Sibling preference at top schools

[Anonymous]

Kid got into 6th this year at Maret, GDS, Potomac, Sidwell. Do any/all have sibling preferences, and how strong are the preferences? Does it vary for older and younger siblings (the kid who got in has older and younger siblings who might be candidates next year)? Any info appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid got into 6th this year at Maret, GDS, Potomac, Sidwell. Do any/all have sibling preferences, and how strong are the preferences? Does it vary for older and younger siblings (the kid who got in has older and younger siblings who might be candidates next year)? Any info appreciated!

Which one did you choose?
No promise the sibling will get in the first time they apply to Sidwell. But subsequent applications have a higher chance.

[Anonymous]

GDS has a a good sibling policy. Sidwell not so much.

[Anonymous]

They really all have sibling preference if your new applicant is a strong applicant and your older sibling is in good academic standing and you haven't been a PITA family. You pretty much have to give them a reason (weak academics, no extracurriculars, etc) to not admit a sibling.

[Anonymous]

Same question re Maret. Anyone know about that?

[Anonymous]

Why are you asking this after the deposit deadline?

[Anonymous]

Haha this forum… does OP’s motivation change the answer to the question? Seems like they’re just looking for info!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They really all have sibling preference if your new applicant is a strong applicant and your older sibling is in good academic standing and you haven't been a PITA family. You pretty much have to give them a reason (weak academics, no extracurriculars, etc) to not admit a sibling.

When we asked Sidwell about this they told us, explicitly, that they did not consider Sidwell a "family school" and that we shouldn't count on any sibling preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They really all have sibling preference if your new applicant is a strong applicant and your older sibling is in good academic standing and you haven't been a PITA family. You pretty much have to give them a reason (weak academics, no extracurriculars, etc) to not admit a sibling.

When we asked Sidwell about this they told us, explicitly, that they did not consider Sidwell a "family school" and that we shouldn't count on any sibling preference.

Siblings have a separate, earlier admission review and Sidwell will provide some "feedback" in December so you have an idea where you stand and can address any concerns. I think the biggest advantage is that all of these schools are a crap shoot in terms of number of applicants v number of spots so if the sibling is "qualified," they are likely to be accepted whereas many qualified, non sibling applicants are rejected because of numbers.

[Anonymous]

All the strong candidate siblings I've known have been admitted to Sidwell. The more average or poor students have not. One might say, "every kid is different" but it does seem like top students run in families and the reverse as well.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I've known a couple of families that had to apply multiple times before a sibling is accepted at Sidwell. This was for LS. GDS has a good policy. I believe Maret does as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've known a couple of families that had to apply multiple times before a sibling is accepted at Sidwell. This was for LS. GDS has a good policy. I believe Maret does as well.

It depends on who else is applying. In middle school when there are only 10-12 spots in a grade they're going to postpone a sibling admit to a later point if there is a chance at a top athlete or a top minority or a top donor... They know the sibling will reapply but they'll only get one shot at these other families. Plus they want to expand the student body. If they only admit kids from current families then their donor base shrinks.
I've seen most schools defer siblings to another admission year (STA, Sidwell, Maret, etc).