What Parents of Top Public School Students Should Know About Top US College Admissions

Top US public schools are known for their impressive academics, vast extracurriculars, and competitive environment.

However, a top public school education does not always equate to acceptance to a top university. In fact, when it comes to top US college admissions, the competition — even within your child’s own school cohort — can be fierce and difficult to navigate.

Want to learn how you can give your child an admissions advantage? Download our guide to learn what you can be doing now!

489

Offers to the Ivy League

3,000+

Offers to the US Top 50 universities

166

Offers to Oxford or Cambridge

1,500+

Offers to the UK Top 10 universities

What's in the guide?

At Crimson, we have a lot of experience working with top public school students, and we are thrilled that their admissions rates to top colleges like the Ivy League are disproportionately higher than their peers. This guide outlines what you should know as a parent, and what steps you can take to increase your child's chances of admission. The guide includes information on:

Public v Private

Top public school students are historically competitive in the top college admissions process, but face competition from top private school students.

Competition and Yield

There are only so many spots in each incoming class, and universities have a threshold of how many students they will admit from each top public school.

The Limits of School Counselors

While top public school counselors are dedicated to helping their students, they can be overwhelmed by the number of students they need to support.

The Importance of Strategy

Students aiming at top colleges need a solid school selection strategy and someone with experience guiding them in how to construct a competitive application.

The Importance of Extracurriculars

More and more students with high test scores from great public high schools are having to differentiate themselves through their extracurricular profiles.

The Need For a Application Road Map

Every successful endeavor starts out with a good plan! In the case of college applications, that means creating a comprehensive roadmap.

Read our student and parent reviews

Crimson averages 4.75 out of 5 stars in over 120,000 reviews

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“When I first started this process I had no idea I would be accepted to Harvard and to Oxford. Crimson helped me with both my US and UK applications. There was nothing they did not know.”

Lina C.

Harvard University, Class of 2023
“Crimson’s support was fundamental to my acceptance to such a competitive university. I am at Stanford because of the support of my Crimson team, and for that I am so grateful.”

Lara F.

Stanford University, Class of 2023
"A family friend recommended Crimson, based on their positive personal experience and Crimson helped me with things that I didn't even know I needed help with! They were simply amazing.”

Talia S.

University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2024
“I would recommend Crimson to any student who has ambitious goals and a hard-working mindset. Crimson knows exactly how to help you build the strongest application possible.”

Emma T.

University of Cambridge
“Crimson supported me in making every part of my application as good as it could be. It was their engagement that made those acceptances all that more special.”

Abby S.

University of Southern California, Class of 2023
“I think, compared to many students who are very stressed, I had a very nice application process. Thanks to the support and encouragement of my Crimson team, I was accepted to Yale and to Harvard.”

Takenoshin Y.

Yale University, Class of 2025
“When it came to my Crimson team, I was surrounded by Oxbridge alumni. Four of my mentors studied at Oxford and my Crimson history teachers studies at Cambridge. Having that kind of access and being able to connect with such successful people was amazing.”

Michael V.

University of Oxford
“There are no words to describe the support that Crimson provided to my daughter. Her offers from Stanford and a number of Ivy League schools were testament to their care and knowledge."

Crimson parent
“My daughter’s Crimson team really listened to what my child and I needed. They provided constant and unwavering support.”

Crimson parent
“As a parent, my interactions with my child’s Crimson strategist were always very warm and informative. They are an incredibly professional and knowledgeable group.”

Crimson parent
“My son’s Crimson team was well organised. He had tutors who were motivating, supportive and very helpful. They were all experienced and knowledgeable and their organisation was outrageously good!”

Crimson parent

Download our guide to learn more!

Shortly, you will receive an email with your guide included. It offers all the tips and insider information you'll need to set your child up for success in the most competitive atmosphere to date!