<p>In 1720, CA was part of Mexico, wasn't it? So Californians did not speak English and would not have looked to Harvard. ;)</p>
<p>See, it's even acknowledged by a Phillipian. Surely that's a sign.</p>
<p>Westminster School in London.</p>
<p>Ooh, debatable. Clearly Etonians have greater pulling power, and are not only less 'cliquey', but also more interesting and more talented. Admittedly, Westminster seems to be rather good at 'swotting' and obtaining those oh-so-important A-grades, but that's probably largely due to the influx of girls in the sixth form (as we all know, girls are good at doing repetitive, boring things like scoring highly on exams.. and knitting/shopping). Verdict - Eton is still the best school in the world. Certainly better than that American crap across the Atlantic ;)</p>
<br>
<p>Roxbury Latin the best high school in the world.</p>
<br>
<p>One of my dearest friends in college, the musical director of my a cappella group, was hired as director of the RL music department upon graduating from Harvard. And he got his degree in Environmental Science & Public Policy. :)</p>
<p>Ha ha. I went to the UN Nursery School (IPG), then a boy's school in New York City, then a public school with uniforms/houses/canings in Putney, then American public school (translation: state school, but they are much better in the US) back on this side of the pond, then private boarding secondary school, then a large university. In other words, my education was remarkably homogeneous;) However, I was the first American (i.e. who was born in America with two American parents) to ever be admitted to Westminster. I must have aced all of their entrance exams, though the format was a bit scary...there were IQ tests and all sorts of other bizarre whatsits. I don't think I was admitted to St. Paul's (UK, not US, obviously). I'm fairly sure that it's because there was a rather long composition on it, and my hand kept getting tired. Also, I had not ever written a composition that long. Ink everywhere. Sux.
Two years after our return to the US, Westminster kindly extended the offer again, assuming I would do a summer's revision to realign with the British curriculum. At the time, the idea of living on my own (I was 12) in London didn't appeal. Ah well, that's an alternate reality.
Lingo: "Swot" = "grind".
In addition to broadening your understanding of American slang, I'm happy to enlighten you about exams in the US. The important ones are fast-paced, highly adrenalinized, multiple-choice ordeals that actually favour blokes and have very little to do with mastery of a subject. Perhaps you ought to come to university here?</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>In 1720, CA was part of Mexico, wasn't it? So Californians did not speak English and would not have looked to Harvard.<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Not even. In the 18th century California was still claimed by Spain. It wasn't established as a formal Spanish colony until the 1760s. Prior to that it's inhabitants were pretty much all Indians. Harvard was the last thing on any Californian's mind back then. </p>
<p>CA didn't become part of Mexico until the 1820s, when Mexico itself achieved independence.</p>
<p>
Heheheh listen to yourself. We're talking about EXAMS here, and not just exams, multiple-choice ordeals - you said it yourself!</p>
<p>Anyhow I don't really see why you pretty much just recounted your life story. What exactly was your point? You were the first American to get into Westminster?</p>
<p>I don't know anything about APs/ACTs, but I've taken SATs and they were ****ing dull! Probably the stupidest exam I've ever taken in my life.. it was more an endurance test than anything else.</p>
<p>But yeah, I will be considering university over in America. That's where the money is, after all.</p>
<p>bronx science had 4 last year accoriding to the materials given to us. how come stuy has so many when bronx science is considered just as good(maybe)? i know a lot of my people in my school who picked bronx science over stuy.</p>
<p>I think Bronx Science is the bomb! Of course I'm biased since I went there. Bronx Science did have 4 acceptances to Harvard and all but one of those acceptances matriculated there (the other kid went to Yale). I also know a lot of people who choose Bronx Science over Stuy. Although I heard various reasons as to why, the reason I'd do this (in hindsight of course) is because BxSci has a greater diversity in every aspect - race, income, personalities. Pardon me, but I think Stuy is slightly more homogenous in it's culture (although still very diverse in the grand scheme of things). </p>
<p>As to why many more kids get accepted to Harvard from Stuy over BxSci, I can only speculate that Stuy kids as a whole are better test takers and consequently have higher standardizes test scores. My friends and I at Bronx Science also used to joke that Stuy had grade inflation, but I have no idea if that's actually true. If you have a 97+ average at Bronx Science with 2200+ SAT's, there's no reason why you wouldn't be very competitive for admittance to Harvard. But on the other hand, there are probably a lot less students with that kind of GPA at BxSci than at Stuyvesant. Don't forget that much of BxSci's prestigious rep is based upon the fact that it used to be the Stuyvesant of the city - the school that received the kids with the highest Specialized HS Test scores. Stuyvesant was anointed this title when it underwent a mass renovation. Thus it's new facilities deemed it the better and more attractive school in comparison to BxSci.</p>
<p>In terms of admissions, I heard from sources that Ms. Chang (the guidance counselor) said my class (of 2006) "bombed college admissions." And I hate to sound corny and cliche, but I think one should go to BxSci if they want a more well-rounded education (ironically, I thought math and ENGLISH were the best departments @ BxSci) and go to Stuy if they are more driven to go to a big name college/university. For example, although BxSci's prestige w/ the Ivies has abated of late, we still do well with a lot of good liberal arts colleges. Some of you also mention Boston Latin, which sends a ridiculous amount of kids to Harvard every year (and I mean that in a good way). It's also interesting to note that they don't send too many kids to other Ivies. I suppose that if you're Ivy-caliber, your Harvard-caliber if you go to Boston Latin.</p>
<p>"Thus it's new facilities deemed it the better and more attractive school in comparison to BxSci."</p>
<p>I bet the location has a lot to do with who chooses it, too. Stuy is close to a lot of downtown and Brooklyn neighborhoods that have gone outrageously upscale in the last decade or two. Thirty years ago, rich families didn't live downtown. Bronx also used to have more middle-class and upscale neighborhoods, and it's struggled more during that period.</p>
<p>how does my school college enrollment compare <a href="http://www.pinecrest.edu/academics/college/enrollment.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.pinecrest.edu/academics/college/enrollment.asp</a> </p>
<p>we're supposed to be like best in the state but it dosent even compare</p>
<p>I think that it is great that there are so many people out there who are proud of their public high schools, unfortunately if you are not lucky enough to live near one of these schools you are out of luck. I wish that my son could get a great education without paying the tuition, but I am thankful that at least he was able to get into a good high school and we have been able to afford to send him there. Wouldn't it be wonderful if EVERYBODY could have access to a public school like Roxbury Latin or Bronx Science?!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I bet the location has a lot to do with who chooses it, too. Stuy is close to a lot of downtown and Brooklyn neighborhoods that have gone outrageously upscale in the last decade or two. Thirty years ago, rich families didn't live downtown. Bronx also used to have more middle-class and upscale neighborhoods, and it's struggled more during that period.
[/quote]
That's an interesting point to bring up, Hanna. The NYC Board of Ed changed it so that the cutoff score for Stuy was higher than that for Bronx Science(although the reasons you cite for their decision are probably correct), so naturally it would be considered a "better" school from potential applicants. I also can attest to what you say about how the Bronx has gone down considerably in it's quality of housing. While Bronx Science isn't located in the "ghetto," it is consequently isolated and there is not much surrounding the school grounds.</p>
<p>chacha-I agree with you wholeheartedly. It is definitely no coincidence that some of the public high schools considered to be the best are located in areas of high concentrations of wealth. The DC suburbs are among the most affluent in the country which explains the existence of schools like TJ Science. The same can be said about NYC, although there are a handful of prep schools in the area that the rich can send their kids to if they so desire. I had a friend who's mother moved her to Long Island from Queens, NY specifically with the intention that she would be zoned for a good high school. This is just my speculation, but I think most non-magnet schools around the country seem to groom the majority of their students for their local state school, with only those ranked at the very top having a chance at top colleges. The good thing about going to a magnet school is that it both humbles and enriches you for you are surrounded by people of equal or sometimes great intelligence who have a passion for learning. You quickly get used to not always being the best, but just one of many. Although this can be shocking for some, it's good preparation for the real world.</p>
<p>bronx science is not all its cracked up to be. the students get into good colleges as a result of them being driven and their own motivations. it has nothing to do with the quality of the teachers or even the education.</p>
<p>I think that applies to most schools. Of course magnet schools send many kids to top colleges because they draw from a pool of the best standardized test takers (who usually are more motivated than the average students). Bronx Science definitely had some bad teachers, but from my experience I thought most were good if not terrific.</p>
<p>wait....by andover you aren't talking about Philips Andover are you?</p>
<p>DUDE!!! My school beats EVERY SCHOOL HERE!! Every year, in the graduating class, we have a record number of kids go to Harvard, ZERO!!!! so hahaa!! lol</p>
<p>No no...i seriously need to know if by Andover you mean Philips Andover.</p>
<p>Yea Phillips Andover=Andover, and I should def know since one of my roomates went there. But yea, I'm pretty sure, that at least for my graduating year that BLS beat Andover (at least in terms of matriculants).</p>