Sidwell College Counseling - what it going on?

[Anonymous]

Not a SFS family, but have several friends who are - some with juniors and others with seniors. To a one they have all hired outside college counseling coaches. I can’t imagine it’s necessary, but that’s the profile...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So a recap. They had three people in 2018-2019. Two of them left last summer. The lone holdout left this Winter. They hired three new people. One of them left with no notice yesterday. Can you say bad timing? Not finishing the school year. What is going on with that office?

SFS parent here

1- Are you sure there was no notice given? I'm guessing this person applied out and found another opportunity. That decision was made a long time ago.
2- Is there really that much more to do this year? (I don't know, I haven't had a senior yet - but when I was a senior - their job for me was long over by now - but that was in a different era!)
3 - The office is expanding to four - they have three already. Hoping new hires bond as a team and set the right tone for future.

However, SFS needs to reign in the parents....PERIOD. And to support this new team from the start.

One of last year’s counselors was simply incompetent, perhaps the most incompetent staff member many of us had ever had encountered at SFS. His boss, the former director, stubbornly defender him and refused to make a change. Finally the administration stepped in and made the change, a year too late. By then it was clear that the former director needed to move along as well.

[Anonymous]

On behalf of my fellow class parents, I'd like to say I am sorry in advance. Some of us are awful people.

— parent of a Sidwell sophomore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS doesn’t have this problem.

And the GDS admissions office also nurture a longtime, close relationship with Harvard and other top Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So a recap. They had three people in 2018-2019. Two of them left last summer. The lone holdout left this Winter. They hired three new people. One of them left with no notice yesterday. Can you say bad timing? Not finishing the school year. What is going on with that office?

SFS parent here

1- Are you sure there was no notice given? I'm guessing this person applied out and found another opportunity. That decision was made a long time ago.
2- Is there really that much more to do this year? (I don't know, I haven't had a senior yet - but when I was a senior - their job for me was long over by now - but that was in a different era!)
3 - The office is expanding to four - they have three already. Hoping new hires bond as a team and set the right tone for future.

However, SFS needs to reign in the parents....PERIOD. And to support this new team from the start.

One of last year’s counselors was simply incompetent, perhaps the most incompetent staff member many of us had ever had encountered at SFS. His boss, the former director, stubbornly defender him and refused to make a change. Finally the administration stepped in and made the change, a year too late. By then it was clear that the former director needed to move along as well.

Of course, they’re the problem. Not the parents.

[Anonymous]

There are only two for the rest of this year. Wait list management and final selection are still important. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

GDS has had its share of challenges college counciling too. Bad hires for Director who left, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So a recap. They had three people in 2018-2019. Two of them left last summer. The lone holdout left this Winter. They hired three new people. One of them left with no notice yesterday. Can you say bad timing? Not finishing the school year. What is going on with that office?

SFS parent here

1- Are you sure there was no notice given? I'm guessing this person applied out and found another opportunity. That decision was made a long time ago.
2- Is there really that much more to do this year? (I don't know, I haven't had a senior yet - but when I was a senior - their job for me was long over by now - but that was in a different era!)
3 - The office is expanding to four - they have three already. Hoping new hires bond as a team and set the right tone for future.

However, SFS needs to reign in the parents....PERIOD. And to support this new team from the start.

One of last year’s counselors was simply incompetent, perhaps the most incompetent staff member many of us had ever had encountered at SFS. His boss, the former director, stubbornly defender him and refused to make a change. Finally the administration stepped in and made the change, a year too late. By then it was clear that the former director needed to move along as well.

Of course, they’re the problem. Not the parents.

A bad apple shouldn't have to spoil the bushel. There were some bad parents in last year's senior class. It is also true that the former staff person in question was truly out of their league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are only two for the rest of this year. Wait list management and final selection are still important. Ridiculous.

More than half the class already knows where it is going, another third is simply waiting on RD 'reaches' but otherwise know where they are going and the rest have options and will need to make decisions in short order. That small group in the last category cannot be more than 20-40 students, easily managed by 2 people.

[Anonymous]

I'm not an angry Sidwell basher, but I definitely am glad I'm not a SFS parent anymore. Wow. This discussion brings me back.

Parents, there are plenty of other options for your kids. If your kid is Sidwell material and gets in, your kid will probably do quite well either at Sidwell or at another school. If you choose another school, you probably won't have to deal with quite as many crazed parents. That's what we discovered after a few years at Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

This reinforces my decision to send to private in the early years but switch to public HS. Fewer crazies for sure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a SFS family, but have several friends who are - some with juniors and others with seniors. To a one they have all hired outside college counseling coaches. I can’t imagine it’s necessary, but that’s the profile...

So here's a question - if going this route, when do you start seeking a college counselor? In 10th grade? After 9th? Later?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a SFS family, but have several friends who are - some with juniors and others with seniors. To a one they have all hired outside college counseling coaches. I can’t imagine it’s necessary, but that’s the profile...

So here's a question - if going this route, when do you start seeking a college counselor? In 10th grade? After 9th? Later?

The only reason one needs an out of school counselor is to provide a buffer so the parents aren't the ones riding the applicant to meet the deadlines. If your kid is enough of a self starter to be on top of their business, then you don't need one.

[Anonymous]

Reined in

not

reigned in


That is all.

[Anonymous]

I’m the parent of a Sidwell senior and used no outside college counselor. My child know where they are going and everything worked out fine. It’s where they wanted to go. Some parents are using an outside counselor, some aren’t. Beware generalities on this forum.