Academic Difference Between GDS and Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges know the academic rigor involved at both schools, so getting less than a 3.9 may not be a dealbreaker. What it really comes down to is whether your kid prefers a progressive approach or a traditional one.

Anyone with experience in prep schools knows this isn't true. Expectations are that you still maintain a 3.9+ GPA. These schools are challenging, but there are definitely kids in the top 2 deciles that maintain a 3.9+ average. Elite universities select unhooked applicants almost-exclusively from this tier. The 3.7 Sidwell kid is not getting in a T20.

My unhooked 3.75 Sidwell graduate CURRENTLY attends a T15 university (not U of C).

The bolded sentence is true, until it isn’t.

can you share what you think helped get your kid in?

To answer your question, my 3.75 Sidwell grad had two rather unique (and genuine) passions that she pursued inside and outside of school, from middle school until now. She distinguished herself in those areas on a national level (awards). Although she played one varsity sport all 4 years, she was not a recruited athlete and the sport was not basketball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The main difference is Sidwell is better

I’m the PP with the Sidwell grad that had a 3.75. I did not make the comment above.

PSA: Sidwell students, please stop posting comments like this here. I don’t think Sidwell parents are posting things like this on DCUM (at least I hope not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges know the academic rigor involved at both schools, so getting less than a 3.9 may not be a dealbreaker. What it really comes down to is whether your kid prefers a progressive approach or a traditional one.

Anyone with experience in prep schools knows this isn't true. Expectations are that you still maintain a 3.9+ GPA. These schools are challenging, but there are definitely kids in the top 2 deciles that maintain a 3.9+ average. Elite universities select unhooked applicants almost-exclusively from this tier. The 3.7 Sidwell kid is not getting in a T20.

False.

I have 2 so ask me how I know.


(and no hooks)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:find a joyful learning community, go with wherever your kid would be happy; it is about the process of learning not the result; your kid will be fine at either school. go where they find their people.

This^^ and these two schools can vary widely on this dimension (and this varies by kid, so this is not saying one over the other).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges know the academic rigor involved at both schools, so getting less than a 3.9 may not be a dealbreaker. What it really comes down to is whether your kid prefers a progressive approach or a traditional one.

Anyone with experience in prep schools knows this isn't true. Expectations are that you still maintain a 3.9+ GPA. These schools are challenging, but there are definitely kids in the top 2 deciles that maintain a 3.9+ average. Elite universities select unhooked applicants almost-exclusively from this tier. The 3.7 Sidwell kid is not getting in a T20.

My unhooked 3.75 Sidwell graduate CURRENTLY attends a T15 university (not U of C).

The bolded sentence is true, until it isn’t.

Sure - but it's also true that many very high stats (3.85<3.9 with rigor) kids aren't getting accepted in T25. This is all variable by year and by person - but it was not that common for an unhooked 3.75 kid to get into T10 (but some people are also not great at "owning" a hook either). Lesson is - apply where you want - spread net wide. Maybe you win the lottery, but don't expect to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges know the academic rigor involved at both schools, so getting less than a 3.9 may not be a dealbreaker. What it really comes down to is whether your kid prefers a progressive approach or a traditional one.

Anyone with experience in prep schools knows this isn't true. Expectations are that you still maintain a 3.9+ GPA. These schools are challenging, but there are definitely kids in the top 2 deciles that maintain a 3.9+ average. Elite universities select unhooked applicants almost-exclusively from this tier. The 3.7 Sidwell kid is not getting in a T20.

False.

I have 2 so ask me how I know.


(and no hooks)

Don't be silly. Coming from Sidwell is the hook.

[Anonymous]

OP, really? Is this a joke?

[Anonymous]

Choose Sidwell!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, really? Is this a joke?

Go away troll.

[Anonymous]

Not a troll. Genuine question? Have solid experience of both and there’s no competition