GDS admission survey

[Anonymous]

If you had read the posts, you would have realized that the negative comments came from people who decided ultimately not to apply.

I don't see the need to denigrate the parents of waitlisted/rejected children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you had read the posts, you would have realized that the negative comments came from people who decided ultimately not to apply.

I don't see the need to denigrate the parents of waitlisted/rejected children.

I was speaking about slamming in generally, not specifically GDS. Rarely have I read any slamming of schools by current parents, who are likely the most credible sources of information about the schools. Everything else is just noise.

[Anonymous]

St. Patrick's send out an admissions survey almost a month ago. I thought it was a great idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you had read the posts, you would have realized that the negative comments came from people who decided ultimately not to apply.

I don't see the need to denigrate the parents of waitlisted/rejected children.

I was speaking about slamming in generally, not specifically GDS. Rarely have I read any slamming of schools by current parents, who are likely the most credible sources of information about the schools. Everything else is just noise.

I disagree. Current parents obviously like the school or they wouldn't be there. That doesn't mean other impressions aren't valid.

[Anonymous]

We were pleased to get the St. Patrick's survey, even though we decided not to apply (we did tour).

[Anonymous]

Was there a meeting of AD directors recently or something? I'm assuming these surveys are a new thing, right?

How very delightful. It would be so nice if schools started to treat rejected aka waitlisted parents with dignity and respect. Amen.

[Anonymous]

True. When your child is approaching 8th grade at a PK-8 school, you can't help but remember your experiences at the various schools that "waitlisted" him or her. And your not bloody likely to reapply if you weren't treated well.

[Anonymous]

I'm not so sure about that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was there a meeting of AD directors recently or something? I'm assuming these surveys are a new thing, right?

How very delightful. It would be so nice if schools started to treat rejected aka waitlisted parents with dignity and respect. Amen.

They are not new. We got them last year also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn't apply after the tour because as a "minority" family we didn't feel comfortable with what felt to us like quotas in each classroom.

If that was your take, then there are probably only a few schools you should consider -- like Lowell or Annunciation or Holy Trinity (in MD).

Or Grace Episcopal Day School in Silver Spring/Kensington.

[Anonymous]

The difference between GDS and the other schools is that GDS gets plenty of qualified minority applicants but only fills a set number for each class. Hence the x number of African American, y number of Asian American, or z number of other children in each and every classroom. The other schools are mostly white in each classroom but it's not from lack of trying. They want to have more but just don't get the applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The difference between GDS and the other schools is that GDS gets plenty of qualified minority applicants but only fills a set number for each class. Hence the x number of African American, y number of Asian American, or z number of other children in each and every classroom. The other schools are mostly white in each classroom but it's not from lack of trying. They want to have more but just don't get the applicants.

Wow. That's a mouthful.


Are you saying that there is some sort of quota system in place?

I see a slew of minority families at various open houses (I've done them all). Are you suggesting that in the end they just end up applying to places like GDS because of it's history and inclusive reputation?

Is there any evidence or data you can point to to suppport this (without giving up your anonymity)?

I think yours is a provocative post. And part of me thinks you are probably totally right. But without more, it's probably just impressionistic or speculation.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't go so far as to say there is a quota system.

The minority families at various open houses ARE the universe of minority families at some of these schools. The school and the families want more and that is why they are there, but don't kid yourself into thinking they are a representation.

No, no hard evidence but Ive done the open house tour circuit too. I'm just reporting what I saw.

Same for school websites, except for Concord Hill who don't even try to pretend. Look at the pictures and see how many minority faces you see and divide by the number of pictures and then ask yourself if that percentage is a true representation.

I know many many GDS families and like them all. I have nothing against the school. I am just stating my impressions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The minority families at various open houses ARE the universe of minority families at some of these schools. The school and the families want more and that is why they are there, but don't kid yourself into thinking they are a representation

Please expand on this point????

[Anonymous]

The GDS admission director was rude to us during the parent interview also. We spoke to an educational consultant who said that other clients had had the same experience -- but that Jenny had so much seniority that nothing was likely to change.

We were waitlisted. I was so hoping that we'd be acccepted so that we could turn them down and tell them why. We had a completely different experience at the other very competitive schools where we applied (and were accepted).