Is Westminster School the best school on Earth? STATESMOM returns

[statesmom]

I have a lot to say, don't know if anyone remembers the thread. Let me know if you want to hear from me.

😂😂😂😂 interesting that this is your first post ever on mumsnet.
hello statesmum with a different username

haha actually not. just moved and trying to figure this complicated system out. This has been quite entertaining, but just trying to understand the best path to the U.S. top schools :) Regardless of all the back and forth, sounds like @statesmom actually knows this

This thread is so funny. I thought it was satire at first.

I have 2 DC in 2 different Ivies. They went to state schools in Ireland and had no coaching, no 4 year plans no sporting achievements.

They both really decided to go to Ivies because they thought they would really enjoy the US college experience and the vibe of their particular schools would suit them.

But they could equally have decided to study in the U.K. or EU with our blessing.

I have another DC at drama school and we are equally supportive of that choice.

Youngest DC will also be encouraged to find what interests him and makes him happy.

I don't think there is any one route. We certainly didn't take the same one as the OP.

Definitely understand that, just trying to understand the best (highest probability) paths

How old are your kids, what are their interests and skills? Are you in London?

God knows why you would ask statesmom for any advice.

Honestly OP, you have some funny views on life. Loads of us here have been to excellent UK universities, have good jobs and friends, happy kids etc. What actually is it that you want?

I think when you read back through the posts it is clear that there is no straightforward path to Ivy League universities owing to the complications of ‘legacy’ places. However, a poster did mention Sevenoaks upthread. Maybe start there?

My experience as a Westminster Parent was that successful IL places were largely (but not all) gained by legacy. Interestingly, the brightest Westminster kids who did get a place in IL (on merit )also gained places at Imperial and Oxbridge and took those places over the US (early decision applicants to MIT excepted) reason being that unless a substantial financial offer was made, the cost simply wasn’t appealing. This did include both overseas students and UK students. I have no stats, just what was observed from discussions with the DC,

Just starting out, 2 and 4 so the world of interests / skills are open :) Can work from anywhere so can actually live anywhere in / around London and waiting to make that decision based on kids schools

Definitely differ on some things, but @statesmom actually uses stats to back everything up which is the approach I'm taking on schools (at least to start!). I originally thought ASL was the way to go, but am actually not that impressed by the U.S. destination schools

Honestly, just encourage interest and passion and reading and conversation and openness to ideas and see where they seem best suited when the time comes.

There will be many variables outside your control over the next 12-14 years.

Adding: and leavers' university destinations now will have almost no relation to what they will be a dozen years from now.

Thanks and agree. I'm pretty committed to U.S. schools though so just want to know what makes that path easiest / smoothest (doesn't have to be the top, but would like to aim high)

Also, do the top top tier schools really change that much in a decade? Has that happened over the last decade?

They are pre- schoolers and you want to railroad them towards IL unis?

Wow!

@ConfusedBrit I already mentioned up thread that Sevenoaks had 170+ offers for the US this year, which seems to be the highest in the UK for US offers. Most of them Ivy League. I am also interested in US offers (as I went to a US business school) so have been keeping an eye on offers by school.

Set them up to make that path the easiest, yes!

Cool! Will check it out.

I asked the OP pages ago why she didn’t choose Choate or the Andover Academies and hot no answer.

Absolutely they do. A decade ago very few UK schools were focused on US admissions at all.

And ASL (which my kids did not go to) is always going to be a mixed bag because it's not going to be as academically selective in its intake as a lot of London schools.

As I said, 2 of my kids got into ivies (one chose Oxbridge instead), one didn't apply but went early decision to a small liberal arts instead. We didn't give the matter any thought whatsoever until their last year of school.

Honestly, there is nothing more foolish than planning your kids academic futures at those ages. You're setting yourself up for a losing dynamic.

Going to respectively disagree here. The ones focused on US admissions now, will probably be focused on them in 10 years (it's not going to go in reverse given how things are changing globally). Would love to hear examples of this reversing historically

Planning for kids to go to top unis in the US could be for all kinds of reasons (setting them up well being the most obvious one), so I don't think it's crazy to understand what the best paths are and making an informed decision with all the other factors as well. That's the point of this website isn't it?

How so? You seem quite desperate, not amused. What is it you want from this thread? You are so wound and anxious, take some time off, go for a walk, play with your kids, have some fun! Seriously, you're going to blow a gasket carrying on like you are 😂

O wow, this school is very far out from London. I'm not looking to do boarding. Any idea how transportation works? Also, where did you see it had 170+ offers for the US? Thanks for putting it on my radar!

Well, it is trying to be the best parent we can.

It depends what you see as 'best' I suppose. Personally I see 'best' as supporting DD to follow her own interests and dreams, not meet my dreams or re-live my life for me.

Well schools that are later to focus on it could well come along and be incredibly successful. 10, 12 years is a very long time in the trajectory of a school. Even ones that have been around for 400 years.

I would think other, possibly further into the process parents gently telling you that you might be setting yourself up more than helping might also be in the general scope of what this website is for? And I'd say that the majority of people who build a mould and try to make their kids fit it end up disappointed. At 2 and 4 you have literally no idea of what they'll like or be good at down the road, not to mention what kind of school they'll thrive in.

But I'm sure @statesmom will be able to offer you more specific advice.

Edited: Sevenoaks does day places. It's a very nice school, but their success rates have a lot to do with the number of parents who are able to build a library, or at least a wing at their chosen university.

I think you're confusing doing research on what are good routes to success (obviously subjective here) with making final decisions on what a child will do in 10 years. It's like saying why see what schools exist because my kid might not want to learn anything...

Thanks, people actually drive their kids out there for the day, it looks so far haha Also, is there anything that supports their 170+ admissions were from donations? I feel like any of these top schools are going to have rich parents