Upper School - Sidwell vs. NCS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week[b].

I'm not sure whether the poster meant this in regard to academics, but I will say that my sons, who graduated from Sidwell, always said the NCS girls were frighteningly Type A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is more diverse and the social scene in more fluid. There are many boy-girl best friends. In US the kids form several groups of friends based on their interests and EC activities, and these may shift as the kids mature, but all the kids know each other and seem to respect each other. New comers are welcomed because everyone likes to meet new people. In middle school there is some drama over who goes to whose parties, etc., but by US this is done. The kids support each other because they all feel academic stress.

I know NCS less well, but my impression is the girls form lasting friendships in middle school and 9th grade and these tend to stay ion place. One of my friend's daughter's told me "It takes a lot of work to be popular." I don't get that sense at Sidwell. The academic work is equally stressful at both schools.

I once had a Sidwell teanager say this to me," well, a big difference I see is that ( at Cathedral ) they seem to be able to repeat what they have read, but without much introspection , whereas everyone I know at Sidwell is very introspective and really thinks about what they are saying "

Had to laugh.....

^^^^You do know how ridiculous this sounds, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week[b].

I'm not sure whether the poster meant this in regard to academics, but I will say that my sons, who graduated from Sidwell, always said the NCS girls were frighteningly Type A.

He's on to something. They must ask whether an applicant is Type A or Type B on the application and then only let in Type A girls. Silly.

[Anonymous]

As far as the "Preppy hit mob" at the Sidwell/NCS soccer game last year. During that game the Sidwell girls were flagrantly fouling the NCS girls. This went on for pretty much the entire game. In the build-up to the game Sidwell was sure they were going to win and had posted offensive Facebook messages towards one of the NCS girls. When it became clear that Sidwell was not going to win one of the NCS players literally and openly threw a Sidwell girl to the ground after about the umpteenth intentional foul by the Sidwell girl. The crowd grew quiet and the referees conferred and decided to yellow card the NCS girl because they understood her frustration. It was ridiculous. The photos of the game are still posted on the DC Sportsfan website. You decide. A week later Sidwell got beat again.

[Anonymous]

who is more competitive : NCS or Sidwell parents ?

I guess this forum shows its a draw.

shame on all

[Anonymous]

GDS parents are more competitive. Less accomplished but more competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week[b].

I'm not sure whether the poster meant this in regard to academics, but I will say that my sons, who graduated from Sidwell, always said the NCS girls were frighteningly Type A.

Did you try to start a productive conversation with your sons about not stereotyping girls who are open about being smart or ambitious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week[b].

I'm not sure whether the poster meant this in regard to academics, but I will say that my sons, who graduated from Sidwell, always said the NCS girls were frighteningly Type A.

Did you try to start a productive conversation with your sons about not stereotyping girls who are open about being smart or ambitious?

Lighten up, Francis. There are plenty of girls at Sidwell who are smart and ambitious, which, BTW, isn't the same as being Type A.

[Anonymous]

Have experience with both through knowing kids at soccer program. Mean girls end up at NCS more often. They are type A - best at everything - which the school seems to like most. Also some very nice girls too at NCS. Rare that I hear about a mean girl at Sidwell. I think part of it is the all girls school breeds more mean girls. And sidwell is more into nerdy types than NCS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have experience with both through knowing kids at soccer program. Mean girls end up at NCS more often. They are type A - best at everything - which the school seems to like most. Also some very nice girls too at NCS. Rare that I hear about a mean girl at Sidwell. I think part of it is the all girls school breeds more mean girls. And sidwell is more into nerdy types than NCS.

Said the mean girl

[Anonymous]

I don't really understand these x vs y threads. By what criteria are the schools to be compared?

My daughter goes to NCS. Her friends seem smart and accomplished. The girls we know at Sidwell are the same. Just visit both schools and see which one resonates with your daughter.

[Anonymous]

They are both good schools and both are difficult to get into. Some families have kids at both. Try not to be so devisive and petty OP

[Anonymous]

I agree, I think they both seem really nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week[b].

I'm not sure whether the poster meant this in regard to academics, but I will say that my sons, who graduated from Sidwell, always said the NCS girls were frighteningly Type A.

Did you try to start a productive conversation with your sons about not stereotyping girls who are open about being smart or ambitious?

I am openly smart and highly ambitious, and I understand that there is a difference between that and being a mean girl who placed herself, her needs and her wants above others and who is blinded by ambition. Not at all to say that that is what girls are like at that school, but it's a strawman argument to imply a boy is sexist and does not respect Smart, openly ambitious women because he recognizes that some people are frighteningly type a.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week[b].

I'm not sure whether the poster meant this in regard to academics, but I will say that my sons, who graduated from Sidwell, always said the NCS girls were frighteningly Type A.

Did you try to start a productive conversation with your sons about not stereotyping girls who are open about being smart or ambitious?

I am openly smart and highly ambitious, and I understand that there is a difference between that and being a mean girl who placed herself, her needs and her wants above others and who is blinded by ambition. Not at all to say that that is what girls are like at that school, but it's a strawman argument to imply a boy is sexist and does not respect Smart, openly ambitious women because he recognizes that some people are frighteningly type a.

Does it seem like a fair statement to widely label all the girls at a specific school as "frighteningly type A"? Sounds like stereotyping to me. I don't have children at either school but have met terrific kids from each school. I don't think a mother posting that her sons think all the girls at another school are all "frighteningly type A" is a helpful or insightful statement, and I do think that when a child puts a broad label on an institution ("all kids at School X do drugs," "everyone at School Y is a lacrosse meathead," "everyone at School Z is frighteningly Type A"), it's good for a parent to push back at that kind of stereotyping, rather than just posting the adolescent observations as if they are gospel.