NCS - Pros and Cons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many threads along these lines about NCS that the school must specialize in martyrdom.

There is a handful of complainers. As Jeff noted in a thread a couple of months ago, one person was pretending to be many different people. So bizarre.

It is being discussed in person by most parents and students in 11th and 12th. Maybe you are too judgmental and a gossip so no one is sharing their thoughts with you on this? Most people still like the school but to say only a few are discussing this topic is so far from the truth and shows you are very removed. Everyone is discussing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For current parents in the know, are the girls getting shut out of top 50 national universities and are girls doing better with SLACS? Or are SLACS falling out of favor? Always heard SLACS better understand the deflated grades.

If you are really a parent please ask the school. It is the same question over and over again and no one knows right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many threads along these lines about NCS that the school must specialize in martyrdom.

There is a handful of complainers. As Jeff noted in a thread a couple of months ago, one person was pretending to be many different people. So bizarre.

It is being discussed in person by most parents and students in 11th and 12th. Maybe you are too judgmental and a gossip so no one is sharing their thoughts with you on this? Most people still like the school but to say only a few are discussing this topic is so far from the truth and shows you are very removed. Everyone is discussing it.

Oh yes, I’m the problem, it’s me!

College admissions for the class of ‘24 are not complete, but they will be very soon. I am the parent of a senior, and I predict many will be pleasantly surprised by results. Not all have shared their news broadly. Some are waiting on RD to weigh options, and others are holding until their friends hear.

In the meantime, you may want to refresh yourself on what a “gossip” is… “a person engaged in casual or unconstrained conversation about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true”.

You may also wish to familiarize yourself with the definition of “everyone”.

Seriously, you need to calm down!

[Anonymous]

Do the college counselors seem concerned? They know what they're doing and are highly plugged into the changing landscape. If they seem to think it will work out and are not panicking, that would make me feel better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the college counselors seem concerned? They know what they're doing and are highly plugged into the changing landscape. If they seem to think it will work out and are not panicking, that would make me feel better.

Please please check back in 6 weeks. Noone will know anything or answer any of your questions until regular decisions are in and the last of them in about 4-6 weeks. See you in 6 weeks. Until then this is a useless conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We know NCS has a reputation for being rigorous and competitive, but for those with daughters in the school, how would you describe the student experience? Is there really a ton of homework? What’s the focus on the whole child like? Are the girls generally happy and have positive emotional health? Feedback for all levels welcome.

We have a junior that really loves NCS overall despite some things already discussed ad nauseam.

Anyway.....to answer OP here are some pro's about NCS:

1. the sports teams - my daughter has had the best best experience on her sports teams. They have team breakfasts and take an awesome spring break trip and potlucks for all of the parents and players and they really take the freshman and sophomores under their wings - it has really been a highlight of her time at NCS. The coaches have been supportive and focus on development and on the team rather than just winning. A very healthy and positive outlet and environment.

2. We really like the HOS - she is sharp and on a good path

3. The facilities are just top notch - athletic, the library, and just overall campus is beautiful

4. The community is really nice - we love the parents and find them to be very friendly and down to earth and diverse in many ways ie: religiously, economically, socially, etc...

Good luck with your decision.

[Anonymous]

I am the parent of a senior at NCS and would add a couple of comments. 1) no need to tell people to take medication or be nasty, 2) junior parents are always stressed and usually don't have all the information, 3) it is often the same people on this board complaining over and over so it seems that there are more dissenters than there really are 4) college placements for this class are actually terrific so I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised in a few weeks when the girls reveal their choices. Most of the girls are very good options as you would likely expect and are waiting to see what their final results are at the end of March.

This happens every year in the time period between ED and RD. The idea that everyone in the senior class is upset with college placements is simply not true, in fact the opposite is more accurate. Some of the chatter on this board is off the mark by a wide margin, but you will see all of this information in SCOIR before long and then all of this speculation will be wasted!
I think there are a few parents in the junior class who are very stressed out currently, but I don't think that is representative of the whole school. The parent community is generally very supportive of each other and we have found really nice people in general (with the occasional outlier I will admit). To any parents considering sending their daughter to NCS, we would do it again in a heart beat. Our daughter has loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Why would you send your kids to a school and spend $60K/year if the school has such disappointing college placements? At the end of the day no one remembers where you went to high school but your college stays with you for life.

No one knew this would happen (TO etc.) The other really scary thing is by the time the EA's came in full of deferrals and rejections, it was too late to apply to more safeties. The stress is indescribable.

So where is the 3.4-3.8 crowd going to end up this year? (because that is the majority of the rising junior class as well). Is it really as dire as it might appear so far (lots of this group with no options? I am happy to write to the school but I have such a hard time figuring this out and what is true and what is hyperbole on both sides of things. SCOIR does not support top50 admits below a 3.7 and elite admits below a 3.9 aside from a few lesser Ivy admits last year. I'm not sure the junior parents even know this although they all have access to SCOIR. They keep flying their 3.7 kids all over the country to see top 30 schools. I don't get it and keep wondering what I am missing. Does hope really spring that eternal? When does reality set in? Can a senior parent please share? I guess none of you really know as regular decision is not out yet.

If you are truly a Junior parent at NCS then you have full access to SCOIR and can look it up and see. You won’t like the results for a kid with 3.4 but please look at SCOIR and also why don’t you have a list from your college counselor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Why would you send your kids to a school and spend $60K/year if the school has such disappointing college placements? At the end of the day no one remembers where you went to high school but your college stays with you for life.

No one knew this would happen (TO etc.) The other really scary thing is by the time the EA's came in full of deferrals and rejections, it was too late to apply to more safeties. The stress is indescribable.

So where is the 3.4-3.8 crowd going to end up this year? (because that is the majority of the rising junior class as well). Is it really as dire as it might appear so far (lots of this group with no options? I am happy to write to the school but I have such a hard time figuring this out and what is true and what is hyperbole on both sides of things. SCOIR does not support top50 admits below a 3.7 and elite admits below a 3.9 aside from a few lesser Ivy admits last year. I'm not sure the junior parents even know this although they all have access to SCOIR. They keep flying their 3.7 kids all over the country to see top 30 schools. I don't get it and keep wondering what I am missing. Does hope really spring that eternal? When does reality set in? Can a senior parent please share? I guess none of you really know as regular decision is not out yet.

Looks like the class of 2025 did quite well from what I am hearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Why would you send your kids to a school and spend $60K/year if the school has such disappointing college placements? At the end of the day no one remembers where you went to high school but your college stays with you for life.

No one knew this would happen (TO etc.) The other really scary thing is by the time the EA's came in full of deferrals and rejections, it was too late to apply to more safeties. The stress is indescribable.

So where is the 3.4-3.8 crowd going to end up this year? (because that is the majority of the rising junior class as well). Is it really as dire as it might appear so far (lots of this group with no options? I am happy to write to the school but I have such a hard time figuring this out and what is true and what is hyperbole on both sides of things. SCOIR does not support top50 admits below a 3.7 and elite admits below a 3.9 aside from a few lesser Ivy admits last year. I'm not sure the junior parents even know this although they all have access to SCOIR. They keep flying their 3.7 kids all over the country to see top 30 schools. I don't get it and keep wondering what I am missing. Does hope really spring that eternal? When does reality set in? Can a senior parent please share? I guess none of you really know as regular decision is not out yet.

Looks like the class of 2025 did quite well from what I am hearing.

Yes! 2/3 or more going to top 25 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many threads along these lines about NCS that the school must specialize in martyrdom.

There is a handful of complainers. As Jeff noted in a thread a couple of months ago, one person was pretending to be many different people. So bizarre.

It is being discussed in person by most parents and students in 11th and 12th. Maybe you are too judgmental and a gossip so no one is sharing their thoughts with you on this? Most people still like the school but to say only a few are discussing this topic is so far from the truth and shows you are very removed. Everyone is discussing it.

So there was a lot of fretting and nastiness for nothing. Note to parents of the class of ‘26… do not fall for the hysteria of a few.

[Anonymous]

Quite frankly, NCS is a mixed bag. The teachers are amazing. The administration, particularly the HOS, is not particularly respected or liked, except by a few, vocal supporters. The social varies by grade but don’t count on the admin helping in any way if your kid has an issue, like being bullied.

Many of the ‘25 girls can’t wait to get out…here are some comments heard directly from classmates.

“Well, we survived…”
“I can’t wait to get out and actually be me”
“This place can burn the F down after I’m gone”
“College will be easy but is that a good thing?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quite frankly, NCS is a mixed bag. The teachers are amazing. The administration, particularly the HOS, is not particularly respected or liked, except by a few, vocal supporters. The social varies by grade but don’t count on the admin helping in any way if your kid has an issue, like being bullied.

Many of the ‘25 girls can’t wait to get out…here are some comments heard directly from classmates.

“Well, we survived…”
“I can’t wait to get out and actually be me”
“This place can burn the F down after I’m gone”
“College will be easy but is that a good thing?”

NCS has long been a “bonding through trauma” kind of place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quite frankly, NCS is a mixed bag. The teachers are amazing. The administration, particularly the HOS, is not particularly respected or liked, except by a few, vocal supporters. The social varies by grade but don’t count on the admin helping in any way if your kid has an issue, like being bullied.

Many of the ‘25 girls can’t wait to get out…here are some comments heard directly from classmates.

“Well, we survived…”
“I can’t wait to get out and actually be me”
“This place can burn the F down after I’m gone”
“College will be easy but is that a good thing?”

No doubt seniors are ready for high school to be over, that’s a natural progression. The rest of this post just sounds like a dramatic parent.

[Anonymous]

For the younger grades, is there a playground where they go for recess?