Bullis culture

[Anonymous]

Finding it hard to visit given their application pre-requisites. Other schools have been far more inviting and being able to physically visit campus and talk with people in person is important to us. DC was able to shadow and meet actual kids and then interview, for example, at another school. Now they are working on the other parts of the application and are excited about the school because they can envision themselves there. But even the interview at Bullis is virtual—how does DC even get a sense of the place if they can’t come to campus first? Watching the prerecorded admissions videos isn’t cutting it. We’ve been on campus for middle school sports but thats a very different experience. It’s too bad because on paper there’s a lot here that suggests Bullis could be a good school for DC but we are stalled at the gates and likely will not pursue further.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finding it hard to visit given their application pre-requisites. Other schools have been far more inviting and being able to physically visit campus and talk with people in person is important to us. DC was able to shadow and meet actual kids and then interview, for example, at another school. Now they are working on the other parts of the application and are excited about the school because they can envision themselves there. But even the interview at Bullis is virtual—how does DC even get a sense of the place if they can’t come to campus first? Watching the prerecorded admissions videos isn’t cutting it. We’ve been on campus for middle school sports but thats a very different experience. It’s too bad because on paper there’s a lot here that suggests Bullis could be a good school for DC but we are stalled at the gates and likely will not pursue further.

+1 I am looking at area schools for LS and crossed Bullis off my list because we can't visit without applying first. It's annoying.
If they can't have an influx of people on campus because of construction, that's understandable, but state that reasoning on your site or Ravenna. Will take my $50k a year elsewhere...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re a new family in 9th this year and we really love the school. DS has adjusted well to the academics, the schedule and has made friends quickly. The administration is so approachable and actually wants to hear from you. The head of school is everywhere- involved and engaged.

There’s diversity of all types- culture, race, religion, experience, wealth. Parents have been really welcoming.

I think that a lot of different types of students can be successful at Bullis. It’s as much or as little of a pressure cooker as you want it to be, but I love how emboldened my son is feeling about himself and his experience.

This is Bullis PR (how would a parent know that Head is everywhere). Bullis is trying to move away from being all about sports. Arts are fine - as good as any other school. Some good teachers - like every other school. It is expensive and nothing that really makes it stand out. Nice campus - like lots of other schools. Lots of wealth. Little true diversity beside athletes.

I will say this: I have friends who are employed there - the Head is almost universally disliked by the faculty.

I’m the first poster and I assure you I’m a first time parent. I wrote this shortly after dropping my son off- he usually takes the bus and this was the first time I’ve ever driven him in. I was shocked to see the HOS standing outside waving to every car. He’s been at every new parent event, he welcomed everyone at BTS night (expected obv). The one that touched us the most was he attended an event in the evening that was for a specific affinity group and he didn’t address the crowd but was there just to show his support. I can’t speak to whether or not the faculty like him. I think he has high expectations and clearly wants to move away from the sports only culture. All I can say is that my kid is happy, he’s got a great group of friends and is learning with more confidence than I’ve seen in years.

Maybe Bullis can produce some NMSFs under this HOS.

Eh. My child graduated from Bullis last year, was not a NMSF, and is now a freshman at a very top school (doing very well in their classes). It doesn’t really matter how a kid does on their PSAT. I mean other than to this poster.

https://www.bullis.org/academics/college-counseling/college-matriculation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Finding it hard to visit given their application pre-requisites. Other schools have been far more inviting and being able to physically visit campus and talk with people in person is important to us. DC was able to shadow and meet actual kids and then interview, for example, at another school. Now they are working on the other parts of the application and are excited about the school because they can envision themselves there. But even the interview at Bullis is virtual—how does DC even get a sense of the place if they can’t come to campus first? Watching the prerecorded admissions videos isn’t cutting it. We’ve been on campus for middle school sports but thats a very different experience. It’s too bad because on paper there’s a lot here that suggests Bullis could be a good school for DC but we are stalled at the gates and likely will not pursue further.

+1 I am looking at area schools for LS and crossed Bullis off my list because we can't visit without applying first. It's annoying.
If they can't have an influx of people on campus because of construction, that's understandable, but state that reasoning on your site or Ravenna. Will take my $50k a year elsewhere...

Completely agree. Any school that doesn't let you visit or shadow seems sketchy.

[Anonymous]

Agree that the visiting situation is not ideal, but I wrote the responses and was able to schedule a tour before an interview. Not too far off from (GDS - virtual open house and can tour and interview at the same time, but not tour without an interview, and Sidwell - pretty arduous parent essays required to move forward with the application).

Would love to hear what moving away from athletics to more academics looks like. Any examples? Or just trying to recruit more students with higher GPAs?

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PPs that the inability to visit campus before applying js really putting us off to the school. How are we supposed to write an essay saying why we want Bullis when we have never stepped foot in the place? It has definitely dropped to the bottom of our list because of this.

[Anonymous]

I completely agree that the admissions process is very cold vs other schools. However we did end up at Bullis and the school is so much warmer than the admissions process. I really hope they will change their philosophy on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree that the visiting situation is not ideal, but I wrote the responses and was able to schedule a tour before an interview. Not too far off from (GDS - virtual open house and can tour and interview at the same time, but not tour without an interview, and Sidwell - pretty arduous parent essays required to move forward with the application).

Would love to hear what moving away from athletics to more academics looks like. Any examples? Or just trying to recruit more students with higher GPAs?

Just an FYI, I am applying for LS and was able to tour GDS without submitting an application or interviewing. I did the virtual open house two weeks after the tour. Assuming the format is different for MS and US.

I have looked at almost all of the top independents in DC & MD (with the exception of all boys schools) and been able to tour them all. Bullis is the only one I have found that had this requirement for LS.

[Anonymous]

Not being able to tour the school before the VIRTUAL interview is bizarre to me. Not only do I loathe the virtual format, but how is a kid supposed to really speak to their "why Bullis" when haven't had a chance to get a feel for the school beyond brochures and some videos online? Not being able to shadow until after acceptance is also a massive no thanks for our family. If my kid can't go and experience the school for a few hours, I'm not putting in the time and money to apply. And this policy at Bullis has been in place for awhile so I don't know that it is related to construction PP mentioned. DS shadowed at another school that has a big construction project going on.....

[Anonymous]

Bullis’s good admission director left (another excellent loss due to HOS) and they replaced him with the previous guy who was there for years and did not do a great job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bullis’s good admission director left (another excellent loss due to HOS) and they replaced him with the previous guy who was there for years and did not do a great job.

Not true. Yes, he was excellent, and he left to become Head of School at a school much closer to where he lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not being able to tour the school before the VIRTUAL interview is bizarre to me. Not only do I loathe the virtual format, but how is a kid supposed to really speak to their "why Bullis" when haven't had a chance to get a feel for the school beyond brochures and some videos online? Not being able to shadow until after acceptance is also a massive no thanks for our family. If my kid can't go and experience the school for a few hours, I'm not putting in the time and money to apply. And this policy at Bullis has been in place for awhile so I don't know that it is related to construction PP mentioned. DS shadowed at another school that has a big construction project going on.....

WOW, didn't realize you couldn't shadow until after acceptance. So in the 2 weeks you have to make a decision before the deadline, they fit in all the accepted kids into shadow visits? That's insane!

[Anonymous]

What was their reasoning for suggesting Bullis for your child? I think that would be important to know. We are a few years out after applying. It was the tour when we figured out it wasn't a good fit and my kid didn't like it. Now it was during the time of the last HOS which was a disaster, for years. Hopefully that seems to be turning around.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who works there and I’ve heard that the sunny disposition of the HoS is very different behind closed doors. Hence the turnover.

[Anonymous]

Same as William and Mary