Which is best socially Wheaton Engineering or Blair SMAC?

[Anonymous]

Not too concerned about academics but want kid to make some friendships that go beyond the classroom. Any experiences?

[Anonymous]

kids make friends no matter where

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not too concerned about academics but want kid to make some friendships that go beyond the classroom. Any experiences?

I'd focus more on the programs. Engineering is very different than SMACS. I'm saying this as someone who went through an engineering program. Either place will have a lot of friendly kids who are in the same boat. Pick the one where your kid will enjoy the work more.

[Anonymous]

I've had one at each. I think Wheaton is the better (read more collaborative) atmosphere overall, a little less cliiquey (mine never quite got in with the Potomac set at Blair), but there are all sorts at Blair, in and out of magnet. And, I know magnet program is trying to emphasize more creativity and collaboration. There will be a variety of kids there and ample opportunities for friendships.

I would go with the curriculum that better resonates with your kid, and consider logistics like travel tome and longer day/extra period at Blair (pluses and minuses with this). Go to the open houses, ask questions, talk to current students (programs will put you in touch). Shadowing is good too, if you can set that up. My Blair kid was deciding between magnet and cap, and shadowing a cap student and chatting with them helped them figure magnet as a better fit. Both great programs. Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not too concerned about academics but want kid to make some friendships that go beyond the classroom. Any experiences?

I'd focus more on the programs. Engineering is very different than SMACS. I'm saying this as someone who went through an engineering program. Either place will have a lot of friendly kids who are in the same boat. Pick the one where your kid will enjoy the work more.

Agree. I am the poster anove, and my Blair kid was also considering Wheaton. The engineering focus would have not been a good match for them whereas Wheaton's hands-on, problem solving approach was ideal for my Wheaton kid who was also considering Blair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had one at each. I think Wheaton is the better (read more collaborative) atmosphere overall, a little less cliiquey (mine never quite got in with the Potomac set at Blair), but there are all sorts at Blair, in and out of magnet. And, I know magnet program is trying to emphasize more creativity and collaboration. There will be a variety of kids there and ample opportunities for friendships.

I would go with the curriculum that better resonates with your kid, and consider logistics like travel tome and longer day/extra period at Blair (pluses and minuses with this). Go to the open houses, ask questions, talk to current students (programs will put you in touch). Shadowing is good too, if you can set that up. My Blair kid was deciding between magnet and cap, and shadowing a cap student and chatting with them helped them figure magnet as a better fit. Both great programs. Congrats!

How did your child get to shadow a student? Did you just ask? Do all the magnet programs allow this (but just don't advertise it)?

[Anonymous]

Then used to have shadowing both Blair & RMIB, but I don't think they do it anymore.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Kid is very strong academically and interested in both programs. It’s his choice not mine but he is fairly introverted and doesn’t put himself out there easily to sign up for clubs or social events or to join in without specifically being encouraged to. Blair is so huge, but Wheaton is a longer commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then used to have shadowing both Blair & RMIB, but I don't think they do it anymore.

RMIB already sent out an email offering it. Haven’t heard from Blair in that topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Kid is very strong academically and interested in both programs. It’s his choice not mine but he is fairly introverted and doesn’t put himself out there easily to sign up for clubs or social events or to join in without specifically being encouraged to. Blair is so huge, but Wheaton is a longer commute.

I have a not-particularly-social kid at Blair SMAC. Blair does a lot to try to make the school feel smaller, and the magnet program itself is quite small. The whole school has lunch at the same time for an hour, and there are lots of clubs that meet then with a very low barrier to participation. The magnet kids are put into lunch groups that meet roughly once a week in 9th grade, but if I remember right, that took a few weeks to get going. I tried to make DC go to at least one lunch club a week the first couple of months of 9th grade, but they were feeling pretty overwhelmed and preferred to hang out in the classrooms or hallways with a book to decompress. 10th grade has been much easier, socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Kid is very strong academically and interested in both programs. It’s his choice not mine but he is fairly introverted and doesn’t put himself out there easily to sign up for clubs or social events or to join in without specifically being encouraged to. Blair is so huge, but Wheaton is a longer commute.

I have a not-particularly-social kid at Blair SMAC. Blair does a lot to try to make the school feel smaller, and the magnet program itself is quite small. The whole school has lunch at the same time for an hour, and there are lots of clubs that meet then with a very low barrier to participation. The magnet kids are put into lunch groups that meet roughly once a week in 9th grade, but if I remember right, that took a few weeks to get going. I tried to make DC go to at least one lunch club a week the first couple of months of 9th grade, but they were feeling pretty overwhelmed and preferred to hang out in the classrooms or hallways with a book to decompress. 10th grade has been much easier, socially.

Thank you for this information. We have a kid who got into Blair CAP. Do you (or someone familiar with CAP) happen to know if there's a lunch program for the CAP students? This sounds like a good way to make a big school feel smaller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Kid is very strong academically and interested in both programs. It’s his choice not mine but he is fairly introverted and doesn’t put himself out there easily to sign up for clubs or social events or to join in without specifically being encouraged to. Blair is so huge, but Wheaton is a longer commute.

I have a not-particularly-social kid at Blair SMAC. Blair does a lot to try to make the school feel smaller, and the magnet program itself is quite small. The whole school has lunch at the same time for an hour, and there are lots of clubs that meet then with a very low barrier to participation. The magnet kids are put into lunch groups that meet roughly once a week in 9th grade, but if I remember right, that took a few weeks to get going. I tried to make DC go to at least one lunch club a week the first couple of months of 9th grade, but they were feeling pretty overwhelmed and preferred to hang out in the classrooms or hallways with a book to decompress. 10th grade has been much easier, socially.

Thank you for this information. We have a kid who got into Blair CAP. Do you (or someone familiar with CAP) happen to know if there's a lunch program for the CAP students? This sounds like a good way to make a big school feel smaller.

In 9th grade, the CAP kids are grouped into cohorts and they take all 4 CAP classes with the same cohort. I don’t know about lunch activities, but there are so many group projects in CAP that they will become very acquainted with the same 25-30 kids in their cohort. I believe when DD was in 9th grade, her entire cohort was on a Google group chat or some group app thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Kid is very strong academically and interested in both programs. It’s his choice not mine but he is fairly introverted and doesn’t put himself out there easily to sign up for clubs or social events or to join in without specifically being encouraged to. Blair is so huge, but Wheaton is a longer commute.

I have a not-particularly-social kid at Blair SMAC. Blair does a lot to try to make the school feel smaller, and the magnet program itself is quite small. The whole school has lunch at the same time for an hour, and there are lots of clubs that meet then with a very low barrier to participation. The magnet kids are put into lunch groups that meet roughly once a week in 9th grade, but if I remember right, that took a few weeks to get going. I tried to make DC go to at least one lunch club a week the first couple of months of 9th grade, but they were feeling pretty overwhelmed and preferred to hang out in the classrooms or hallways with a book to decompress. 10th grade has been much easier, socially.

Thank you for this information. We have a kid who got into Blair CAP. Do you (or someone familiar with CAP) happen to know if there's a lunch program for the CAP students? This sounds like a good way to make a big school feel smaller.

In 9th grade, the CAP kids are grouped into cohorts and they take all 4 CAP classes with the same cohort. I don’t know about lunch activities, but there are so many group projects in CAP that they will become very acquainted with the same 25-30 kids in their cohort. I believe when DD was in 9th grade, her entire cohort was on a Google group chat or some group app thing.

My kid is also admitted to CAP and I love this, but worry if it's the wrong mix it'll be like a bad elementary class. What's the gender balance in CAP? My son has some trepidation with the drama class aspect, but he actually likes screenwriting and tv production.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Kid is very strong academically and interested in both programs. It’s his choice not mine but he is fairly introverted and doesn’t put himself out there easily to sign up for clubs or social events or to join in without specifically being encouraged to. Blair is so huge, but Wheaton is a longer commute.

I have a not-particularly-social kid at Blair SMAC. Blair does a lot to try to make the school feel smaller, and the magnet program itself is quite small. The whole school has lunch at the same time for an hour, and there are lots of clubs that meet then with a very low barrier to participation. The magnet kids are put into lunch groups that meet roughly once a week in 9th grade, but if I remember right, that took a few weeks to get going. I tried to make DC go to at least one lunch club a week the first couple of months of 9th grade, but they were feeling pretty overwhelmed and preferred to hang out in the classrooms or hallways with a book to decompress. 10th grade has been much easier, socially.

Thank you for this information. We have a kid who got into Blair CAP. Do you (or someone familiar with CAP) happen to know if there's a lunch program for the CAP students? This sounds like a good way to make a big school feel smaller.

In 9th grade, the CAP kids are grouped into cohorts and they take all 4 CAP classes with the same cohort. I don’t know about lunch activities, but there are so many group projects in CAP that they will become very acquainted with the same 25-30 kids in their cohort. I believe when DD was in 9th grade, her entire cohort was on a Google group chat or some group app thing.

My kid is also admitted to CAP and I love this, but worry if it's the wrong mix it'll be like a bad elementary class. What's the gender balance in CAP? My son has some trepidation with the drama class aspect, but he actually likes screenwriting and tv production.

14:04 here. I recommend you post your question to the other CAP threads. DC was in 9th grade CAP during Covid, so everything was virtual, so they had a different experience than other grades would’ve had. E.g., drama done via zoom is very different from in-person. Not sure any other CAP parents will read this thread. I just happen to be here bc my other kid goes to Wheaton!