What is the best way to prepare your kids to enter ivy league schools? Do they have better chances if they are

Question

Do they have better chances if they are enrolled in private schools? Do you have any books I can read about the matter?

Answer 1

First, you need to ask yourself why you think your kids should go to Ivy League schools, and what kind of students they currently are. Do they enjoy school? Are they intellectually curious? What interests and hobbies do they have? College admisisons people look at a lot more than just where you went to h.s., your grades, class rank, and your SAT scores. Although I myself went to an Ivy, as did 2 of our kids, you can get a truly excellent education at way lower cost at many of the good state schools such as University of Wisconsin, Berkeley, Indiana University, University of Michigan, etc., as well as at many non-Ivy private colleges (which often cost as much as an Ivy, I might add). Our "Ivy" kids both went to our local public high school, and felt they were as well-prepared--if not better-prepared--than many of the private school graduates they encountered. It's true that certain prep schools suggest that they have an "inside track" for certain Ivies, and this may be true, but I don't think going to the expense of private school is really necessary for good college preparation, or for giving your children an "edge" in admissions. If your local public high school is poor quality, that might be another story.

Answer 2

Certain private schools can help. The old, established ones have relationships with the admissions folk at top universities. The counselors can really help optimize a student's chances.

Any old private school isn't likely to be that helpful. A top public school often has resources that rival one of those elite private school in the admissions area.

The best way is to make sure they get stellar grades, prepare for the standardized tests really early, and get them active outside of school. Nowadays, it's not just doing a bunch of community service or activities. You have to show excellence in something. It can be getting a grant for research, starting a successful business, etc.