Parent Culture at Sidwell vs. GDS (Upper School)

[Anonymous]

The parent populations at these schools are far more similar to each other than different from each other. The HSs themselves have different atmospheres, but the families are quite similar in terms of education levels, income, work, and neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The parent populations at these schools are far more similar to each other than different from each other. The HSs themselves have different atmospheres, but the families are quite similar in terms of education levels, income, work, and neighborhoods.

This may be generally accurate, but what do you think actually has the larger tangible effect on a student's day-to-day experience over the four years -- the differences in HS atmospheres, or the demographic similarities between the families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many students do you think are actually admitted to more than one of Sidwell/GDS/NCS/STA in any given year?

How many even apply to more than one of them? They are so different.

Almost all of the kids I know did some kind of combo of the three. It's not at all unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you get accepted at both schools your child will be able to revisit the schools to determine which is best for them.

Highly doubt that this is actually possible. Sounds like OP is coming from another private, in which case they'd likely be declaring a first choice before decisions are made so that their current school's outplacement team can lobby hard for that choice accordingly, essentially conceding admission to the second choice. My sense is that the ability to choose between Sidwell and GDS after having been admitted to both is a near-mythical situation that very few applicants likely enjoy in any given year.

It’s more common than you think. Recently, in DD’s 8th grade class, half a dozen or so had this choice.

[Anonymous]

Stupid question. -GDS parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s more common than you think. Recently, in DD’s 8th grade class, half a dozen or so had this choice.

So I'll ask my earlier question again, except this time in a slightly different way. In any given year, how many 8th graders in the DC area in total do you think end up being lucky enough to have this choice, and what percentage is this when divided by all the 8th graders in the DC area who applied to more than one of Sidwell/GDS/STA/NCS that year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stupid question. -GDS parent.

LOL- OP, I think you may have your answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stupid question. -GDS parent.

LOL- OP, I think you may have your answer.

To me, this is the right answer. OP sounds like she needs a hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stupid question. -GDS parent.

LOL- OP, I think you may have your answer.

To me, this is the right answer. OP sounds like she needs a hobby.

Y’all are the. Egative Sisters. If you don’t have anything to contribute, flick left and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parent populations at these schools are far more similar to each other than different from each other. The HSs themselves have different atmospheres, but the families are quite similar in terms of education levels, income, work, and neighborhoods.

This may be generally accurate, but what do you think actually has the larger tangible effect on a student's day-to-day experience over the four years -- the differences in HS atmospheres, or the demographic similarities between the families?

Both. And also, your DC's immediate peer group, which cannot be predicted based upon the school.

[Anonymous]

We had a 9th grader last year get into each of the Big Three - Sidwell, GDS and NCS/St. Albans. During the accepted students day, we ran into a few kids (and their parents) multiple times as they had also been accepted at more than one Big 3 school. I have no idea what percentage of the total applicant population they (and we) represented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stupid question. -GDS parent.

LOL- OP, I think you may have your answer.

To me, this is the right answer. OP sounds like she needs a hobby.

Y’all are the. Egative Sisters. If you don’t have anything to contribute, flick left and move on.

What is there to contribute? This is a presumptuous question. There is most likely little perceptible difference between these two populations. Highly educated people with smart and very smart children. Possible preference for intellectuals as opposed to real estate people, though there is no dearth of those, obviously (academics, journalists, more interesting lawyers, engineers, scientists/fancy doctors). GDS possibly nicer, really, but it is unwise and even perhaps asinine to try to ascertain the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a 9th grader last year get into each of the Big Three - Sidwell, GDS and NCS/St. Albans. During the accepted students day, we ran into a few kids (and their parents) multiple times as they had also been accepted at more than one Big 3 school. I have no idea what percentage of the total applicant population they (and we) represented.

Wow, what an obnoxious conversation to have!

[Anonymous]

Has anyone considered that GDS is the #1 Harvard feeder school in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a 9th grader last year get into each of the Big Three - Sidwell, GDS and NCS/St. Albans. During the accepted students day, we ran into a few kids (and their parents) multiple times as they had also been accepted at more than one Big 3 school. I have no idea what percentage of the total applicant population they (and we) represented.

Wow, what an obnoxious conversation to have!

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