<p>D'yer I'm sure that not all of the kids going to Princeton are faculty kids, but a friend of mine whose daughter is at Lawrenceville, has told me that quite a few have that connection. I don't know what quite a few means exactly, but I'm sure it does add up. As for faculty kids affording boarding school, day tuition is less than boarding and many kids are from families that have two incomes. It's more affordable that way.</p>
<p>Sorry noradoll for going off-topic.</p>
<p>D'yer -- Many faculty do not have to pay for college tuition or receive some percent of college tuition as part of the compensation package. Independent day school is a financial burden I'm sure, but college costs are not as great so it evens out somewhat. Going back to "The Price of Admission," here are some numbers:</p>
<p>"Princeton University, which pays half the tuition at any accredited institution for children of employees with more than five years' service, considers having a faculty or staff parent a 'plus factor' in admissions. This preference helps explain why Princeton takes a lot of applicants from Princeton High School, which many faculty and staff children attend. From 2001 through 2004, fifty-two graduates of the local high school enrolled at Princeton, compared with twelve at Yale, eight at Columbia, and six at Harvard."</p>
<p>As a Lawrenceville mom, I can tell you that few if any of the 15 Princeton-bound students from the class of '07 are faculty children. Also, Lawrenceville is sending 9 to Harvard and 11 to Columbia, etc. </p>
<p>I don't know too much about Exeter but Lawrenceville is a great, great school especially because of the house system.</p>
<p>Well, DM, I'll take a shot at the faculty children questions.</p>
<p>Princeton is one of the highest paying universities in the country.
By the time one has children entering high school, a faculty member would typically be a tenured professor at peak earnings.
Nearly all faculty members who have kids are married to someone with another advanced degree and a very solid income.</p>
<p>So, yes, I would expect that those Princeton faculty members who have children in high school would, on average, be able to afford an expensive boarding school. It would be even cheaper if the student attended on a day basis and did not board.</p>
<p>Can they get in? If you look at students at elite colleges, a far disproportionate number have parents who have advanced degrees. Academic ability is heritable, as is income. People with advanced educations and high incomes (say double the average income of a Princeton professor, allowing for two parents) have, on average, children who do very well in school, get high test scores, etc.</p>
<p>For these reasons, I would expect that if you looked at the college applications of the children of Princeton faculty, many of them would be able to get into top colleges with no special considerations.</p>
<p>You have a great choice - they are both excellent schools. College placement records are similar and college counseling at both is top notch. What will put you into a great college is not necessarily the prep school you attend, but how well you do while at either and how you distinguish yourself from the thousands of others that will be applying. Having said that - you need to figure out based on your needs, desires, talents and skills, which school best fits you. (Both schools use the Harkness style of teaching - all students around an oval table contributing - so it's not so odd to be choosing between the two.) Neither school is a picnic - you will work hard at either and have to do so to distinguish yourself. Good luck!</p>
<p>liv&learn, you are quite misinformed regarding the releationship between Lawrenceville and Princeton.</p>
<p>Lawrenceville has few (if any) children of Princeton faculty, and I very much doubt it has any influence at all on Lawrenceville's matriculation. Any argument to the contrary is purely misinformed speculation. I'm sure there are a few students in every class who have legacies to Princeton - but no more than, for instance, St. Pauls's has legacies to Harvard. Lawrenceville has had a strong releationship with Princeton for it's entire 200 year history (the current Headmaster is a Princeton Alumna), and prior to the 1940's, most of the school matriculated down route 206 to Princeton University. </p>
<p>That isn't to say that one should choose to attend Lawrenceville for it's ties to Princeton - that would be ridiculous. Lawrenceville (like Exeter) sends it's graduates on to some of the best colleges in the world, whether Ivy League or not. Both Lawrenceville and Exeter have extremely impressive matriculation lists, so that shouldn't have much influence on the OP's decision.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who have addressed my tangential point regarding the matric impact of faculty legacies enrolled at boarding schools. afan makes some compelling points -- basically taking some of my assumptions and saying that I've got my logic all upside down with the facts (which isn't a first for me). bicoastal07 is keeping the ball in play, not willing to concede as quickly as I was. Maybe this is worth exploring with some facts (wherever they are hidden). Then again, maybe it really makes no difference. In the end, though, I don't think this is one of those things that can be stated as axiomatically and authoritatively as we (again, that includes me) have done.</p>
<p>Bicoastal, my misinformation is from a current parent of a boarder. I asked her again and it is still her belief. Of course it doesn't mean it's entirely accurate. And she didn't have specifics on numbers. I do agree that going to Lawrenceville for its ties to Princeton would be ridiculous.</p>
<p>I would be careful not to put too much faith into second hand information (although, ironically, this board certainly counts as such).</p>
<p>During my four years as a boarder at Lawrenceville, I never heard of any student who had a parent working at Princeton. I would imagine that the children of Princeton faculty are highly concentrated in two schools: Princeton High School (public), and Princeton Day School (private). </p>
<p>From my own experience, I believe that all but one of the students who matriculated to Princeton from my class were boarding students (as opposed to a day student - which the child of a Princeton faculty member certainly would be). I'm sure some children of Princeton faculty have passed through Lawrenceville from time to time, but with Lawrenceville sending roughly 10 students a year to Princeton, it's ridiculous to assume they all have parents who work at the university.</p>
<p>Not to pick on liv&learn, because I've said the same sort of thing before, but let's revisit that quote above.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It's true that they both have strong ties to Pinceton, but *** Lawrenceville's good matric there is in large part because many of the Princeton faculty send their kids there since it's close by.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm convinced of this much: that this sort of statement is plausible, makes some sense theoretically, and is backed up by some anecdotal evidence...but it's a far cry from being a well-known fact that people should rely on.</p>
<p>Again, I'm using this example because it's right here, not because it's offensive. For no good reason I chose this instance to ponder the accuracy of that oft-stated claim. Sorry liv&learn...for choosing this time to give this thought! Anyway, going forward, if I have reason to make this sort of point I will probably use qualifying words like "I've heard that" or "it's possible that" or "I believe" or "supposedly" where I've inserted the *** wildcards...unless, of course, someone provides some authoritative resolution or clarity to this dynamic.</p>
<p>L'ville/Princeton tie may have a lot more to do with the fact that the L'ville Headmaster graduated from Princeton.</p>
<p>Thanks D'yer!</p>
<p>I forgot to mention that as old as I am I continue to live and learn --</p>
<p>-- which, I appreciate on many levels as it is diametrically opposed to the arrogance and rigidity of being old but wise.</p>
<p>Lawrenceville changed my life. Enough said.</p>
<p>go to l'ville.</p>
<p>i'm going to lville next year!! im really excited. it has such a nice home-y feeling and great community. but over exeter, i dont know how to give you advice because i never applied. but both are great schools</p>
<p>Blair that's surprising, especially coming from soneone who is going to Exeter. :)</p>
<p>The kid fits at Lawrenceville. They should go to Lawrenceville.</p>
<p>The only reason Exeter is on the list is because the kid feels it's much more prestigious than Lawrenceville. This is obviously not a valid reason to attend a school. They have already found their fit, all other choices should be eliminated.</p>
<p>I agree with Blair. My fit was for me , but might be totally wrong for someone who needs a small nurturing environment.Fit is so personal unless you are giving up fit for future prestige.IMO this happens to Harvard College admits who know there are better undergrad programs.</p>