<p>"It hadn’t occurred to me that this would be seen so negatively by colleges and that worries me. "</p>
<p>Flowers123, I don’t think it would be necessarily a negative, but it wouldn’t be a positive (i.e., increase one’s chances), if one’s only objective is to gain admission to the Ivy League. Students do change high schools. If the student changes from a top boarding school to a well-respected elite local high school, it might not affect the chances, if the colleges know the academic work is demanding at both schools. </p>
<p>In recent years, many public high schools near us have stopped publishing graduates’ college plans in the paper. I don’t have the same faith you do in public high school college placement rates. We’ll have to differ on that. I have heard from other parents for the last few years that the Ivies have accepted primarily athletes from our local PHS. </p>
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<p>If the student wants to return to the local high school, he will put in his best effort. I haven’t even raised the question of placement in honors/AP courses, which may be difficult, if seats in the courses are limited by budget issues.</p>
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<p>From the school’s profile, the middle of the bell curve lies at 4.5 - 4.9. Only 1% receive a 6 average (3 or 4 students?) Given the college matriculations, I’d say that a GPA in the 4s is good, certainly on a level in terms of college placement with the top 10% at our local PHS.</p>
<p>I was often told what matters is inside, not outside. Here at cc I got the impression that what matters for bs is the whole person development, not the college placement. </p>
<p>But how good really is this whole person workout if top colleges don’t want you? I feel for those Andover students who went to some could-have-been-better colleges. Not going to Ivies is not the end of the world, and I don’t see problem either not to finish at Andover. I find the OP courageous to think the “unthinkable” to make things work. As good as Andover is, it is not made for all or to end all.</p>
<p>My alma mater Occidental has a great track record of getting kids into medical school and this year was no different:
[Occidental</a> College :: Banner Year for Oxy Medical School Applicants](<a href=“http://www.oxy.edu/x10677.xml]Occidental”>http://www.oxy.edu/x10677.xml)</p>
<p>Look at the school’s acceptance rates into medical schools – many small liberal arts colleges and State Schools have a higher rate of success than the Ivys.</p>
<p>Paying 200K and getting into Stonehill College is not a good outcome in my book.</p>
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<p>Not publishing results on paper doesn’t mean it’s bad news. This is digital age and they are saving paper and trees.</p>
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<p>Total misinformation. Go to many high school web pages and see their college placement. TJ, Stuyvesant, Bronx High, Boston Latin it’s not the athletes going to good colleges they are mathletes. Also, I heard the opposite. The people from BS going to good colleges are athletes, well-connected people, legacies, people sponsoring science buildings etc.</p>
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<p>This looks like a scare tactic. No body cut AP courses because of budget. They only cut least important things. I’m not sure you are in touch with public schools.</p>
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<p>Unsubstantiated hot air with no data to support, more like wishful thinking. Again out of touch with PHS.</p>
<p>As per your advice, if the OP keeps her child in BS, I would be happy to hear the good news in a couple of years.</p>
<p>My wife (who is kicking my butt in terms of reading through our BS nightstand library) notes that a common theme in both Restless Virgins (book on Milton) and Privilege (book on SPS) is that “Being one of the elites must seem effortless.”</p>
<p>Another myth I suppose, that we should try to not feed. Sometimes it’s a struggle. And sometimes, you will fail.</p>
<p>Pulsar, those schools are exam schools with admissions requirements as stringent as competitive boarding schools. They are not typical local public schools. You’re comparing apples to apples.</p>
<p>If the OP’s son returns to Boston Latin, and ends up at the top of his class, the Ivies are in reach–but that’s not the situation she described. No one would assume that it would be easier to make As at “TJ, Stuyvesant, Bronx High, Boston Latin” than at Andover.</p>
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<p>They are preserving student confidentiality.</p>
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<p>Pulsar, do you attend a public school? If so, it must be very well funded. Not all districts are so lucky. I found the following articles through Google this evening. Many districts have not completed their budgeting process for next year, so I expect more news stories in the coming months.</p>
<p>In spite of all the PS cuts, more and more PS kids are going into HYP each year. The old world feeder status of BS is waning. Just look at the recently announced Intel Science Talent (Jr. Nobel Prize) results. They are all from PS, not Boston Latin, Bronx Science ordinary public schools and no BSs anywhere to be found. I’m sure most of those kids will easily get into HYPSM. Hey, don’t take my word for it. Just keep an eye on the top college placement from PS and BS in the coming years.</p>
<p>Wow–this thread hit a nerve polarizing the BS believers and the BS skeptics. If it helps the OP, we have been considering for our S a return to a local day school after
Grade 10. My S is at another HADES school. We have engaged an educational consultant to help us figure out what is best for next year. And, when asked the question about whether a move would be viewed negatively (obviously voluntarily, not if DC is kicked out of BS), the ed. consultant explained it happens more than you think and would not be viewed negatively. In fact, can be positioned as a positive, if that’s what S needs for now and gpa goes up. That Jr. year is VERY critical and schools want to see hard classes and great grades. So, while for us, a possible move for next year is not be driven by grades, I’ve gotten comfortable it will not be a negative and might even be a plus. Do what’s best for your S for the long term.</p>
<p>We all see this a bit differently. For me, a great boarding school is the end game. It is the experience of boarding, of having an early love of learning reinforced in every way imaginable, of having world class peers and teachers around you 24x7. This cannot be matched in a day setting. </p>
<p>With some small number of exceptions, I believe that attendance at a top boarding school is BETTER than attendance at an Ivy. The network and connections you make at any of the top boarding schools will be rich, deep and lasting. The benefits will follow you throughout your career: what you know, who you know, the social skills, the problem solving skills.</p>
<p>I realize that many parents conclude, with merit, that the primary reason to send their child to a great boarding school is to achieve an Ivy or equivalent college outcome. In my view, there is another segment of parents, myself included, who believe that the primary reason to send your child to a great boarding school is for the benefits cited in the previous paragraph, not for a specific college outcome.</p>
<p>If things are working well enough, I would advise a student finishing his sophomore year to stay put, whether he’s in public school or boarding school–if college admissions are his first priority. (If the public school offers enough challenge, of course.)</p>
<p>It takes time to achieve “leadership positions” at a high school. A new Junior will not step into the leading role in a club or student government. The Ivy League colleges do not look only at a student’s GPA and courses.</p>
<p>(If a sixth grader were to tell adults, “I want to go to the University of Chicago,” would we take it seriously? Why do we take it seriously when a sixth grader (or his parent) tell others “I want to go to the Ivy League?”)</p>
<p>Parents should decide to do what is in the child’s best interests. If that child is sixteen or seventeen, however, he should be involved in making the decision.</p>
<p>@OP: Please go to the parent portal for grades at your school. Does anything stand out? Late assignments, low test scores, etc. Then email every teacher and ask them their impression of your student. Do not ask why JimmyJoe isn’t earning A’s when he always has in the past. Ask if he has missed assignments? Turns work in late? Seems distracted or tired during class discussions? Is he working up to his full potential? In what areas has JimmyJoe improved in over the course of the year. Please establish a dialog with his instructors. They will be able to provide additional insight.</p>
<p>The child of a family that we know is coming home to the local school from PA this September. The family realized that the child is struggling in the BS environment and needed a change. These things can happen due to homesickness, lack of adult supervision, sink or swim school environment and other reasons. So, to the OP, it happens, but I don’t know how often.</p>
<p>Our family have had a few discussions and listened to everyone’s input. Classes have been rearranged to make the best use of conference times, and a study schedule has been drafted that makes more sense than what was being used (just one solid chunk at the end of the day to finish it all). I think having chats with other returning BS students regarding how they managed their time effectively will make a big difference. I appreciate the posts that have been made offering suggestions and opinions regarding our efforts to keep said student at this HADES school. Even the shocking ones helped us see things from a different point of view. Thank you.</p>
<p>Sounds good, satellitemom, glad you could get something out of this chaos, but clearly you struck a nerve. From talking to the two students at home on break with me now, it seems that your issue isn’t unique, and there’s a lot to be gained from the changes you have discussed with your student. They said how hard it is in some classes to get (in their system) a 4, but even so they believed all students had the capability of getting a 5 with work (maybe lots of it). They both take advantage of conferences and squeeze in the studying whenever they can, including a lot on Saturday and Sunday. There are so many fun ways to chill, but no one can do all of them and also get the work done, so it’s picking and choosing. Best of luck!!!</p>
<p>I just want to ditto ThacherParent’s comments. What does an ivy give you that other schools don’t? To me, name recognition and alumni network come to mind. Andover provides both already, as well as a top notch education. Lots of colleges provide great educations. He won’t be doomed if he doesn’t make it into an ivy. And the education he’s getting at PA probably can’t be matched locally. (It can’t where we live, anyway.)</p>
<p>My d goes there too. It is not easy. They’re all smart. They have to stretch and work harder than they ever have before. But they’re learning some very valuable life lessons. To me, it’s more important that my d is trying her best and staying relatively sane than it is that she get straight 5s or that she gets into a particular college.</p>
<p>FWIW, my father went there and was very middle of the pack and got into MIT.</p>
<p>The top Boarding Schools go out of their way to discourage the narrative pushed by “Ivy League” obssessed Parents. If I were you, I would never let any of the staff at Andover hear any hint of this name brand College fixation. You’ll make them regret ever admitting your kid because of the Parent. A 4 at Andover in the sophmore year is very good for normal parents who are not Helicoptering over their kid dreaming of Ivy covered Universities. It’s about educating the child at a high level, not the bumper sticker you’ll end up with. The pressure on your kid for an Ivy matriculation is sad.</p>