Easier admission chances?
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Anonymous
| We are putting in some applications for 6th grade for our DC. I am trying to get a feel for the schools where DC would have a better chance of admission. DC is a good student and will have good recommendations from teachers. Not a big athlete but plays some sports. But I’m having trouble assessing what “safety” school options exist for them because there aren’t objective criteria like SAT or GPA to evaluate DC on. (The very little bit of data we have is that DC got 5s on the CAPE testing last year, gets 3s and 4s on report cards, and does very well on iready, with math slightly above grade level and reading far beyond grade level.) We are looking to stay in DC proper for schools bc of the commute. What are the easier schools to get into for a kid with this profile? |
Anonymous
| Are you looking only for schools that go through 12th grade, or open to k-8s? Catholic schools ok or no? |
Anonymous
Would prefer going through 12th and not Catholic but are honestly open to either if needed to have a safety. |
Anonymous
| I’ve heard it said there are no safety schools. Admissions are very competitive. Far more applicants than spaces. Your best bet is to apply to as many as possible and make it clear that you are full-pay with the means to make additional financial support to the school. |
Anonymous
St. Anselms Abbey School would be a good safety and fit from what you’ve outlined |
Anonymous
| Sandy Spring Friends School - not in DC but there's a bus |
Anonymous
Super curious how you make clear you have "the means to make additional financial support to the school" within the bounds of the limited essay questions on most of these applications. What kind of name and prestige dropping does that require? |
Anonymous
|
Non-Catholics thinking about Catholic schools as "safeties" has some problems associated with it.
Non-Catholics without some other attribute that makes them attractive (academics, athletics, URM, etc,) are generally at the back of the Admissions line behind legacies, grads of Catholic feeder schools, and other Catholics. So they aren't really safety schools in the normal sense. While some may be seen as less academically selective, there are other factors in play. |
Anonymous
OP: “We prefer not Catholic.” PP: “One of the more conservative Catholic schools in the city would be perfect! It’s also boys-only so I assume you don’t have a girl.” |
Anonymous
Unless you are a major player, whose name they will already recognize as a person to provide massive financial support, this is a non-issue. They know you're full pay if you don't ask for FA. |
Anonymous
Not always the way it works. I'm aware of a HOS suggesting to an applicant's parent that a sizeable donation ($100K) would guarantee admission. This HOS is no longer there and this was during period of energetic fund raising. But the people on campus that care about "additional financial support" are the HOS and the Director of Development / Fund Raising, |
Anonymous
Good question. I know when we were switching schools, they said they checked with the previous school regarding how much we gave. And communicated to us during the interview that it is expected: either time, money, or both. But, you have to get the parent interview. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Assuming we are not going to be heavy hitters with donations and may need to apply for financial aid for certain pricier schools, I'd appreciate some suggestions for school names. |
Anonymous
|
Do not try to convey how much you will donate. That is a terrible idea. Schools are very good are determining who are likely to be big donors and don’t need to ask and you shouldn’t suggest it. It comes across poorly. As for a school list:
The ones that are relatively easier are the K8s for middle: think Sheridan, St. Pats, or Lowell for DC ones. WES and Langley aren’t that far in the suburbs. For ones that go through high school, the best bets are the ones that start in 6th: Field or Burke. After that, the best bets are in the suburbs: St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes, Flint Hill, St. Andrews, Bullis are good options that have gotten more competitive for 9th in recent years but are still in the more doable category for the middle years. There are also good Catholic options, but you said no Catholic. |
Anonymous
Why would you recommend a school in the midst of a financial crisis? |