If you live in Princeton and have a child in the Princeton school system, it is not possible to not hear conversations about college admissions. I know that in Manhattan, if a child is not accepted into the “right” school at birth, the parents start seeing a shrink. This phenomenon has spread to Princeton. People buy homes in Princeton, with the thoughts of their kids going to the best colleges. Even the parents of the middle and elementary school kids talk about colleges.

Parents and kids obsession with college admissions is not new. I have four kids of various ages and when my oldest son went to the University of Chicago, some years ago, it was high pressure. When my daughter applied a few years later it was more pressure. Now the pressure seems to be to be even higher yet.

This week was the early admissions results for Cornell and a furry of calls was going on between kids, parents, and friends. Who got in? Who    didn’t? The stress factor seems high.

It was interesting that Wall Street Journal recently conducted a study of the best “feeder” schools –the schools that send most kids to the top     eight schools they selected for the study.

According to their results Princeton High School ranked 27th, with the tops school being a private school in New York.
This year 19 kids from the Princeton High School are going to the Princeton University, which is more then in previous years. Many University professors’ children attend the Princeton High School, which can explain the high numbers. As the acceptance rates for top colleges get lower, with Harvard, for example, being the lowest yet at 9%, it is possible that even more children of local professors will be going to Princeton University

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With statistics it is possible to look at numbers in different ways.  I am very familiar with this in real estate.  People look at numbers and come up with different conclusions as to whether the market is up or down.

After I did a bit more research, I found an article in Daily Princetonian that contradicted the WSJ study. In their view Lawrenceville School is in the first place based on the highest percent of its graduates who attend Princeton University (compared to the numbers of students in 9th- 12th grade).  Princeton High school is in the first place based on the number of its alumni who are now enrolled in the University. Lawrenceville School on that basis is in the 3d place.

Quality of education is extremely important to all parents. Many people base their decision to buy a home in Princeton because of the value they perceive in the school system. The various studies provide some basis for this believes.

I want to make sure that in the Princeton Public School system every child gets quality education. The focus of the schools, parents and kids on the top universities, should not detract from providing top quality education to every child, not just the ones who are heading to the top elite Universities.

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Please contact Faina Sechzer at 609-553-4175 when looking for real estate, homes for sale and/or listing your house to sell, and relocation    assistance in Princeton, Montgomery Township, West Windsor, Hopewell, and Lawrenceville New Jersey. Referrals are accepted.
If you are moving out of the greater Princeton area, please inquire about the countrywide relocation program.


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