FAQ: What is the "Big 3"? (or "Big 5", or "Big 10", etc)

[Anonymous]

Holton's is great - "I will find a way or make one." Short, easy for even the starting class to remember (in Latin and English), and powerful -- for anything life might throw the students' way. And, no, this isn't an advertising thread, but we looked at many, had Holton as first choice and feel lucky to have been accepted for the class of 2020. I can still remember when the year 2000 sounded a century away.

[Anonymous]

Congrats to your daughter! I'm the early poster whose daughter graduated Holton and is at an Ivy now. Holton was really hard work for her.

Re: Holton's motto -- I just recently learned Hannibel, the great military leader, first uttered those words.

And, for the people who complained about the "advertisement" for Holton -- it's hysterical to me that anytime anyone says anything positive about any school other than the purported "big 3" -- someone calls it advertising. If it's gloating about the "big 3" -- then that's ok for some reason? Very funny.

[Anonymous]

Another Holton parent here, PP you are right!! Hoton is a fantastic school I am so glad my daughter will be class of 2020 too! It was our first choice.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations pp! Great news.

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Can we dispense with this thread?
The dozens/scores/hundreds of posts on the subject of the term Big 3 prove beyond a doubt that the moniker has no clear or consensus definition and is also controversial. Can't you sum it up in a sentence or two, OP? A FAQ is supposed to stick to the facts, be concise, etc. This is making things more complicated.

[Anonymous]

College matriculation at St. Albans and NCS is extraordinary

[Anonymous]

Where did that come from pp? It's not exactly extraordinary...they don't do the best in the area...but do well.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure why this is such a sticky issue. It's human nature for people to ranks schools, neighborhoods, etc. If someone was planning to moving to the D.C. metropolitan area and asked, "What are the top neighborhoods?", I'm sure that most people would focus on neighborhoods in Montgomery County, Fairfax County and certain parts of D.C. (i.e. Georgetown, Chevy Chase). Would this take away from other nice neighborhoods? No, but it does provide a frame of reference that the particular areas identified are widely considered to be very good bets.

It's the same with schools. If someone was planning to move to the D.C. area and asked, "What are the top three schools?", most people would answer Sidwell, the Cathedral Schools and the Georgetown Day School. (And before someone asks, no I don't have kids at any of those schools.) Does it take away from other schools that are well regarded? No, but it does provide a frame of reference that the particular schools identified are widely considered to be very good bets.

The truth is that not all neighborhoods and schools are of the same caliber. So if your DC's school is not widely considered to be one of the "Big 3", then get over it--it's not the end of the world and I'm sure you will survive (just like my family and I do). But this Pollyanna/Kumbaya response of, "Oh it doesn't matter how they rank, because they are all special in their own way" is disingenuous--and frankly comes across as defensive and insecure.

[Anonymous]

I agree!

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP. I'm not sure why the number is 3 when everyone only seems to agree on 2. Why not call it "the big two" instead since Sidwell and Beauvoir/NCS/StA are always on the "big three" lists with [insert name of other school here]?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why this is such a sticky issue. It's human nature for people to ranks schools, neighborhoods, etc. If someone was planning to moving to the D.C. metropolitan area and asked, "What are the top neighborhoods?", I'm sure that most people would focus on neighborhoods in Montgomery County, Fairfax County and certain parts of D.C. (i.e. Georgetown, Chevy Chase). Would this take away from other nice neighborhoods? No, but it does provide a frame of reference that the particular areas identified are widely considered to be very good bets.

It's the same with schools. If someone was planning to move to the D.C. area and asked, "What are the top three schools?", most people would answer Sidwell, the Cathedral Schools and the Georgetown Day School. (And before someone asks, no I don't have kids at any of those schools.) Does it take away from other schools that are well regarded? No, but it does provide a frame of reference that the particular schools identified are widely considered to be very good bets.

The truth is that not all neighborhoods and schools are of the same caliber. So if your DC's school is not widely considered to be one of the "Big 3", then get over it--it's not the end of the world and I'm sure you will survive (just like my family and I do). But this Pollyanna/Kumbaya response of, "Oh it doesn't matter how they rank, because they are all special in their own way" is disingenuous--and frankly comes across as defensive and insecure.

I think the point here is that the ONLY place you get the same answer to the question "Who are the top three schools?" is on DCUM. When we've asked that question to people and friends in real life, we get different answers. It's only DCUM posters that seem to so strongly push the concept of a certain "Big 3" (which, on an anonymous board, is frankly a little suspicious)

[Anonymous]

I have no dog in this fight, but I think the only schools in this area that really have a national or international reputation/recognition would be Sidwell and St. Albans. There are certainly other good schools in the area, but their reputation is more provincial. Once you leave the D.C. metropolitan area, most people have never heard of them.

[Anonymous]

So true 19:33. I'd add Holton-Arms to the list.

Please once again can we just give this idea of the Big 3 a nod in the FAQ. It is an inane exercise! And who cares in the end? It's kind of like agreeing not to discuss abortion or gun control in certain company.

[Anonymous]

Apparently you care...otherwise why would you be trying to convince people that Holton-Arms has an international and/or national reputation equal to Sidwell or St. Albans. LOL!

Anonymous wrote:So true 19:33. I'd add Holton-Arms to the list.

Please once again can we just give this idea of the Big 3 a nod in the FAQ. It is an inane exercise! And who cares in the end? It's kind of like agreeing not to discuss abortion or gun control in certain company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree!

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP. I'm not sure why the number is 3 when everyone only seems to agree on 2. Why not call it "the big two" instead since Sidwell and Beauvoir/NCS/StA are always on the "big three" lists with [insert name of other school here]?

I agree, too. It's the "Big 2" since people can never agree on who's number 3.