2024 Washington DC area College commits

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When most people say T25, they are referring to the top 25 National Research Universities as ranked by US News and World Report. I think Harvard or Princeton is #1. I think Emory is #24 in the latest version. This is what was referred to by most posters in this thread.

That’s not what I said when I posted. You didn’t read for understanding. I said top 25 colleges AND top 25 universities. My statements still stand about Sidwell sending over half of its graduating class to T25 colleges and universities. You don’t have to agree, but if you don’t you’re wrong.

These rankings are screwed AGAINST wealthy and predominately white colleges ie: Tulane and some others like BC etc.. that are known to have a higher than normal amount of wealthy students attending. Tulane dropped from 43 to 73 in one year without any explanation.

This is the criteria for USNWR ranking:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

They don't even consider class size which is why many of these very large public colleges that very diverse are making the cut - friends kids are in classes with 500 plus kids and many are not taught by professors.

Half of the top schools on this list are large publics with very very large classes and many have TA's teaching the classes. Lots of competition to get internships and be at the top with so many students. It becomes a very stressful environment at some of these colleges that are so large. Kids coming from small privates with direct access to teachers and advisors can be completely shocked at the environment.

On the contrary, kids from small private schools are better equipped to self-advocate and seek access to professors, so they’re more likely to try and wade through the bureaucratic crap at a large university than someone with less experience interacting one-on-one with their instructors.

Doubt this is true of greenhouse kids. Kids in large area public schools learn to self-advocate if they want anything.

[Anonymous]

College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

There was a thread on DCUM a few days ago that gave unbelievable data about Harvard Westlake in Los Angeles. It showed admissions outcomes in the past 3 years for their unhooked and non-athletic recruit students. They did not give the exact definition of a hook, but the data were pretty shocking even to me. One example 63 kids applied to Vanderbilt. Only 3 were accepted. All 3 in the top grade category of 4.3+ GPA. This same pattern was present for most T20 schools, the only way an unhooked kid got accepted to a T20 was by being at the top 10-15% of the class. This is really not too surprising, but it is a reality check to see it in print. This Harvard Westlake thread has since been taken down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When most people say T25, they are referring to the top 25 National Research Universities as ranked by US News and World Report. I think Harvard or Princeton is #1. I think Emory is #24 in the latest version. This is what was referred to by most posters in this thread.

That’s not what I said when I posted. You didn’t read for understanding. I said top 25 colleges AND top 25 universities. My statements still stand about Sidwell sending over half of its graduating class to T25 colleges and universities. You don’t have to agree, but if you don’t you’re wrong.

These rankings are screwed AGAINST wealthy and predominately white colleges ie: Tulane and some others like BC etc.. that are known to have a higher than normal amount of wealthy students attending. Tulane dropped from 43 to 73 in one year without any explanation.

This is the criteria for USNWR ranking:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

They don't even consider class size which is why many of these very large public colleges that very diverse are making the cut - friends kids are in classes with 500 plus kids and many are not taught by professors.

Half of the top schools on this list are large publics with very very large classes and many have TA's teaching the classes. Lots of competition to get internships and be at the top with so many students. It becomes a very stressful environment at some of these colleges that are so large. Kids coming from small privates with direct access to teachers and advisors can be completely shocked at the environment.

On the contrary, kids from small private schools are better equipped to self-advocate and seek access to professors, so they’re more likely to try and wade through the bureaucratic crap at a large university than someone with less experience interacting one-on-one with their instructors.

Doubt this is true of greenhouse kids. Kids in large area public schools learn to self-advocate if they want anything.

The education and overall experience to private is not even comparable between public and private. I went to public and my kids to private and the differences are never ending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

There was a thread on DCUM a few days ago that gave unbelievable data about Harvard Westlake in Los Angeles. It showed admissions outcomes in the past 3 years for their unhooked and non-athletic recruit students. They did not give the exact definition of a hook, but the data were pretty shocking even to me. One example 63 kids applied to Vanderbilt. Only 3 were accepted. All 3 in the top grade category of 4.3+ GPA. This same pattern was present for most T20 schools, the only way an unhooked kid got accepted to a T20 was by being at the top 10-15% of the class. This is really not too surprising, but it is a reality check to see it in print. This Harvard Westlake thread has since been taken down.

Several schools in dc do not rank so how are they getting this 10-15 percent? They only see a handful of applications from the small privates maybe 10-15 at the most. That is not the entire grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When most people say T25, they are referring to the top 25 National Research Universities as ranked by US News and World Report. I think Harvard or Princeton is #1. I think Emory is #24 in the latest version. This is what was referred to by most posters in this thread.

That’s not what I said when I posted. You didn’t read for understanding. I said top 25 colleges AND top 25 universities. My statements still stand about Sidwell sending over half of its graduating class to T25 colleges and universities. You don’t have to agree, but if you don’t you’re wrong.

These rankings are screwed AGAINST wealthy and predominately white colleges ie: Tulane and some others like BC etc.. that are known to have a higher than normal amount of wealthy students attending. Tulane dropped from 43 to 73 in one year without any explanation.

This is the criteria for USNWR ranking:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

They don't even consider class size which is why many of these very large public colleges that very diverse are making the cut - friends kids are in classes with 500 plus kids and many are not taught by professors.

Half of the top schools on this list are large publics with very very large classes and many have TA's teaching the classes. Lots of competition to get internships and be at the top with so many students. It becomes a very stressful environment at some of these colleges that are so large. Kids coming from small privates with direct access to teachers and advisors can be completely shocked at the environment.

On the contrary, kids from small private schools are better equipped to self-advocate and seek access to professors, so they’re more likely to try and wade through the bureaucratic crap at a large university than someone with less experience interacting one-on-one with their instructors.

Doubt this is true of greenhouse kids. Kids in large area public schools learn to self-advocate if they want anything.

The education and overall experience to private is not even comparable between public and private. I went to public and my kids to private and the differences are never ending.

Schools have changed a lot since our days. Both publics and privates have really stepped up the rigor. The local publics are way more rigorous than my Pennsylvania private school ever was back in our day. I remember spending a year in calculus finding the distance/weight of hurled objects, and that was about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of you pollyannas will learn the truth when your DC is a senior, if the DC is unhooked.

I think most people will be happy if their child can get into any college/university and be able to study at a higher level. Not everyone is so privileged.

Sidwell kids don’t have to worry about “any school” because they typically get into top 25s.

Which they could have done from literally any public or private in the area, given their parents' wealth and how Sidwell accepted them based on their smarts/legacy/connections/athletic talent, and so on.

This. I don’t understand why people think it’s the school and not the kid/family. It’s mind boggling.

Well then getting into Sidwell is an excellent predictor that bears results four years later. Still sounds like a good deal

The point is a smart/motivated/athletic/hooked kid coming from a well connected upper class family can get the same result coming from public. Why do you need to pay for Sidwell?

Because college admissions isn’t the primary consideration for many if not most families?

Then why are so many people so giddy about T20 acceptances at private schools?
If people are being honest, that’s why they pay for private. But most will never admit it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

There was a thread on DCUM a few days ago that gave unbelievable data about Harvard Westlake in Los Angeles. It showed admissions outcomes in the past 3 years for their unhooked and non-athletic recruit students. They did not give the exact definition of a hook, but the data were pretty shocking even to me. One example 63 kids applied to Vanderbilt. Only 3 were accepted. All 3 in the top grade category of 4.3+ GPA. This same pattern was present for most T20 schools, the only way an unhooked kid got accepted to a T20 was by being at the top 10-15% of the class. This is really not too surprising, but it is a reality check to see it in print. This Harvard Westlake thread has since been taken down.

I think people are not hearing that top 10-15% is not enough for most unhooked. It used to be. But now it is NOT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

There was a thread on DCUM a few days ago that gave unbelievable data about Harvard Westlake in Los Angeles. It showed admissions outcomes in the past 3 years for their unhooked and non-athletic recruit students. They did not give the exact definition of a hook, but the data were pretty shocking even to me. One example 63 kids applied to Vanderbilt. Only 3 were accepted. All 3 in the top grade category of 4.3+ GPA. This same pattern was present for most T20 schools, the only way an unhooked kid got accepted to a T20 was by being at the top 10-15% of the class. This is really not too surprising, but it is a reality check to see it in print. This Harvard Westlake thread has since been taken down.

Several schools in dc do not rank so how are they getting this 10-15 percent? They only see a handful of applications from the small privates maybe 10-15 at the most. That is not the entire grade.

Well 10-15 applications is certainly enough to compare and contrast applicants from one school. Frankly, you can make a ranking call with as few as 2 data points. Plus I'm sure colleges reference GPAs from the year prior as well. Regional reps know a surprising amout about a school's grading scales. It's not a perfect system but not much gets by the reps either.

That is why at these privates you really, really, really hope the top kids (the 3.9+ ones) get into their ED choice. Otherwise they will often take all the spots in RD because what colleges are going to take a 3.8 when there is a 3.95 in the mix (answer: not many).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your evidence that under half of Sidwell students are admitted to top 25s?

41 of 119 are attending T25 (nobody knows everyone's acceptance options). 104 of 119 have reported. I can't speak for the 15 non reports but we all know that it's unlikely that all 15 were T25 - and I'd say it's unlikely that even 8 of them are T25.

Meanwhile - it is important to remember that most of the 41 are hooked. These outcomes say nothing about Sidwell's impact, the outcomes reflect the prevalence of hooked families at Sidwell. And, if you really care about college and are unhooked, do not look to these outcomes as your potential future outcome....most unhooked high achievers/high rigor land outside T25.

I don't think college placement should be your goal....but if it is...go in with eyes open. It's not likely your unhooked smart kid is going to be the exception. Admissions has changed in recent years.

nobody cares about this. seriously nobody cares. good for Sidwell if true but just realize STA, Holton, GDS, NCS pretty much had the same results if you are considering it by this criteria. move on.

You have missed the point.... this isn't celebration for Sidwell's admissions. The point is that the top admissions are for hooked kids....and (as you say) this is the same at ALL of these schools. These college outcomes have nothing to do with the school - it has to do with the family. Do not choose to attend these private schools over public (or one private over another) with college admissions in mind.....especially if you are not hooked in any way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When most people say T25, they are referring to the top 25 National Research Universities as ranked by US News and World Report. I think Harvard or Princeton is #1. I think Emory is #24 in the latest version. This is what was referred to by most posters in this thread.

That’s not what I said when I posted. You didn’t read for understanding. I said top 25 colleges AND top 25 universities. My statements still stand about Sidwell sending over half of its graduating class to T25 colleges and universities. You don’t have to agree, but if you don’t you’re wrong.

These rankings are screwed AGAINST wealthy and predominately white colleges ie: Tulane and some others like BC etc.. that are known to have a higher than normal amount of wealthy students attending. Tulane dropped from 43 to 73 in one year without any explanation.

This is the criteria for USNWR ranking:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

They don't even consider class size which is why many of these very large public colleges that very diverse are making the cut - friends kids are in classes with 500 plus kids and many are not taught by professors.

Half of the top schools on this list are large publics with very very large classes and many have TA's teaching the classes. Lots of competition to get internships and be at the top with so many students. It becomes a very stressful environment at some of these colleges that are so large. Kids coming from small privates with direct access to teachers and advisors can be completely shocked at the environment.

What?!? Why are you posting blatant lies on Al Gore’s internet? This discussion has centered on T25 colleges and universities, and only 5 of the T25 universities on this list are public:

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

There was a thread on DCUM a few days ago that gave unbelievable data about Harvard Westlake in Los Angeles. It showed admissions outcomes in the past 3 years for their unhooked and non-athletic recruit students. They did not give the exact definition of a hook, but the data were pretty shocking even to me. One example 63 kids applied to Vanderbilt. Only 3 were accepted. All 3 in the top grade category of 4.3+ GPA. This same pattern was present for most T20 schools, the only way an unhooked kid got accepted to a T20 was by being at the top 10-15% of the class. This is really not too surprising, but it is a reality check to see it in print. This Harvard Westlake thread has since been taken down.

Several schools in dc do not rank so how are they getting this 10-15 percent? They only see a handful of applications from the small privates maybe 10-15 at the most. That is not the entire grade.

The college counselor sends a school profile of the class with every application. It’s very easy to figure out whether the kid is in the top of the class or not from that profile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

In Sidwell's 2023 graduating class, Hooks also included parents with beaucoup bucks whose surnames appear on buildings and "centers" at assorted Ivies. Maybe this is a subset of "VIP Parent" but it was disheartening for this naive writer. Kid was on academic life support and now...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

In Sidwell's 2023 graduating class, Hooks also included parents with beaucoup bucks whose surnames appear on buildings and "centers" at assorted Ivies. Maybe this is a subset of "VIP Parent" but it was disheartening for this naive writer. Kid was on academic life support and now...

What does this mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your evidence that under half of Sidwell students are admitted to top 25s?

41 of 119 are attending T25 (nobody knows everyone's acceptance options). 104 of 119 have reported. I can't speak for the 15 non reports but we all know that it's unlikely that all 15 were T25 - and I'd say it's unlikely that even 8 of them are T25.

Meanwhile - it is important to remember that most of the 41 are hooked. These outcomes say nothing about Sidwell's impact, the outcomes reflect the prevalence of hooked families at Sidwell. And, if you really care about college and are unhooked, do not look to these outcomes as your potential future outcome....most unhooked high achievers/high rigor land outside T25.

I don't think college placement should be your goal....but if it is...go in with eyes open. It's not likely your unhooked smart kid is going to be the exception. Admissions has changed in recent years.

nobody cares about this. seriously nobody cares. good for Sidwell if true but just realize STA, Holton, GDS, NCS pretty much had the same results if you are considering it by this criteria. move on.

You have missed the point.... this isn't celebration for Sidwell's admissions. The point is that the top admissions are for hooked kids....and (as you say) this is the same at ALL of these schools. These college outcomes have nothing to do with the school - it has to do with the family. Do not choose to attend these private schools over public (or one private over another) with college admissions in mind.....especially if you are not hooked in any way.

I am a parent of a GDS senior who's kid is not hooked and maybe but possibly not in the top 10% of the class (don't know since we don't have rankings) and accepted EA Top 25. We also did not choose GDS because of college. We chose it for class sizes, teachers, location, ECs, and community.

We also know of many other GDS seniors in the same boat as ours that got in Top 25 that are unhooked, did TO etc. Yes, many kids are hooked but many are not and sure the school profile of schools like GDS help but these kids work hard and have earned their spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

In Sidwell's 2023 graduating class, Hooks also included parents with beaucoup bucks whose surnames appear on buildings and "centers" at assorted Ivies. Maybe this is a subset of "VIP Parent" but it was disheartening for this naive writer. Kid was on academic life support and now...

What does this mean?

It means that the child (parent happens to be on the Board) was barely getting by academically. And now they are at a Top 5 college.