What is the social scene like at Potomac?

[Anonymous]

We are considering Potomac for our daughter. I know she has to get in but am curious what the reputation of the kids are. I am sure academics are fine. I’m more concerned about social fit. I would like to avoid schools with a mean girl reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering Potomac for our daughter. I know she has to get in but am curious what the reputation of the kids are. I am sure academics are fine. I’m more concerned about social fit. I would like to avoid schools with a mean girl reputation.

I have two former Potomac girls from K-12. There is a limit to how mean you can be without it backfiring horribly. Some of the kids are exclusionary but they won't go out of their way to me mean to anyone.

I don't think the situation is any better or worse than other top privates.

[Anonymous]

Tip: The mean girl environment is generally worse when there are less academically oriented kids (i.e. when there are more girls into fashion, make up, dating).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tip: The mean girl environment is generally worse when there are less academically oriented kids (i.e. when there are more girls into fashion, make up, dating).

False.

OP--mean girls are everywhere, top schools and not as rigorous schools. This will also vary from grade to grade with some cohorts being nicer/less drama driven than others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tip: The mean girl environment is generally worse when there are less academically oriented kids (i.e. when there are more girls into fashion, make up, dating).

False.

OP--mean girls are everywhere, top schools and not as rigorous schools. This will also vary from grade to grade with some cohorts being nicer/less drama driven than others.

Based on my own experience, I wouldn't say the most academically oriented kids I knew had great social skills. It was generally just the opposite. Academic achievement was a safe space away from it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tip: The mean girl environment is generally worse when there are less academically oriented kids (i.e. when there are more girls into fashion, make up, dating).

False.

OP--mean girls are everywhere, top schools and not as rigorous schools. This will also vary from grade to grade with some cohorts being nicer/less drama driven than others.

Based on my own experience, I wouldn't say the most academically oriented kids I knew had great social skills. It was generally just the opposite. Academic achievement was a safe space away from it all.

Potomac parent here again.

Potomac is academically selective but it is not just about academics.
There is a requirement that you paly 10 seasons of sports.

Most of the girls are extremely well behaved but there is definitely a cohort of popular girls that could be mean girls if they were so inclined and if the consequences weren't so severe.

With that said, kids from some families get away with poor behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tip: The mean girl environment is generally worse when there are less academically oriented kids (i.e. when there are more girls into fashion, make up, dating).

False.

OP--mean girls are everywhere, top schools and not as rigorous schools. This will also vary from grade to grade with some cohorts being nicer/less drama driven than others.

Based on my own experience, I wouldn't say the most academically oriented kids I knew had great social skills. It was generally just the opposite. Academic achievement was a safe space away from it all.

Potomac parent here again.

Potomac is academically selective but it is not just about academics.
There is a requirement that you paly 10 seasons of sports.

Most of the girls are extremely well behaved but there is definitely a cohort of popular girls that could be mean girls if they were so inclined and if the consequences weren't so severe.

With that said, kids from some families get away with poor behavior.

Just to clarify - there is no requirement that an upper school student play 10 seasons of a sport. Perhaps PP is referring to some requirement in the IS or MS, but this is most definitely not the case for US students. US students must do an after school activity 2 of the 3 seasons each year, only one of which has to include physical activity - but it can be satisfied with yoga, conditioning, the musical etc. So at most a student is looking at four seasons total (one per year) of something that is a sport or at least loosely resembles a sport.