Mom Sues over Preschool hurting her daughter’s chances of getting into an Ivy League School!
This mom believed that her daughter’s preschool was not preparing her for the entrance exams required to go the “right” private schools that would in turn eventually lead to acceptance letters from Ivy League universities.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/nyregion/15suit.html.
Well, I’ve got some advice for this parent. Go to the websites of any of the best private high schools and look at their lists of matriculation, and you will see that only a small percentage of their students actually get into the Ivy League schools.
The reality (and harsh or not, it is certainly the reality) is that is up to the students to prepare for the board exams on their own time. Schools may build a foundation for students, but they do not build the whole house for them. The standardized exams test students’ understanding of mathematical concepts, vocabulary and reading comprehension.
The mom in this article had clearly not done her homework on education. No school claims to be a test preparation center. After a school teaches the foundation, the student must practice standardized exams at home to re-enforce understanding and become comfortable answering those types of questions. I believe it is not the school you go to that determines a student’s fate when applying to college, but instead what that student accomplishes during high school.
Note that even after paying thousands of dollars and attending the very best private schools in the country, your child may not ace the SAT. I know students with a 94% grade point average, a transcript of all A’s and only the occasional B+, and a score of 600 on each SAT section – and all that was not good enough for the Ivy League! Certain fatal yet common pitfalls, like late preparation and applications without any outstanding extracurricular features, will leave thousands of parents and students disappointed every year. There is no reason you have to be one of those parents or students however! Follow the guidelines in my book, and whether coming from a public or private school, your child can get into the Ivy League.
For tips on helping your child prepare for the Ivy League, check out Secrets and Tips from a Harvard Mom.
