<p>I think it is a mistake to choose to pay for prep school with the belief that it will lead to an ivy. You have to figure the class of 100+ is made of up predominantly of kids who would have been stars at their local public. You've got to be investing in the education and the eye-opening experiences. Of course, we live on the west coast and the Ivy-drive is not so strong here, so perhaps it is easier for me to say that!</p>
<p>That being said, my DD is a star at her prep (not one of those famous 7), top 5 rank (they don't rank individually, only grouped), tons of "pins on the blazer" and 4.0UW with AP classes. I don't know how she'll do on admissions, but she is a better person for the experience that SHE has had. She has been able to have some outstanding teachers 2 and even 3 years in a row, and loves them and learns like crazy. It has been perfect for her and she is looking at some LACs...would have been all LACs, but her sport is not that big there. The small environment has allowed her to grow and shine in a way that the big public (1000+ kids per grade) probably would not have done. It has been outstanding for her, but I think this is a personality-type decision. My DD does not compete to be better than her peers so much as she tries to be her personal best, so being surrounded by other bright kids is exciting, not depressing. </p>
<p>If your kid wants to compare to other kids (which many kids and parents do) then it might be somewhat self-defeating to not be one of the best.</p>
<p>It is really a personal choice. I think the mistake is to think it will be a big help in admissions, I think it needs to be a big help i personal development and if that happens, admits should follow----to the best fitting schools.</p>
<p>All of that sounds good, but then, it is still true that kid #18 at prep school, who would have been #2 in public and also might have had better leadership accolades in public, could consider themselves "screwed" by the prep school. The top 10 in the prep school still get remarkable attention, it is the 2nd 10 that are missing the boat a bit. The top 20-30 are probably ending up in the same places they otherwise would have....so there is that small band of kids who do "lose out," if their goal was top 10 school.</p>