<p>I do not know anything about Stuy so this is not about that school…but I will say, that I think prepclassof82 is on to something when you talk about the breadth of other activities available. Not only available but REQUIRED at prep schools.<br>
The colleges KNOW that a prep kid not only has the challenging academics, but also has been involved in many things at school that may not appear on an application / transcript. We were told that matters.</p>
<p>If my children faced the choice between Stuyvesant and BS, I believe I’d lean towards Stuyvesant. It’s in New York City. There are so many things to do and to see in New York.</p>
<p>Something to consider is public versus private. I have no personal experience with Stuy, but I went to an academically “extreme” public magnet and my husband to an academically “extreme” public boarding school. They were still public schools, and as such, many issues were simply off the table - religion, sexuality, morality, spirituality. The ACLU was always a threat, so to speak. </p>
<p>Is Stuy immune from all the NYSED regulations and requirements? Do the students still have to be bothered with the stupid NYS Regents exams? Do they have all the other non-academic required classes that really just steal class time? </p>
<p>What was missing from our high school experiences was worthy guidance. The emphasis was almost wholey on how much stuff we knew instead of what we were planning on doing with it, or how it could make a difference. I never really got to know any of my teachers as fellow human beings and I don’t even think they considered us to be human ;).</p>
<p>Boarding school is a pretty distinctive thing. It’s not all about academics and college matriculation, after all.</p>
<p>Just my 2cents.</p>
<p>It’s somewhat difficult to get into a point by point debate over the merits of a selective public school vs. a boarding school vs. a selective day school in a discussion forum as this so I’m not going to go any further with that. Let’s just say that there are many pluses and minuses to any of the possible choices. I do get the feeling that many people here aren’t seeing the discussion as nuanced and are unaware of the areas that a school like Stuy offers advantages over any boarding school and only see the areas that it is clearly inferior to boarding schools. There are individual preferences involved as to which aspects are more important to a particular student. For the most part, participants in this forum have already come to the conclusion that for them (or their children), attending a boarding school is the right decision. And that’s fine. But please realize that the aspects of that decision which are determinative for you might not be determinative for others.</p>
<p>As to my son, he is faced with a possible 3-way decision (he hasn’t been offered admission to L’ville yet, of course). And that decision is made somewhat more difficult by inconvenient timing since deposits are due to NYC independent schools by noon (and they really mean NOON) on Tuesday, March 16th. And just remember, folks, that these decisions are very personal.</p>
<p>Point very well taken, Lvillegrad. (at least by me)</p>
<p>It is indeed very nuanced. If day schools of the caliber in NYC were an option for us, it would make it a more difficult decision.</p>
<p>I wish your family the best of luck.</p>
<p>Absolutely Lvillegrad…
I was only commenting on the original topic of “Prep School Standing With Colleges” and passing on what several college admissions professionals told us. Of course we were at a prep school and they were guest speakers. They were not there to talk about public schools or a selective public school.</p>
<p>There are many great reasons to chose public, day, charter, magnet, prep etc schools and every child and family is different.</p>
<p>Lvillegrad, I hear you. My “TJ vs. Exeter” thread (though I admit that my first post was cheesy) didn’t get much attention at all. Here’s what I see the pros and cons of a school LIKE Stuy (I don’t know much about Stuy specifically) compared with a top boarding school.</p>
<p>Pros: intensely academic, very strong science programs and opportunies to attend all sorts of contests, lower legacy/recruited athelete rate which is good for students with no hooks in college admission.
Cons: could get super competitive (students have identical strength - academic excellence; much more so than boarding schools), may not be a good fit for students with strong interest in humanities and weak in math/science, less diversity in student body (gegraphically, socioeconomically etc.), less time for non academic extracurricular activies (common for day schools, and if you have to commute from other parts of the huge city there’s really little time left for other activities.)</p>
<p>Just my 2c.</p>
<p>Benley:</p>
<p>Lots of good points!</p>
<p>One, though, I found very interesting and counterintuitive. More socioeconomic diversity at a boarding school than at a selective magnet school? Maybe true in general, but certainly NOT true at the NYC schools. At the Stuy open house for accepted students and families we went to last week, they mentioned that there’s a voluntary family contribution with a suggested annual amount but they understood that many families are unable to make that contribution. The suggested amount: $500. And yet, every year there are also students who will turn down Horace Mann and Trinity (I personally know several) for Stuy with cost being irrelevant.</p>
<p>And although I certainly agree with your point as to commute time being relevant, we happen to live a very easy commute from Stuy (approx. 25 minutes on a direct subway line). I suppose that my considering 25 minutes easy supports your point, though.</p>
<p>Lvillegrad, good luck with the decision. I hope it’s a three-way decision! I think this forum tends to discussions which want to rank options on a simple, one-dimensional worst to best scale. It isn’t a one-dimensional decision.</p>
<p>I stand corrected. I meant to say that top boarding schools like Andover and Exeter would agressively pursue diversifying its student body (granted partly because traditionally that’s what elite boarding schools lacked). The diversity in Stuy is more of a “natural” one - after all, regardless one’s socioeconomic status, that one test will make or break the deal. NYC is huge with so many talents. To be admitted to Stuy in itself is an achievement. To come out of it as one the top students - WOW!</p>
<p>*I think this forum tends to discussions which want to rank options on a simple, one-dimensional worst to best scale. It isn’t a one-dimensional decision. *</p>
<p>Very well said.</p>
<p><<if my=“” children=“” faced=“” the=“” choice=“” between=“” stuyvesant=“” and=“” bs,=“” i=“” believe=“” i’d=“” lean=“” towards=“” stuyvesant.=“” it’s=“” in=“” new=“” york=“” city.=“” there=“” are=“” so=“” many=“” things=“” to=“” do=“” see=“” york.=“”>></if></p>
<p>Most certainly! I just wonder if they’ll have time to take advantage of NYC while doing all the work at Stuyvesant…</p>
<p>Lvillegrad, I hope I did not give an impression that I was biased when comparing Stuy to some of the larger BS. I am really trying to remain open minded in what is very likely to become a difficult 3-way decision ( sounds very much like yours ). I also understand why you may not want to get into the specifics, as some of the preferences are derived from very personal considerations that may be difficult to generalize. But as of this moment I am not aware of clear advantages that Stuy offers beyond the obvious - NYC location, living at home, a very different student body and possibly greater depth in a science department. This is undoubtedly due to my own failing and ignorance. So any hints you can offer, if you find a moment, would be much appreciated. I think I’d be able to extrapolate 
But if not, many thanks anyway - you have already provided valuable insight.</p>
<p>Having served on west coast ivy, the above is not totally true. Most schools have a representative that serves a specific region of the country. They “know” their schools fairly well. If a student applies from an unknown school and has the grades, etc, - it is that reps “job” to KNOW that school.</p>
<p>
P’dad, which post are you responding to?</p>