All New Staff in Sidwell Admissions?

[Anonymous]

Well then why dont you name names? Whom did you find rude in your experience. The school should know.

[Anonymous]

It's kind of funny, but there are other schools where anonymous posters have banged the drum on off-putting or rude Admissions staff. There aren't many related to Sidwell's, and to the contrary, whether it is this new staff or the old one, comments until this one have been generally middle of the road to positive. I would think it this were a chronic issue, there would be a lot more about it on this website.

[Anonymous]

I helped out at an open house once. It was a massive wave of stressed out people peppered with crazies.
Saw more of the same on the college tours for the most elective schools. Their admission people also tried not to give out any positive vibes, going on and on about how you can't take rejection personally..
May be it's how they manage expectations.

[Anonymous]

direct quote from the admissions tour at Sidwell in 2006 :

" What if you are not a Quaker; does it matter ?"

Answer by a Sidwell parent, " No, it doesn't matter at all if you aren't a Quaker...first of all, there aren't that many Quakers anyway"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Between the surprise parental essay and their horrible treatment of the sick and elderly, that's all I need to know about Sidwell and their value set. No, thank you.

Oh please. I have no skin in the game, but what an absurd comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ahh no they are not.

Then don't apply. Move on. This thread is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

The admissions staff we've encountered have not been rude, but they seem to know very little about the school. I don't understand why the school would choose for them to be the face of the school to prospective families. The school is our son's first choice, but only because we know families a the school and he has learned about it through them. The admissions representatives were uninformative and seemed disinterested and not at all engaged, which is totally different from the families, students and teachers we know at the school.

[Anonymous]

They have no reason to turn on superficiial charm to sell you. The school speaks for itself.
It doesn't matter if you like them or not. Serious candidates look at the faculty, the curriculum and the peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The admissions staff we've encountered have not been rude, but they seem to know very little about the school. I don't understand why the school would choose for them to be the face of the school to prospective families. The school is our son's first choice, but only because we know families a the school and he has learned about it through them. The admissions representatives were uninformative and seemed disinterested and not at all engaged, which is totally different from the families, students and teachers we know at the school.

Don't know for which grade, but as a current family, I find that very hard to believe. It is a wonderful place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admissions staff we've encountered have not been rude, but they seem to know very little about the school. I don't understand why the school would choose for them to be the face of the school to prospective families. The school is our son's first choice, but only because we know families a the school and he has learned about it through them. The admissions representatives were uninformative and seemed disinterested and not at all engaged, which is totally different from the families, students and teachers we know at the school.

Don't know for which grade, but as a current family, I find that very hard to believe. It is a wonderful place.

I'm the PP. I agree. Everyone at the school, with the exception of the admissions representatives, has very positive and thoughtful things to say about the school. Students and faculty alike seem gage, challenged and very happy in a welcoming community. To me, it has only been the admissions people who have seemed to lack knowledge about the school and to be disinterested.

[Anonymous]

I started this thread, so I'll end it with this. We're not looking fir phoniness, just courtesy and patience. Navigating through tho process is not easy. I'm sure admissions staff should know this. Treat prospective families kindly. People take time to visit your school, and you should make them feel welcomed and heard. That's the least that can be done. I don't need to include the name here, but maybe the AD will read it and talk to the entire staff.

[Anonymous]

There is so much interest in Sidwell that the admissions department is basically a call center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have no reason to turn on superficiial charm to sell you. The school speaks for itself.
It doesn't matter if you like them or not. Serious candidates look at the faculty, the curriculum and the peer group.

I'm a Sidwell parent, and I find it dismaying that extending a courteous welcome to all prospective families is considered unnecessary and phony.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have no reason to turn on superficiial charm to sell you. The school speaks for itself.
It doesn't matter if you like them or not. Serious candidates look at the faculty, the curriculum and the peer group.

I'm a Sidwell parent, and I find it dismaying that extending a courteous welcome to all prospective families is considered unnecessary and phony.

And I think the admissions personnel would agree with you.

[Anonymous]

+1. As a SFSfamily, we don't believe that there's an attitude that 0012 refers to.