Was Told By College Admissions Officer That Sidwell Secretly Ranks Students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jesus- you Sidwell parents are the literal worst

Yet here you are—eagerly posting on a Sidwell thread. You’re hating from outside the club.

You're posting on our Recent Threads website It's our club.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:What is the philosophy behind not telling students their rank?

Quakerism.

No it’s not. Most of the privates don’t rank, not just Sidwell.

Most privates also do not use a weighted GPA system. So, the 4.0 students could have taken radically different paths in terms of rigor.

And this is exactly where the "secret ranking" is problematic - especially if they are choosing to do this only for some students.

I don't know why you think you want it for other students. Do you want Sidwell telling the colleges that your student is "not in the top 5"?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:So, with my largely unhooked kid in 7th at Sidwell who is probably going to stay, is there anything I can do? Or just set my expectations for him not to get into a top 20 school and call it a day?
Any hope that the new head of the upper school will change some of this?

You absolutely shouldn't "expect" him to get into a Top 20 - he might, he might not. Especially if not in top 5 students. But this is based on the past 3 years - things could change in 5 years. I do think it used to be that top 20% GPA kids with rigor did get into T20 but colleges have made a big shift and they are also being flooded with applications.

The bolded statement doesn’t apply to Sidwell. Over half of Sidwell’s graduates consistently attend T25 universities/T25 SLACs. So, over 60 students per year, out of a class of 125, attend these top tier colleges/universities.

Not true for unhooked for T25 university and T5-T10 SLAC but dream on (or sit on your hooked perch with blindfolds on)

It’s true…you just don’t like that it’s true. I personally know several c/o 2024 Sidwell alums who are attending T25 universities (not to mention T25 SLACs) with absolutely no hooks.

And I know of many unhooked very high stats kids from c/o 2023 and 2024 who are not at T25 university or T10 SLAC (and wanted to go to one).

Also - T25 SLAC is NOT equivalent to T25 universities - this needs to be T5 SLAC or T10 SLAC at most.

Why—because you said so? No one cares about where you want to arbitrarily draw the line.

Btw, Sidwell consistently sends over 50% of the class to T25 universities AND T25 SLACs. If you’re an unhooked high stats kid from Sidwell and you can’t make it it into that group, then something is wrong with the applications you’re submitting (essays, reccs, ECs, etc). Or, something is wrong with the kid (and the AOs made note of it). Let’s be real, I know a few high stats Sidwell kids who are, at best, odd and lack basic social skills.

Same person from above - there is NO way a top rigor/top test scores kid who wanted to a T10/T15 is happy settling for Richmond. No matter what their parents say to them - the student body would consider that not meeting par. They are barely happy to be settling for a T25 edge like UVA or Georgetown.

Either way they get over it - but they should know going in that there is a good chance they won't get into a T25 or T5/T10 SLAC. Perpetuating this expectation that you are selling is NOT healthy for the long game of these kids.

Speak for your own (mentality warped and miserable) self. There are top stats/top rigor students who are happy AND prefer a T15-T25 SLAC. Everyone doesn’t think like you. Get over yourself.

Yes - there are. But they are not the same ones who are T25 or bust. This is what I am saying.

Then we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about T25 universities and T25 SLACs—I will not arbitrarily reduce the SLACs to T5/10/15, or whatever nonsense you’re trying to push.

My point: there are top stats Sidwell students who are happy/want/prefer/ T25 SLACs. They weren’t gunning for anything else, and they got exactly what they wanted.

Agreed on that point - but for many of the DCUM here looking for T25 chances - and because of that some nuance is needed when someone states that 50% get into T25 universities or T25 SLAC.

Of course there are students of all types (including top rigor and stats) who will prefer/choose a school outside T25 university or T10 SLAC.

But there are MANY unhooked top rigor top stats students at Sidwell who's goal is a T25 university/T5-T10 SLAC who do NOT get accepted to such a school (most, of unhooked top do not, in fact). They land in T40 university or lower SLAC. Again - this ends up being just fine - and I am not throwing judgement. But people should know this nuance in advance so they manage their expectations and their kids' expectations too. It's not healthy to build up some false narrative just to be "Sidwell proud" in some college admissions war vs other schools.

[Anonymous]

So many insecure Sidwell parents. So many.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:So, with my largely unhooked kid in 7th at Sidwell who is probably going to stay, is there anything I can do? Or just set my expectations for him not to get into a top 20 school and call it a day?
Any hope that the new head of the upper school will change some of this?

You absolutely shouldn't "expect" him to get into a Top 20 - he might, he might not. Especially if not in top 5 students. But this is based on the past 3 years - things could change in 5 years. I do think it used to be that top 20% GPA kids with rigor did get into T20 but colleges have made a big shift and they are also being flooded with applications.

The bolded statement doesn’t apply to Sidwell. Over half of Sidwell’s graduates consistently attend T25 universities/T25 SLACs. So, over 60 students per year, out of a class of 125, attend these top tier colleges/universities.

Not true for unhooked for T25 university and T5-T10 SLAC but dream on (or sit on your hooked perch with blindfolds on)

It’s true…you just don’t like that it’s true. I personally know several c/o 2024 Sidwell alums who are attending T25 universities (not to mention T25 SLACs) with absolutely no hooks.

And I know of many unhooked very high stats kids from c/o 2023 and 2024 who are not at T25 university or T10 SLAC (and wanted to go to one).

Also - T25 SLAC is NOT equivalent to T25 universities - this needs to be T5 SLAC or T10 SLAC at most.

Why—because you said so? No one cares about where you want to arbitrarily draw the line.

Btw, Sidwell consistently sends over 50% of the class to T25 universities AND T25 SLACs. If you’re an unhooked high stats kid from Sidwell and you can’t make it it into that group, then something is wrong with the applications you’re submitting (essays, reccs, ECs, etc). Or, something is wrong with the kid (and the AOs made note of it). Let’s be real, I know a few high stats Sidwell kids who are, at best, odd and lack basic social skills.

Same person from above - there is NO way a top rigor/top test scores kid who wanted to a T10/T15 is happy settling for Richmond. No matter what their parents say to them - the student body would consider that not meeting par. They are barely happy to be settling for a T25 edge like UVA or Georgetown.

Either way they get over it - but they should know going in that there is a good chance they won't get into a T25 or T5/T10 SLAC. Perpetuating this expectation that you are selling is NOT healthy for the long game of these kids.

Speak for your own (mentality warped and miserable) self. There are top stats/top rigor students who are happy AND prefer a T15-T25 SLAC. Everyone doesn’t think like you. Get over yourself.

Yes - there are. But they are not the same ones who are T25 or bust. This is what I am saying.

Then we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about T25 universities and T25 SLACs—I will not arbitrarily reduce the SLACs to T5/10/15, or whatever nonsense you’re trying to push.

My point: there are top stats Sidwell students who are happy/want/prefer/ T25 SLACs. They weren’t gunning for anything else, and they got exactly what they wanted.

Agreed on that point - but for many of the DCUM here looking for T25 chances - and because of that some nuance is needed when someone states that 50% get into T25 universities or T25 SLAC.

Of course there are students of all types (including top rigor and stats) who will prefer/choose a school outside T25 university or T10 SLAC.

But there are MANY unhooked top rigor top stats students at Sidwell who's goal is a T25 university/T5-T10 SLAC who do NOT get accepted to such a school (most, of unhooked top do not, in fact). They land in T40 university or lower SLAC. Again - this ends up being just fine - and I am not throwing judgement. But people should know this nuance in advance so they manage their expectations and their kids' expectations too. It's not healthy to build up some false narrative just to be "Sidwell proud" in some college admissions war vs other schools.

How is this MANY? There are about 125 kids at Sidwell. "TOP STATS" kids are top 20%. so there are about 25 of them. Let's say "top rigor" of the top stats kids are 15 out of 25. So you have 15 kids in the top rigor/top stats category. Let's say that 50% of them get a top40 university or top10 liberal arts college. That is 7 kids who do not. Is 7 "MANY" ? I would say no.

And I have a hard time believing that only 50% of the 15 kids who have top rigor/top stats make it into a top 40 university of ANY kind. That seems awfully low.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:So, with my largely unhooked kid in 7th at Sidwell who is probably going to stay, is there anything I can do? Or just set my expectations for him not to get into a top 20 school and call it a day?
Any hope that the new head of the upper school will change some of this?

You absolutely shouldn't "expect" him to get into a Top 20 - he might, he might not. Especially if not in top 5 students. But this is based on the past 3 years - things could change in 5 years. I do think it used to be that top 20% GPA kids with rigor did get into T20 but colleges have made a big shift and they are also being flooded with applications.

The bolded statement doesn’t apply to Sidwell. Over half of Sidwell’s graduates consistently attend T25 universities/T25 SLACs. So, over 60 students per year, out of a class of 125, attend these top tier colleges/universities.

Not true for unhooked for T25 university and T5-T10 SLAC but dream on (or sit on your hooked perch with blindfolds on)

It’s true…you just don’t like that it’s true. I personally know several c/o 2024 Sidwell alums who are attending T25 universities (not to mention T25 SLACs) with absolutely no hooks.

And I know of many unhooked very high stats kids from c/o 2023 and 2024 who are not at T25 university or T10 SLAC (and wanted to go to one).

Also - T25 SLAC is NOT equivalent to T25 universities - this needs to be T5 SLAC or T10 SLAC at most.

Why—because you said so? No one cares about where you want to arbitrarily draw the line.

Btw, Sidwell consistently sends over 50% of the class to T25 universities AND T25 SLACs. If you’re an unhooked high stats kid from Sidwell and you can’t make it it into that group, then something is wrong with the applications you’re submitting (essays, reccs, ECs, etc). Or, something is wrong with the kid (and the AOs made note of it). Let’s be real, I know a few high stats Sidwell kids who are, at best, odd and lack basic social skills.

Same person from above - there is NO way a top rigor/top test scores kid who wanted to a T10/T15 is happy settling for Richmond. No matter what their parents say to them - the student body would consider that not meeting par. They are barely happy to be settling for a T25 edge like UVA or Georgetown.

Either way they get over it - but they should know going in that there is a good chance they won't get into a T25 or T5/T10 SLAC. Perpetuating this expectation that you are selling is NOT healthy for the long game of these kids.

Speak for your own (mentality warped and miserable) self. There are top stats/top rigor students who are happy AND prefer a T15-T25 SLAC. Everyone doesn’t think like you. Get over yourself.

Yes - there are. But they are not the same ones who are T25 or bust. This is what I am saying.

Then we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about T25 universities and T25 SLACs—I will not arbitrarily reduce the SLACs to T5/10/15, or whatever nonsense you’re trying to push.

My point: there are top stats Sidwell students who are happy/want/prefer/ T25 SLACs. They weren’t gunning for anything else, and they got exactly what they wanted.

Agreed on that point - but for many of the DCUM here looking for T25 chances - and because of that some nuance is needed when someone states that 50% get into T25 universities or T25 SLAC.

Of course there are students of all types (including top rigor and stats) who will prefer/choose a school outside T25 university or T10 SLAC.

But there are MANY unhooked top rigor top stats students at Sidwell who's goal is a T25 university/T5-T10 SLAC who do NOT get accepted to such a school (most, of unhooked top do not, in fact). They land in T40 university or lower SLAC. Again - this ends up being just fine - and I am not throwing judgement. But people should know this nuance in advance so they manage their expectations and their kids' expectations too. It's not healthy to build up some false narrative just to be "Sidwell proud" in some college admissions war vs other schools.

How is this MANY? There are about 125 kids at Sidwell. "TOP STATS" kids are top 20%. so there are about 25 of them. Let's say "top rigor" of the top stats kids are 15 out of 25. So you have 15 kids in the top rigor/top stats category. Let's say that 50% of them get a top40 university or top10 liberal arts college. That is 7 kids who do not. Is 7 "MANY" ? I would say no.

And I have a hard time believing that only 50% of the 15 kids who have top rigor/top stats make it into a top 40 university of ANY kind. That seems awfully low.

You really can’t hear yourself, can you?

[Anonymous]

People: SLACs are not settling schools. It might blow your mind but thh by ere are people who
1) want a liberal arts education
2) small class sizes
3) smaller student body size
4) personal relationships with professors
5) easier access to clubs and activities
6) locations that are in frequently in nature
7) strong teaching by professors who value teaching
And a million other reasons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, with my largely unhooked kid in 7th at Sidwell who is probably going to stay, is there anything I can do? Or just set my expectations for him not to get into a top 20 school and call it a day?
Any hope that the new head of the upper school will change some of this?

You absolutely shouldn't "expect" him to get into a Top 20 - he might, he might not. Especially if not in top 5 students. But this is based on the past 3 years - things could change in 5 years. I do think it used to be that top 20% GPA kids with rigor did get into T20 but colleges have made a big shift and they are also being flooded with applications.

The bolded statement doesn’t apply to Sidwell. Over half of Sidwell’s graduates consistently attend T25 universities/T25 SLACs. So, over 60 students per year, out of a class of 125, attend these top tier colleges/universities.

Not true for unhooked for T25 university and T5-T10 SLAC but dream on (or sit on your hooked perch with blindfolds on)

It’s true…you just don’t like that it’s true. I personally know several c/o 2024 Sidwell alums who are attending T25 universities (not to mention T25 SLACs) with absolutely no hooks.

And I know of many unhooked very high stats kids from c/o 2023 and 2024 who are not at T25 university or T10 SLAC (and wanted to go to one).

Also - T25 SLAC is NOT equivalent to T25 universities - this needs to be T5 SLAC or T10 SLAC at most.

Why—because you said so? No one cares about where you want to arbitrarily draw the line.

Btw, Sidwell consistently sends over 50% of the class to T25 universities AND T25 SLACs. If you’re an unhooked high stats kid from Sidwell and you can’t make it it into that group, then something is wrong with the applications you’re submitting (essays, reccs, ECs, etc). Or, something is wrong with the kid (and the AOs made note of it). Let’s be real, I know a few high stats Sidwell kids who are, at best, odd and lack basic social skills.

Same person from above - there is NO way a top rigor/top test scores kid who wanted to a T10/T15 is happy settling for Richmond. No matter what their parents say to them - the student body would consider that not meeting par. They are barely happy to be settling for a T25 edge like UVA or Georgetown.

Either way they get over it - but they should know going in that there is a good chance they won't get into a T25 or T5/T10 SLAC. Perpetuating this expectation that you are selling is NOT healthy for the long game of these kids.

Speak for your own (mentality warped and miserable) self. There are top stats/top rigor students who are happy AND prefer a T15-T25 SLAC. Everyone doesn’t think like you. Get over yourself.

Yes - there are. But they are not the same ones who are T25 or bust. This is what I am saying.

Then we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about T25 universities and T25 SLACs—I will not arbitrarily reduce the SLACs to T5/10/15, or whatever nonsense you’re trying to push.

My point: there are top stats Sidwell students who are happy/want/prefer/ T25 SLACs. They weren’t gunning for anything else, and they got exactly what they wanted.

Agreed on that point - but for many of the DCUM here looking for T25 chances - and because of that some nuance is needed when someone states that 50% get into T25 universities or T25 SLAC.

Of course there are students of all types (including top rigor and stats) who will prefer/choose a school outside T25 university or T10 SLAC.

But there are MANY unhooked top rigor top stats students at Sidwell who's goal is a T25 university/T5-T10 SLAC who do NOT get accepted to such a school (most, of unhooked top do not, in fact). They land in T40 university or lower SLAC. Again - this ends up being just fine - and I am not throwing judgement. But people should know this nuance in advance so they manage their expectations and their kids' expectations too. It's not healthy to build up some false narrative just to be "Sidwell proud" in some college admissions war vs other schools.

How is this MANY? There are about 125 kids at Sidwell. "TOP STATS" kids are top 20%. so there are about 25 of them. Let's say "top rigor" of the top stats kids are 15 out of 25. So you have 15 kids in the top rigor/top stats category. Let's say that 50% of them get a top40 university or top10 liberal arts college. That is 7 kids who do not. Is 7 "MANY" ? I would say no.

And I have a hard time believing that only 50% of the 15 kids who have top rigor/top stats make it into a top 40 university of ANY kind. That seems awfully low.

Listen - proceed with your view - we've been through the process (and seen others too) and have seen where the chips fall. Feel free to doubt all you will and best of luck.

For bystanders - hopefully the nuance helps manage expectations. By all means, unhooked high stats/rigor should apply to some dream schools - but don't "expect" anything. CCO will tell you will not likely be helpful in managing/gauging expectations (other than to make sure you have true safety schools). Best of luck to you too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People: SLACs are not settling schools. It might blow your mind but thh by ere are people who
1) want a liberal arts education
2) small class sizes
3) smaller student body size
4) personal relationships with professors
5) easier access to clubs and activities
6) locations that are in frequently in nature
7) strong teaching by professors who value teaching
And a million other reasons

Agreed 100%. I did not attend a T25 - applied to a T40 that I loved ED and it was the perfect match for me. I never looked back and am as successful as my peers (who thought I was nuts) who went to T15.

But if someone had their mind set on something else (a T25), it matters to them and would consider the SLAC settling. Whether their mindset is healthy or not is a different question. But a kid who wanted Northwestern or Dartmouth is likely going to be disappointed (at least initially) if their choice is Richmond. Sad, but true.

My argument is that they are LESS likely to have that disappointment if their family has realistic expectations and communicates the importance of applying to a wide range of schools that the student could "see themselves at" and also when their family communicates the likelihood of acceptance highly selective schools is really low - and - markedly lower for unhooked students. (They will 100% see their hooked classmates of lower rigor and lower GPA leapfrog them into T25)

Going into the process armed with information and the right mindset can make a huge difference in how a student feels in the end.

Push back all you will. Hear the advice or not.

[Anonymous]

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All schools do that, OP, both public and private.

Are you a public parent? Maybe your school doesn't "rank" students but there's a huge difference between public, where GPA IS calculated and GPA IS weighted and a private where there is no official GPA and even the mocked up one isn't weighted. Being told GPA is not calculated or given to colleges but then having CCO and that there are no rankings - but then CCO chooses to "reveal" a rank for some students is not ok.

DP: It's more than OK. It's essential. Had the CCO refused to answer the question when asked by a college, likely all of the kids under consideration would have bene rejected.

Also, you knowing the rank would not have changed that outcome.

I don't need to know the rank. And, by not providing this info for everyone "secretly in their CCO letter" likely does result in kids under consideration being rejected. If calculated a rigor weighted rank and provided that for all students - then it would be far more clear who the weighted top 5%-10%-20% are. Doing this for just a few people you choose to go to bat for - while claiming it is NOT done due to Quakerly values (which they absolutely claim) - is not ok. They aren't just doing this for a couple of students at the very top of rigor/gpa - they are doing for the students "they want to" (and in some cases, are probably "told to") help stand out. Of course, all those legacies with low rigor and high grades wouldn't want a blanket weighted GPA/rank floating out there.....

No doubt you and your student have benefited from the school treating people differently based on hooks (even when the school says they don’t do that). And you’ve probably touted the Quaker values in other contexts while your student has been at the school. Now you cry unfair because you are not the favored ones.

Nope to both of these. We liked the idea of Quaker values but in reality, Sidwell high school uses Quaker values as their reason for why they don't/won't do certain things. We have no hooks other than full pay - which we would be anywhere.

Be real. Everyone knows the "Quaker values" are a sham at this School for the Highly Privileged

I think you are just supporting what I expressed but giving an additional lens on their motive...

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:So, with my largely unhooked kid in 7th at Sidwell who is probably going to stay, is there anything I can do? Or just set my expectations for him not to get into a top 20 school and call it a day?
Any hope that the new head of the upper school will change some of this?

You absolutely shouldn't "expect" him to get into a Top 20 - he might, he might not. Especially if not in top 5 students. But this is based on the past 3 years - things could change in 5 years. I do think it used to be that top 20% GPA kids with rigor did get into T20 but colleges have made a big shift and they are also being flooded with applications.

The bolded statement doesn’t apply to Sidwell. Over half of Sidwell’s graduates consistently attend T25 universities/T25 SLACs. So, over 60 students per year, out of a class of 125, attend these top tier colleges/universities.

Not true for unhooked for T25 university and T5-T10 SLAC but dream on (or sit on your hooked perch with blindfolds on)

It’s true…you just don’t like that it’s true. I personally know several c/o 2024 Sidwell alums who are attending T25 universities (not to mention T25 SLACs) with absolutely no hooks.

And I know of many unhooked very high stats kids from c/o 2023 and 2024 who are not at T25 university or T10 SLAC (and wanted to go to one).

Also - T25 SLAC is NOT equivalent to T25 universities - this needs to be T5 SLAC or T10 SLAC at most.

Why—because you said so? No one cares about where you want to arbitrarily draw the line.

Btw, Sidwell consistently sends over 50% of the class to T25 universities AND T25 SLACs. If you’re an unhooked high stats kid from Sidwell and you can’t make it it into that group, then something is wrong with the applications you’re submitting (essays, reccs, ECs, etc). Or, something is wrong with the kid (and the AOs made note of it). Let’s be real, I know a few high stats Sidwell kids who are, at best, odd and lack basic social skills.

Same person from above - there is NO way a top rigor/top test scores kid who wanted to a T10/T15 is happy settling for Richmond. No matter what their parents say to them - the student body would consider that not meeting par. They are barely happy to be settling for a T25 edge like UVA or Georgetown.

Either way they get over it - but they should know going in that there is a good chance they won't get into a T25 or T5/T10 SLAC. Perpetuating this expectation that you are selling is NOT healthy for the long game of these kids.

Speak for your own (mentality warped and miserable) self. There are top stats/top rigor students who are happy AND prefer a T15-T25 SLAC. Everyone doesn’t think like you. Get over yourself.

Yes - there are. But they are not the same ones who are T25 or bust. This is what I am saying.

Then we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about T25 universities and T25 SLACs—I will not arbitrarily reduce the SLACs to T5/10/15, or whatever nonsense you’re trying to push.

My point: there are top stats Sidwell students who are happy/want/prefer/ T25 SLACs. They weren’t gunning for anything else, and they got exactly what they wanted.

Agreed on that point - but for many of the DCUM here looking for T25 chances - and because of that some nuance is needed when someone states that 50% get into T25 universities or T25 SLAC.

Of course there are students of all types (including top rigor and stats) who will prefer/choose a school outside T25 university or T10 SLAC.

But there are MANY unhooked top rigor top stats students at Sidwell who's goal is a T25 university/T5-T10 SLAC who do NOT get accepted to such a school (most, of unhooked top do not, in fact). They land in T40 university or lower SLAC. Again - this ends up being just fine - and I am not throwing judgement. But people should know this nuance in advance so they manage their expectations and their kids' expectations too. It's not healthy to build up some false narrative just to be "Sidwell proud" in some college admissions war vs other schools.

How is this MANY? There are about 125 kids at Sidwell. "TOP STATS" kids are top 20%. so there are about 25 of them. Let's say "top rigor" of the top stats kids are 15 out of 25. So you have 15 kids in the top rigor/top stats category. Let's say that 50% of them get a top40 university or top10 liberal arts college. That is 7 kids who do not. Is 7 "MANY" ? I would say no.

And I have a hard time believing that only 50% of the 15 kids who have top rigor/top stats make it into a top 40 university of ANY kind. That seems awfully low.

Listen - proceed with your view - we've been through the process (and seen others too) and have seen where the chips fall. Feel free to doubt all you will and best of luck.

For bystanders - hopefully the nuance helps manage expectations. By all means, unhooked high stats/rigor should apply to some dream schools - but don't "expect" anything. CCO will tell you will not likely be helpful in managing/gauging expectations (other than to make sure you have true safety schools). Best of luck to you too!

I'm the poster you're replying too and I'm not even a Sidwell parent. But I get tired of the "sky is falling" "MANY top kids are being shut out!!" narrative. At a max this was 7 kids and that is if 50% of all the top stats/rigor kids were shut out of top40 schools. Which I just find really, really, really hard to believe unless they all applied for computer science and really mismanaged their colleges.

UIUC, Wisconsin, UC Davis, Florida, etc. are all top40 schools. And you are telling me that SEVEN 3.95/1550 Sidwell kids were shut out from all these schools and others like them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
All schools do that, OP, both public and private.

Are you a public parent? Maybe your school doesn't "rank" students but there's a huge difference between public, where GPA IS calculated and GPA IS weighted and a private where there is no official GPA and even the mocked up one isn't weighted. Being told GPA is not calculated or given to colleges but then having CCO and that there are no rankings - but then CCO chooses to "reveal" a rank for some students is not ok.

DP: It's more than OK. It's essential. Had the CCO refused to answer the question when asked by a college, likely all of the kids under consideration would have bene rejected.

Also, you knowing the rank would not have changed that outcome.

I don't need to know the rank. And, by not providing this info for everyone "secretly in their CCO letter" likely does result in kids under consideration being rejected. If calculated a rigor weighted rank and provided that for all students - then it would be far more clear who the weighted top 5%-10%-20% are. Doing this for just a few people you choose to go to bat for - while claiming it is NOT done due to Quakerly values (which they absolutely claim) - is not ok. They aren't just doing this for a couple of students at the very top of rigor/gpa - they are doing for the students "they want to" (and in some cases, are probably "told to") help stand out. Of course, all those legacies with low rigor and high grades wouldn't want a blanket weighted GPA/rank floating out there.....

No doubt you and your student have benefited from the school treating people differently based on hooks (even when the school says they don’t do that). And you’ve probably touted the Quaker values in other contexts while your student has been at the school. Now you cry unfair because you are not the favored ones.

Nope to both of these. We liked the idea of Quaker values but in reality, Sidwell high school uses Quaker values as their reason for why they don't/won't do certain things. We have no hooks other than full pay - which we would be anywhere.

Be real. Everyone knows the "Quaker values" are a sham at this School for the Highly Privileged

The Quaker values also goes out the door when it comes to athletic department. Somehow it is not ok to hold anyone higher than another in the community - and fail to celebrate anyone's personal achievement because everyone is special and equal.....but then have athletic awards for individuals and hype attendance at basketball games when the school is not doing so for other sports (even when they play in a state championship game).

I have no beef against the basketball team or against athletes being celebrated or against athletic awards (In fact my DC received an athletic award that we/they had no idea was coming - only found out by attending a senior event.) But these actions are the exact opposite of their stated policy not to celebrate any achievements among non-athletes (or to hype attendance for teams other than the basketball teams).

If it's not Quakerly to celebrate other achievements, then don't celebrate the athletes either.

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Anonymous wrote:So, with my largely unhooked kid in 7th at Sidwell who is probably going to stay, is there anything I can do? Or just set my expectations for him not to get into a top 20 school and call it a day?
Any hope that the new head of the upper school will change some of this?

You absolutely shouldn't "expect" him to get into a Top 20 - he might, he might not. Especially if not in top 5 students. But this is based on the past 3 years - things could change in 5 years. I do think it used to be that top 20% GPA kids with rigor did get into T20 but colleges have made a big shift and they are also being flooded with applications.

The bolded statement doesn’t apply to Sidwell. Over half of Sidwell’s graduates consistently attend T25 universities/T25 SLACs. So, over 60 students per year, out of a class of 125, attend these top tier colleges/universities.

Not true for unhooked for T25 university and T5-T10 SLAC but dream on (or sit on your hooked perch with blindfolds on)

It’s true…you just don’t like that it’s true. I personally know several c/o 2024 Sidwell alums who are attending T25 universities (not to mention T25 SLACs) with absolutely no hooks.

And I know of many unhooked very high stats kids from c/o 2023 and 2024 who are not at T25 university or T10 SLAC (and wanted to go to one).

Also - T25 SLAC is NOT equivalent to T25 universities - this needs to be T5 SLAC or T10 SLAC at most.

Why—because you said so? No one cares about where you want to arbitrarily draw the line.

Btw, Sidwell consistently sends over 50% of the class to T25 universities AND T25 SLACs. If you’re an unhooked high stats kid from Sidwell and you can’t make it it into that group, then something is wrong with the applications you’re submitting (essays, reccs, ECs, etc). Or, something is wrong with the kid (and the AOs made note of it). Let’s be real, I know a few high stats Sidwell kids who are, at best, odd and lack basic social skills.

Same person from above - there is NO way a top rigor/top test scores kid who wanted to a T10/T15 is happy settling for Richmond. No matter what their parents say to them - the student body would consider that not meeting par. They are barely happy to be settling for a T25 edge like UVA or Georgetown.

Either way they get over it - but they should know going in that there is a good chance they won't get into a T25 or T5/T10 SLAC. Perpetuating this expectation that you are selling is NOT healthy for the long game of these kids.

Speak for your own (mentality warped and miserable) self. There are top stats/top rigor students who are happy AND prefer a T15-T25 SLAC. Everyone doesn’t think like you. Get over yourself.

Yes - there are. But they are not the same ones who are T25 or bust. This is what I am saying.

Then we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about T25 universities and T25 SLACs—I will not arbitrarily reduce the SLACs to T5/10/15, or whatever nonsense you’re trying to push.

My point: there are top stats Sidwell students who are happy/want/prefer/ T25 SLACs. They weren’t gunning for anything else, and they got exactly what they wanted.

Agreed on that point - but for many of the DCUM here looking for T25 chances - and because of that some nuance is needed when someone states that 50% get into T25 universities or T25 SLAC.

Of course there are students of all types (including top rigor and stats) who will prefer/choose a school outside T25 university or T10 SLAC.

But there are MANY unhooked top rigor top stats students at Sidwell who's goal is a T25 university/T5-T10 SLAC who do NOT get accepted to such a school (most, of unhooked top do not, in fact). They land in T40 university or lower SLAC. Again - this ends up being just fine - and I am not throwing judgement. But people should know this nuance in advance so they manage their expectations and their kids' expectations too. It's not healthy to build up some false narrative just to be "Sidwell proud" in some college admissions war vs other schools.

How is this MANY? There are about 125 kids at Sidwell. "TOP STATS" kids are top 20%. so there are about 25 of them. Let's say "top rigor" of the top stats kids are 15 out of 25. So you have 15 kids in the top rigor/top stats category. Let's say that 50% of them get a top40 university or top10 liberal arts college. That is 7 kids who do not. Is 7 "MANY" ? I would say no.

And I have a hard time believing that only 50% of the 15 kids who have top rigor/top stats make it into a top 40 university of ANY kind. That seems awfully low.

Listen - proceed with your view - we've been through the process (and seen others too) and have seen where the chips fall. Feel free to doubt all you will and best of luck.

For bystanders - hopefully the nuance helps manage expectations. By all means, unhooked high stats/rigor should apply to some dream schools - but don't "expect" anything. CCO will tell you will not likely be helpful in managing/gauging expectations (other than to make sure you have true safety schools). Best of luck to you too!

I'm the poster you're replying too and I'm not even a Sidwell parent. But I get tired of the "sky is falling" "MANY top kids are being shut out!!" narrative. At a max this was 7 kids and that is if 50% of all the top stats/rigor kids were shut out of top40 schools. Which I just find really, really, really hard to believe unless they all applied for computer science and really mismanaged their colleges.

UIUC, Wisconsin, UC Davis, Florida, etc. are all top40 schools. And you are telling me that SEVEN 3.95/1550 Sidwell kids were shut out from all these schools and others like them.

Move on - you are not a Sidwell parent - have zero context and this affects you in no way.

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Anonymous wrote:Jesus- you Sidwell parents are the literal worst

Yet here you are—eagerly posting on a Sidwell thread. You’re hating from outside the club.

You're posting on our Recent Threads website It's our club.

You sound stupid.

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Anonymous wrote:So, with my largely unhooked kid in 7th at Sidwell who is probably going to stay, is there anything I can do? Or just set my expectations for him not to get into a top 20 school and call it a day?
Any hope that the new head of the upper school will change some of this?

You absolutely shouldn't "expect" him to get into a Top 20 - he might, he might not. Especially if not in top 5 students. But this is based on the past 3 years - things could change in 5 years. I do think it used to be that top 20% GPA kids with rigor did get into T20 but colleges have made a big shift and they are also being flooded with applications.

The bolded statement doesn’t apply to Sidwell. Over half of Sidwell’s graduates consistently attend T25 universities/T25 SLACs. So, over 60 students per year, out of a class of 125, attend these top tier colleges/universities.

Not true for unhooked for T25 university and T5-T10 SLAC but dream on (or sit on your hooked perch with blindfolds on)

It’s true…you just don’t like that it’s true. I personally know several c/o 2024 Sidwell alums who are attending T25 universities (not to mention T25 SLACs) with absolutely no hooks.

And I know of many unhooked very high stats kids from c/o 2023 and 2024 who are not at T25 university or T10 SLAC (and wanted to go to one).

Also - T25 SLAC is NOT equivalent to T25 universities - this needs to be T5 SLAC or T10 SLAC at most.

Why—because you said so? No one cares about where you want to arbitrarily draw the line.

Btw, Sidwell consistently sends over 50% of the class to T25 universities AND T25 SLACs. If you’re an unhooked high stats kid from Sidwell and you can’t make it it into that group, then something is wrong with the applications you’re submitting (essays, reccs, ECs, etc). Or, something is wrong with the kid (and the AOs made note of it). Let’s be real, I know a few high stats Sidwell kids who are, at best, odd and lack basic social skills.

Same person from above - there is NO way a top rigor/top test scores kid who wanted to a T10/T15 is happy settling for Richmond. No matter what their parents say to them - the student body would consider that not meeting par. They are barely happy to be settling for a T25 edge like UVA or Georgetown.

Either way they get over it - but they should know going in that there is a good chance they won't get into a T25 or T5/T10 SLAC. Perpetuating this expectation that you are selling is NOT healthy for the long game of these kids.

Speak for your own (mentality warped and miserable) self. There are top stats/top rigor students who are happy AND prefer a T15-T25 SLAC. Everyone doesn’t think like you. Get over yourself.

Yes - there are. But they are not the same ones who are T25 or bust. This is what I am saying.

Then we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about T25 universities and T25 SLACs—I will not arbitrarily reduce the SLACs to T5/10/15, or whatever nonsense you’re trying to push.

My point: there are top stats Sidwell students who are happy/want/prefer/ T25 SLACs. They weren’t gunning for anything else, and they got exactly what they wanted.

Agreed on that point - but for many of the DCUM here looking for T25 chances - and because of that some nuance is needed when someone states that 50% get into T25 universities or T25 SLAC.

Of course there are students of all types (including top rigor and stats) who will prefer/choose a school outside T25 university or T10 SLAC.

But there are MANY unhooked top rigor top stats students at Sidwell who's goal is a T25 university/T5-T10 SLAC who do NOT get accepted to such a school (most, of unhooked top do not, in fact). They land in T40 university or lower SLAC. Again - this ends up being just fine - and I am not throwing judgement. But people should know this nuance in advance so they manage their expectations and their kids' expectations too. It's not healthy to build up some false narrative just to be "Sidwell proud" in some college admissions war vs other schools.

Please let this nonsense go. As a Sidwell parent (fairly recent alum and a current US student), I know at least a dozen Sidwell graduates who attended (lower ranked) T25 SLACs, then went on to graduate from Ivy+ universities for law, medical, business and graduate school. They are doing better than most, by every conventional definition of success. Relax…their Sidwell education more than prepared them for the degrees that mattered most.