<p>I’m mostly worried more about her thinking she’ll be the crown jewel there. Maybe. Maybe not.</p>
<p>But if so - she may find she is not challenged by the curriculum or stimulated by her peers. There are schools that are very good and are just not as popular as top tiers. There are schools that are in it for the revenue and “entice” students with the promise of merit scholarships that don’t materialize - by then the parents are emotionally invested in the process and enroll anyway. I worry about any school that sends an unsolicited advertisements. That sends up red flags for me.</p>
<p>Pay careful attention to endowments, finances, etc. One parent on this board turned me on to Charity navigator which was an interesting way to see how well funded a school is:</p>
<p>[Charity</a> Navigator - America’s Largest Charity Evaluator | Home](<a href=“http://www.charitynavigator.org/]Charity”>http://www.charitynavigator.org/)</p>
<p>Some other suggestions - if not BS, then look at early college entrance programs:</p>
<p>[Early</a> Entrance Programs nationwide - recruitment](<a href=“http://www.earlyentrancefoundation.org/peep/PR/EEPs-recruitment/index.html]Early”>http://www.earlyentrancefoundation.org/peep/PR/EEPs-recruitment/index.html)</p>
<p>But regardless - go visit the schools and get a feel for the atmosphere and the fit. Doesn’t matter how much money they throw at her (if they do) if the school isn’t a match. Teenage years are too short to be at a place that isn’t a fit.</p>
<p>And don’t “short” schools on FA. You’d be surprised at how much things have changed in terms of aid. Many schools post their charts online. So it’s probably shocking to see scholarships going to people who make as much a a quarter million a year.</p>