Deal to Walls...

[Anonymous]

My child will attend Deal next year. Academically is doing very well. In addition to making sure 6th and 7th grade goes well... and 7th transcripts show the best grades possible, it seems like the interview is the big deciding factor. I see there is an essay. I wonder if the essays are read and referenced in the interview.

It seems like Walls has a ton of applicants and doesn't really have to pick based on best grades or "best overall package".

My child is in piano, theater, dance, and sports.

Anyone with experience getting in to Walls from Deal? Any reliable info on what they're looking for, besides the obvious of ability to handle the rigor?

Anyone in but also have a 504?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child will attend Deal next year. Academically is doing very well. In addition to making sure 6th and 7th grade goes well... and 7th transcripts show the best grades possible, it seems like the interview is the big deciding factor. I see there is an essay. I wonder if the essays are read and referenced in the interview.

It seems like Walls has a ton of applicants and doesn't really have to pick based on best grades or "best overall package".

My child is in piano, theater, dance, and sports.

Anyone with experience getting in to Walls from Deal? Any reliable info on what they're looking for, besides the obvious of ability to handle the rigor?

Anyone in but also have a 504?

You need to understand that, in the end, it all comes down to lottery luck. There are far, far more kids who want to go to Walls than Walls's capacity. There are going to be hundreds of very qualified kids each year who don't get in.

[Anonymous]

Last year the essay portion was administered after the interview (same day). You are still a few years out so this may change.

I don’t think it’s just about grades or resume (that’s for the privates), so I wouldn’t look at it that way. Walls says that they are looking for students who “demand their education.” My sense is that they are looking for students who love learning, are independent, and actively engage in class and their community- asking questions, furthering discussion, etc.

[Anonymous]

As far as I can tell:
Keep a 4.0
Nail the middle school essay rubric
Be good at a five minute interview about yourself and Why Walls
Luck

Of all of those, the first is one as a parent you might spend most long term focus on. The second is one you can check via checking specific work periodically. The third is partly personality, can be improved with practice, but does require that your kid do something besides School, Video Games, Phone.
The last just IS a factor. There are more applicants than spaces. Shrug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As far as I can tell:
Keep a 4.0
Nail the middle school essay rubric
Be good at a five minute interview about yourself and Why Walls
Luck

Of all of those, the first is one as a parent you might spend most long term focus on. The second is one you can check via checking specific work periodically. The third is partly personality, can be improved with practice, but does require that your kid do something besides School, Video Games, Phone.
The last just IS a factor. There are more applicants than spaces. Shrug.

NP. Can you explain what you mean by the "middle school essay rubric"?

[Anonymous]

This is PP. The kids are taught a way to write an essay that’s really formulaic but effective. I forget its real name because I started calling it The Limerick in my head. It’s a formula they’ll learn and then have to regurgitate for the topic of the day on interview day. A teacher could give you the real name.

[Anonymous]

Last year, the teacher recommendations were THE DETERMINATIVE factor. This could change, of course...

Given the outsize role of recs, the best advice to your kid (other than getting good enough grades) is to form great relationships with their 7th/8th grade math and English teachers and not be a PITA.

(This can be tough for kids with 504s who may need extra help/support. I'm certain it's why my kid with perfect grades did not get an interview at Walls.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child will attend Deal next year. Academically is doing very well. In addition to making sure 6th and 7th grade goes well... and 7th transcripts show the best grades possible, it seems like the interview is the big deciding factor. I see there is an essay. I wonder if the essays are read and referenced in the interview.

It seems like Walls has a ton of applicants and doesn't really have to pick based on best grades or "best overall package".

My child is in piano, theater, dance, and sports.

Anyone with experience getting in to Walls from Deal? Any reliable info on what they're looking for, besides the obvious of ability to handle the rigor?

Anyone in but also have a 504?

You need to understand that, in the end, it all comes down to lottery luck. There are far, far more kids who want to go to Walls than Walls's capacity. There are going to be hundreds of very qualified kids each year who don't get in.

Be sure your child is aware of this so they can pace their expectations.

My 8th grader is applying and I've let her know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As far as I can tell:
Keep a 4.0
Nail the middle school essay rubric
Be good at a five minute interview about yourself and Why Walls
Luck

Of all of those, the first is one as a parent you might spend most long term focus on. The second is one you can check via checking specific work periodically. The third is partly personality, can be improved with practice, but does require that your kid do something besides School, Video Games, Phone.
The last just IS a factor. There are more applicants than spaces. Shrug.

I second this, plus, as PP noted, make sure to develop relationships with ELA and Math teachers who will provide good recs (the recs last year needed to be from ELA and Math). Also give those teachers the respect of giving them as much notice as possible that you will be requesting recs.

My kid got into Walls but declined. 4.0, nice kid, advanced math, knows the DCPS essay rubric, comes across as thoughtful and mature and enjoys a variety of ECs, but isn't student council president or any sort of music prodigy or super-star athlete or anything like that. Most kids we know who got in also fit this description. I'm sure there were other kids like this who did not get in, but this sort of background should at least give your kid a decent shot. The GPA is the threshold question (you won't get past the first step if you don't meet the cut-off), so if you are serious about Walls you need to be on top of the GPA in 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

I'm OP, greatly appreciate this helpful advice. Many excellent points, new information, and food for thought. I thank you all for taking the time.

[Anonymous]

It's a crapshoot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a crapshoot.

Yep. People underestimate just how much Walls admission comes down to luck with the lottery. Your kid may be incredibly advanced, a perfect Walls fit, but no amount of achievement is going to overcome a terrible lottery number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a crapshoot.

Yep. People underestimate just how much Walls admission comes down to luck with the lottery. Your kid may be incredibly advanced, a perfect Walls fit, but no amount of achievement is going to overcome a terrible lottery number.

Terrible lottery number is not the determining factor. Once you had a high enough GPA, teacher recs were the determining factor last year.

Did they say at the open house how teacher recs would be used this year? Last year, they determined who got to interview and write an essay.

[Anonymous]

I thought Walls had almost no 504s or IEPs (are they the same?)...which historically is how it has always been.

I don't quite know how this is achieved as I would imagine it is illegal to disqualify someone directly.

[Anonymous]

"I thought Walls had almost no 504s or IEPs (are they the same?)...which historically is how it has always been.

I don't quite know how this is achieved as I would imagine it is illegal to disqualify someone directly."



No they are not the same. My DC had a 504 Plan and attended Walls. I'm not sure how many other students did, but there were a few. No idea on the number of IEPs