How welcoming is Visi?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These schools always have a balance of the wealthy socialites and those who are not.
If your kid is not a country club member and chases after the kids who are she may have real issues fitting in (or may not--depends on the kids). But regardless there is always the rest of the class. Hopefully your kid will gravitate towards them.

It's always a bit of a crap shoot when you join one of the fancier DC schools but most kids will find their crowd.

Ie, does your DD Know her place

[Anonymous]

OP, Your daughter should try to attend Gold/White and any other welcome events Visitation offers. My daughter is a freshman and was accepted at both SR and Visi last year. I felt like SR was a better fit for her in many ways (and sometimes still believe that) but she had her heart set on Visi. SR is further from our home and DD liked that Visi is in Georgetown and an easier commute. My DD was not coming from a feeder school and knew only a handful of girls when she arrived at Visi but she has loved every second of her freshman year so far. She has friends from all over and I have no idea who belongs to country clubs and who doesn't. She has a big group of friends and has been welcomed by even the girls in older grades. I just wanted to share our experience as I was not sure what to expect but my daughter could not be happier.

[Anonymous]

Is your family Catholic? What are the other high school options for your DD? I would not send my DD to Visi -- the academics are behind other private schools (even all girls schools) and the school is just not worth the money. Compare the academic offerings at Visi to other schools and you will see this. Plus consider the college placement.

You can’t opine reliably on the academics if your DD did not attend. The top 10% at Visi would be in the top group at any local private. The bottom is probably lower than NCS, etc. there is absolutely no question that a smart girl will be challenged there. When my DD graduated (in last 10 years) there were four NMSF in her class. My DD is extremely academically-oriented, had to work very hard at Visi and went on to one of HYPSM, where she felt very well prepared.

[Anonymous]

Both are great schools. Pick the one closer to your house. That's what we are doing.

[Anonymous]

In a recent thread a few posters intimated that country club families at NCS who are not interested in the rigorous academics of its upper school often transfer to Visi…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. She definitely does not have any interest in the country club crowd and her main reason for hesitating to accept is this country club crowd.

I think you could probably ask admissions what the personality of the class is. You have nothing to lose (she's in!)

That said, I really don't think she'll have a problem unless she has the personality where she wants to be the center of the action/popular/a leader. Well, this kid may be more likely to have a hard time there. In contrast, a kid who is just going to quietly find her friends will quietly find her friends. There will be plenty of girls who don't get caught up in the social scene.

Can she shadow? I agree with speaking with admissions about the make up of the class.