Did Walls interview invites go out?

[Anonymous]

I'm confused since in one of the other combined threads one person mentioned on 2/13 that their child will have an interview, but no one else has mentioned this.

[Anonymous]

Yes- some kids received interview invitations. Unclear whether all invites already went out or whether they send them in batches.

[Anonymous]

Yes, lots of interviews for Walls out. My middle schooler has 6 friends who have received them. She hasn't though (despite having the same or better GPA), so while we're hoping there's another wave to come, it doesn't seem likely.

[Anonymous]

My kid has a 4.0 and didn’t receive an interview and likely won’t get one at this point. We saw the interview email that went out to others we know and they said that kids will receive their date and time of interview by Wednesday of this week. I highly doubt at this point that anyone else will receive an interview invite but I guess you never know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid has a 4.0 and didn’t receive an interview and likely won’t get one at this point. We saw the interview email that went out to others we know and they said that kids will receive their date and time of interview by Wednesday of this week. I highly doubt at this point that anyone else will receive an interview invite but I guess you never know?

This was my kid. Someone told me that it was likely due to recommendations. He's shy and a great student but not a 'go-getter' like other kids we know who go there.

[Anonymous]

How were people notified?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, my 4.0 kid didn't get an invite to interview at SWW either (assuming they've all been sent out). He's an introvert, and I assume his recs put him at the top for academic potential and intellectual curiosity but couldn't for leadership, teamwork, etc. Mercifully we are at one of the charters that goes through 12th, and we're not sure he would have even chosen SWW over staying put anyway. It makes decisonmaking easier! Good luck to everyone in this process, and I hope all the kids land somewhere that serves them well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How were people notified?

Would love to know this as well. Was it via phone or email or text?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How were people notified?

Would love to know this as well. Was it via phone or email or text?

Email only

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, my 4.0 kid didn't get an invite to interview at SWW either (assuming they've all been sent out). He's an introvert, and I assume his recs put him at the top for academic potential and intellectual curiosity but couldn't for leadership, teamwork, etc. Mercifully we are at one of the charters that goes through 12th, and we're not sure he would have even chosen SWW over staying put anyway. It makes decisonmaking easier! Good luck to everyone in this process, and I hope all the kids land somewhere that serves them well.

I’m not sure if that’s the case to be honest (about introversion being the reason for less enthusiastic recs). I’m a PP with a kid with a 4.0 and he’s extroverted and friends with everyone. I would say his kindness and friendliness is much stronger than his academic ability (he has to work hard for those grades, it does not come naturally to him). His teachers have always highlighted what a pleasant, friendly, cooperative kid he is. That said, the teacher who would have given him his strongest recommendation ended up leaving the school and we had no way to contact the teacher, so our recommendations may not have been as strong because we had to scramble last minute to find another recommender. In any event, it seems like there isn’t a lot of rhyme or reason to this process but I’m secretly relieved. My kid and I both thought the SWW building felt like a dungeon - very oppressive and dark. He was having second thoughts after the open house, so it’s for the best for us. Best of luck to everyone who wants to get in!

[Anonymous]

There are probably a lot more than 500 kids with a 4.0.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lots of interviews for Walls out. My middle schooler has 6 friends who have received them. She hasn't though (despite having the same or better GPA), so while we're hoping there's another wave to come, it doesn't seem likely.

This was my post and my kid also has a 4.0, so it seems like recommendations had to be the deciding factor. My kid is not an introvert at all and is very involved in her school. Most of her friends who got interviews had a different teacher for one of the recommenders, whereas the other 4.0 friend without an interview had the same teacher as my kid. I worry that that teacher just wasn't as effusive as the other one and if they're comparing kids from the same school? But who knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lots of interviews for Walls out. My middle schooler has 6 friends who have received them. She hasn't though (despite having the same or better GPA), so while we're hoping there's another wave to come, it doesn't seem likely.

This was my post and my kid also has a 4.0, so it seems like recommendations had to be the deciding factor. My kid is not an introvert at all and is very involved in her school. Most of her friends who got interviews had a different teacher for one of the recommenders, whereas the other 4.0 friend without an interview had the same teacher as my kid. I worry that that teacher just wasn't as effusive as the other one and if they're comparing kids from the same school? But who knows.

I wonder if they try to balance what middle schools the kids come from. So kids from bigger high schools are less likely bc there are more of them? I also always wonder if the selective schools give preference to dcps vs charter or private.
Or it could vary/change from year to year too.

[Anonymous]

It is just a numbers game and has nothing to do with what school the kid comes from. In terms of what they consider for deciding who to interview, GPA is worth 25% and recommendations are worth 75%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lots of interviews for Walls out. My middle schooler has 6 friends who have received them. She hasn't though (despite having the same or better GPA), so while we're hoping there's another wave to come, it doesn't seem likely.

This was my post and my kid also has a 4.0, so it seems like recommendations had to be the deciding factor. My kid is not an introvert at all and is very involved in her school. Most of her friends who got interviews had a different teacher for one of the recommenders, whereas the other 4.0 friend without an interview had the same teacher as my kid. I worry that that teacher just wasn't as effusive as the other one and if they're comparing kids from the same school? But who knows.

I wonder if they try to balance what middle schools the kids come from. So kids from bigger high schools are less likely bc there are more of them? I also always wonder if the selective schools give preference to dcps vs charter or private.
Or it could vary/change from year to year too.

I've wondered this too - if the lottery algorithm somehow takes into account the school or ward the student is coming from and tries to balance admissions. I can't imagine it's fully proportional (e.g., 25% of applications come from Ward 3 DCPS middle and that makes up 25% of admissions, etc.).