<p>How much does going to an elite boarding school like Andover, Deerfield, Exeter, Choate, Saint Pauls, help you in applying to the Ivies and top colleges? I hear the grades are mostly from 86-90 at a those schools and if you are not going to be at the top 10% of the class becaues you are competiting with the best kids, could that not hurt you in the college game? But, in general, how do the top universities look upon that you have attended to one of these schools?</p>
<p>I think there was a featured discussion thread about this same topic several months ago. </p>
<p>Oh, wait I found it: </p>
<p>can you get a link or give some input?</p>
<p>I hope this helps. </p>
<p>Weird how the edit button works, huh? Right after I put up the link, I see your next post.</p>
<p>The top 30% from the top 4 schools go to ivies and Stahford, Duke MIT and Caltech. In some ways it can hurt you. The kids below the top would have gotten into ivies for a decent public high school. I think the big issue really is the kids below the top. Almost everyone goes to a top 25 college.</p>
<p>One significant issue when applying within the elite boarding school pool is legacy/development. In your given prep class there may be more legacy/development admits which will compete within the pool. Being the top students helps but it is not the golden egg you are thinking.....just as there are variances within a public school applicant pool so are there differences within a prep applicant school. IMO the colleges are very familiar with the prep curriculum and the letters of rec are well written but the colleges know the advisors also....they cannot tell them that every candidate is the top student. The best advantage the preps provide is the stellar academic preparation and the mentoring from faculty.</p>
<p>I think that applicants from New England Prep Schools are at a distinct disadvantage in the college admission process. Compared to your average high school (public or private), Andover certainly sends more students to HYP, but take into consideration: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Everyone at Andover would be at the top of their class in the vast majority of public high schools. Only at a New England prep school can some of the nation's best students be ranked among the lowest in their class. </p></li>
<li><p>Many of the students at Andover have multi-generational legacies to top colleges - this puts anyone applying from Andover without a legacy at a disadvantage. </p></li>
<li><p>Many of the students admitted from prep schools are athletic recruits. Crew, for instance, is a sport that always sends a strong group to HYP. </p></li>
<li><p>You will be considered a New Englander in such competitions as the National Merit Scholars, etc... You'd definitely rather be from the South or Midwest. </p></li>
<li><p>Andover has an image to maintain, and I think there is a wide perception on campus that the College Couseling Office is more concerned about Andover's image than they are about helping you find and achieve admission to the right school. Students have said that they feel pressured by their college counselors NOT to apply to certain schools because the CCO wants to reduce the number of rejects and increase the chances for those that ARE applying to those schools. </p></li>
<li><p>The aforementioned perception leads some students to pay for additional college counseling not affiliated with the school. If you can't do this, you might be at a disadvantage. </p></li>
<li><p>You will not have time for AP/SAT/SAT II/ACT prep classes, although the general classes may prepare you for them.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>All that said, prep school certainly has a number of advantages - you learn far more than you would at most other schools, you gain from tremendous facilities, you are surrounded by bright students, etc. All I'm saying is that if you're after that edge in the college process, prep school won't give it to you.</p>