (18)
George Mason University
James Madison University (3)
Marymount University
Northern Virginia Community College
Old Dominion University
University of Mary Washington (2)
University of Richmond (2)
University of Virginia (30)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech (6)
Virginia Wesleyan University
Washington and Lee University (11)
Parents could have enrolled their kids at Langley or McLean with the same or better results. This is also for 4 years.
Bingo. Or even better come out to Loudoun. We have similar UVA/WM numbers.
No, you don't.
I assure you our mediocre, run of the mill public high school sends 7-8 kids to UVA each year. Sorry you wasted all that money.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 13:30
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:I wonder what would be the most effective use of $200k to maximize elite college admissions
This presupposes that Potomac (and other private school parents) are spending $200k to "maximize elite college admissions." We're certainly not doing it for that reason.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 13:18
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:https://www.potomacschool.org/academics/college-counseling/matriculation
Huge # going to UVA, Wake Forest, W&M, and surprisingly many going to W&L. Here's the list for Virginia schools:
College of William & Mary (18)
George Mason University
James Madison University (3)
Marymount University
Northern Virginia Community College
Old Dominion University
University of Mary Washington (2)
University of Richmond (2)
University of Virginia (30)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech (6)
Virginia Wesleyan University
Washington and Lee University (11)
Parents could have enrolled their kids at Langley or McLean with the same or better results. This is also for 4 years.
Bingo. Or even better come out to Loudoun. We have similar UVA/WM numbers.
No, you don't.
I assure you our mediocre, run of the mill public high school sends 7-8 kids to UVA each year. Sorry you wasted all that money.
Now run the percentages rather than the number of individuals.
I would expect better admissions statistics from a $200k private school. I wonder what would be the most effective use of $200k to maximize elite college admissions: attending a top NOVA public school while spending $200k on tutors, private counselors, test prep, and extracurriculars, or spending that $200k on tuition at Potomac School. The truly wealthy families at Potomac are probably doing both.
Probably graduates <150 kids per year. Almost all of them have attended since primary school. It's easy more than $200k
Anonymous
05/28/2025 13:15
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:https://www.potomacschool.org/academics/college-counseling/matriculation
Huge # going to UVA, Wake Forest, W&M, and surprisingly many going to W&L. Here's the list for Virginia schools:
College of William & Mary (18)
George Mason University
James Madison University (3)
Marymount University
Northern Virginia Community College
Old Dominion University
University of Mary Washington (2)
University of Richmond (2)
University of Virginia (30)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech (6)
Virginia Wesleyan University
Washington and Lee University (11)
My understanding is that Potomac had a banner year for ivy+
Anonymous
05/28/2025 12:18
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Mrs. degree
To be accepted and graduate from these elite high schools is not exactly easy. They kick out low performing kids who would otherwise be doing fine in public school.
That's why the school achieves such high matriculation rates to top colleges. They cherry-pick most of their students to begin with. Taking high-testing students from mostly wealthy backgrounds and providing them with a decent education is a recipe for college admission success. Little Johnny heading to Harvard from Potomac would probably also get into Harvard from Yorktown or any other NOVA school.
There is another dynamic at play in private schools. My child was offered nearly a free ride at a private school as a coach noticed that my child was doing exceptionally well in an academic EC. We still did not choose it as DC preferred a public magnet school and got accepted to 3 of the HYPSM. I was pretty ignorant of the college admissions process at that time, but I think it was likely they are offering free rides to a few students who are very likely to get T10 offers.
I suspect that scholarship students and those receiving significant financial aid are often among the strongest academic performers at Potomac and other expensive private high schools. These students strategically chosen to enhance their academic statistics and rankings, similar to how they recruit talented athletes.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 12:04
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Mrs. degree
To be accepted and graduate from these elite high schools is not exactly easy. They kick out low performing kids who would otherwise be doing fine in public school.
How many kids got kicked out last year?
Anonymous
05/28/2025 11:44
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Mrs. degree
To be accepted and graduate from these elite high schools is not exactly easy. They kick out low performing kids who would otherwise be doing fine in public school.
That's why the school achieves such high matriculation rates to top colleges. They cherry-pick most of their students to begin with. Taking high-testing students from mostly wealthy backgrounds and providing them with a decent education is a recipe for college admission success. Little Johnny heading to Harvard from Potomac would probably also get into Harvard from Yorktown or any other NOVA school.
There is another dynamic at play in private schools. My child was offered nearly a free ride at a private school as a coach noticed that my child was doing exceptionally well in an academic EC. We still did not choose it as DC preferred a public magnet school and got accepted to 3 of the HYPSM. I was pretty ignorant of the college admissions process at that time, but I think it was likely they are offering free rides to a few students who are very likely to get T10 offers.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 10:56
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Mrs. degree
To be accepted and graduate from these elite high schools is not exactly easy. They kick out low performing kids who would otherwise be doing fine in public school.
That's why the school achieves such high matriculation rates to top colleges. They cherry-pick most of their students to begin with. Taking high-testing students from mostly wealthy backgrounds and providing them with a decent education is a recipe for college admission success. Little Johnny heading to Harvard from Potomac would probably also get into Harvard from Yorktown or any other NOVA school.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 10:42
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
I am always amazed at how jealous some posters are of families that chose to send their kids to private schools whether it is a private college or high school.
My kids go to a top public in another city and no way is the top 1/3 of the class going to top 20 schools. More like the top 10 percent and even then it requires some luck.
Even if it is athletes and legacies that is still pretty impressive.
My kids go to a top public in another city and no way is the top 1/3 of the class going to top 20 schools. More like the top 10 percent and even then it requires some luck.
Even if it is athletes and legacies that is still pretty impressive.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 10:29
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Mrs. degree
To be accepted and graduate from these elite high schools is not exactly easy. They kick out low performing kids who would otherwise be doing fine in public school.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 10:07
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Mrs. degree
Anonymous
05/28/2025 09:53
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:https://www.potomacschool.org/academics/college-counseling/matriculation
Huge # going to UVA, Wake Forest, W&M, and surprisingly many going to W&L. Here's the list for Virginia schools:
College of William & Mary (18)
George Mason University
James Madison University (3)
Marymount University
Northern Virginia Community College
Old Dominion University
University of Mary Washington (2)
University of Richmond (2)
University of Virginia (30)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech (6)
Virginia Wesleyan University
Washington and Lee University (11)
Parents could have enrolled their kids at Langley or McLean with the same or better results. This is also for 4 years.
Bingo. Or even better come out to Loudoun. We have similar UVA/WM numbers.
No, you don't.
I assure you our mediocre, run of the mill public high school sends 7-8 kids to UVA each year. Sorry you wasted all that money.
Now run the percentages rather than the number of individuals.
I would expect better admissions statistics from a $200k private school. I wonder what would be the most effective use of $200k to maximize elite college admissions: attending a top NOVA public school while spending $200k on tutors, private counselors, test prep, and extracurriculars, or spending that $200k on tuition at Potomac School. The truly wealthy families at Potomac are probably doing both.
The parents don't care about admissions results or the tuition. These people just want connections, nice facilities and to get away from the poors. Some of these kids have trusts and will never need to hold a job. Who cares where they go to school.
+1 they are already attending an elite high school and do not need to be caught up in a rat race to escape poverty in a public high school
Anonymous
05/28/2025 09:42
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would be so pissed if I paid for potomac and my kid was going to CC!
I’d be so pissed if I cared about such a trivial amount of money. Work harder so you can financially support your children with basic expenses.
Unfortunately, 19% of students require financial aid to attend Potomac, indicating that tuition presents a significant financial burden. One wonders how these families feel when they realize their children may struggle to gain acceptance into elite circles simply because they lack wealth and influential connections.
No different from attending an elite college. The financial aid kids never really fit in.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 09:36
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would be so pissed if I paid for potomac and my kid was going to CC!
I’d be so pissed if I cared about such a trivial amount of money. Work harder so you can financially support your children with basic expenses.
Unfortunately, 19% of students require financial aid to attend Potomac, indicating that tuition presents a significant financial burden. One wonders how these families feel when they realize their children may struggle to gain acceptance into elite circles simply because they lack wealth and influential connections.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 08:09
Subject: The Potomac School Matriculation
Anonymous wrote:I would be so pissed if I paid for potomac and my kid was going to CC!
I’d be so pissed if I cared about such a trivial amount of money. Work harder so you can financially support your children with basic expenses.