<p>I know bearcats has talked about this a lot, but be sure that when you are applying to boarding school, you are aware of the effect it has on your college admission process. At your school right now, just as I was, you are at the top...great grades, great SSATs, great ECs..when you get to BS, especially the top ones ( I am at choate), be prepared to suffer in the college process...Your GPA will be much lower, everyone will be as smart if not smarter than you, just as competitive, and will have something "on" you in the college process...basically, what I am saying is, if you are going to BS for the experience, than that is the right reason, but make sure you understand the consequences BS will have on your college process..and if you are going to get into a better school, chances are you will get in someplace better at your old public/private school....just giving my advice...experience is so worth it but now i have a diagnosed anxiety disorder about college..lol</p>
<p>I don't really understand how going to a good high school lowers your chances of being accepted into good universities.</p>
<p>Colleges knows the rigor of your high school, so they will take that into consideration. They also know that if you go to a good high school, the students will probably all be pretty smart, so you may have a low rank.</p>
<p>I disagree, colleges are well aware of the rigor of many private schools and/or boarding schools and make allowances for this in the admissions process</p>
<p>For example, my son's private school sends about 25-30% of its students to Ivies. The average GPA of those getting into the Ivies from his school is 3.3-3.4. This would not be the case at our local public school.</p>
<p>it doesnt matter.. because as i once mentioned, even though colleges know 20 kids from the school are qualified to go, they will still be very reluctant to accept all 20 kids, so perfectly qualified kids get rejected...it's not as easy to stand out in the crowd in a top school ....as opposed to being the only qualified kid in a lesser school...colleges wouldnt mind taking 1...</p>
<p>teacher just expect so much more...today, i just got my AP physics C test back...a whooping D+... i scored 68% on it..it's an old AP mechanics test...above 54% on this tests earns you a 5 (perfect score) on that particular test..but my teacher decided not to curve it because 2 overacheivers scored above 90. How is that going to look on a transcript? I dont really mind now, since I m just waiting for my college decisions, plus i have an amazing safety matchy acceptance (UMIch)...but if i were still a junior, like some kids in my class, i would have been pretty screwed.....30% goes to ivies, so? you have to be at least in the top 30%, which still isnt easy....specially if you take a hard courseload, since we dont weigh for honors or AP</p>
<p>and remember, a lot of kids who get in are triple quadruple legacies or developmental candidates....</p>
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I don't really understand how going to a good high school lowers your chances of being accepted into good universities.</p>
<p>Colleges knows the rigor of your high school, so they will take that into consideration. They also know that if you go to a good high school, the students will probably all be pretty smart, so you may have a low rank.
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<p>Let's say you have 200 kids in your class at boarding school. Typically, let's say that each ivy accepts about 10 kids (it's usually a little less than that, I think, but let's say that, for argument's sake). 8 out of the 10 have connections or are super geniuses. That leaves 2 spots for the kids that otherwise would have had a lot less trouble getting in. For each spot, you have to compete with around 10 kids. So there are 20 kids competing for 2 spots, and each one is just as qualified as you are.</p>
<p>You're bound to run into trouble.</p>
<p>Yes...that's about right...colleges, I think, can only offers a specific amount of spots...so even if you are extremely qualified to get into an Ivy, that Ivy may have to sadly reject you because they don't have room...like I said before, read "The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids" where the author interviews actual college admission officers who explain that it's tough because there are so many qualified kids nowadays, it's hard to tell them that even though there's nothing wrong with them, they have to turn them away...</p>
<p>People often are mistaken on the thought that a prestigious BS may dramatically increase your chances on getting into an Ivy...that's not entirely correct. They may provide the means (great resources, terrific opportunities, excellent teachers, good college counseling, etc), but really, it's the kids who gets themselves in. Not to mention the children of CEOs/senators who get constant passes through life....whether at BS, college, whatever <em>cough</em> George Bush...it really depends on YOU, I think. </p>
<p>Ok, that sounds totally pessimistic, but it's the sorry truth. But again, this should NOT deter your application to whatever BS you desire admission! Remember, you want to go for a superior education, and that is what you will get, not to mention the experience of a lifetime!</p>
<p>I had no problem doing as well at SPS as I did previously. Granted I went to a tough private day. If you have good time management and are academically prepared you'll do well.</p>
<p>The OP is correct that it can be harder to get into the top colleges from a b school. So many apply to the same few schools and they will only take a fraction. There are so many legacies you can't believe it. Double and triple legacies! Then there are lots of the super wealthy. There are also tons of recruitable athletes. </p>
<p>All that leaves a good student in the top say 20 or 30% often out of the competition for HYPS etc.</p>
<p>However, at schools below those, you have a huge boost. Read AdmissionsOfficer's (Tufts) posts on the College Admission board. He explains that kids from the top BSs are seen in a different light. They know they are getting a great, prepared student who works hard.</p>
<p>I think the main advantage to attending a BS is not that you will have an edge getting into a "better" college, but that when you do go to college you are much better PREPARED for the coursework and the college experience. Students who have graduated from top tier prep schools are used to a more rigorous curriculum than most public school students. Also, if they have been boarding students, they have lived away from home, and so being away from their parents for the first time is not a consideration.</p>
<p>sorry .. must disagree with you on that one. A better high school will get you more notice at the top colleges. Yes, the competition for GPA will set you back in school ranking .. but if you are at a top boarding school .. you are among some of the smartest students in the world. Colleges know this. </p>
<p>I attended a private catholic school with a decent reputation in the 80's and attended an Ivy League school along with 15 or so of my classmates. The local publics where I live ... send 1-2 top kids to Ivys at best.</p>
<p>The OP is incorrect. Of course a particular Ivy won't take 20 kids from the same school (generally). So what? I doubt all these kids have the identical qualifications and profile. There are plenty of excellent colleges and going to a rigorous high school which offers a lot of different experiences makes you a better person and very attractive to many colleges. That said, college admission is NOT the right reason to pick a boarding school.</p>
<p>I believe you should not go to a top BS if your goal is HYPSWharton. (At the rest of the schools you have a better chance from BS). You would be better off at your local HS if you do something like ESPY and summer programs like TASP. Being really outstanding at a good public with high scores and ECs far beyond what the school offers is the ideal candidate IMO.</p>
<p>So only go because you want all the great things the schools have to offer in the present.</p>
<p>Let's face it, Harvard is only going to take 8 or so per year from each which is still amazing, but when 7 are legacies or top URMs or great athletes.....That just doesn't happen at the vast majority of publics.</p>
<p>suze, good thing you included wharton...guys...guess how many seniors out of 180 applied to wharton either ED or RD?</p>
<p>Tell me if I'm only daydreaming, but isn't it at all possible to have both? You know to attend boarding school, have a great education, qualify for an amazing ivy league university, and have a successful academic career?</p>
<p>It is all possible.</p>
<p>Wharton--that's Williams or Weslyan, Haverford, Amherst, Rice, and what else?</p>
<p>I would think that going to an ultra-competitive public charter/magnet school would have a similarly bad, if not much worse, effect on elite college admissions. That's if this even is the case in the first place.</p>
<p>I went to Mercersburg Academy, which distinctly tells all students, parents, and university officials that the school has an academic grade deflation policy in effect. The college counseling office has an official disclaimer attached directly to your transcript when it is sent out. Most teachers will refuse to give grades higher than a 95 unless you are an off the charts extraordinary once-in-career student for them. A B+ or above at Mercersburg gets you High Honors, and there are no grades higher than an A. I believe colleges fully understand the rigor at many US boarding schools, and consider it thoroughly in the application process.</p>
<p>"Wharton--that's Williams or Weslyan, Haverford, Amherst, Rice, and what else?"</p>
<p>no..wharton is UPenn's school of business....more than 60 kids applied...ED or RD..that's crazy..considering it's just the school of business of ONE college</p>
<p>"A B+ or above at Mercersburg gets you High Honors, and there are no grades higher than an A. "</p>
<p>That's total BS..i know kent does it like that too..but at hotchkiss, you need A- to be on second honors, A to be on first honors...SO UNFAIR...</p>
<p>"which distinctly tells all students, parents, and university officials that the school has an academic grade deflation policy in effect "
as AdOfficer had said in the college admissions forum, a lot of admissions officers dont take that crap...and we really take a HUGE hit when we apply to public universities like BErkeley , UNC...they rarely care about your school but just your GPA and SATs</p>
<p>So I'm confused...it would be better for me to stay in my bad high school, with such a low range of classes, no AP, not good academics (despite what the locals may think) than go to bs, because of the competitiveness (hope that'a word!) of students there? </p>
<p>But isn't there a way to shine at BS and get into an Ivy League?</p>
<p>**If I were to stay here, do you think it would look nicer if I took extra classes at a community college? Would that help?</p>
<p>Wow, I thought boarding school was supposed to give students new oportunities. Now it's just as if it is a huge disadvantage to the college application process. And high school was supposed to get you ready for college. Right? >.< Now I'm confused.</p>
<p>It gets you MORE ready for college, but how can you expect an Ivy to accept all the 150 qualified students (bad number but whatever) that apply from the same school?</p>