<p>D'yer Maker, you are a great thinker. I like the depth of your responses. I initially listed the well renowned people who send their children to these schools to illustrate that of course these schools are relevant to people across the nation. I think it's common sense that the power circles pay attention to where others in the circle send their children to school. Believe it or not, while I'm sure these schools are secure a lot of these children do transfer to boarding schools as Ivanka Trump did when she transferred to Choate. So, I don't believe this is the reason many choose these schools. I think the fact that over 65% of the graduates from these schools go to the elite universities and lac, is enticing for some. The main reason in my estimation is the prestige. The circle of power is very small and those in it like to remain close to one another. The fact remains, when we speak about academic excellence or academic prestige, the SAT scores and college exmissions speak for themselves. In terms of an international presence, this is huge in these schools. I don't think this should be surprising as we are talking about New York City.</p>
<p>Just for hotchkiss, all the Ford, Mars (M&M) family,Walter P Chrysler, Jr, Thomas Edison's son, Griswood (president of Yale), Hadden (Cofounder of Times magazine), harold stanley (founder of morgan stanley), Tom Werner (chairman of Red Sox), the family of the second and third richest men in hong kong (both in forbe's top 30), we also have 5 current ambassadors, 3 current governors and the list goes on
Bush went to Andover, JFK went to choate...
I think that rivals and beats the list u listed, and i just listed hotchkiss' and the most prominent of andover's and choates, you , on the other hand ,listed the best of all the NYC day schools combined</p>
<p>JFK also attended Riverdale and Browning. The first woman governor in the history of NJ attended Chapin, btw. I didn't mention the family that owns Seagrams, and I could go on forever! We're talking the Vanderbilts, Astors, the people who shaped this country. Most of the men who attended the top boarding schools started in the K-8 day schools in NYC. The United Nations is in NY how many ambassadors do think are in or want to be in these schools. It's harder to get into a tt day school in NYC than it is to get into Harvard. The ratio is 20:1, Harvard is 14:1. Your list doesn't even rival the one I posted, and I merely scratched the surface.</p>
<p>Wow this is intense! I'd like to point out that the word prestige is used quite often on this board. What a wonderful thing it is to all be different. If you need prestige to make it all work for you then obviously a school that provides that in your mind is your "fit". I think it's important for kids to look for "fit" -- and not to worry if their school is not ranked as high as other schools. What's in a ranking? Just test scores? Facilities? Different strokes for different folks. Years ago before one of our local preschools was renovated, kids went to school in trailers. I thought I could never send my kids there under those conditions. However, when I visited and saw the incredible things that 2 and 3 year olds were doing, I thought, how can I NOT send them there? It's all about personal judgement, need, desire and fit. There may be many wonderful things going on in schools that don't make the top 10 in some people's eyes. The top 10 best anything is seen in the eyes of the beholder. What's good for you may not be good for someone else etc. Live and let live and perfect is the enemy of the good. Good schools abound. How lucky we are!</p>
<p>Well put liv&learn. I agree with you phiosophically, although I do think a top 10 list discussion can be fun. However, if there is a list of the best prep schools in America, I would like it to be accurate. I don't find the fact that you were raised on a ranch in Texas, a valid reason for an inaccurate list.</p>
<p>"Most of the men who attended the top boarding schools started in the K-8 day schools in NYC. "
and if they think NYC day schools are so much better, why would they switch? LOL you think parents really like the send their kids away so they dont have to see them everyday? What's the incentive, if BS doesnt have more to offer?</p>
<p>bearcats, your response shows your lack of knowledge on the subject. The k-8 schools don't have High Schools. There is only one tt all boys with a High School and that is Collegiate. All of the boy graduates obviously won't get admitted to Collegiate. The best of the best students get accepted to Collegiate, Trinity, Horace Mann, and Dalton. The rest go to 2nd and 3rd tier schools and boarding schools.</p>
<p>I should add the top girls from the coed k-8 schools attend Brearley, Chapin, Spence, Trinity, HM, and Dalton.</p>
<p>Also, you will get transfers from students who are in great 2nd and 3rd tier schools, who can't get admitted to the tt schools.</p>
<p>All very interesting, however, if you're from Texas, Cali, Nebraska, etc the NYC schools are not a reality like boarding schools.</p>
<p>Ironically bearcat, there's a special now on E's True Hollywood Story on girls from the worlds richest families. 5 of the girls they spoke about attended Chapin, 3 attended Spence, 1 NBS, and 1 CSH. I thought you might get a kick out of this.</p>
<p>I undestand this point prepparent. But, if someone asks for a list of the best prep schools in the nation, the people from the states you mentioned should see a lists that's accurate.</p>
<p>Given the high per capita income of the zip codes served by the top private NYC schools, and the relatively low % of students who receive financial aid, I guess I don't find the E story all that surprising. Private schools in other wealthy enclaves also have skewed populations that tilt toward the rich and famous (ie. the Beverly Hills/Brentwood corridor in Los Angeles). While that used to be equally true of many New England bs, I think over the past several years many have made successful efforts to broaden their student populations.</p>
<p>Shannyc: Why add your thoughts to this thread? <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=201113&highlight=prestigious+prep+schools%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=201113&highlight=prestigious+prep+schools</a></p>
<p>None of the girls on the E program attended any school in Los Angeles. Some attended schools in Europe and the NYC schools.</p>
<p>I don't understand Burb Parent. Are you asking why I chose to post on this thread, or are you inviting me to a different thread?</p>
<p>That thread is called "The Best Prep Schools" and the discussion includes many NYC schools. I thought you would find it of interest, and that you might want to add to the discussion. I was trying to be helpful, not start a fight.</p>
<p>My children are attending boarding schools for the stellar education they provide ( in our opinion ). If our goal was to get into an Ivy league school, I would probably have encouraged my children to attend our local HS where I'm certain they can be academic all-stars and have a much better chance in being admitted to an IVS.</p>
<p>Burb Parent, I didn't think you were trying to start a fight. I figured it out and posted on that thread. Thank you. I read that thread before I registered on CC and this is one of the motivating factors behind this thread. This was really nice of you.</p>
<p>prepparent, Why would you think the boarding schools provide a superior education to the tt NYC day schools?</p>
<p>Shannyc, please see my edit. in our opinion we felt bs would provide an education that our local HS in Texas could not come close to providing. It is my opinion that the Public schools in our state do not teach the proper foundation to be successful in college.</p>