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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potomac is a very good school but (word of mouth about) outplacements suggests it does not compete with STA/NCS or Sidwell or GDS. If there are hard facts about outplacements from Potomac that anyone knows, please post. Holton, same deal. Excellent school, but not quite on par with NCS

Not true. Holton has excellent outplacement. Honestly, after looking at both schools and their list one year I think they are pretty equal. NCS tends to be more competitive because of the DC location and their affiliation with STA. DC residents and those working in DC are set on DC privates, but folks in MoCo and No VA have much better public options, but every year they have PLENTY of strong applicants and manage to maintain a far more diverse group of girls than NCS. However, they are both excellent schools and I would be happy with my DD attending either one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac is a very good school but (word of mouth about) outplacements suggests it does not compete with STA/NCS or Sidwell or GDS. If there are hard facts about outplacements from Potomac that anyone knows, please post. Holton, same deal. Excellent school, but not quite on par with NCS

Not true. Holton has excellent outplacement. Honestly, after looking at both schools and their list one year I think they are pretty equal. NCS tends to be more competitive because of the DC location and their affiliation with STA. DC residents and those working in DC are set on DC privates, but folks in MoCo and No VA have much better public options, but every year they have PLENTY of strong applicants and manage to maintain a far more diverse group of girls than NCS. However, they are both excellent schools and I would be happy with my DD attending either one.

Google is your friend:
http://www.potomacschool.org/campus-life/college-counseling/college-matriculation/index.aspx

http://www.holton-arms.edu/uploaded/documents/admissions/Holton-Arms_School_profile_2011-2012.pdf

[Anonymous]

Both schools appear to have great outplacements!

[Anonymous]

Who cares? Do you really think it matters much, by the time your grand-children come along? My father had the "unheard of" three PhD's, and believe me, it was never what most people wanted to believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WHO CARES!!!!!!!!

No doubt a rhetorical question, but . . . All the people who hijacked the FAQ sticky and demanded their own "Big Blah Blah Blah" sticky.

A poem:

I was happy, oh yes, carefree,
When I first moved to DC,
Until I found out
And was crippled with doubt,
About something called "the Big Three"!

These schools of wonder and grace,
Each one a magnificent place,
My child would adore
To go through the door,
And emerge an Ivy League Ace.

But, alas! I learned of the debate
Which tangles DCUM forums with hate
Which ARE the big three?
Are they only in DC?
Or in a neighboring state?

Sidwell, Cathedral and St. Albans too
Will argue their "Big Three" status to you
Potomac, Maret, Georgetown Day
And the girls of Holton should have their say,
The laxers of Landon, the Georgetown Prep boys,
St. Stephens St. Agnes is making some noise . . .

Every child shouts: "My school is Big Three!"
. . . OH wait, that's their PARENTS . . .do pardon me!

Always thought until I moved here that the big 3 were Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Love your poem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WHO CARES!!!!!!!!

No doubt a rhetorical question, but . . . All the people who hijacked the FAQ sticky and demanded their own "Big Blah Blah Blah" sticky.

A poem:

I was happy, oh yes, carefree,
When I first moved to DC,
Until I found out
And was crippled with doubt,
About something called "the Big Three"!

These schools of wonder and grace,
Each one a magnificent place,
My child would adore
To go through the door,
And emerge an Ivy League Ace.

But, alas! I learned of the debate
Which tangles DCUM forums with hate
Which ARE the big three?
Are they only in DC?
Or in a neighboring state?

Sidwell, Cathedral and St. Albans too
Will argue their "Big Three" status to you
Potomac, Maret, Georgetown Day
And the girls of Holton should have their say,
The laxers of Landon, the Georgetown Prep boys,
St. Stephens St. Agnes is making some noise . . .

Every child shouts: "My school is Big Three!"
. . . OH wait, that's their PARENTS . . .do pardon me!

Always thought until I moved here that the big 3 were Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Love your poem

While funny, there is a lot of truth here. The students who actually attend these schools (as opposed to the DCUM moms) have a VERY different view. STA boys don't consider GDS boys their peers - they are in a different orbit (not saying better or worse, just different). Coed schools are very different from single gender schools. Students in coed schools rarely interact with kids from other schools. The socially adept students at single gender schools interact with students from all the other single gender schools. The net net is that if your DC is socially adept ("cool") they'll thrive in the single gender schools. If not, the coed private schools are a better choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WHO CARES!!!!!!!!

No doubt a rhetorical question, but . . . All the people who hijacked the FAQ sticky and demanded their own "Big Blah Blah Blah" sticky.

A poem:

I was happy, oh yes, carefree,
When I first moved to DC,
Until I found out
And was crippled with doubt,
About something called "the Big Three"!

These schools of wonder and grace,
Each one a magnificent place,
My child would adore
To go through the door,
And emerge an Ivy League Ace.

But, alas! I learned of the debate
Which tangles DCUM forums with hate
Which ARE the big three?
Are they only in DC?
Or in a neighboring state?

Sidwell, Cathedral and St. Albans too
Will argue their "Big Three" status to you
Potomac, Maret, Georgetown Day
And the girls of Holton should have their say,
The laxers of Landon, the Georgetown Prep boys,
St. Stephens St. Agnes is making some noise . . .

Every child shouts: "My school is Big Three!"
. . . OH wait, that's their PARENTS . . .do pardon me!

Always thought until I moved here that the big 3 were Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Love your poem

While funny, there is a lot of truth here. The students who actually attend these schools (as opposed to the DCUM moms) have a VERY different view. STA boys don't consider GDS boys their peers - they are in a different orbit (not saying better or worse, just different). Coed schools are very different from single gender schools. Students in coed schools rarely interact with kids from other schools. The socially adept students at single gender schools interact with students from all the other single gender schools. The net net is that if your DC is socially adept ("cool") they'll thrive in the single gender schools. If not, the coed private schools are a better choice.

I would observe the opposite. GDS boys (and girls) are simply amazing and accomplished -- and among DC private students they are seemingly without peer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WHO CARES!!!!!!!!

No doubt a rhetorical question, but . . . All the people who hijacked the FAQ sticky and demanded their own "Big Blah Blah Blah" sticky.

A poem:

I was happy, oh yes, carefree,
When I first moved to DC,
Until I found out
And was crippled with doubt,
About something called "the Big Three"!

These schools of wonder and grace,
Each one a magnificent place,
My child would adore
To go through the door,
And emerge an Ivy League Ace.

But, alas! I learned of the debate
Which tangles DCUM forums with hate
Which ARE the big three?
Are they only in DC?
Or in a neighboring state?

Sidwell, Cathedral and St. Albans too
Will argue their "Big Three" status to you
Potomac, Maret, Georgetown Day
And the girls of Holton should have their say,
The laxers of Landon, the Georgetown Prep boys,
St. Stephens St. Agnes is making some noise . . .

Every child shouts: "My school is Big Three!"
. . . OH wait, that's their PARENTS . . .do pardon me!

Always thought until I moved here that the big 3 were Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Love your poem

While funny, there is a lot of truth here. The students who actually attend these schools (as opposed to the DCUM moms) have a VERY different view. STA boys don't consider GDS boys their peers - they are in a different orbit (not saying better or worse, just different). Coed schools are very different from single gender schools. Students in coed schools rarely interact with kids from other schools. The socially adept students at single gender schools interact with students from all the other single gender schools. The net net is that if your DC is socially adept ("cool") they'll thrive in the single gender schools. If not, the coed private schools are a better choice.

I would observe the opposite. GDS boys (and girls) are simply amazing and accomplished -- and among DC private students they are seemingly without peer.

It's been my experience with students from this school that they are woefully ignorant of the world around them and have zero street smarts.

[Anonymous]

Pp, that is just rude and ignorant. All the kids at all the schools mentioned work hard. Their is no reason to be hateful.

[Anonymous]

Look if there is wifi in the school then none of this matters.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213879X14000583

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp, that is just rude and ignorant. All the kids at all the schools mentioned work hard. Their is no reason to be hateful.

I don't think PP was commenting on work ethic. The observation had to do with social awkwardness. With respect, parents are the last ones to be able to objectively evaluate the social skills of students. The reputations of schools persist year after year for a reason - they reflect reality. The memes regarding particular schools reflect the present reality and the alumni lists reflect future prospects.

[Anonymous]

This entire thread is ridiculous. That it's so popular it merits a sticky is so very revealing about DC private school parents - and yes, I am one. You're all really pretty gross.

[Anonymous]

Landon for boys
...all the rest

Stone Ridge and Holton
...all the rest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Landon for boys
...all the rest

Stone Ridge and Holton
...all the rest

This tells me all I need to know about Landon.

[Anonymous]

Wow! I am so glad I am not going to send my kid to private school with the kids of everyone on this trail.....