I just realized how you get into Celestia's school for gifted unicorns.

[Senko 459]

I was thinking about the ponies we know in the show and it hit me why both Sunburst and Twilight got into Celestia's school. It's not power, intelligence or the like its that they both had a cutie mark in magic. Compare them to Sweetie Belle a unicorn tutored by Twilgiht who got a cutie mark in helping other ponies and never even got asked if she wanted to go. Obviously its a school for unicorns gifted in magic any unicorn who gets a cutie mark in that is automatically in. If you don't have one like Twilight didn't till her surge the best you can hope for is that you'll be given a chance to prove your really, really good at it and be allowed in that way because you might get a cutie mark in it in the future. Similarly Starlight probably was violentally opposed to the whole idea and her dad didn't want to let her go so no one realized her cutie mark was in magic until she was all grown up and enslaving towns.

[Mongo 45]

Doesn't explain how Sunset Shimmer got in as her cutie Mark had nothing to do with a magic symbol.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,336]

You have to be gifted in magic, love to study, and have parents who actually fill out the application. If I may be so bold, the school isn't cheap. Twilight's mom and dad had the bits to pay for her tuition.

Edited July 5, 2019 by cuteycindyhoney

[CypherHoof 26,483]

7 minutes ago, cuteycindyhoney said:

You have to be gifted in magic, love to study, and have parents who actually fill out the application. If I may be so bold, the school isn't cheap. Twilight's mom and dad had the bits to pay for her tuition.

This IS what I am assuming too - although as 'tia's "special protégés" at the school, it is possible Twi and/or Sunset didn't have to pay.  Sweetie belle certainly is a gifted unicorn, and I am sure that Rarity could have arranged for her to go to Magic School if that was what she wanted, but I am also not seeing any reason to assume she did want to. I also assume TGAP Trixie wouldn't have got past the entrance exam.

Starlight could well have attended if her father had agreed to fund it (and her application was accepted, of course) but given her negative reaction to Sunburst's leaving for there, its equally possible they didn't think it was an option. Plus of course given the classes are small and the cities seem to be fairly heavy with unicorns, competition for the limited vacancies is going to be pretty fierce...

[Senko 459]

13 hours ago, Mongo said:

Doesn't explain how Sunset Shimmer got in as her cutie Mark had nothing to do with a magic symbol.

Do we know that? I don't recall ever having a backstory as to what her cutie mark actually means.

[CypherHoof 26,483]

1 hour ago, Senko said:

Do we know that? I don't recall ever having a backstory as to what her cutie mark actually means.

Sunburst got in, and his symbol isn't much different.

[Goat-kun 2,531]

Celestia spills some orphan blood onto the crystal altar and Harmony whispers to her the names of her future students from the immaterium.

[Splashee 28,599]

2 hours ago, Senko said:

Do we know that? I don't recall ever having a backstory as to what her cutie mark actually means.

*Looks at her cutie mark* What is that even supposed to be? You are right though, there is some backstory they completely skipped over. If episode 09x11 is the last episode of Starlight Glimmer, then we might never know.

As for the topic, I believe Princess Celestia keeps an eye on whatever normal school the unicorns go to, and probably notice the exceptional ones. I don't think you can walk up to the princess (as a parent) with a lot of cash, etc.

[Cwanky 17,749]

Be an antisocial subconsciously psychotic magic wielder?

Because that seemed to apply readily to Starlight and Sunset, , albeit it’s less so for Twilight and Sunburst, but let’s be honest, they both were, and still are to certain extents, quite socially awkward. 

[Senko 459]

On 7/6/2019 at 9:52 PM, Cwanky said:

Be an antisocial subconsciously psychotic magic wielder?

Because that seemed to apply readily to Starlight and Sunset, , albeit it’s less so for Twilight and Sunburst, but let’s be honest, they both were, and still are to certain extents, quite socially awkward. 

Moondancer too though not Minuette, Lemon Drops or Lyra that we've seen.

On 7/6/2019 at 8:27 PM, CypherHoof said:

Sunburst got in, and his symbol isn't much different.

And he's supposed to have a cutie mark in magic too.

[CypherHoof 26,483]

1 hour ago, Senko said:

Moondancer too though not Minuette, Lemon Drops or Lyra that we've seen.

And he's supposed to have a cutie mark in magic too.

Maybe any stellar object counts? I know twi's symbol is literally in the middle of the Tree, but we have celestia, sunburst and sunset with sun symbols, luna with the moon, and twi and starlight with stars....

[RDDash 19,244]

Well for starters you have to be an unicorn.