| I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest. |
You'r talking about Sidwell parents. They know about the University of Chicago. They're probably the most in-the-know about college quality and ranking of any group on the planet. |
I think word is out at the East Coast privates, and has been for some time. I recall reading a post over a decade ago from a college counselor commenting that the quirky UChicago nerds were being supplanted by the preppy, country club set. |
Disagree. I did my MBA at Booth and everyone at my workplace and my kids’ school knew about Chicago’s reputation. This is only my social circle so it might differ from person to person. I live in NYC fwiw. |
| Germantown Friends School has 12 (or more) going to Penn. The Quakers have their favorites. |
You are very out of date. Everybody knows Chicago now, especially families of kids applying to college. The school has elevated its profile and expanded its marketing hugely over the past ten years. |
All the matters is what the kids know about the grads from their private school who are currently at that college (and with social media they all know and they all keep up with each other). They think, "well, X, Y, and Z are cool and they're happy there so I can go there too." It doesn't take much. |
Half of GFS parents work at Penn, though. It’s the biggest employer in the area and it’s financially beneficial for their kids to attend. And there are local publics who also send tons to Penn for the same reasons. It’s also pretty consistent year after year. It’s a little different I think. |
| Did they beat HWS? Has Sidwell become the most expensive school for dopes in the US? |
lol. No! They are prestige hunting and UChicago is a “top 10”. When ivies are clearly unlikely for their DC, ED Chicago. |
Disagree. This is a strategic partnership between UChicago and specific east coast privates. Not simply student choice. |
It’s our resident Chicago hater, sour after their DC was shut out of the T20. |
Sidwell parent here - nobody is steered towards Chicago unless the student is the first person to identify Chicago as a school of interest. Typically the kids who are steered by their parents or a private CC don’t get in. 🤷♀️ |
| Unpopular opinion here but I get the charm. Chicago is a gorgeous, rigorous school. It is inside a fantastic major city. If there’s any subject you’re interested in, they have it. |
Fully agree, but this is not unpopular. There are a handful of rotten apples that post here continuously to make it seem like an unpopular opinion. |