My child was admitted to Episcopal, Andover, Choate, Hotchkiss. Thinking about college admissions, I believe Episcopal will be easier to get straight A’s in and provide an opportunity to get into the Ivies.
My kid is a 99th percentile test scorer and has done pre-calculus in 8th grade. However, there are several kids like that in every elite boarding school. I suspect he can become a superstar at Episcopal, which means much more than being the top third of a HADES school.
From your experience, is Episcopal a better school for someone who wants to be in the top 10% of the class, but isn’t an intellectual savant or prodigy?
I’m pretty sure Ivy Leagues take into consideration the rigor and competitiveness of the school. And the opportunities offered at HADES schools are unmatched.
Based on post history, it seems to me the academic pressure at [fill in the name of the boarding school] will be infinitesimal compared to the unrealistic expectations and pressures being exerted by dad.
Nobody can tell you whether or not your 8th grade kid will get into an Ivy League university. Nobody.
And if your kid does develop into an attractive candidate for the Ivies, any of these marvelous schools will give them the tools with which to develop.
No university admits boarding schools. They do admit strong applicants who have received a solid education and performed well at a BS.
Congrats to your kid on the acceptances! It’s an exciting time for you and them right now.
I will say that @skieurope provides the “take a deep breath” answer that you may need to hear. More than a few of us felt the same way you do and had the same curiosities about our ambitious 8th graders’ college prospects. Once your fantastic kid is attending EHS/Chaote/Andover, etc., you’re going to hear these insane anecdotes of brilliant, accomplished achievers, start-up kids, pilots, high-level chess players, who SOMEHOW didn’t get into HYPSM. You’ll be driving home with your partner/spouse from the lax game/parents fundraiser/open house event and be like, “I thought Jilley was valedictorian? How did she end up at ______?”
But anyway, here’s some data points - over the past four graduating classes:
You may want to expand your definition of “superstar” to go well beyond just getting straight As. That is a mere speck of what highly selective schools are looking for.
Suggest you take a look at the CDSs of a representative sample of colleges to see what they consider and emphasize in admissions.
My understanding was that u need be “ big fish in small pond” , won’t you be competing with your school mates first? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Each ivy or other top colleges can only admit x number of students from each school.
There are existing Prep threads that discuss the tired and statistically unproven “big fish/small pond” theory of “easier” elite college admissions.
I don’t have the energy to summarize why elite college obsessed parents may not want to put too much faith in this aquarian allegory, apart from repeating a variation of “colleges don’t admit prep schools, they admit strong applicants.”
As for “Each ivy or other top colleges can only admit x number of students from each school.” - the admissions and matriculation figures at prep schools change every year, to the point that it is quite evident there is no “x or fixed number”.
I echo the sentiments of experienced contributors @skieurope and @SportyPrep, albeit from a different perspective.
The saying “Correlation does not imply causation” is applicable here. The fact that specific schools exhibit a distinct trend in college enrollment doesn’t automatically attribute direct responsibility to these schools for the observed outcomes. Often, these trends arise from factors like family legacies, athletic accomplishments, or preferences rooted in family traditions. For instance, families in the Northeast might favor NESCAC schools due to their regional prominence; families from East Asia may choose internationally recognized institutions to enhance their children’s employment prospects upon returning home. Similarly, families from California often hold the UC system in high regard. In summary, college matriculation mirrors the students’ family background within boarding schools rather than which boarding schools the students are from.
Selecting schools for my children based solely on college matriculation rates suggests treating them more as data points in a correlation graph than individuals. They are characterized by their distinct qualities, which they develop at their high schools by engaging in elective classes and special programs and cultivating teamwork and leadership skills in athletics at one of the schools referenced by the original poster. Indeed, they tackle challenging courses in Math, Science, English, and History—each with its rigor, be it through more homework or stricter grading. However, I believe it’s not solely the academic rigor that shapes my children into admirable adults.
As for college admissions, the decision has always been in the hands of colleges to determine if our children are the right fit for them—and we are happy to pay the tuition if we agree with the admission office, expecting more growth at their colleges.
The schools OP posted aren’t just schools but environments where distinct talents and contributions are recognized and nurtured, far beyond what any statistic can convey.
If the only way an applicant can appear to be a truly viable admit for a tippy top college is by attending a less competive high school, odds are they are not a truly viable candidate and college AOs will see this.
If, otoh, one environment allows a student to be their best self and another doesn’t, the first may greatly improve their odds of admission at most schools. You really need to pick the school that offers your kid the best environment for them.
Btw, this isn’t simply about academics- it’s about the social milieu, the sports and ECs. These are really important years developmentally – not simply an extended admissions test for college.
I think sometimes a great student can get “lost” among other great students at a TT boarding school and not manage to standout in college admissions. That’s really the premise of big fish/small pond - getting the attention of faculty because one is the standout and therefore being the student for whom they advocate when it comes to college applications. It’s not a guarantee of course.
MY DS is at Choate… and I can tell you… it’s SO DIFFERENT than what they say it is. I’m not comfortable sharing in public but I can tell you this: college matriculation lists all these schools talk about is bogus: the kids that are getting in are athletes, legacy and Z list. Try dig deeper to see what the ‘real’ acceptances are. I now know at Choate they send at least 20/year to UConn. Take that for what it’s worth. Your super smart kiddo will have a much better shot at a T20 from your local public than a BS. Also, everyone uses Door Dash to the tune of &10k/year. I can’t make that up. Breakfast lunch and dinner. Crazy.
Last thing: tutor up. Most kids have 3+ tutors, especially the international kids. Best to go to these schools with your eyes open. Ours were not.
The Z-list is most associated with Harvard. It represents an offer of admission, but with a one-year delay. Purportedly, students who receive this offer may have comparatively low academic qualifications and are disproportionately from families capable of large donations or other forms of influence.
We have found Choate to be transparent and granular about its SAT, GPA, class grade distribution, and college matriculation data.
CRH’s school profile states 12 grads matriculated to UConn over the last 5 years. You are suggesting it’s more like 100, and claim to have the receipts.
There is no incentive for Choate to conspire to lie about its published stats, as implied. That would require people in the college office and senior administration to collude, and heads would roll when this inevitably became public.
While I think that all BS have the kids who are recruited athletes, legacies and donor families getting into top colleges, that doesn’t mean there aren’t also other kids who do. Let’s also keep in mind that college admissions landscape has changed dramatically - the top colleges aren’t willing to fill their classes w BS kids anymore.
UConn is a really good state school - with top athletics as well as affordable tuition for CT families. My guess is that that is who goes there from a school like Choate.
As for the affluence at BS - sure there are going to be kids with unlimited spending allowances. Not every school allows kids to order in all their meals. Some schools have required seated meals - maybe that’s something to consider.
Hi - I found this post rather shocking and a bit irresponsible. While I have no doubt there is basis for some of the comments, I do find it misleading and exaggerated.
We are still in Freshman year at another tippy top school so the hard truths about college have probably not set in or exposed themselves. That being said -
College: The college landscape has changed drastically and continues to do so. Anyone exposed to the news would know that the feeder days of yesterday are gone. BS is not a tix to the IVYs - it is a tix to being prepared for school and life wherever it might lead your student. I was shocked to see how much emphasis is placed on sports even though few make their career in the area. It is about money and reputation - BS, college - it is no different. So yes, spots will go to athletes, legacy and all the other things mentioned. This leaves a smaller percentage left viable for the top, middle and bottom students. And it is hard to say where ones super smart child will fall as they all are. Anyone doing the math would understand that is sadly realistic. I do believe my child would have gotten into a better college staying at her very good private school. We shared this with her at the time. But we believed there were many more important things she was not getting that BS could offer. No one should go to BS if they are chasing a guarantee (not sure one could find that anywhere). One should send their child to BS after really digging deep about the why and what they hope to achieve.
Tutors: I am sure there are children that have tutors just as there are at private and public schools. Most schools offer teacher support and many have learning facilities and peer tutoring. Kids are pretty busy at school leaving limited time to fit 3 tutors in. If that is needed it may not be the right school for them. I suspect most is a strong exaggeration.
Door Dash: Yes many students have and use it. But not for all the meals and not to that level. Parents make the rules and set the boundaries and limits. My child actually likes the school food and uses Door Dash rarely only for the occasional treat with a group of friends. And while she does have a few friends that are loyal customers the majority of her friends are not. There is plenty of money at all the schools, but after asking around I do feel like this is an exaggeration. And if it is not - any parent concerned should set the guidelines and expectations with their child ahead of time. Parents should be doing this anyway bc it is the first time most children are living away from home using money and credit card/accounts. That has nothing to do with income level, but rather parenting.
I guess my biggest point is one needs to be informed (so thank you for the considerations), evaluate the why one is sending their child to BS, and understand albeit a harder one that their kids still need parenting even from a distance.
