<p>"Last time I looked at the statistics, my recollection is that the majority of students at the most selective colleges and universities still come from public high schools"</p>
<p>HMM I WONDER WHY (sarcasm)...well maybe we have to consider the fact that 99% of the US population goes to public schools? i mean, just maybe?? MAYBE??</p>
<p>Bearcats, </p>
<p>I didn't think that I needed to state the obvious in my post. My point was simply that many public high schools do an excellent job of preparing their students to be successful at top colleges. Jeez, lighten up . . .</p>
<p>Thanks for backing up my point. You don't need to spend $80,000 + to get a great secondary education. </p>
<p>I don't think I could ever swallow sending my kids to private school. I'd shoot for a magnet, but there are plenty of fine public schools regardless.</p>
<p>meh i m just pointing out that, statistically, it's not a valid comparison.</p>
<p>But you ignore the fact that public schools still do a perfectly capable job of preparing students for higher education and the job market.</p>
<p>I think everyone here agrees that you do not NEED to go to private school for a decent education, or even a great education. No, you don't NEED to. It's a luxury, not a need. These schools go beyond preparing you for college; they offer world-class facilities, published poets as English teachers, alumni connections and internships, and a diverse peer group of high achievers from around the world. Not something most (if any??) public schools offer, and it sure does go beyond merely educating you.</p>
<p>Plus, most prep grads (from the top, top schools) are often over-prepared for college (I'm talking Ivy's here), and find that college is a bit of a "let down" after prep school because it's easier. There was an article in the Times about a kid that graduated from Andover and then went to MIT, and when a reporter talked to him about college life, he said that in his hardcore science classes (this is at MIT, and he had already completed introductory classes, so he was doing a lot of advanced stuff like organic chemistry), he was just "reviewing" things he had already learned a few years ago at Andover. Not bad.. the kid was majoring in chem at MIT. These kids really are way ahead of most public school grads. ANd in this competitive world, that head start is priceless. Yes, $170,000 is a lot for secondary education. But, if you want to justify it, you easily can... what if that Andover diploma lands that kid an amazing job? Then his career is off to a head start (and often times, college is as well... like I noted above, these kids are more prepared, and thus, they can do junior-level work as "freshmen" in college.. 2 years ahead of everyone else) and he can start making money sooner (I'm being optimistic, but play along..).. then, that $170,000+ may not seem like so much (if, again, it lands him a big deal or w/e.. we'll never know its direct impact).</p>
<p>i got an internship from goldman sachs, thanks to my friend's dad</p>
<p>going to a boarding school isnt all about getting into a prestigious college or not. there are many more opertunities at a boarding school than at any public high school or magnet school, it is more about the experience then about the college you get into</p>
<p>woah bearcats thats awesome</p>
<p>o btw, maybe this wasn't the best place to post this thread</p>
<p>bearcats, tried to send you a PM but your box full. Congrats on GS internship. I worked there for almost 10 years (retiring to hedge fund world early last year) so PM me if you have any questions or concerns that I could help with.</p>
<p>"PREPtobismol"???</p>