I believe there was press recently about how Stanford has surpassed every other US university as the #1 choice and the most prestigious place to attend, most difficult to get into etc etc etc.

When I was in public school in the late 80s, several of my friends were admitted to Stanford and Duke, Brown etc.

I really don't think a private education gives you an edge in this country.

Anonymous wrote:
But really, wherever your kid is going to thrive in high school is where they should go. They'll get the best grades, be most involved, and really show their best selves if they're happy and engaged at school.

Having spoken with multiple admissions directors at Ivies and 'second-tier' schools, the above advice is spot-on. The most informative post on DCUM in a long time. javascript:void(0);

Duke is harder to get into than many Ivy League Schools, for example Penn, Cornell, Columbia. Is Stanford also a second tier School according to the OP?
The fact of the matter is, any top 20 school is going to be incredibly hard to get into - it matters very little where the applicant is going to high school. They must be
truly unique and outstanding in today's college admissions market.

Anonymous wrote:Walt Whitman. Harvard. Late 80s.

Lol. Graduate from Harvard in late 80s. Knew tons of kids from STA, NCS, GDS and Sidwell. Never heard of Walt Whitman until I moved to the area. What house?

Anonymous wrote:Drinking & DCUMing! For all the gaming that so many Big 3 families do thinking they are getting their kids into Harvard... most go on to Tulane or Wash U or (gasp) Michigan too!

How do you know what big 3 families are thinking?

Drinking & DCUMing! For all the gaming that so many Big 3 families do thinking they are getting their kids into Harvard... most go on to Tulane or Wash U or (gasp) Michigan too!

Anonymous wrote:Walt Whitman. Harvard. Late 80s.

Did you learn to post hysterical rants on private school boards at "Harvard"?