The ECNL Sales Pitch - Fact or Fiction

[Unregistered]

Right - this is not for everyone. Yet EVERY ONE who does it is doing it for the right reasons - not to keep their kids away from the lower classes (read with different skin colors and back grounds), those without money, etc. etc. There are as many bad reasons to send your kid to private school as good. I've talked to these people and the school choice is not about education; it's about getting them into college - preferably NESCACs or Ivies where they will meet the right people etc. etc.

As far as I know private schools don't give scholarships for sports (BBN alums were throwing cards at my daughter in junior high and drooling yet the scholarship was all need based). Maybe things are different now but it was not so 8 years ago.


P.S. I went to boarding school, graduated with honors as a national merit scholar, went to a top three grad school and graduated cum laude and am generally considered quite bright. You talk about sales pitches - then you lay this one on us?

sounds like i might have had the same level of academic success at similar schools as you have, but came away with perhaps a totally different social/academic experience(perspective) than you did. i am quite proud of my academic achievements and experience which all began back in 9th grade when a generous "alum" from a prestigious private school gave me a check for the $40 application fee and advised me to apply to his alma mater. as one of eight children to parents with no high school education, i accepted the $40 check, use it and ultimately accepted a full scholarhip (financial aid). Since graduation from private school I have enjoyed all the academic, athletic, social and professional benefits of earning an excellent education; competing at the highest level in 3 sports and enjoying a diverse social experience at a private school. That $40.00 check resulted in a educational experience that afforded me opportunities and took me places I never would have experienced if it were not for this Alums advice/guidance

i, for one, would strongly encourage "anyone" that is in a position to do so, to take advantage of the private school opportunity, particularly if it is free.....IMO, the "pros", far outwegh the "cons" and .......at least I have never found anything in my academic achievements to be ashamed of....

[Unregistered]

sounds like i might have had the same level of academic success at similar schools as you have, but came away with perhaps a totally different social/academic experience(perspective) than you did. i am quite proud of my academic achievements and experience which all began back in 9th grade when a generous "alum" from a prestigious private school gave me a check for the $40 application fee and advised me to apply to his alma mater. as one of eight children to parents with no high school education, i accepted the $40 check, use it and ultimately accepted a full scholarhip (financial aid). Since graduation from private school I have enjoyed all the academic, athletic, social and professional benefits of earning an excellent education; competing at the highest level in 3 sports and enjoying a diverse social experience at a private school. That $40.00 check resulted in a educational experience that afforded me opportunities and took me places I never would have experienced if it were not for this Alums advice/guidance

i, for one, would strongly encourage "anyone" that is in a position to do so, to take advantage of the private school opportunity, particularly if it is free.....IMO, the "pros", far outwegh the "cons" and .......at least I have never found anything in my academic achievements to be ashamed of....

Is this now turning into a contest? We're moving from Scorps/Stars vs. NEFC to public vs. private? You do realize that 60-70% of Harvard (and all other Ivy) admits are from public schools, right? But this falls right into the trap that the privates want....who is the most elite? As opposed to other significant matters.

Btw, you competed at "the highest levels" in 3 sports? Are you Jim Thorpe, or Bo Jackson? But Bo Jackson (nor Deion Sanders) went to Andover, did they?

[Unregistered]

sounds like i might have had the same level of academic success at similar schools as you have, but came away with perhaps a totally different social/academic experience(perspective) than you did. i am quite proud of my academic achievements and experience which all began back in 9th grade when a generous "alum" from a prestigious private school gave me a check for the $40 application fee and advised me to apply to his alma mater. as one of eight children to parents with no high school education, i accepted the $40 check, use it and ultimately accepted a full scholarhip (financial aid). Since graduation from private school I have enjoyed all the academic, athletic, social and professional benefits of earning an excellent education; competing at the highest level in 3 sports and enjoying a diverse social experience at a private school. That $40.00 check resulted in a educational experience that afforded me opportunities and took me places I never would have experienced if it were not for this Alums advice/guidance

i, for one, would strongly encourage "anyone" that is in a position to do so, to take advantage of the private school opportunity, particularly if it is free.....IMO, the "pros", far outwegh the "cons" and .......at least I have never found anything in my academic achievements to be ashamed of....

So your "just as an example" really was a polemic. Thanks for coming clean.

[Unregistered]

sounds like i might have had the same level of academic success at similar schools as you have, but came away with perhaps a totally different social/academic experience(perspective) than you did. i am quite proud of my academic achievements and experience which all began back in 9th grade when a generous "alum" from a prestigious private school gave me a check for the $40 application fee and advised me to apply to his alma mater. as one of eight children to parents with no high school education, i accepted the $40 check, use it and ultimately accepted a full scholarhip (financial aid). Since graduation from private school I have enjoyed all the academic, athletic, social and professional benefits of earning an excellent education; competing at the highest level in 3 sports and enjoying a diverse social experience at a private school. That $40.00 check resulted in a educational experience that afforded me opportunities and took me places I never would have experienced if it were not for this Alums advice/guidance

i, for one, would strongly encourage "anyone" that is in a position to do so, to take advantage of the private school opportunity, particularly if it is free.....IMO, the "pros", far outwegh the "cons" and .......at least I have never found anything in my academic achievements to be ashamed of....

And yet after all this.... You still hang out with all the riff raff on TS. Congratulations!

[Unregistered]

sounds like i might have had the same level of academic success at similar schools as you have, but came away with perhaps a totally different social/academic experience(perspective) than you did. i am quite proud of my academic achievements and experience which all began back in 9th grade when a generous "alum" from a prestigious private school gave me a check for the $40 application fee and advised me to apply to his alma mater. as one of eight children to parents with no high school education, i accepted the $40 check, use it and ultimately accepted a full scholarhip (financial aid). Since graduation from private school I have enjoyed all the academic, athletic, social and professional benefits of earning an excellent education; competing at the highest level in 3 sports and enjoying a diverse social experience at a private school. That $40.00 check resulted in a educational experience that afforded me opportunities and took me places I never would have experienced if it were not for this Alums advice/guidance

i, for one, would strongly encourage "anyone" that is in a position to do so, to take advantage of the private school opportunity, particularly if it is free.....IMO, the "pros", far outwegh the "cons" and .......at least I have never found anything in my academic achievements to be ashamed of....

I am troubled by the spelling and the punctuation still; I appreciate that I shouldn't be as it is my own form of snobbery, but is this really the best that our private schools can produce? There is a continuing lack of understanding of "straw man argument" here as well, with yet another attempt made to advance another such argument in the last phrase beginning with "At least I." Either that or the poster has so convinced himself of whatever it is he trying to say at the moment that he can't see the straw men he creates.

Returning to the facts - is anyone aware of a private secondary school that gives scholarships for women's soccer? That possibility was suggested by the poster originally. It may be the case now, it wasn't a few years ago.

[Unregistered]

And yet after all this.... You still hang out with all the riff raff on TS. Congratulations!

Having a coffee now reading this past weeks post and being brought back to the early years with my kids where as a young Mom you were embroiled in the working Mom vs. stay at home Mom debate. Everyone was wrong and there was no middle ground. No one could see what was right for one is wrong for another and the repercussions were society changing to everyone.

Im one parent according to this thread who has made all the "wrong" decisions. My youngest daughter is in private school and has played for the ECNL since its conception. Our decisions to do both were well thought out and grounded in her future. She yearned for the best soccer available and that included first coach, team, competition and then club. She is now in the active recruiting stage of college soccer and our decision has opened every door.

Now our private school choice has allowed her to grow in the sciences and math subjects which she loved but was not being encouraged and challenged within her public school. Did my husband and I want to prepare her for a global society of course, do we want her to be successful of course but also do we hold other parents who make different choices for their children in judgement, no of course not.

Now is the point I guess where some responding poster will throw in our scholastic backgrounds and our personal income. None of anyones business because we don't consider that a large contributing factor. Why you ask? Our motivation has been drawn from our goals and we are willing to make long term decisions and work to completion even at personal sacrifices.

Coffees gone and Im off. Guess just wanted to wish everyone a judgement free day:)

[Unregistered]

Having a coffee now reading this past weeks post and being brought back to the early years with my kids where as a young Mom you were embroiled in the working Mom vs. stay at home Mom debate. Everyone was wrong and there was no middle ground. No one could see what was right for one is wrong for another and the repercussions were society changing to everyone.

Im one parent according to this thread who has made all the "wrong" decisions. My youngest daughter is in private school and has played for the ECNL since its conception. Our decisions to do both were well thought out and grounded in her future. She yearned for the best soccer available and that included first coach, team, competition and then club. She is now in the active recruiting stage of college soccer and our decision has opened every door.

Now our private school choice has allowed her to grow in the sciences and math subjects which she loved but was not being encouraged and challenged within her public school. Did my husband and I want to prepare her for a global society of course, do we want her to be successful of course but also do we hold other parents who make different choices for their children in judgement, no of course not.

Now is the point I guess where some responding poster will throw in our scholastic backgrounds and our personal income. None of anyones business because we don't consider that a large contributing factor. Why you ask? Our motivation has been drawn from our goals and we are willing to make long term decisions and work to completion even at personal sacrifices.

Coffees gone and Im off. Guess just wanted to wish everyone a judgement free day:)

mom, i asked you not to post here anymore

[Unregistered]

Having a coffee now reading this past weeks post and being brought back to the early years with my kids where as a young Mom you were embroiled in the working Mom vs. stay at home Mom debate. Everyone was wrong and there was no middle ground. No one could see what was right for one is wrong for another and the repercussions were society changing to everyone.

Im one parent according to this thread who has made all the "wrong" decisions. My youngest daughter is in private school and has played for the ECNL since its conception. Our decisions to do both were well thought out and grounded in her future. She yearned for the best soccer available and that included first coach, team, competition and then club. She is now in the active recruiting stage of college soccer and our decision has opened every door.

Now our private school choice has allowed her to grow in the sciences and math subjects which she loved but was not being encouraged and challenged within her public school. Did my husband and I want to prepare her for a global society of course, do we want her to be successful of course but also do we hold other parents who make different choices for their children in judgement, no of course not.

Now is the point I guess where some responding poster will throw in our scholastic backgrounds and our personal income. None of anyones business because we don't consider that a large contributing factor. Why you ask? Our motivation has been drawn from our goals and we are willing to make long term decisions and work to completion even at personal sacrifices.

Coffees gone and Im off. Guess just wanted to wish everyone a judgement free day:)

What a self-important bag of wind you are.

Were your coffee beans for this morning "privately" roasted?

Done with your coffee and off and running now? Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share your presence (albeit brief) with us.

Are you off to the UN to make some important global decisions in our global society? Or off to garden club?

Please, sit down and have another cup and tell us some more things that are none of our business regarding your incredible life that nobody asked you about in the first place.

[Unregistered]

Returning to the facts - is anyone aware of a private secondary school that gives scholarships for women's soccer? That possibility was suggested by a poster who then lauded parents for taking the soccer scholarship and using it to broaden their player's horizons.

I have no problem with private schools - I'm just wondering about the existence of a women's soccer scholarships. It may be the case now, it wasn't a few years ago. Please advise.

[Unregistered]

Returning to the facts - is anyone aware of a private secondary school that gives scholarships for women's soccer? That possibility was suggested by a poster who then lauded parents for taking the soccer scholarship and using it to broaden their player's horizons.

I have no problem with private schools - I'm just wondering about the existence of a women's soccer scholarships. It may be the case now, it wasn't a few years ago. Please advise.

P.S. This is the language to which I am referring -

" . . . a number of parents have chosen to leverage their soon to be 9th graders[sic] soccer skills into admittance and a scholarship at a private school."

[Unregistered]

P.S. This is the language to which I am referring -

" . . . a number of parents have chosen to leverage their soon to be 9th graders[sic] soccer skills into admittance and a scholarship at a private school."

you will not be getting an answer from anyone that knows from first hand experience.....parents that negotiated themselves a scholarship or "financial aid beyond need" are contractually bound by a confidentiality agreement not to disclose......

[Unregistered]

P.S. This is the language to which I am referring -

" . . . a number of parents have chosen to leverage their soon to be 9th graders[sic] soccer skills into admittance and a scholarship at a private school."

Having a unique athletic or artistic talent can certainly help with the admissions process at most private schools, but to my knowledge, financial support is almost always based on need, which may be defined differently from school to school (same as colleges). That being said, if you are top recruit that a respected coach is shepherding through the admissions process, you can get to the top of the pile for that need based aid.

I have also seen plenty of talented athletes denied admission at private schools because they just did not have the grades to get in.

[Unregistered]

What a self-important bag of wind you are.

Were your coffee beans for this morning "privately" roasted?

Done with your coffee and off and running now? Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share your presence (albeit brief) with us.

Are you off to the UN to make some important global decisions in our global society? Or off to garden club?

Please, sit down and have another cup and tell us some more things that are none of our business regarding your incredible life that nobody asked you about in the first place.

Are you the same bitter adjunct professor of the Boston based Ivy school who failed to capitalize on his Ivy College and Graduate school education into a life of consequence?

[Unregistered]

What a self-important bag of wind you are.

Were your coffee beans for this morning "privately" roasted?

Done with your coffee and off and running now? Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share your presence (albeit brief) with us.

Are you off to the UN to make some important global decisions in our global society? Or off to garden club?

Please, sit down and have another cup and tell us some more things that are none of our business regarding your incredible life that nobody asked you about in the first place.

Warranted and well done. Thanks, no matter the nature of your life.

[Unregistered]

we talk so much on this site about "capitalizing" or "leveraging" soccer skills/teams/coaches into scholarship money and a college education, but when it comes to doing the same for a private school education, the poster gets scoffed at

Interesting...it appears that some of the parents who do believe in the Select Soccer Team/League/Coach strategy that "soccer done well translates into a free education (scholarship)" may have missed out on their first opportunity to apply the strategy

look around at the kids entering 9th grade who have chosen to take advantage of their skills now to pursue an excellent education...many are the top players in the age group, and not necessarily from the wealthiest backgrounds.

bet in 2 to 3 years these are the same kids earning the scholarships and gaining admissions to the schools of their choice..... with or without soccer....

just something to think about....the women you chastise for pursuing private school and ECNL soccer is likely to have the last laugh