College Admissions Feedback from GDS/Sidwell parents of graduating seniors.

[Anonymous]

Parent of GDS senior here - we were very happy with the counseling office, and the other parents I've talked to were also.

But it's nice to see that the usual contingent of anti-GDS posters showed up. Impressive, not even a global pandemic can hold you down!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell does not limit student college applications anymore.

They don't want people applying to more than 10 schools. Since they control how many transcripts and student profiles they send out, it is ridiculous to do more. Pick 2/3 safeties, 2/3 targets and 2/3 reaches.

That shouldn’t be their decision. Discourage - sure. Prohibit - no.

You understand that if one student applies to 50 schools, that is a time such for the CG staffer who has to do that paperwork at the expense of the other students in their portfolio of all have around 8-12 schools, right?

[Anonymous]

OP here - still hoping that some parents of seniors can post admissions stats for their kids (without blowing up their anonymity of course). I was hoping to avoid school rivalry posts or the wisdom of choosing a private counselor. I know other 11th grade parents are also shooting in the dark with tests, visits and meetings cancelled and might like feedback on actual results.

[Anonymous]

I am sure the results weren't great or people will be posting them.

[Anonymous]

I'm the parent of a senior at one of those two schools and am not sure what would be helpful to know. The kids got in essentially where they expected/hoped to get in, with some exceptions. I have not heard of anyone fully shut out, but who knows. There are a handful of kids who hoped to go Ivy and will instead be at schools like Michigan, UVA, Wash U, Emory, and Northwestern. They're pretty psyched about their second-choice options, too, though. Haven't heard much in the way of anyone feeling totally crushed. I know of 3 kids who were deferred from their first choice Ivy in the fall and ended up getting in this round. I just hope they all get to go this fall!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Applying to more than 10 schools is ridiculous, but necessary, especially if you are applying for regular decision admission.

Not if you have picked true safeties, targets & reaches. Plus one for good measure.

If you can only live with T20's....you are part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - still hoping that some parents of seniors can post admissions stats for their kids (without blowing up their anonymity of course). I was hoping to avoid school rivalry posts or the wisdom of choosing a private counselor. I know other 11th grade parents are also shooting in the dark with tests, visits and meetings cancelled and might like feedback on actual results.

Instead, why don't you post a ball park of your kid's stats/resume and we'll give you what schools to look at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DC attends one of these two schools. Since their admissions are pretty similar, would love to know where your child got in and what their stats were. We were scheduled to meet with the school counselor last week for our first 11th grade parent meeting but that got cancelled. SAT was also cancelled and our planned college visits over spring break were also cancelled. So feeling quite clueless at the moment and hoping that parents with fresh "hot off the press" admissions can give some virtual guidance for now.

TIA.

TROLL ALERT!!!!!!!

Maybe Sidwell is different, but for GDS --

Intial student and then family meetings with counselors were held in January through mid February. No one would have a first meeting during spring break.

All GDS juniors already have two PSAT scores, so no one is operating in the dark.

The counselors are very available by email even now, so no need to write to an anonymous chatroom.

An enormous amount of information can be accessed by any GDS parent on the website, including a complete list of four years worth of college matriculations, with the number matriculating at rank school.

I'm guessing that Sidwell has similar resources available to its junior families.

Now, if you're just curious on where kids are going, then just ask, although my guess is kids will be going more or less where earlier graduates have gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC attends one of these two schools. Since their admissions are pretty similar, would love to know where your child got in and what their stats were. We were scheduled to meet with the school counselor last week for our first 11th grade parent meeting but that got cancelled. SAT was also cancelled and our planned college visits over spring break were also cancelled. So feeling quite clueless at the moment and hoping that parents with fresh "hot off the press" admissions can give some virtual guidance for now.

TIA.

TROLL ALERT!!!!!!!

Maybe Sidwell is different, but for GDS --

Intial student and then family meetings with counselors were held in January through mid February. No one would have a first meeting during spring break.

All GDS juniors already have two PSAT scores, so no one is operating in the dark.

The counselors are very available by email even now, so no need to write to an anonymous chatroom.

An enormous amount of information can be accessed by any GDS parent on the website, including a complete list of four years worth of college matriculations, with the number matriculating at rank* school.

I'm guessing that Sidwell has similar resources available to its junior families.

Now, if you're just curious on where kids are going, then just ask, although my guess is kids will be going more or less where earlier graduates have gone.

* each

Should add. After the family meeting, counselor should have provided parents and student with a nice, long list of colleges to consider.

[Anonymous]

Child waitlisted or rejected from every school but Maryland. We are happy to have an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the parent of a senior at one of those two schools and am not sure what would be helpful to know. The kids got in essentially where they expected/hoped to get in, with some exceptions. I have not heard of anyone fully shut out, but who knows. There are a handful of kids who hoped to go Ivy and will instead be at schools like Michigan, UVA, Wash U, Emory, and Northwestern. They're pretty psyched about their second-choice options, too, though. Haven't heard much in the way of anyone feeling totally crushed. I know of 3 kids who were deferred from their first choice Ivy in the fall and ended up getting in this round. I just hope they all get to go this fall!

People want the schools and numbers admitted!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC attends one of these two schools. Since their admissions are pretty similar, would love to know where your child got in and what their stats were. We were scheduled to meet with the school counselor last week for our first 11th grade parent meeting but that got cancelled. SAT was also cancelled and our planned college visits over spring break were also cancelled. So feeling quite clueless at the moment and hoping that parents with fresh "hot off the press" admissions can give some virtual guidance for now.

TIA.

TROLL ALERT!!!!!!!

Maybe Sidwell is different, but for GDS --

Intial student and then family meetings with counselors were held in January through mid February. No one would have a first meeting during spring break.

All GDS juniors already have two PSAT scores, so no one is operating in the dark.

The counselors are very available by email even now, so no need to write to an anonymous chatroom.

An enormous amount of information can be accessed by any GDS parent on the website, including a complete list of four years worth of college matriculations, with the number matriculating at rank school.

I'm guessing that Sidwell has similar resources available to its junior families.

Now, if you're just curious on where kids are going, then just ask, although my guess is kids will be going more or less where earlier graduates have gone.

Accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the parent of a senior at one of those two schools and am not sure what would be helpful to know. The kids got in essentially where they expected/hoped to get in, with some exceptions. I have not heard of anyone fully shut out, but who knows. There are a handful of kids who hoped to go Ivy and will instead be at schools like Michigan, UVA, Wash U, Emory, and Northwestern. They're pretty psyched about their second-choice options, too, though. Haven't heard much in the way of anyone feeling totally crushed. I know of 3 kids who were deferred from their first choice Ivy in the fall and ended up getting in this round. I just hope they all get to go this fall!

People want the schools and numbers admitted!

What schools are you interested in?

[Anonymous]

kid a senior at one of these. attending top ivy next year. happy w process and outcome

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:kid a senior at one of these. attending top ivy next year. happy w process and outcome

What a relief your kid didn't have to settle for a bottom Ivy!