Was Told By College Admissions Officer That Sidwell Secretly Ranks Students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No dog in this fight but I think OPs point is the school makes a big deal about how they do not rank…when clearly they do

+1

Do parents know where their child ranks?

Knowing your Top 5 or Top 10 (or bottom…) would be useful in deciding where to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No dog in this fight but I think OPs point is the school makes a big deal about how they do not rank…when clearly they do

+1

Do parents know where their child ranks?

No

[Anonymous]

They likely due this by request of the schools. Our private is open with the fact that colleges compare kids against each other openly--basically lay the applications on the table and go down the row.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No dog in this fight but I think OPs point is the school makes a big deal about how they do not rank…when clearly they do

+1

Do parents know where their child ranks?

Sidwell will release a student’s rank if they apply to a Service Academy (because it’s required), or if a scholarship application requires that information.

[Anonymous]

OPs info is useful info. Some of these schools tell you they won't even calculate GPA. And it is not that transparent - making it hard to figure out where to apply. I do get the point about rigor though. Don't knowhow they deal with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OPs info is useful info. Some of these schools tell you they won't even calculate GPA. And it is not that transparent - making it hard to figure out where to apply. I do get the point about rigor though. Don't knowhow they deal with that.

Sidwell calculates your GPA during junior year. However, it doesn’t go on the transcript.

[Anonymous]

OP, this has never been a secret, but it isn't done the way you are suggesting. The student's transcript is included with a detailed profile that shows the rigor of the different classes and particularly the tracks in math, science and language. The college AO is able to match up the transcript with the rigor and yes, the letter from the CGO will note the degree of rigor the applicants academic track is in comparison to their peers.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was pretty well understood that this kind of behind the scenes conversation happens- isn’t that part of the reasons that counselors will gently or not so gently steer kids towards certain schools for their applications?

Everyone I know who has come through NYC privates or elite boarding schools understood that the kinds of elite colleges that take more than multiple kids from these schools per year do a certain amount of information exchange with the schools beforehand. It might be “unfair” compared to the one kid from a giant public in the Midwest who doesn’t have to have his school’s stamp of approval to have a chance with Stanford, but that’s the trade off for the better education you get and the increased overall opportunity when you go to an elite HS.

[Anonymous]

I think am some schools around here aren’t particularly transparent and kids don’t realize they are one of 14 applying to brown etc. so that’s why info is surprising

[Anonymous]

For Stanford, a friend’s daughter was able to request her admissions file (after she was accepted there). I think it falls under a CA Freedom of Information act or something. She could see they ranked her 1-5 on a variety of areas, GPA, test scores, ECs, rigor of her HS, recommendations, etc. Don’t think it specifically mentioned class rank but that may fall within GPA or recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a former Stanford admissions officer, and she told me that Sidwell does secretly rank students. She told me that Sidwell does not inform parents of this, largely because of how high-strung and intense the parents are in regards to college admissions.

The Stanford admissions officer claims that Sidwell college counselors will tell the admissions office which students are in the top 5, top 10, etc. to help ensure their best students get into the most desirable colleges. They do this in a number of ways. In the recommendation letter, Sidwell will oftentimes write something along the lines of "Tammy is an exceptional students, she is within the top 5 of her year." In some cases, Stanford will call Sidwell admissions officers and ask for a student's rank, which Sidwell counselors will give without hesitation.

Of course! How else would they distinguish between all of the allegedly ‘brilliant’ kids at Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

What is the philosophy behind not telling students their rank?

[Anonymous]

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

When I was at Sidwell they told us it was bc it would be “unquakerly”

Lol

[Anonymous]

Yes this is true - all of the top privates do this sort of ranking and campaigning "quietly". Many people think their kid is higher up than they are, and this leads to disappointments and the belief that "it's a crapshoot" when in fact, they were not as qualified as others. I wish schools would be more transparent, but get why they are not.

[Anonymous]

I think the issue here is that Sidwell tells families they don't rank at all and tells families that they don't tell colleges anything about rank.

Two other issues are:
- Since this is done secretly, they can do this unevenly (for connected vs favorites vs not).

- It should not just be top 5 or 10 students but also include this information for someone in top 5-10% with a ranking that includes rigor.

It was very clear, after the fact, that the counseling office (and HOS, to be frank) was going to bat for a set of kids while essentially merely paper pushing for others (which includes a solid set of unhooked high stats kids).