<p>Perhaps we are kidding ourselves if we don’t think that individuals striving to build countries, or companies or institutions do not derive thier drive from a prep-esque overachiever model instilled early. </p>
<p>Local Pre-prep students quickly pick up on the quiet panic of not wanting to be that kid who did not get into a name prep and is attending the local public instead. Those are the kids who will grow tomorrow’s success. Our world needs those whose leadership is instilled early. That’s how the world works. </p>
<p>That is one reason why the recent swing to “everyone is entitled to a top school” mentality is in the long term detrimental. Entitled people don’t strive to build companies, institutions, or take on the burden of leadership, instead have developed a habit of taking as much of the pie for themselves as possible. </p>
<p>A bit of struggle to be the best, even if motivated by the fear of an unrealistic definition of “failure,” is not such a bad thing.</p>
<p>I am not sure if we should interpret from last post that only that prep-esque education can really prepare someone for leadership. which would mean that a lot of cadets at USMA, USNA, USAFA, CGA etc are wasting their time, since they aren’t prep products?
Also, if this years trend continues,( that the need for FA appears to be a serious detriment to prep admission) will the entitled ones be only the wealthy, not necessarily those hard-charging over-acheiving nation builders you were looking for?
Perhaps if this trend continues a lot of us, myself included will be looking at public school for kids. Which may not be a bad thing, I don’t know.</p>
<p>Good point LHR2545. Public school can be the best answer for many kids…I have one child in BS, and one in public school, and I’m not about to argue that my child in public school will not be every bit as successful, if not moreso, than the one in BS. BS is not for every child and really caters to a certain type of personality. But there is plenty of room for success coming from all schooling backgrounds and learning abilities…sorry, this is a little off topic!</p>
<p>Skibum, I could not agree with you more.</p>
<p>AS to IHR25, like elite colleges, BS are going to be either for the wealthy or the poor. The middle class is the one which is going to be screwed.</p>
<p>From what I heard it is completly normal for grades to slip a letter when a child enters a BS, from a public school. I’m sure it is hard the first year, but I’m sure his grades will progressively get better over the next year or so.</p>
<p>If BS become almost exclusively for the wealthy, they are turning their backs on poliicies of seeking out excellence (and being willing to pay for it) that started over 30 years ago (in fact a friend attended Choate class of 1965 on FA based on a policy they had of recruiting Wallingford students). Will they lose some of the current prestige and advantage they hold over public or day schools if the trends of acceptance normally equals ability to pay continues for more than a few years? Anyway (in jest) got my son age 11 new football and kicking tee. I figure if, by the time he is in 8th grade he can consistently hit field goals from the 30-35 yard line a lot of the preps will recognize his intellectual potential and this will continue to college (in jest)</p>