<p>I guess everyone has different experience and it is good to speak out and compare.</p>
<p>For some reason, I have a different experience from turbo93. SF Bay Area has about 10 magnet public schools, my nephew went to one and it is truly cutthroat and highly competitive. It is probably the highest ranking and the most difficult HS in entire East Bay. My nephew had mediocre grade throughout the HS career and he openly state that he would not want to apply for an Ivy to repeat his HS experiences. Nevertheless, he was admitted to UCLA. MY DD with much higher stats and 34 on ACT, on the other hand was rejected by UCLA, she went to a lessor competitive HS but it is still one of the best in the county we live. Both of them are in the same class year.</p>
<p>Go figure.</p>