If you had to choose

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If my 5th grader was such a smart mouth to "literally" say "your money, your choice" I'd smack him. And to call these schools the "trifecta" is so pompous. OP, you suck and your kid sounds like a tool.

Wow, jealous much?

My kid had a choice of schools, and he said that he deferred to us. That's hardly something to hit a kid for. It's a sign the kid is grateful that he has opportunities and is happy to let you choose.

-- DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hit the trifecta! And now we're frozen. If you had to choose, for a very self-assured but not athletic rising 6th-grade boy, would you pick Sidwell, GDS, or Maret?

I recognize how incredibly fortunate we are to have to make this decision. DS doesn't have strong feelings -- he's not very interested in academics (although his grades are fine) -- and literally says "Your money, you choose." We'd like him to be surrounded by kids who are more academically inclined. Would that be GDS? That was our impression but it's so hard to know for sure.

If you have an opportunity, visit the schools to get a better feel and see if that makes anything clearer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did a kid who doesn’t care, isn’t athletic or academic get admitted to all these schools? OP, are you literally made of money?

He sounds like a match for Maret.

Lol! My first impression after reading this but I didn't want to bash OPs good luck. In this town, its whatever works!

[Anonymous]

Is this a troll post?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a troll post?

Probably, unless OP is a prominent figure (such as RBG)... but in that case I highly doubt they’d be posting on DCUM

[Anonymous]

OP here. Not a troll post. We are, admittedly, made of money. I still didn't think we'd get into so many schools, though. Apologies if I sounded insensitive, and thanks to those of you who are giving good advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not a troll post. We are, admittedly, made of money. I still didn't think we'd get into so many schools, though. Apologies if I sounded insensitive, and thanks to those of you who are giving good advice.

I hope you are now aware of the fact that it is likely your money that played a significant role in your child being admitted to all three schools in a fairly competitive year. Based on your child’s response sounds like your child does as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not a troll post. We are, admittedly, made of money. I still didn't think we'd get into so many schools, though. Apologies if I sounded insensitive, and thanks to those of you who are giving good advice.

I hope you are now aware of the fact that it is likely your money that played a significant role in your child being admitted to all three schools in a fairly competitive year. Based on your child’s response sounds like your child does as well.

Yes, and that's fine with me, if it helps my child get the best possible education. We're not worried yet that he doesn't have clear academic yearnings -- he's 11, after all. He gets As and the occasional B. But he'd rather be playing Minecraft. Again, 11 years old, people. (And he's not a "tool," he's a sweet kid.)

Again, I really appreciate the feedback and advice about the schools here. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not a troll post. We are, admittedly, made of money. I still didn't think we'd get into so many schools, though. Apologies if I sounded insensitive, and thanks to those of you who are giving good advice.

I hope you are now aware of the fact that it is likely your money that played a significant role in your child being admitted to all three schools in a fairly competitive year. Based on your child’s response sounds like your child does as well.

Yes, and that's fine with me, if it helps my child get the best possible education. We're not worried yet that he doesn't have clear academic yearnings -- he's 11, after all. He gets As and the occasional B. But he'd rather be playing Minecraft. Again, 11 years old, people. (And he's not a "tool," he's a sweet kid.)

Again, I really appreciate the feedback and advice about the schools here. Thanks!

Definitely Maret.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have a kid there but have friends with kids at Maret and it sounds like a good fit for him. Not overly focused on sports and very good academics but not the pressure cooker of Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'd like to apologize on behalf of the people who wrote the nasty, uncalled for responses you got on here. I've never "seen" such rude, classless behavior anywhere that's not anonymous (well, actually I have, sadly).

It's like you are being punished because you have wealth and the ability to give your son a good education. And, I think his comment to you was very mature.

I wish you and him all the best.

Signed,
A mom whose daughter is graduating from a private all girls school this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS. We plan to apply next year. Love the new facilities. My friend’s son is in the US and thriving (he’s smart, thoughtful, well-rounded). School seems to embrace diversity, plus RBG sent her daughter there! (Love RBG.)

RBG's daughter was born in the 1950s. GDS is a great school, but this is not the reason to choose it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If my 5th grader was such a smart mouth to "literally" say "your money, your choice" I'd smack him. And to call these schools the "trifecta" is so pompous. OP, you suck and your kid sounds like a tool.

Wow, jealous much?

My kid had a choice of schools, and he said that he deferred to us. That's hardly something to hit a kid for. It's a sign the kid is grateful that he has opportunities and is happy to let you choose.

-- DP

I’d go further and say scary. Hitting your child over something like that? Let alone at all! PPP needs help. And I’ll bet she’s never even stepped on the property of an independent school.

[Anonymous]

OP - one thing that might not be on your radar at 6th grade is the relative class size of these schools in high school. GDS has the most, Maret has the least. I think in middle schools, the difference in size isn't quite so large. Maret is probably still the smallest but GDS and Sidwell add a much larger group of students at 9th. For some kids, Maret will feel very small (90ish kids), and this can be an issue if child doesn't quite find their tribe.

This is not to knock Maret - I wanted my child to choose Maret for HS - but they didn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - one thing that might not be on your radar at 6th grade is the relative class size of these schools in high school. GDS has the most, Maret has the least. I think in middle schools, the difference in size isn't quite so large. Maret is probably still the smallest but GDS and Sidwell add a much larger group of students at 9th. For some kids, Maret will feel very small (90ish kids), and this can be an issue if child doesn't quite find their tribe.

This is not to knock Maret - I wanted my child to choose Maret for HS - but they didn't.

I think this poster makes a good point. But the other side of the coin is that your kid seems like someone who might fly under the radar at a bigger school, whereas he might actually find he has the opportunity to be a bigger fish in a small pond at Maret. It's great that he has so many choices. Given the description you provided of your son, I think I'd choose Maret, but really these are three great choices. Good luck!