<p>I have a close friend at a highly selective, most selective actually, school in upstate NY and all these schools won’t sway admissions much. They aren’t that good. In NJ, for boys the top private high schools are CBA, Del Barton and Don Bosco, all catholic schools. Girls, I do not know. </p>
<p>Many parents wont apply to CBA and Del Barton because of the workload.</p>
<p>^Are you seriously saying Lawrenceville and Peddie “aren’t that good”? </p>
<p>For CBA, the average SAT scores of the class of 2012 were 1825 (Source: <a href=“http://www.cbalincroftnj.org/page.cfm?p=358”>http://www.cbalincroftnj.org/page.cfm?p=358</a>). Lawrenceville’s is near 2100 and Peddie’s close to 2000. Of course, the workload there will be heavier than those two elite boarding schools.</p>
<p>points well considered, @MBVLoveless. Perhaps you have gathered that the parochial schools have a huge and dedicated following here in New Jersey. Faith and Economics, for sure; these schools provide many more seats beyond what the more expensive and fewer independent schools can provide by way of an alternative to public education. I’ve seen that some very good and excellent students come out of the Catholic schools, too, just as with L’ville and Peddie (and Blair). </p>
<p>Good luck with that college search of yours, I hope you get what you want.</p>
<p>To say that they’re just flat out not good is demeaning and offensive, really. </p>
<p>@Charger78: excellent students come out of everywhere. Some not so good people come out of great schools. I have the greatest respect for a guy who studied two years at a community college before transferring to Drexel and is now working in Silicon Valley. However, when comparing between institutions themselves, I’d be careful to fact check before saying well-known, elite schools “aren’t that good” and touting somewhere statistically inferior.</p>
<p>Thanks for the good luck btw 
it’s been quite a summer break(down).</p>
<p>^^^ right you are. Even the name, “Delbarton”, was abused. </p>
<p>You hear such outrageous falsehoods these days, and sometimes there’s a real choice between the claims that need to be vigorously exposed and those that can just be passed over in embarrassed silence. </p>
<p>I suppose that there are some kids for whom an independent boarding school’s name “won’t sway [college] admissions” people much. No need to cast aspersions on the general reputations of the schools mentioned so often on this board, which are excellent learning communities. To do so is offensive and demeaning, yes, and perhaps worse, thoughtless. </p>
<p>The minor difference in SAT scores has to do with the Catholic schools being larger and more inclusive and the teaching style being less oriented to preparing for standardized tests. Using CBA as an example, last year’s class received an average of $160,000 in academic scholarships, not including sports scholarships. Almost 80% of the students go to college for free. At CBA, AP classes are awarded only by application to students having a 95 average in the related Honors course, not just given out. And CBA costs $14,000 a year. Acceptance rates to Notre Dame, Georgetown, Boston College and Holy Cross run 60% - 90% as these boys are in demand. Sorry about the space in DelBarton. Peace</p>
<p>250 isn’t minor…</p>
<p>And it’s not like Lawrenceville and Peddie are “oriented to preparing for standardized tests” either. </p>
<p>In short, don’t diss other schools unless you can come up with a convincing argument. What CBA can do academically, Lville and Peddie can do better.</p>
<p>Let’s not get too carried away about how great this or that school or boarding school is. Someone can always throw out that averages at day school Roxbury Latin blow away all boarding schools including Andover, Exeter, Groton, & St. Paul’s. However, I don’t really think these comparisons are productive.</p>
<p>Post #80 above is so reckless in content and tone, IMO.</p>
<p>I’m from the Garden State and I have always considered the schools mentioned in that post to be Northern NJ sports-centric powerhouses. Hardly the last word in academic rigor or, if you are one who cares about such things, prestige. Which is not to say that they aren’t great schools for the right kids — and of course, limited in appeal to those who live within a commutable distance.</p>
<p>I want to get into peddie or lawrenceville. Can you like help me in something. Do you have a kik ?</p>
<p>I’m a current Peddie senior that had the opportunity to make this choice almost 4 years ago and I think I made the wrong choice. Peddie is a fine school but I don’t think it stands up to the likes of Lawrenceville.</p>
<p>Also, our internet only works like 70% of the time so…</p>
<p>Oh trust me, Lawrenceville doesn’t have it better with concerns to wifi. </p>
Hi, I’m a current sophomore looking to apply to Peddie and Lawrenceville. Money is also an issue for me, so I was wondering what your SSAT scores were and what you had on your application to see if we are comparable. Also, I’m wondering what school you ended up going to, whether you liked it, and if you have any information about how difficult it is to get in if you need financial aid. Thanks in advance!