Repeating A Grade

BCT,

I've answered this on your previous threads. 

Yes, we have had the experience. 

No, I don't think it makes much sense, particularly given that you'll be 18 by your current high school graduation, i.e., you are not young for your grade.  You also don't have remedial academic issues that are barring entry into college.

If I recall, you live in an area where there are many top prep schools.  You could go there now without taking another year of high school.

You can also get better now.  Why wait?  What's magical about an extra year??  An extra year down the road at another school does not make you a better player or student.  It does, however, make you a year older.

Get better now.  Both academically and athletically.  And develop a vetted list of colleges where you fit academically and athletically, and pursue those.  Those might be D1, but they might be D2 or D3 or NAIA or JuCo.  So what?  There are so many great colleges.  There's also nothing magical about D1 versus any other level.

And all of this I believe has been posted on the previous threads by me and many others.  Focus on getting better today if you want to play ball in college.  Good luck!!!

Unless you really, really want to drop back and take another year of HS, I don't see the purpose.  There is absolutely no guarantee of anything....heck, you might not grow another inch or gain another pound and you'll have left your current school, team and friends for nothing.  If you are already a D2 prospect (assuming someone in the know has told you that) there's really nothing that changing schools and grades will do that you can't do yourself.  Get stronger, work hard and get better.  A D1 doesn't care where you went to HS as long as you can help their program

Some measurables would help in this discussion, but I don't think my opinion will change. 

Position....and LH or RH

Height / Weight

Any measurables you've had verified....velo, exit velo, 60, OF velo? 

Baseballcomesthird posted:

I have made a new thread to this because the other one was created a while back and I have some new ideas and questions. I have recently been given an opportunity to possibly reclass to a top prep school in academics and sports. I am a 2020 and am looking to be a 2021. I am wondering if anyone has experiences and opinions on this? I have a 3.8-9 as of now but am looking to develop more in baseball. I am probably a d2 prospect as of now but I am looking to develop into more of a d1 player.

Instead of re-hashing the same pros and cons discussed in the previous thread, why don't you give us your new ideas and questions so we can address those specifically?  Sorry if you have already communicated those.

Baseballcomesthird posted:

I have made a new thread to this because the other one was created a while back and I have some new ideas and questions. I have recently been given an opportunity to possibly reclass to a top prep school in academics and sports. I am a 2020 and am looking to be a 2021. I am wondering if anyone has experiences and opinions on this? I have a 3.8-9 as of now but am looking to develop more in baseball. I am probably a d2 prospect as of now but I am looking to develop into more of a d1 player.

Some are interested in the "what".  I'd be interested in the "why".

You feel as though the extra year of training prior to college will give you a better shot at D1 as opposed to D2?  Is that correct? 

Do do you feel as though you have no chance to be a pro?  (In general, the younger the better for pro prospects)

Thanks for all of the constructive responses. To give you all a better idea, I will state my measurables and why I want to do this. I would like to do this for a few reasons. It would help to get me into a better school for studies and athletics if I were to repeat a year. I will be challenged more in school. The level of high school baseball competition and connections will go way up. In terms of competition, I believe that playing with better players will help me become a better player in many ways. In terms of connections, this particular coach has sent many players to D1, D2, D3, etc..

MEASURABLES: 

Tee exit velo: 80 with metal bat

Outfield velo: low to mid 70's

60 yard dash: 7.4

Pitchig Velo: Low to mid 70's 

Height 5'8 projected to grow a couple more inches

Weight: 140 lbs

I have had two coaches which have told me that I have potential to play at low to mid D1. They say I have the potential but need to work on the pitching velo, strength, etc..

In order to increase your measureables you will need to increase your strength.  

Can you please elaborate as to why you feel it will be better for you academically if you repeat a year?

I'll bite one more time...though I feel I'm reliving the discussions with my son...

You're a 2020 if my memory serves me, so you have a few years until HS graduation on the current path.  And you'll already be 18 (an adult) by HS graduation, again on the current path.

You can get better academically and athletically now.  Work on your grades, test scores, speed, strength, baseball, etc.  Nothing is stopping you now.

You're in a major metro.  Go to a different HS now if you want a different/"better" experience.  Nothing is stopping that now.

Repeating a year means you are older.  Not a better candidate for school or sport. 

And if school right away is not your thing, you can always take a gap year working, volunteering, training, taking a class or two, etc.  You'll still have to compete with everyone else who wants a shot at college baseball.

Doesn't sound like this will be an issue for you because you're a good student, but be aware that you must meet the 16 core course requirement of the NCAA by the end of your fourth year of high school (D1 and D2). Since you have already started the 9th grade, that means you will need to complete those courses be the end of the 2019-2020 school year. If you reclassify, that would be the end of your junior year.

You are about where my son was at that age, though he was probably 77-78 at that time...same size and weight.  He was 5-10, 160 and throwing 87-88 the summer after his junior year when he got offered and accepted at a mid-major D1.    I see no reason why you can't get to those numbers.  He just worked on his strength and velo and also his hitting.  If you truly want a better academic school, then base your decision on that.  Play on the best travel team you can find, you'll see better competition there than in HS in most cases. 

You are projecting what improvements "may"  occur with an extra year.  You have to realize they also "may not" occur.

Basically you are betting a year more of high school, and a year less of future earning income on the hopes that you will marginally increase your desirability to future schools. That's the bet you have to make, and decide if the return is worth the time invested.

What happens if your grades aren't as good at the more rigorous school?  What happens if you aren't good enough to make the team - or what if a couple of stud players transfer in and you spend your career on the bench?

You have to weigh the possible negative outcomes - not just the positive ones.

So you are a sophomore (2020) and would go next year to prep school and be a 2021, repeating sophomore year.

I like the advice above, especially Repeating a year means you are older.  Not a better candidate for school or sport.

However let me add a little as we have one son who went the prep school road.  It is easy to be enticed by such schools.  The top New England prep schools are beautiful, and have unbelievable campuses/buildings/resources/facilities etc.  Some are nicer than many colleges.  The concept of being away from home can be attractive too (I seem to remember you were considering a Florida prep school, maybe IMG??), but it is not for everyone.

Ask yourself, who wants you to reclassify?  The baseball coach?  The admissions office?  Your parents?  You?  It means an extra year of HS but also an extra year of tuition payments!  Unless you are getting a free ride!  Prep school is not cheap, the top ones cost 60k a year.  Also, do you know you would be on varsity?  My prep school son had to pay dues on JV before getting moved up in the 3 sports he played.  He was not happy about that.  Could you go to this school as a 2020?  If not, why do they want you as a 2021?

Also, if you are still thinking of Florida, then this is a move for baseball not academics.  Don't try and sell it as "I will be more challenged in school."  WHY?  You would be repeating a grade, doing a lot of what you did this year, and with your GPA, seemingly did well! 

You say the level of competition and connections will increase.  Not if you are on the bench.  Also, what if the coach who has all these connections moves on?  You shouldn't repeat a grade and move schools for a HS coach.  And a lot of what happens for college recruiting happens in the summer, at camps/showcases/tournaments.  Some might say HS is much less relevant.  There are so many good Boston based program.  Are you good enough to play for Northeast Baseball?  Ruffnecks?  Canes NE?  

If you keep working at baseball, you'll be better at 18 (as a rising senior if you reclassify) than at 17 (as a rising senior if you don't reclassify):

Will that be enough to make the difference for you in terms of baseball recruiting? No one on here can answer that question. It's probably not answerable with any degree of confidence.

The school I may transfer to is a prep school in MA. I have always wanted to reclass. I do play for one of the top travel clubs as you stated above. I would not be moving because I am still gonna be located in MA.

Baseballcomesthird posted:

Thanks for all of the constructive responses. To give you all a better idea, I will state my measurables and why I want to do this. I would like to do this for a few reasons. It would help to get me into a better school for studies and athletics if I were to repeat a year. I will be challenged more in school. The level of high school baseball competition and connections will go way up. In terms of competition, I believe that playing with better players will help me become a better player in many ways. In terms of connections, this particular coach has sent many players to D1, D2, D3, etc..

MEASURABLES: 

Tee exit velo: 80 with metal bat

Outfield velo: low to mid 70's

60 yard dash: 7.4

Pitchig Velo: Low to mid 70's 

Height 5'8 projected to grow a couple more inches

Weight: 140 lbs

 

I have had two coaches which have told me that I have potential to play at low to mid D1. They say I have the potential but need to work on the pitching velo, strength, etc..

I don't think we can answer for you but can continue to give you questions to ask yourself and your parents...

A few coaches told you that you have the potential to play mid to low level D1.  I can tell you that with those measurables and size projection, there is also a good chance you will not get any attention at that level.  So, is it worth it if baseball is the top reason?  Will you still be satisfied with your decision if you end up playing for a mediocre D3 program?

Is the added year of prep school tuition OK with parents?  In many instances, this is more $ than a year of college.

Do you like your current school/friends?  Would you miss your current class of friends?

How confident are you that you would crack the starting lineup at the prep school?

Completely outside of baseball, which school would you like better?

Would you have the option and same opportunities to go to the prep school as a 2020?  Same chance of getting playing time as a starter?

Are you willing to enter college a year later, graduate a year later, start earning money a year later, etc?

If you went forward with the transfer and started soph year over and got hurt the first month of school and couldn't play that year, how would you feel?

Some schools have regulations regarding playing HS sports as a 19 y.o. senior.  Would this be you?

Are you shaving yet?

Why have you always wanted to reclass?

Do you have career aspirations yet?  (not baseball)

Ok so I personally believe there are only a handful of truly top high academic New England prep schools, and not all are in MA either.  The most elite of these schools do take a very limited number of juniors, so I am still not sure why you want to reclassify.  You say you have always wanted to, but do not explain.

Yes, many many many boys at prep schools reclassify.  It seems sometimes as it is the norm, and perhaps some well intentioned posters on this board are not aware of this standard practice.  However, it is usually for football or hockey, not always for other sports.  My son's experience was that he was older than many of the boys a grade BELOW him.  And usually accomplished through repeating 9th grade, or doing a PG year.  I would suggest that the PG year may be a better (and less costly) bet for you, as I believe was discussed in your prior threads.

Also remember that if you go to one of these top schools, you will be among the top students in the world, not just the USA.  Therefore, if for any reason not a recruited athlete for college, you make it a little harder to get into a top college, not easier.  

Finally, if you play for one of the top NE travel programs I listed previously, that should be all you need to help with recruiting.  Those programs enter excellent tournaments all summer and are connected, look at their college placements year after year.  Is there another reason why this is not enough for you?

My parents would like me to reclass so that is no problem at all. Basically, this year can do no hurt and only help. Worst case scenario I don't get better. My parents are all in for the extra year. I will still experience a better education and will have another year of development. I have no problem with graduating later. Most of my friends are a grade below because of my age for baseball. In terms of life after baseball, I would want to be involved in baseball for sure. Either coaching, running a club, etc.. I love the game and have not really considered other things to this point. I see many people not playing that make a career out of baseball.

To add on from some of the questions I missed, the coach has told me he wants me to play. My academic challenge will rise as well because this is one of the top schools in the nation. 

BaseballComesThird -- are you sure this would allow you to get into a better school? Does anyone on the board know how elite schools would view an extra year like this? Admittedly, I have no idea myself, but you should really vet that assertion before you take a big step like this if a better school is in fact a primary consideration.  

MW Mom - like 2 Boys says this does happen a lot. One of my nephews reclassified and his family believes he would not have gotten into Harvard and Yale without it. 

JCG, wow, just wow.  So you actually repeat a high school year and it makes you more academically competitive?  It seems so counterintuitive to do in 5 years what everyone else does in 4, but perhaps the schools are looking at it from the perspective of what you accomplish in that year or how you use it?  Now  I'm just fascinated.  I learn something new here everyday!

I guess in the eyes of colleges it will only make you more advanced. Also, most kids use it for sports which helps because you would have that connection to get into the school. I know a few people who have done it. Both ended up in D1's. In fact PG and repeating has been going on for a while. I have a uncle in his 60's who did a PG at a prep school and went to Harvard after.

Re-classing upon entry into prep school is a very common practice.  I know several families with kids who have done it.  Given the kids that re-class as well as post graduate students, there are several kids that end up doing a fifth year.  The matriculation lists at top preps don't segregate kids who did a fifth year vs four, but given the numbers in the Ivy and comparable schools, it is safe to say it's not a negative.

Midwest Mom posted:

JCG, wow, just wow.  So you actually repeat a high school year and it makes you more academically competitive?  It seems so counterintuitive to do in 5 years what everyone else does in 4, but perhaps the schools are looking at it from the perspective of what you accomplish in that year or how you use it?  Now  I'm just fascinated.  I learn something new here everyday!

I know a former student of mine did a PG after graduating, because an Ivy didn't have a spot for him the year he graduated, but had a spot for him the following year. Same thing almost happened with a swimmer, but some recruit fell through so they had a spot the year he graduated.

Ripken Fan posted:

Midwest Mom posted:

JCG, wow, just wow.  So you actually repeat a high school year and it makes you more academically competitive?  It seems so counterintuitive to do in 5 years what everyone else does in 4, but perhaps the schools are looking at it from the perspective of what you accomplish in that year or how you use it?  Now  I'm just fascinated.  I learn something new here everyday!

I know a former student of mine did a PG after graduating, because an Ivy didn't have a spot for him the year he graduated, but had a spot for him the following year. Same thing almost happened with a swimmer, but some recruit fell through so they had a spot the year he graduated.

First athlete I referred to was for LAX, not baseball.

Midwest Mom posted:

JCG, wow, just wow.  So you actually repeat a high school year and it makes you more academically competitive?  It seems so counterintuitive to do in 5 years what everyone else does in 4, but perhaps the schools are looking at it from the perspective of what you accomplish in that year or how you use it?  Now  I'm just fascinated.  I learn something new here everyday!

If there's a school you really want to go to, hanging back one year to improve your physical maturity as well as skill refinement, and maybe take a few AP's to place out of is not a bad thing.  Heck, when we're all 40, half the people you work with are 35 or 45... so, one year, on the condition that it is a solid plan to take your skills to another level  to improve positioning for an Ivy or another top academic could be rewarding.  As other mentioned, more common in Football and Hockey...but definitely happens in the other sports.

We had a kid from our HS who was falling short in a few areas academically and he wanted to go to William and Mary.  Coaches loved his baseball, but couldn't get past the academic component.  So they asked if he'd be receptive to a PG year.  He did one at a top prep school back East and entered W & M the following year, only to be drafted his junior year.   It happens!  Thinking about the next 40 years is the thing, one year to possibly repostion yourself is nothing.  BUT, you need to really have some practical and realistic coaches around offering reality.

Why not post grad on the back side if you don't improve enough during high school?

Here is the thing:  baseballcomesthird wants to go to this prep school and thinks he has to reclassify.  Parents are OK with paying an extra year of $60,000.  I still am wondering if this is them volunteering to reclassify because it helps chances of getting in, coach's suggestion, or why this is even a thought...but here goes:

Would you be a boarder, or live at home?  If a boarder, then training at a serious baseball facility, playing in the fall and/or going to college camps will all be difficult.  Some of the elite prep schools have closed weekends when you cannot leave, some have Saturday classes -- all done to ensure kids are on campus and not off, getting into trouble etc.  My oldest son had a tough time balancing outside hockey in the fall.  Yes the ice was up at school at their own rinks, but everyone who is any good plays in the fall competitively before the real season starts.  Think about how you would be getting bigger, stronger, faster while at this new (and challenging) school.  My 2017 was recruited to several of these prep schools (for another sport), but had little desire to go and one reason is because the baseball is actually not as good as here, and training would be not possible for him. 

Next, please be aware that the anecdotal evidence on this thread of this kid getting into X Ivy after going to prep school is just not common anymore.  First of all, if this is truly one of the top 5-6 prep schools in the country, yes they send a big chunk of kids to the Ivies and other elite academic institutions.  You have to dig a little deeper though.  These schools as I have mentioned, have the best of the best, some of the brightest minds your age in the WORLD.  These are kids who are so bored in their current educational environments, they seek institutions that can handle their insatiable love of learning.  Believe me, I have a kid like this and he found it very different to be at prep school with kids who were doing better than him no matter how smart and accomplished he himself was.  He loved his time there but he had to adjust to the fact he was never going to be valedictorian.  The international component cannot be understated, as many of these top schools get the brightest kids from abroad now.  These top top top students are getting into Ivies et al.  But the regular old smart unconnected, non minority kid who shows up to elite prep school with parents who think it is the ticket to an elite college are in for a rude awakening. 

Kids still do get into the Ivies.  Many are indeed athletic recruits, mostly crew (and then lacrosse, hockey, field hockey) but other sports too.  But many of the elite colleges look to these prep schools for their diversity.  In other words, if this underrepresented minority or first kid in family to go to college can succeed in the highly competitive elite prep school environment, they are thereby vetted for the Ivy.  So while the same percentages of kids might be getting into elite colleges, the make up of that percentage has been changing for some time now.  As I've said, you look at these schools sometimes in awe as they are nicer than most college campuses and people are mesmerized by the history/connections/college acceptances/etc of these prep schools.  However -- Caveat emptor!

I know a lot about this world and am happy to help if you want to PM me.  

In Southern California, repeating a grade for athletic purposes is a very common practice.  They usually do it before high school, but if it works out for you in high school, I see no down side to it.  You need to decide if you want to be the youngest in the grade, or the oldest in the grade.  My son has several baseball friends who moved from public schools to private schools so they can repeat a grade...since public schools don't let you repeat a grade just because you want to.   I think if your parents are willing to pay the extra tuition and are supporting your decision, you should go for it.  I don't think college coaches are looking at your birthday.  They red shirt a lot of freshmen anyway.  If adding the extra year didn't help you progress or grow as you expected, you have more realistic idea of where you belong in college.  The colleges coaches will also have less risk in projecting how much you will grow or not by the time you are 18.  So it can be a disadvantage if you don't look like a college freshmen when you are a senior in high school since you will be the same age.

I would be living at home and doing everything from home. I would still do everything the same just a new school. It is the coach who wants me along with my parents and I who want me to go.

From the info provided to this point, sounds like a good thing for your particular situation.  But it also sounds like you have the luxury of a really good resource here that is very close to the situation and it would be worth while to put Twoboys in touch with your parents (if he is willing) to really flush out any potential pitfalls.

Twoboys posted:

Here is the thing:  baseballcomesthird wants to go to this prep school and thinks he has to reclassify.  Parents are OK with paying an extra year of $60,000.  I still am wondering if this is them volunteering to reclassify because it helps chances of getting in, coach's suggestion, or why this is even a thought...but here goes:

Would you be a boarder, or live at home?  If a boarder, then training at a serious baseball facility, playing in the fall and/or going to college camps will all be difficult.  Some of the elite prep schools have closed weekends when you cannot leave, some have Saturday classes -- all done to ensure kids are on campus and not off, getting into trouble etc.  My oldest son had a tough time balancing outside hockey in the fall.  Yes the ice was up at school at their own rinks, but everyone who is any good plays in the fall competitively before the real season starts.  Think about how you would be getting bigger, stronger, faster while at this new (and challenging) school.  My 2017 was recruited to several of these prep schools (for another sport), but had little desire to go and one reason is because the baseball is actually not as good as here, and training would be not possible for him. 

Next, please be aware that the anecdotal evidence on this thread of this kid getting into X Ivy after going to prep school is just not common anymore.  First of all, if this is truly one of the top 5-6 prep schools in the country, yes they send a big chunk of kids to the Ivies and other elite academic institutions.  You have to dig a little deeper though.  These schools as I have mentioned, have the best of the best, some of the brightest minds your age in the WORLD.  These are kids who are so bored in their current educational environments, they seek institutions that can handle their insatiable love of learning.  Believe me, I have a kid like this and he found it very different to be at prep school with kids who were doing better than him no matter how smart and accomplished he himself was.  He loved his time there but he had to adjust to the fact he was never going to be valedictorian.  The international component cannot be understated, as many of these top schools get the brightest kids from abroad now.  These top top top students are getting into Ivies et al.  But the regular old smart unconnected, non minority kid who shows up to elite prep school with parents who think it is the ticket to an elite college are in for a rude awakening. 

Kids still do get into the Ivies.  Many are indeed athletic recruits, mostly crew (and then lacrosse, hockey, field hockey) but other sports too.  But many of the elite colleges look to these prep schools for their diversity.  In other words, if this underrepresented minority or first kid in family to go to college can succeed in the highly competitive elite prep school environment, they are thereby vetted for the Ivy.  So while the same percentages of kids might be getting into elite colleges, the make up of that percentage has been changing for some time now.  As I've said, you look at these schools sometimes in awe as they are nicer than most college campuses and people are mesmerized by the history/connections/college acceptances/etc of these prep schools.  However -- Caveat emptor!

I know a lot about this world and am happy to help if you want to PM me.  

This is a great post. Very informative. 

On the plus side, going to a school like this is a big help if you can get recruited for a sport. An Ivy RC said to my son: "I don't have to sell Admissions on you being able to handle it here. They know your school and they know that even if you took regular courses, not APs, that you had to put in the work on a daily basis to succeed. And that's what it takes here -- you have to put in the work on a daily basis."

That "if" is gigantic, though. Should be in 48 point font. If you aren't an athletic recruit, being in the middle of your class at Andover, Exeter, or Deerfield (or the like: www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/) is not a ticket into the Ivies -- that is the rude awakening referenced by Twoboys. And it's not just rude, it's expensive.

These schools as I have mentioned, have the best of the best, some of the brightest minds your age in the WORLD. These are kids who are so bored in their current educational environments, they seek institutions that can handle their insatiable love of learning.

I went to an ISL (MA private school league)  school freshman year. I hated the environment as a boarder. Most of the mainstream sport athletes were day students. I was left behind with the preppies. I returned to a top public school sophomore year. Academically, the private was so challenging it made high school a breeze. I went from the brightest kid in 8th grade to middle of the pack freshman year and challenged. There's no hiding when there are eight to ten kids in the class.

Going to a private freshman year was like swinging a leaded bat on deck before going to the plate. 

The humor looking back ...

I did get suspended for a week while there. I'm not sure if it was for being missing from campus or that I burst out laughing when the Headmaster told me I was too interested in sports and girls.

Before that the Headmaster wanted the football coach to suspend me for screaming like an animal on the football field.

You want to go.  Your parents want you to go.  Your parents have no issue with stroking the check.  You want to coach baseball after you graduate.  There is no right or wrong answer from the gallery.  Personally, I'd bank the check and decide on a PG year in another 2 years.  I find no compelling reason based on facts to reclass in order to meet the goals you have outlined.  That said, ain't a bad problem to have.  

I think it's fair to say that there are no "tickets" to the Ivies, short of a legacy kid whose parents make heavy donations to the Ivy school of their choice.  That said, I'm pretty familiar with some of the elite New England Preps, and the chances of going to an elite university appear to be pretty good.  Often the matriculation lists are available for past classes at the school's website.  They speak for themselves.  Of course, gaining admission to one of these preps is no small task, it's a big hurdle to get over.  As an example, one matriculation list for one of the schools listed in 2019Dad's chosen three schools (above) from a few years ago I am quite familiar with.  In that particular class, there were 89 kids who matriculated to an Ivy League School.  In fact, the only Ivy with less than 10 matriculations that year was Dartmouth with 8.  You can imagine how many overall acceptances there were if 89 chose one of the schools to attend.  That is in addition to the 8 who went to MIT, 13 to Stanford, etc.  You can well imagine the names of other non-Ivy type schools that got admissions or offered acceptances.  So while it may be a rude/expensive awakening for some, the result is probably going to be more than OK, even if Ivy was the goal.

Given what the OP has posted, I think I can piece together the school in question.  If he can gain admittance, baseball or not, re-classify or not, it's something to be proud of and to consider.  The connections, relationship building opportunities, diversity, level of instruction and resources are difficult to ignore.  JMHO.

2019Dad posted:

Twoboys posted:

Here is the thing:  baseballcomesthird wants to go to this prep school and thinks he has to reclassify.  Parents are OK with paying an extra year of $60,000.  I still am wondering if this is them volunteering to reclassify because it helps chances of getting in, coach's suggestion, or why this is even a thought...but here goes:

Would you be a boarder, or live at home?  If a boarder, then training at a serious baseball facility, playing in the fall and/or going to college camps will all be difficult.  Some of the elite prep schools have closed weekends when you cannot leave, some have Saturday classes -- all done to ensure kids are on campus and not off, getting into trouble etc.  My oldest son had a tough time balancing outside hockey in the fall.  Yes the ice was up at school at their own rinks, but everyone who is any good plays in the fall competitively before the real season starts.  Think about how you would be getting bigger, stronger, faster while at this new (and challenging) school.  My 2017 was recruited to several of these prep schools (for another sport), but had little desire to go and one reason is because the baseball is actually not as good as here, and training would be not possible for him. 

Next, please be aware that the anecdotal evidence on this thread of this kid getting into X Ivy after going to prep school is just not common anymore.  First of all, if this is truly one of the top 5-6 prep schools in the country, yes they send a big chunk of kids to the Ivies and other elite academic institutions.  You have to dig a little deeper though.  These schools as I have mentioned, have the best of the best, some of the brightest minds your age in the WORLD.  These are kids who are so bored in their current educational environments, they seek institutions that can handle their insatiable love of learning.  Believe me, I have a kid like this and he found it very different to be at prep school with kids who were doing better than him no matter how smart and accomplished he himself was.  He loved his time there but he had to adjust to the fact he was never going to be valedictorian.  The international component cannot be understated, as many of these top schools get the brightest kids from abroad now.  These top top top students are getting into Ivies et al.  But the regular old smart unconnected, non minority kid who shows up to elite prep school with parents who think it is the ticket to an elite college are in for a rude awakening. 

Kids still do get into the Ivies.  Many are indeed athletic recruits, mostly crew (and then lacrosse, hockey, field hockey) but other sports too.  But many of the elite colleges look to these prep schools for their diversity.  In other words, if this underrepresented minority or first kid in family to go to college can succeed in the highly competitive elite prep school environment, they are thereby vetted for the Ivy.  So while the same percentages of kids might be getting into elite colleges, the make up of that percentage has been changing for some time now.  As I've said, you look at these schools sometimes in awe as they are nicer than most college campuses and people are mesmerized by the history/connections/college acceptances/etc of these prep schools.  However -- Caveat emptor!

I know a lot about this world and am happy to help if you want to PM me.  

This is a great post. Very informative. 

On the plus side, going to a school like this is a big help if you can get recruited for a sport. An Ivy RC said to my son: "I don't have to sell Admissions on you being able to handle it here. They know your school and they know that even if you took regular courses, not APs, that you had to put in the work on a daily basis to succeed. And that's what it takes here -- you have to put in the work on a daily basis."

That "if" is gigantic, though. Should be in 48 point font. If you aren't an athletic recruit, being in the middle of your class at Andover, Exeter, or Deerfield (or the like: www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/) is not a ticket into the Ivies -- that is the rude awakening referenced by Twoboys. And it's not just rude, it's expensive.

I am very familiar with the most recent graduating class of one of the schools listed above. The above bold is extremely true and even true for the top of the class as well.  If you fall into the category bolded in twoboys response, you can be in the top 15 students of the class or even #1 and not get in. The 80-something admits referenced by 9and7 are athletes, elite musicians and other special interest students, not the "regular old smart unconnected, non minority kid". The connections to Ivy coaches are real, if and only if you have the athletic talent necessary. The work load of these schools should leave you well prepared for the rigors of college, which is a great benefit, however long gone are the days that they will help you get in a top college just because of the name and reputation of the high school.

Baseballcomes third is not talking about the above school 9and7 referenced above btw. 

I can understand more the reclassification if it were for that school or its arch rival (or 2-3 other elite boarding prep schools), but am not a big fan of reclassifying for an independent school.  There is always the possibility to do a PG year at PA or PE or the like if needed.  

I appreciate that follow up - I made a few assumptions based on what he had posted relative to travel ball team and general location.  Apparently those were incorrect.  Thanks for clearing that up.

In reference to a couple of posts as far as general elite university admission is concerned, I don't share the opinion that all such admissions are based on a kid having a hook.  Hooks (legacy, recruited athlete, etc.) have by far the most influence during the Early Decision process, and plenty of kids are getting in regular decision.  There are no guarantees for any constituency. 

I do not understand why it would matter if it were an independent school or a private boarding school. To me, I would judge a lot off of the average SAT and ACT scores for students at that particular school. Also, some schools work better for others.  For example, Roxbury Latin is ranked one of the top if not the top in average SAT scores. This school is independent and is not the most popular. However, I would argue that you send someone to a school because it fits best and can help them learn best. Not because it is Phillips or some other big name school.