re: How near-impossible is it to get into U High for senior year?

This! Many years ago, a student was accepted by U High as the end of his Junior year. I remember the last day of his Jr. year, a U High van picked him up from our school to take him there for some orientation workshop and to meet other juniors. His parents had a friend who was tight w/ the Governor at the time and lobbied on his behalf. He was accepted and this all happened in May!

Imagine my surprise when August rolled around and he was sitting front and center in my classroom. He told me it was a great school, just not for him. His parents were not very happy because their friend did this for them and then their kid didn't go. He mentioned that is was almost impossible to get into U High as a Senior and his parents' friend was none too happy with his decision.

I laughed and told him if I was his parent, he would have gone to U High.