Any one else thick the obsession with STA/NCS/Beauvoir is odd?

[Anonymous]

I cannot believe how much traffic there is on these schools. Seems obsessive.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps it correlates with unhealthy obsession which leads one to apply to these schools, and the resultant problems with each school's "culture." I feel very, very sorry for the children of some of these people if they are even 50% as obsessive over their children's school performance, placement, etc.

[Anonymous]

"Obsessive"? Guilty as charged.

I obsessed over admission to a Cathedral school, obsessed over everything while in the school, and am now beginning to obsess over next year's exmissions. I am otherwise a normal (by DC standards) human being. Getting on the Beauvoir/NCS/STA track is like a drug. Once you start, you can't stop. You know it's eating away inside of you, but it's just so intoxicating it is darn well impossible to give up.

My best advice - don't do drugs.

OP (Obsessive Parent)

[Anonymous]

I can put you through a rehab program...

[Anonymous]

I think it is a bit odd. I am more concerned that the parents' obsession is not kept on this board or to adults-only conversations with other parents, but is done around their children. My children attend Beauvoir and it bothers me to read many of the posts because they certainly don't reflect the experience we've had there. Recently, one of my children mentioned to me that two of her friends (who attend other independent schools) told her they didn't like Beauvoir. The reasons given were similar to some of the the misconceptions I read here, except exaggerated. Why would 8 year old children care where each other goes to school? Why do parents for that matter? They don't compete in sports against other schools so there is no cross town rivalry. My children don't even know where most of their playmates from the neighborhood attend. These kids overhear your conversations and repeat what you say.

I know these kids' parents applied to Beauvoir when we did and did not get in. I felt their frustration as we were on the wait list that year. These parents always bring the subject of schools up with me. Every time we're at a b-day party, holiday party, park, etc. Their kids are very happy where they are. But, the parents cannot break from the obsession they have over getting into their last choice school. Both kids are at wonderful schools and love them. But, these kids hear their parents talking about the school they love like it's not great or somehow inferior. We have so many wonderful school choices for our children. It's splitting hairs if you think that your 4th choice school is somehow a "bad" school. If you can't get happy with your child's school, at least don't ruin their happiness by thrusting your obsessions and worries about it upon them.

[Anonymous]

pp, I hear you, but these comments are valuable. That is what this web site is for.

[Anonymous]

The point is that the comments should be left to this board or private conversation, not forced upon young kids.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's "obsessive" to have the Cathedral schools mentioned so much on a private/independent school board from Washington, DC! NCS and STA are among the top schools in the city and in the country, and of course single-sex education is a big issue for lots of people to discuss, so I would have been surprised if they weren't brought up more on this board! They are very competitive to get into so of course there's lots of stressing during the admissions process--and their environment is not for everyone, so again, lots of discussion about that.

[Anonymous]

I graduated from NCS many years ago and was miserable! As were many of my classmates. I received an amazing education--my top liberal arts college was a breeze after attending NCS--but at a huge expense personally. I certainly can't speak to NCS circa 2008 but if it is anything like NCS when I attended, I'd absolutely never put my children through that experience.

[Anonymous]

"Miserable"? please more, this student insider perspective would be very good.

we are internatioal family to moving to washington capital. please comment anyone on whether this would contribute to any possible bullying of daughters.

[Anonymous]

Most middle & high schoolers go through adolescence - almost anyone will say those years were personally somewhat painful, no matter how popular, successful, or apparently cheerful they may have been. Think about it and ask your friends if they had a completely happy experience. I know so many well-adjusted adults who had painful school years through no fault of their school.