<p>I am a parent of a D who was PEA '12-- I never saw prep school CC until this year–and only here have I seen or heard of this term. I never once heard it at Exeter.</p>
<p>Hello prep school boarders! Congratulations to all who have been given the precious gift of a prep school education for next year. For the record, the term “HADES” was invented on College Confidential, on these boards, by a Hotchkiss student a couple of years ago. It does not exist in the real boarding school world. People would look at you like you were crazy if you used it in, say the waiting room in the admissions office at Exeter. That kid must be well into college and would probably laugh if he saw that it was still being used here.</p>
<p>My objection to using the term HADES is in the context of discussing options for CC newbies who are trying to learn about schools for the first time to decide to which to apply. A lot of traffic here is from kids who know nothing about BS, and then one of the first things they encounter is this HADES acronym which implies to them that these are the ONLY schools worth applying to and everything else out there is “second-rate”-- I actually seen some posters use the words “second rate” and “third rate” many times.</p>
<p>HADES is a term that is really only used in the admissions context. Once inside the walls of the BS world, no one uses the term HADES, like, “hey, I go to a HADES school”</p>
<p>^^ Baystateresident already beat me to it!</p>
<p>I almost think that making a fuss about the term HADES brings more attention to the term and to those schools, which is what is trying to be avoided if I understand this correctly. It almost makes non-HADES schools seem a little ‘jealous’ for lack of a better term, that they were not choses as part of the acronym years ago.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine that folks would think that the ‘HADES’ schools are the end all and be all. But if they do, it is really too bad for them and their kids that they aren’t willing to look further. Ultimately, those same folks will find some other way to try and define what schools are ‘best’.</p>
<p>I am FINE with the voluntary band of the word in future threads (as I don’t recall ever using in a thread other than this one anyway), but would also encourage folks to not get too annoyed by it. Discussion boards are notorius for pushing peoples buttons and having ‘my school is better than others’ crazy debates. I for one never really thought about the term much…until this thread prompted me to look into it more.</p>
<p>I agree with baystateresident who said that “That kid [who created the term] must be well into college and would probably laugh if he saw that it was still being used here.” </p>
<p>T</p>
<p>I think it’s fair to analogize the term to “Ivy.” Indicator of great quality education. But if it becomes a restrictive estimation of “success” or superiority, herein lies the problem. Kids from each of the top 30 prep schools generally matriculate to all of the best colleges and universities over a 5 year window (by this I mean that Berkshire probably sends at least one kid to Harvard every 5 years, Pomfret one to Princeton, Williston one to Dartmouth, etc…) This is probably even a conservative estimate.</p>
<p>Point is, the gaudy acceptance rates at the most elite institutions may or may not benefit any particular kid and family. If your child is Ivy material, they will be able to demonstrate that at any number of schools…if they are not, then they’d best have some fortitude if they opt for one of the top schools where most if not all of their classmates will be gunning for that goal.</p>
<p>Personally I think it’s all about widening the lens of what constitutes success, allowing your child to explore what feels best to them for a community learning environment at both their school level and beyond, and being willing to think outside the box as your children develop into beings different from the one you are. For certain that CAN happen at a HADES school, and elsewhere: but there is a very real and pernicious kind of solipsism that seems to exist only at “the best of the best”: HADES, HYP, etc. The risks, therefore are 1) it could happen to you, or 2) you could stay true to who you are, but find yourself surrounded by peers who act only to perpetuate their own sense of exclusivity and superiority. (& as almost anyone in the know can tell you, this extends into the faculty ranks at these institutions, as well! Often brilliant, but often lose the cutting edge mentality unless it is supported by politically powerful colleagues. Again, this is not everyone, but it does represent an unfortunate, significant sub population within the community that you will by no means entirely avoid.) May your mileage vary! :)</p>
<p>Amen!!!</p>
<p>Important words, PelicanDad. </p>
<p>“Point is, the gaudy acceptance rates at the most elite institutions may or may not benefit any particular kid and family. If your child is Ivy material, they will be able to demonstrate that at any number of schools…if they are not, then they’d best have some fortitude if they opt for one of the top schools where most if not all of their classmates will be gunning for that goal.” </p>
<p>Amen x2.</p>
<p>+10 to PelicanDad</p>
<p>for the above and for this additional statement:</p>
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