GDS college enrolmments

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of WIS students have parents at the World Bank and IMF, who will obviously encourage their kids to consider UChicago.

Oh I thought the PP was implying there was some sort of new private school push to go to UChicago, that makes sense too if there is a relationship between UChicago and World Bank & IMF.

I don't know much about UChicago, it just popped put of me because of the number.

Haha I was just making a fun conjecture because UChicago is the birthplace of most economic theory, and the Bank and IMF are hubs of economists.

Lol I mean you probably aren't wrong and if you hear this said at a party, it's probably cause I'm gonna spread it around because it makes sense 🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of WIS students have parents at the World Bank and IMF, who will obviously encourage their kids to consider UChicago.

Oh I thought the PP was implying there was some sort of new private school push to go to UChicago, that makes sense too if there is a relationship between UChicago and World Bank & IMF.

I don't know much about UChicago, it just popped put of me because of the number.

I am the pp and yes I was implying that there is a rigorous private school connection to UChicago. UChicago loves these kids as they tend to be full pay (chicago having some financial issues) and they are well prepared for the academics. There are some private schools that send a lot - including St. Albans and Sidwell. Horace Mann in NY - a national top private - sends about 20 a year out of a class of 150 or so.

It's often the kids who don't get have connections/legacy into other top schools or sometimes after they get deferred from their ED1 at an Ivy. It's a great school, but it's not random that 15 kids are going from sidwell this year - or the 20 from Horace Mann.

That makes a ton of sense! I didn't realize that was the game they were playing. (As much as we try to game these schools, they are gaming us right back!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a GDS parent. We’re just getting underway re this. While I don’t love the cap, it has logic. Kids we know at other schools are applying to 18-22 colleges. That seems pretty nutty. I would be surprised if these kids can really execute successfully on that many school applications. Plus there are cases where top students run the table on all the top schools making it harder for everyone else. Sidwell does seem to have joined the private school-to-uchicago thing quite effectively as have some NY private schools. Beyond that, there are a lot of hooked kids in all these private schools for the Ivy League in particular. So I, at least, take the whole thing w a degree of humility. I certainly wouldn’t have picked another school for my kids based on this.

Oooh, is that why WIS sends so many to UChicago? That was one of the things that surprised me on their matriculation list. I expected more of an international spread (with, of course, the usual Ivies and top American schools), but UChicago showed up a lot. I had no idea it was "a thing".

WIS does not send that many kids to UChicago. Maybe 1 per year.

According to their school profile, they sent 15 in the past 3 years... I would say that is enough to surprise me

https://washingtonintl.static.amais.com/WIS_Profile_Fall25_update-2550.pdf?version=638935447193530000

WIS’ school profile covers 4 graduating classes, not 3. So, WIS sent an average of 3-4 students/year to UChicago. That’s not earth shattering, or even conversation worthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a GDS parent. We’re just getting underway re this. While I don’t love the cap, it has logic. Kids we know at other schools are applying to 18-22 colleges. That seems pretty nutty. I would be surprised if these kids can really execute successfully on that many school applications. Plus there are cases where top students run the table on all the top schools making it harder for everyone else. Sidwell does seem to have joined the private school-to-uchicago thing quite effectively as have some NY private schools. Beyond that, there are a lot of hooked kids in all these private schools for the Ivy League in particular. So I, at least, take the whole thing w a degree of humility. I certainly wouldn’t have picked another school for my kids based on this.

Oooh, is that why WIS sends so many to UChicago? That was one of the things that surprised me on their matriculation list. I expected more of an international spread (with, of course, the usual Ivies and top American schools), but UChicago showed up a lot. I had no idea it was "a thing".

WIS does not send that many kids to UChicago. Maybe 1 per year.

According to their school profile, they sent 15 in the past 3 years... I would say that is enough to surprise me

https://washingtonintl.static.amais.com/WIS_Profile_Fall25_update-2550.pdf?version=638935447193530000

WIS’ school profile covers 4 graduating classes, not 3. So, WIS sent an average of 3-4 students/year to UChicago. That’s not earth shattering, or even conversation worthy.

+1 Who gives a hoot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IDK if people know this, but GDS limits the amount of colleges you're allowed to apply to at 12, and 5 of them have to be "safety/foundational" schools if you hit the max. This means that people really think about where they want to apply to and if they like the school! I don't know a single person at GDS that's upset with where they're going to college and I feel like that's all that really matters

-GDS senior

[Anonymous]

Yup! That is what matters!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The cap works against kids who are in a hard to place sitution. Unhooked, mismatch between grades and test scores, not pointy, etc. These kid are truly applying into a black hole.

So all they have is a shotgun approach at reaches? There are no targets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IDK if people know this, but GDS limits the amount of colleges you're allowed to apply to at 12, and 5 of them have to be "safety/foundational" schools if you hit the max. This means that people really think about where they want to apply to and if they like the school! I don't know a single person at GDS that's upset with where they're going to college and I feel like that's all that really matters


-GDS senior

GDS’ college application cap is one of the reasons we turned it down, after my son was admitted (there were other reasons as well). It’s a stupid rule, and none of the administrators could offer a reasonable explanation. My son is a junior at Sidwell now, and he can’t even think of 2 safety schools he wants to attend/are good fits for what he’s looking for in a college. I’m baffled why anyone would need to apply to more than 2-3 safeties—they’re called safeties for a reason.

I wouldn't be on such a high horse if my son were a junior at Sidwell right now. That grade (class of '27) is known for rampant cheating and misbehavior. The Science department has been left traumatized. I'm sure the college outcomes at Sidwell will dip next year because of how many kids were sent to the Honor Committee or reported to the school for cheating on assessments.

There’s no high horse here. I don’t have a problem acknowledging the good and the bad at Sidwell. Rampant cheating in my son’s grade has definitely been an issue (and not just in the science department). Thankfully, my son doesn’t cheat and he’s never been called before the Honor Committee. That said, let’s return to the topic at hand: GDS’ 2026 college results generally, and the application cap specifically. The point I was trying to make is that I think GDS’ application cap (which includes a 5 safety school minimum) is doing a disservice to students. They should raise the cap to at least 15, and reduce the safety requirement to 2-3 schools.

The cap has changed over the years, but currently it's up to 7 non-safety schools ("Reach" and "Target") and 3 to 5 safeties ("Foundation"). I'd prefer the non-safety cap be 8 or 9, but not sure if more beyond that is truly helpful. We'll see.

But isn’t safety is differnt for everyone? If some student is super good, then Dartmouth or Michigan could be a safety?

Yup! I think it is to get the kids to think in terms of framing...cause there is no line

You are probably not very close to this process if you think that Dartmouth or Michigan are a safety for anyone. I think generally they are considered schools with a over 40% admit rate or at least 30%. It's not 1990

Safety schools are generally considered schools with an 80%+ chance of admission.

There are a small handful of students for whom Dartmouth would be a safety. These students can basically go wherever they want because they won some highly competitive national academic competition or something. I would bet that the USAMO gold medalists can go to whatever math proigrasm they want in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cap works against kids who are in a hard to place sitution. Unhooked, mismatch between grades and test scores, not pointy, etc. These kid are truly applying into a black hole.

So all they have is a shotgun approach at reaches? There are no targets?

Why doesn't the counseling program help them find their edges? Or schools that love a well rounded kid? If anything I would think the cap would help them to not spin out. There is a way to coach them into finding their place.

Signed a former well rounded not pointy kid who played the game in way that meant she only applied to 3 schools and got into the top one where she was really happy. (And I'm a pre-K parent so not as long ago).

[Anonymous]

Experiences from the 80s and 90s very different than today

[Anonymous]

I wasn't born in the 80s... the game hasn't changes that much since I went to college. There are still places with Rolling applications, you find one of those you like and apply early (like September) and you get in really fast and that helps you evaluate other schools, do an ED/EA and keep yourself from panicking and throwing out so many applications you loose focus. The college game is how you shape your story to fit the school. If you are throwing out 20+ applications, you won't do any of them well (unless you pay someone else to do it, which could get flagged in a different way).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IDK if people know this, but GDS limits the amount of colleges you're allowed to apply to at 12, and 5 of them have to be "safety/foundational" schools if you hit the max. This means that people really think about where they want to apply to and if they like the school! I don't know a single person at GDS that's upset with where they're going to college and I feel like that's all that really matters


-GDS senior

GDS’ college application cap is one of the reasons we turned it down, after my son was admitted (there were other reasons as well). It’s a stupid rule, and none of the administrators could offer a reasonable explanation. My son is a junior at Sidwell now, and he can’t even think of 2 safety schools he wants to attend/are good fits for what he’s looking for in a college. I’m baffled why anyone would need to apply to more than 2-3 safeties—they’re called safeties for a reason.

I wouldn't be on such a high horse if my son were a junior at Sidwell right now. That grade (class of '27) is known for rampant cheating and misbehavior. The Science department has been left traumatized. I'm sure the college outcomes at Sidwell will dip next year because of how many kids were sent to the Honor Committee or reported to the school for cheating on assessments.

There’s no high horse here. I don’t have a problem acknowledging the good and the bad at Sidwell. Rampant cheating in my son’s grade has definitely been an issue (and not just in the science department). Thankfully, my son doesn’t cheat and he’s never been called before the Honor Committee. That said, let’s return to the topic at hand: GDS’ 2026 college results generally, and the application cap specifically. The point I was trying to make is that I think GDS’ application cap (which includes a 5 safety school minimum) is doing a disservice to students. They should raise the cap to at least 15, and reduce the safety requirement to 2-3 schools.

The cap has changed over the years, but currently it's up to 7 non-safety schools ("Reach" and "Target") and 3 to 5 safeties ("Foundation"). I'd prefer the non-safety cap be 8 or 9, but not sure if more beyond that is truly helpful. We'll see.

But isn’t safety is differnt for everyone? If some student is super good, then Dartmouth or Michigan could be a safety?

Yup! I think it is to get the kids to think in terms of framing...cause there is no line

You are probably not very close to this process if you think that Dartmouth or Michigan are a safety for anyone. I think generally they are considered schools with a over 40% admit rate or at least 30%. It's not 1990

Safety schools are generally considered schools with an 80%+ chance of admission.

There are a small handful of students for whom Dartmouth would be a safety. These students can go wherever they want because they won a highly competitive national academic competition. I would bet that the USAMO gold medalists can go to whatever math proigrasm they want in the country.

GDS's approach to have 3-4 safety schools is not unreasonable. After all, if you have a good chance get into Harvard, you have a good chance for Penn and Brown. No need to apply all of that. The art is in estimating this for each kid. How is GDS college counseling giving specific advice to students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cap works against kids who are in a hard to place sitution. Unhooked, mismatch between grades and test scores, not pointy, etc. These kid are truly applying into a black hole.

So all they have is a shotgun approach at reaches? There are no targets?

Is it not negotiable? The cap? Why can't it be a little bit more flexible? Is it on the agenda to discuss with the new leadership?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IDK if people know this, but GDS limits the amount of colleges you're allowed to apply to at 12, and 5 of them have to be "safety/foundational" schools if you hit the max. This means that people really think about where they want to apply to and if they like the school! I don't know a single person at GDS that's upset with where they're going to college and I feel like that's all that really matters


-GDS senior

GDS’ college application cap is one of the reasons we turned it down, after my son was admitted (there were other reasons as well). It’s a stupid rule, and none of the administrators could offer a reasonable explanation. My son is a junior at Sidwell now, and he can’t even think of 2 safety schools he wants to attend/are good fits for what he’s looking for in a college. I’m baffled why anyone would need to apply to more than 2-3 safeties—they’re called safeties for a reason.

I wouldn't be on such a high horse if my son were a junior at Sidwell right now. That grade (class of '27) is known for rampant cheating and misbehavior. The Science department has been left traumatized. I'm sure the college outcomes at Sidwell will dip next year because of how many kids were sent to the Honor Committee or reported to the school for cheating on assessments.

There’s no high horse here. I don’t have a problem acknowledging the good and the bad at Sidwell. Rampant cheating in my son’s grade has definitely been an issue (and not just in the science department). Thankfully, my son doesn’t cheat and he’s never been called before the Honor Committee. That said, let’s return to the topic at hand: GDS’ 2026 college results generally, and the application cap specifically. The point I was trying to make is that I think GDS’ application cap (which includes a 5 safety school minimum) is doing a disservice to students. They should raise the cap to at least 15, and reduce the safety requirement to 2-3 schools.

The cap has changed over the years, but currently it's up to 7 non-safety schools ("Reach" and "Target") and 3 to 5 safeties ("Foundation"). I'd prefer the non-safety cap be 8 or 9, but not sure if more beyond that is truly helpful. We'll see.

But isn’t safety is differnt for everyone? If some student is super good, then Dartmouth or Michigan could be a safety?

Yup! I think it is to get the kids to think in terms of framing...cause there is no line

You are probably not very close to this process if you think that Dartmouth or Michigan are a safety for anyone. I think generally they are considered schools with a over 40% admit rate or at least 30%. It's not 1990

Safety schools are generally considered schools with an 80%+ chance of admission.

There are a small handful of students for whom Dartmouth would be a safety. These students can go wherever they want because they won a highly competitive national academic competition. I would bet that the USAMO gold medalists can go to whatever math proigrasm they want in the country.

GDS's approach to have 3-4 safety schools is not unreasonable. After all, if you have a good chance get into Harvard, you have a good chance for Penn and Brown. No need to apply all of that. The art is in estimating this for each kid. How is GDS college counseling giving specific advice to students?

That's what I want to know... like should we be seeking outside counseling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of WIS students have parents at the World Bank and IMF, who will obviously encourage their kids to consider UChicago.

Oh I thought the PP was implying there was some sort of new private school push to go to UChicago, that makes sense too if there is a relationship between UChicago and World Bank & IMF.

I don't know much about UChicago, it just popped put of me because of the number.

I am the pp and yes I was implying that there is a rigorous private school connection to UChicago. UChicago loves these kids as they tend to be full pay (chicago having some financial issues) and they are well prepared for the academics. There are some private schools that send a lot - including St. Albans and Sidwell. Horace Mann in NY - a national top private - sends about 20 a year out of a class of 150 or so.

It's often the kids who don't get have connections/legacy into other top schools or sometimes after they get deferred from their ED1 at an Ivy. It's a great school, but it's not random that 15 kids are going from sidwell this year - or the 20 from Horace Mann.

And a lot of this comes via early decision, where the acceptance rate is much higher.