973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Jan 14, 2011 11:20:04 GMT -5
Lena from what I have heard from my friends it really has very little to do with that at all. They said the most important part about getting their child into the best preschool is that once they are in they are almost automatically guaranteed entrance into the same school's elementary school. Then from there they are guaranteed entrance into the middle school. Then that gets them into the HS. That prep HS the parents know how many kids get into Harvard from. that is the end game.
It isn't so much about the preschool at all. It is about getting them into the right school system that feeds into the right High School.
ETA this is what my friends said. I don't have any experience with it personally. We have very few preschools by me and none of them have this type of entrance system.
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Taxman10
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Post by Taxman10 on Jan 14, 2011 11:26:12 GMT -5
Lena from what I have heard from my friends it really has very little to do with that at all. They said the most important part about getting their child into the best preschool is that once they are in they are almost automatically guaranteed entrance into the same school's elementary school. Then from there they are guaranteed entrance into the middle school. Then that gets them into the HS. That prep HS the parents know how many kids get into Harvard from. that is the end game. It isn't so much about the preschool at all. It is about getting them into the right school system that feeds into the right High School. ETA this is what my friends said. I don't have any experience with it personally. We have very few preschools by me and none of them have this type of entrance system. I started watching the movie last night on netflix -- this is exactly what the Head of School said - it's all about "feeding" to the next level. She also basically said it was all kind of silly, but it is the way that it is.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Jan 14, 2011 11:30:23 GMT -5
Taxman that is the word they used. They called those preschools "feeders". They said you have to get your kid into the right feeder to ensure that they come out in the right pond.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jan 14, 2011 11:38:06 GMT -5
They said you have to get your kid into the right feeder to ensure that they come out in the right pond. That makes me think of Soylent Green.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 14, 2011 11:38:14 GMT -5
I will say that we have a really, really excellent private high school near us. It is prestigious, and really turns out a lot quality students. I have a lot of bad things to say about it, too, but they have a high rate of acceptance to ivy league schools, and a very high rate of matriculation into colleges in general. The other thing is that people are in "the network" once they go to that school. If you are alum, it is like being part of an exclusive club. I know 45 year olds that still use their high school network (from that school) to get jobs, etc.
You are much more likely to get acceptance into that school if you go to their grade school, and that isn't a "come-one, come-all" type of school. Even kindergarten acceptance is a little dicey. Now, could my kids do great not at that school - absolutely, but we live in a district where the high school is (how shall we say) undesirable. The middle school is meh-okay, and the elementary school is frickin' awesome. We have to decide soon if we should start the buttering-up process to get into the feeder middle school, or if we are going to take our chances with trying to get into the high school, or if we should just plan on using another out of district option. My oldest is in 2nd grade. Some of our friends made this decision 3 years ago. And that really is what people are doing with this nursery school thing.
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Post by kinetickid on Jan 15, 2011 17:56:26 GMT -5
Nursery University (2008) Set in New York City, the epicenter of a phenomenon cropping up in communities across the United States, "Nursery University" reveals the oddly competitive process of nursery school admissions. The film tells the story of five families - each with different backgrounds and economic circumstances - attempting to place their toddlers in preschool classrooms that have limited spaces and, thus, high price tags. "Nursery University" follows the families' journeys, and the school directors who must determine which "applicants" to allow through their doors. www.imdb.com/title/tt1213832/~~~~~~~ ...did anybody see this movie? ...thoughts? I saw it. This craziness isn't limited to NYC; it's here in L.A., too. It's one of the reasons my daughter isn't in preschool at the moment: I didn't care to go through all that rigmarole trying to find a good school, getting on a gazillion waitlists/lotteries, and paying astronomical sums for the preschool once she got into one. We also have tons of pre-academic tutoring programs around geared towards 2 and 3 year olds. These kids are already doing worksheets and learning stuff that most people think is more appropriate to a 5 or 6 year old. All in preparation for preschool and kindergarten.
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Jan 16, 2011 0:18:44 GMT -5
<<< you have to get your kid into the right feeder to ensure that they come out in the right pond >>> ....while this makes sense, it also makes me wonder about the use of my money... because at some of these prices, we're talking $250K-$300K in tuition over some 16yrs... and for that kind of money, I would think you could supplement the education of your kids well enough to assist their eligibility for an ivy league school... and get them into social activities so they befriend the power families' kids...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2011 7:26:34 GMT -5
<<< you have to get your kid into the right feeder to ensure that they come out in the right pond >>> ....while this makes sense, it also makes me wonder about the use of my money... because at some of these prices, we're talking $250K-$300K in tuition over some 16yrs... and for that kind of money, I would think you could supplement the education of your kids well enough to assist their eligibility for an ivy league school... and get them into social activities so they befriend the power families' kids... Ok, yesterday I talked to one of those parents that fell for the feeder/pond thing in Manhattan. They have two daughters in one of those privates schools and paying 30K for each per year (they can afford it). It is not just about getting from one good school to another at this point... it is also about their kids having friends in the right circle, knowing the right people. Your future employer tomorrow might be the father of the kid you went to school with, the judge that might hire you to be his/her law clerck might be on the board of directors for that school, etc. Basically the idea is for your kids to get to know the right people or the right people's friends. My wife cousin's making over 200K a year as a lawyer is staying close to two of her bosses for one reason and one reason only : -> They are two of the people she will make sure to write letters of recommendation for her 3 boys when they are ready to go to college (Yale and Harvard Law). My wife other cousin got her current job for one reason only: She graduated from Columbia and met one of the alma matters at a event the school was holding one day. They had a conversation, she liked my wife cousin and found out she was looking for a job... she started that following Monday without having to apply or interview for the job. It is those type of situations that make worth it to some parents to pay that type of money. Heck, my boss boss boss boss (lol, I love saying that) that clears ungodly amount of money every year (say 130K bonus last year) made no secret that he got his job last year because: -> A friend of his was friend with the CEO of my company and set up a lunch meeting because he was just let go by a company that went under. His position was created just for him after that lunch. Now not only my boss report to him, but my boss boss and my boss boss boss. So sometimes it might be worth it when you think that you spent that over 16 years and your kids might eventually be earning that in a year or two salary. It is one thing to just be in the right circle... as you state befriend them; but it is totally another thing when you look like you belong.
Going to the right school, means you get invited to the right parties, right get togethers and know about the right opportunities.
Of course anyone with money can buy a $12,000/plate to get to an incredible event... but sometimes these events are by invitation only. Alot of the social clubs in Manhattan take new members only by invitations or reference.I still believe it is a waste of $$$ but I can see their view of it.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Jan 16, 2011 12:05:58 GMT -5
That I believe a 100%!!!! And to some extent I can even understand it. My poor children will have none of those opportunities bc we just bought a house (even though in a very good area) kind of very far from those type of places, I think May be I should start saving money for their therapy that they will need later, being all deprived of good education. Lena
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 18, 2011 11:25:25 GMT -5
I will also 'fess up that I don't want my kids part of that school because the rate of partying is very, very high, and the amount of wealth that is there really warps kid's perception of reality. I have never, ever seen a kid driving a beat up car into the parking lot. I've seen dozens of Escalades. I know there are kids there with less money - but they opt to hitch a ride with friends before advertising their status with a 10-year old Metro Geo.
It makes me shudder.
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Jan 18, 2011 14:19:20 GMT -5
...:::"I know 45 year olds that still use their high school network (from that school) to get jobs, etc.":::...
Indeed. This thread is further proof that "its not 'what' you know, its 'who' you know".
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 18, 2011 14:49:13 GMT -5
I must believe that it is a combination of who and what - but, unfortunately, unless you know the right "who" you might never be able to show them the "what."
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Jan 19, 2011 14:37:45 GMT -5
Fair enough, yes. Who will get you in the door, but who has to also be confident you won't embarrass them by not knowing any what. Now just tell me where and when.
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