The private school admissions season is full upon us, and I'l like to share two points of view similar to my own. (My article is here and a view from a private school is here. Why private schools do not participate in ranking schemes is here.)
High School Admissions: Reality Check for the Class of 2006
This article is by a school counselor in a California school district where many of the students go on to private schools.
The high school admissions process can seem overwhelming for students and parents alike. Regardless of whether a[n]... eighth grader plans to attend a public or private school, the admissions frenzy affects the entire eighth grade class in a significant way... . I have watched the culture of the eighth grade class and relationships between individual students change practically overnight simply upon receipt of the letters from private schools granting acceptance, denial or wait list status. I wanted to find a way to help students and parents keep the admissions process in perspective.
The balance of the article is from a letter sent by another independent school to parents, pointing out the reality of the admissions process.
Echoing Fred Hargadon’s (Princeton University Dean of Admissions) comment four year ago, “we could have filled three separate classes from this year’s pool of applicants, with no discernible difference among them.” His follow-up statement also applies to the admissions picture at private high schools in 2002. “A student’s acceptance is, to a significant extent, a matter of luck.”
But go read the whole article. It is useful and instructive.
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