Seriously considering turning down a Big 5 for Bullis- Will we regret this?

[Anonymous]

Agree about shadow days. What's important at this age is getting a solid core education to be ready for the rigor of college. All the schools have sports and may be he'll like being the big wheel. The guys we knew from that school were really intense about play time.

[Anonymous]

We are new to Bullis for 9th grade this year and DC is loving it. Very happy with the different options for honors classes, small class size leads to lots of engagement in the classroom, enthusiastic teachers, diverse student body, enjoying the athletic side of the school, and impressed by the arts. Sounds like a good fit! Already working with college counseling as a freshman (change of pace from older kid’s high school.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: DS got in at a Big 5 but his heart was set on Bullis from the first time we toured. DS is a bright kid, and strong athlete but he does have some anxiety and we worry he won't do well at a pressure cooker type of environment. He is very hardworking and intrinsically motivated. We loved the fact that Bullis can achieve amazing college placement with subjecting the kids to too much pressure. We were very impressed by their Signature programs in STEM, Visual Arts and Entrepreneurship in high school. We also loved the campus (impressive facilities) and the whole vibe. DS had a great time when he shadowed and already made a couple of friends who he keeps in touch with.
Some of our friends are telling us we are crazy to give up a much more prestigious school for Bullis, but in my heart I feel we are making the right choice.
Is this something we'll regret in the future?
PS: Commute isn't an issue
Thanks in advance

I think you'd be more likely to regret pushing your student to a school that he doesn't like due only to a little-known prestige difference. Seriously, unless they're from DC and also went to private school here, no one else he meets in the future will know the difference between Maret/Bullis (or GDS/Burke, or Potomac/SSSAS, or you get the idea ...)

RE: the college outcomes - those are more about the kid than the school. Your hardworking and intrinsically motivated kid probably is going to have the same results no matter where he goes to high school, assuming he's happy and motivated there. Since you're lucky enough to have choices, the best way to position well for college is to pick a school that's a good fit.

[Anonymous]

People get spun up about the prestige of certain schools but the most important thing is the RIGHT school for each kid. It sounds like Bullis is the right school for your kid - let him thrive there!

[Anonymous]

We are choosing Bullis even though DC got into what people on DCUM think of as a "Big 3." It is a better fit for DC and what she wants, and I think she will happier and more successful there.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all so much for the feedback. Super helpful and makes it good to feel I am not alone in thinking that Bullis is the right choice in this case.
OP

[Anonymous]

We have applied to Bullis for 9th from one of the schools mentioned, and will enroll there. We wouldn't do it if we thought the academic program was mediocre. It's always hard to know, but their college list suggests that kids get into excellent colleges. I like the fact that they show where the athletes and non-athletic recruits go.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like your hearts are telling you Bullis. It’s a very fine school! And the big 3/big 5 are not the end all/be all. Much happiness to him and all of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure. Have the academics improved at Bullis? How bad is your public option?

The top track academics at Bullis have been strong for decades. Historically, Bullis has attracted a broader range of students in terms of academic potential, so the lower track classes are geared to the lower track students. This is a good thing.

OP, take Bullis. I hope your kid gets as much out of it as I did many years ago! GO BULLDOGS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: DS got in at a Big 5 but his heart was set on Bullis from the first time we toured. DS is a bright kid, and strong athlete but he does have some anxiety and we worry he won't do well at a pressure cooker type of environment. He is very hardworking and intrinsically motivated. We loved the fact that Bullis can achieve amazing college placement with subjecting the kids to too much pressure. We were very impressed by their Signature programs in STEM, Visual Arts and Entrepreneurship in high school. We also loved the campus (impressive facilities) and the whole vibe. DS had a great time when he shadowed and already made a couple of friends who he keeps in touch with.
Some of our friends are telling us we are crazy to give up a much more prestigious school for Bullis, but in my heart I feel we are making the right choice.
Is this something we'll regret in the future?
PS: Commute isn't an issue
Thanks in advance

If they have their heart set on Bullis, send them to Bullis.

[Anonymous]

People who don’t have kids at Bullis have a lot of opinions on the school. People who do have kids at Bullis (like us) love the school and have kids who are very happy. We’re in LS but we are constantly amazed at the strong retention and always say they’re obviously doing something right because almost every family we meet is equally as happy. It’s really a joyful school with so many different opportunities.

[Anonymous]

about the college placement. It is really hard to tell if it is because the school or because of legacy, sports or something else. If your kid is bright and strong athlete as you said, he might be fine in any school.

[Anonymous]

Very happy Bullis family here, whose son came from a K-8. DS actually likes school, which is certainly not what I experienced as a 16 year
old. Sure, it can be stressful (they just finished exams and are starting to now prepare for AP tests) but the faculty and diversity of students makes the school really special. HOS is impressive and involved. He’s out at carpool
every morning, rain or shine.

[Anonymous]

Another happy Bullis family here. We choose Bullis in a similar situation and have been really, really happy. Wouldn't change a thing. Good luck with your decision!

[Anonymous]

Go to the school that is the best fit for your kid even if they have the stats or whatever to gain admittance at a “more prestigious” school. All schools have good and bad—no place is perfect. The prestige factor is DCUM bs. DS had options and people could not believe the schools we turned down, but the more we dug into what the day to day would look like, we had a stronger sense of why the DCUM deemed “lesser” school would be a better fit. The real trick is being confident in that decision, tuning out those who question your decision, and resisting the urge to think the options you turned down would have been better the moment you encounter something you don’t love at your school of choice.