Was Told By College Admissions Officer That Sidwell Secretly Ranks Students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No dog in this fight but I think OPs point is the school makes a big deal about how they do not rank…when clearly they do

+1

Do parents know where their child ranks?

Knowing your Top 5 or Top 10 (or bottom…) would be useful in deciding where to apply.

My kid's school does not "rank," and the school profile says that it doesn't rank. BUT, it does tell the parents (not the kids) the breakdown of GPA by 20% so you can see where your kid falls into the GPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No dog in this fight but I think OPs point is the school makes a big deal about how they do not rank…when clearly they do

+1

Do parents know where their child ranks?

Knowing your Top 5 or Top 10 (or bottom…) would be useful in deciding where to apply.

My kid's school does not "rank," and the school profile says that it doesn't rank. BUT, it does tell the parents (not the kids) the breakdown of GPA by 20% so you can see where your kid falls into the GPA.

Seems silly to tell the parents but not the students.

[Anonymous]

GDS is the same way, I’m sure. Having gone through the process once, it’s clear there is a behind the scenes discussion going on between the college counselors.

The only issue I have with GDS is that they are not clear with parents and students that a school is a stretch to apply to. Everything coded in GDS nice nice talk. What’s in your heart? Is it in your heart to apply to Brown early? Naaah lady - just tell me, does my kid have a shot given who else from GDS is ED’ing there this year? When we went through, no access to SCOIR or naviance for parents either. Apparently that has changed so you can see it in the office now. GDS pretends any numeracy or ranking or indication of odds for a kid at a certain school is an absolute affront to values. Reality is the counselors know. That’s all fine but when they cap number of schools kid can apply to at 10 (now 12), it’s an insult to everyone’s intelligence how they hide how this stuff actually works.

So yeah, I’m sure all of these private schools secretly rank and tell the AOs who call to ask. It’s just that the mission driven ones lie about all of it. They construct some reality where test scores, APs, GPAs are all structurally racist. Behind the scenes, they play the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS is the same way, I’m sure. Having gone through the process once, it’s clear there is a behind the scenes discussion going on between the college counselors.

The only issue I have with GDS is that they are not clear with parents and students that a school is a stretch to apply to. Everything coded in GDS nice nice talk. What’s in your heart? Is it in your heart to apply to Brown early? Naaah lady - just tell me, does my kid have a shot given who else from GDS is ED’ing there this year? When we went through, no access to SCOIR or naviance for parents either. Apparently that has changed so you can see it in the office now. GDS pretends any numeracy or ranking or indication of odds for a kid at a certain school is an absolute affront to values. Reality is the counselors know. That’s all fine but when they cap number of schools kid can apply to at 10 (now 12), it’s an insult to everyone’s intelligence how they hide how this stuff actually works.

So yeah, I’m sure all of these private schools secretly rank and tell the AOs who call to ask. It’s just that the mission driven ones lie about all of it. They construct some reality where test scores, APs, GPAs are all structurally racist. Behind the scenes, they play the game.

GDS counseling is much better now it seems. We have a senior and have not had this experience at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS is the same way, I’m sure. Having gone through the process once, it’s clear there is a behind the scenes discussion going on between the college counselors.

The only issue I have with GDS is that they are not clear with parents and students that a school is a stretch to apply to. Everything coded in GDS nice nice talk. What’s in your heart? Is it in your heart to apply to Brown early? Naaah lady - just tell me, does my kid have a shot given who else from GDS is ED’ing there this year? When we went through, no access to SCOIR or naviance for parents either. Apparently that has changed so you can see it in the office now. GDS pretends any numeracy or ranking or indication of odds for a kid at a certain school is an absolute affront to values. Reality is the counselors know. That’s all fine but when they cap number of schools kid can apply to at 10 (now 12), it’s an insult to everyone’s intelligence how they hide how this stuff actually works.

So yeah, I’m sure all of these private schools secretly rank and tell the AOs who call to ask. It’s just that the mission driven ones lie about all of it. They construct some reality where test scores, APs, GPAs are all structurally racist. Behind the scenes, they play the game.

GDS counseling is much better now it seems. We have a senior and have not had this experience at all.

PP here - very glad to hear this. 2 years ago it was not great. I will have another going through it in a year or two

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS is the same way, I’m sure. Having gone through the process once, it’s clear there is a behind the scenes discussion going on between the college counselors.

The only issue I have with GDS is that they are not clear with parents and students that a school is a stretch to apply to. Everything coded in GDS nice nice talk. What’s in your heart? Is it in your heart to apply to Brown early? Naaah lady - just tell me, does my kid have a shot given who else from GDS is ED’ing there this year? When we went through, no access to SCOIR or naviance for parents either. Apparently that has changed so you can see it in the office now. GDS pretends any numeracy or ranking or indication of odds for a kid at a certain school is an absolute affront to values. Reality is the counselors know. That’s all fine but when they cap number of schools kid can apply to at 10 (now 12), it’s an insult to everyone’s intelligence how they hide how this stuff actually works.

So yeah, I’m sure all of these private schools secretly rank and tell the AOs who call to ask. It’s just that the mission driven ones lie about all of it. They construct some reality where test scores, APs, GPAs are all structurally racist. Behind the scenes, they play the game.

Judging by previous cycles, if your kid is unhooked, they need a 3.9 uw to stand a chance at an Ivy ED. Maybe GPA can be somewhat lower if they have insanely impressive accomplishments. This baseline is pretty true across schools, to be honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS is the same way, I’m sure. Having gone through the process once, it’s clear there is a behind the scenes discussion going on between the college counselors.

The only issue I have with GDS is that they are not clear with parents and students that a school is a stretch to apply to. Everything coded in GDS nice nice talk. What’s in your heart? Is it in your heart to apply to Brown early? Naaah lady - just tell me, does my kid have a shot given who else from GDS is ED’ing there this year? When we went through, no access to SCOIR or naviance for parents either. Apparently that has changed so you can see it in the office now. GDS pretends any numeracy or ranking or indication of odds for a kid at a certain school is an absolute affront to values. Reality is the counselors know. That’s all fine but when they cap number of schools kid can apply to at 10 (now 12), it’s an insult to everyone’s intelligence how they hide how this stuff actually works.

So yeah, I’m sure all of these private schools secretly rank and tell the AOs who call to ask. It’s just that the mission driven ones lie about all of it. They construct some reality where test scores, APs, GPAs are all structurally racist. Behind the scenes, they play the game.

Judging by previous cycles, if your kid is unhooked, they need a 3.9 uw to stand a chance at an Ivy ED. Maybe GPA can be somewhat lower if they have insanely impressive accomplishments. This baseline is pretty true across schools, to be honest.

No kidding.

[Anonymous]

Every independent school does. At least for the top half of the class.

- former college counselor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a former Stanford admissions officer, and she told me that Sidwell does secretly rank students. She told me that Sidwell does not inform parents of this, largely because of how high-strung and intense the parents are in regards to college admissions.

The Stanford admissions officer claims that Sidwell college counselors will tell the admissions office which students are in the top 5, top 10, etc. to help ensure their best students get into the most desirable colleges. They do this in a number of ways. In the recommendation letter, Sidwell will oftentimes write something along the lines of "Tammy is an exceptional students, she is within the top 5 of her year." In some cases, Stanford will call Sidwell admissions officers and ask for a student's rank, which Sidwell counselors will give without hesitation.

So what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, with my largely unhooked kid in 7th at Sidwell who is probably going to stay, is there anything I can do? Or just set my expectations for him not to get into a top 20 school and call it a day?
Any hope that the new head of the upper school will change some of this?

You absolutely shouldn't "expect" him to get into a Top 20 - he might, he might not. Especially if not in top 5 students. But this is based on the past 3 years - things could change in 5 years. I do think it used to be that top 20% GPA kids with rigor did get into T20 but colleges have made a big shift and they are also being flooded with applications.

The bolded statement doesn’t apply to Sidwell. Over half of Sidwell’s graduates consistently attend T25 universities/T25 SLACs. So, over 60 students per year, out of a class of 125, attend these top tier colleges/universities.

Not true for unhooked for T25 university and T5-T10 SLAC but dream on (or sit on your hooked perch with blindfolds on)

It’s true…you just don’t like that it’s true. I personally know several c/o 2024 Sidwell alums who are attending T25 universities (not to mention T25 SLACs) with absolutely no hooks.

And I know of many unhooked very high stats kids from c/o 2023 and 2024 who are not at T25 university or T10 SLAC (and wanted to go to one).

Also - T25 SLAC is NOT equivalent to T25 universities - this needs to be T5 SLAC or T10 SLAC at most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The typical knock on Sidwell is that they promote minority students over others, so it raises my respect for Sidwell to hear that they focus on class rank.

But if they are only telling colleges class rank for "some" students.... then the first statement could still be true (I am not saying it is true).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, with my largely unhooked kid in 7th at Sidwell who is probably going to stay, is there anything I can do? Or just set my expectations for him not to get into a top 20 school and call it a day?
Any hope that the new head of the upper school will change some of this?

You absolutely shouldn't "expect" him to get into a Top 20 - he might, he might not. Especially if not in top 5 students. But this is based on the past 3 years - things could change in 5 years. I do think it used to be that top 20% GPA kids with rigor did get into T20 but colleges have made a big shift and they are also being flooded with applications.

The bolded statement doesn’t apply to Sidwell. Over half of Sidwell’s graduates consistently attend T25 universities/T25 SLACs. So, over 60 students per year, out of a class of 125, attend these top tier colleges/universities.

Not true for unhooked for T25 university and T5-T10 SLAC but dream on (or sit on your hooked perch with blindfolds on)

It’s true…you just don’t like that it’s true. I personally know several c/o 2024 Sidwell alums who are attending T25 universities (not to mention T25 SLACs) with absolutely no hooks.

And I know of many unhooked very high stats kids from c/o 2023 and 2024 who are not at T25 university or T10 SLAC (and wanted to go to one).

Also - T25 SLAC is NOT equivalent to T25 universities - this needs to be T5 SLAC or T10 SLAC at most.

Why—because you said so? No one cares about where you want to arbitrarily draw the line.

Btw, Sidwell consistently sends over 50% of the class to T25 universities AND T25 SLACs. If you’re an unhooked high stats kid from Sidwell and you can’t make it it into that group, then something is wrong with the applications you’re submitting (essays, reccs, ECs, etc). Or, something is wrong with the kid (and the AOs made note of it). Let’s be real, I know a few high stats Sidwell kids who are, at best, odd and lack basic social skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The typical knock on Sidwell is that they promote minority students over others, so it raises my respect for Sidwell to hear that they focus on class rank.

But if they are only telling colleges class rank for "some" students.... then the first statement could still be true (I am not saying it is true).

Except, it’s not true. There’s no school on DCUM that’s lied about more than Sidwell. None!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, with my largely unhooked kid in 7th at Sidwell who is probably going to stay, is there anything I can do? Or just set my expectations for him not to get into a top 20 school and call it a day?
Any hope that the new head of the upper school will change some of this?

You absolutely shouldn't "expect" him to get into a Top 20 - he might, he might not. Especially if not in top 5 students. But this is based on the past 3 years - things could change in 5 years. I do think it used to be that top 20% GPA kids with rigor did get into T20 but colleges have made a big shift and they are also being flooded with applications.

The bolded statement doesn’t apply to Sidwell. Over half of Sidwell’s graduates consistently attend T25 universities/T25 SLACs. So, over 60 students per year, out of a class of 125, attend these top tier colleges/universities.

Not true for unhooked for T25 university and T5-T10 SLAC but dream on (or sit on your hooked perch with blindfolds on)

It’s true…you just don’t like that it’s true. I personally know several c/o 2024 Sidwell alums who are attending T25 universities (not to mention T25 SLACs) with absolutely no hooks.

And I know of many unhooked very high stats kids from c/o 2023 and 2024 who are not at T25 university or T10 SLAC (and wanted to go to one).

Also - T25 SLAC is NOT equivalent to T25 universities - this needs to be T5 SLAC or T10 SLAC at most.

Why—because you said so? No one cares about where you want to arbitrarily draw the line.

Btw, Sidwell consistently sends over 50% of the class to T25 universities AND T25 SLACs. If you’re an unhooked high stats kid from Sidwell and you can’t make it it into that group, then something is wrong with the applications you’re submitting (essays, reccs, ECs, etc). Or, something is wrong with the kid (and the AOs made note of it). Let’s be real, I know a few high stats Sidwell kids who are, at best, odd and lack basic social skills.

I'm sorry but schools like Richmond and Colgate are lovely (and I have nothing against them) but for people gunning for prestige of T25, these likely don't cut it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The typical knock on Sidwell is that they promote minority students over others, so it raises my respect for Sidwell to hear that they focus on class rank.

But if they are only telling colleges class rank for "some" students.... then the first statement could still be true (I am not saying it is true).

Except, it’s not true. There’s no school on DCUM that’s lied about more than Sidwell. None!

Or - you are the the head in the sand person who always pushes back because nothing other than your experience/opinion can ever be true.