GDS - Wow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me sum up the private school world, in brief:

There are people who want very very badly to be special. To this end, they will buy the things they are told will make them special: be that clothing, cars, or education brand names for their kids. I have a friend whose five year old was shut out one year in NYC? She moved to another country where the elite schools are easier to get into.

I think this was kind of sad.

Most private schools subsisted for decades (centuries) on diet of a very insular, homogenized class of students whose families came from the right banks and law firms and chambers of government. As American wealth expanded more people wanted seats at the same table. That stodgey fairly sheltered environment began to be seen as something to be envied, coveted. A way in. A seat at the table. A commodity beyond tuition fees. A future.

A lifestyle.

Now such things still exist for those of you who think you need it. I'm not denying that good schools provide excellent educations. They do. But education's not that hard, and if all you're worried about is the merit and prestige of getting your kid into Harvard... You're missing what was supposed to be the point of going to a school like Harvard.

Sir or Madam,

Your post is entirely too thoughtful for this forum. Please refrain from rational thought here. Thank you.

The DMV area is toxic to kids in so many ways. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me sum up the private school world, in brief:

There are people who want very very badly to be special. To this end, they will buy the things they are told will make them special: be that clothing, cars, or education brand names for their kids. I have a friend whose five year old was shut out one year in NYC? She moved to another country where the elite schools are easier to get into.

I think this was kind of sad.

Most private schools subsisted for decades (centuries) on diet of a very insular, homogenized class of students whose families came from the right banks and law firms and chambers of government. As American wealth expanded more people wanted seats at the same table. That stodgey fairly sheltered environment began to be seen as something to be envied, coveted. A way in. A seat at the table. A commodity beyond tuition fees. A future.

A lifestyle.

Now such things still exist for those of you who think you need it. I'm not denying that good schools provide excellent educations. They do. But education's not that hard, and if all you're worried about is the merit and prestige of getting your kid into Harvard... You're missing what was supposed to be the point of going to a school like Harvard.

Nah, you don't get it. You don't go to Harvard to make connections anymore. You go go St Ann's.

[Anonymous]

Yeah. It's an extreme wow.

[Anonymous]

One word. Privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm writing this for all of us who don't have children at GDS because we didn't want to have children at GDS. Whose children didn't apply to Harvard because, honestly, we've known more than a few Harvard people and they're all kind of a drag.

I was a new mom in New York City just in time for urbanbaby.com, and if you don't know what that is, well. You're poorer for your ignorance. I read about stroller wars, and preschool applications, and Gifted and Talented testing, debates about the merits 29 over 312, testing into Hunter, whether Nest or Anderson was better--and if TAG was acceptable at all--but never in all of my days there did I see parents that were so status obsessed (even at Dalton) that they stalked their kids' classmates Instagrams and then ran to post here and discuss breathlessly, endlessly, without saying anything, if Larlo and Larlx only got in because of hooks, or athletics, or if their "crop" was better than last year's crop... I mean what the ever-living hell? These are children. They are not harvested, or plucked. And at the end of the day it's fairly gauche.

Of course what else could we expect from the DMV.

Hate to burst your high and mighty anti-DMV bubble, but your precious Dalton does this too. In fact the vast majority of schools celebrate their seniors accomplishments on Instagram. You just haven’t kept up with the times. Here is Dalton’s from 2023: https://www.instagram.com/daltonseniors23?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==

Damn, the Dalton acceptances put GDS and all of the DMV privates to shame

yes. because for the millionth time: acceptances at private schools have a TREMENDOUS amount to do with legacy and who the kids' parents are (VIPs, etc).
Yes, the kids who get the spots are strong students. But what puts them over the finish line to an Ivy (in many cases--not all but I can confidently say most) is their family of origin.
This is the case at GDS, Sidwell, STA, etc. and to even a greater extent at Dalton and other top schools in NYC.

exactly. One of those dalton kids - dad runs the investment bank w the highest per partner compensation in the world. And the dad has given 10s of millions to the Top 3 Ivy the kid will go to where the dad is on the board of trustees. So yeah...lot more of that in NYC than DC where DC VIP is a law firm partner who was a former Assistant Secretary or Dep Sec at an agency. entirely different.

Get that. Total. Also sad that the only capital that matters is cash, not social, political, intellectual, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me sum up the private school world, in brief:

There are people who want very very badly to be special. To this end, they will buy the things they are told will make them special: be that clothing, cars, or education brand names for their kids. I have a friend whose five year old was shut out one year in NYC? She moved to another country where the elite schools are easier to get into.

I think this was kind of sad.

Most private schools subsisted for decades (centuries) on diet of a very insular, homogenized class of students whose families came from the right banks and law firms and chambers of government. As American wealth expanded more people wanted seats at the same table. That stodgey fairly sheltered environment began to be seen as something to be envied, coveted. A way in. A seat at the table. A commodity beyond tuition fees. A future.

A lifestyle.

Now such things still exist for those of you who think you need it. I'm not denying that good schools provide excellent educations. They do. But education's not that hard, and if all you're worried about is the merit and prestige of getting your kid into Harvard... You're missing what was supposed to be the point of going to a school like Harvard.

Nah, you don't get it. You don't go to Harvard to make connections anymore. You go go St Ann's.

I actually think this is somewhat true. We have entered the cult of personality state of capitalism. St Ann's is great for setting your kids up to hob nob with DiNiero's or Phillip Glass's or whomever. (note: I have friends whose kids go to St Ann's but they are not the sort to brag to people who don't go to St Ann's about which famous people have kids there. These examples are purely for the example, don't sue me, idk where their kids go.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me sum up the private school world, in brief:

There are people who want very very badly to be special. To this end, they will buy the things they are told will make them special: be that clothing, cars, or education brand names for their kids. I have a friend whose five year old was shut out one year in NYC? She moved to another country where the elite schools are easier to get into.

I think this was kind of sad.

Most private schools subsisted for decades (centuries) on diet of a very insular, homogenized class of students whose families came from the right banks and law firms and chambers of government. As American wealth expanded more people wanted seats at the same table. That stodgey fairly sheltered environment began to be seen as something to be envied, coveted. A way in. A seat at the table. A commodity beyond tuition fees. A future.

A lifestyle.

Now such things still exist for those of you who think you need it. I'm not denying that good schools provide excellent educations. They do. But education's not that hard, and if all you're worried about is the merit and prestige of getting your kid into Harvard... You're missing what was supposed to be the point of going to a school like Harvard.

Nah, you don't get it. You don't go to Harvard to make connections anymore. You go go St Ann's.

DP but exactly. Your kid’s peers at elite private schools offer better future connections than most colleges. Even if say your kid ends up at a school like Syracuse, because of the parents wealth/their high school/looks (I know unfair) they could end up at a “top tier” frat or sorority. This opens up a lot of doors too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't using Dalton as an example because I love Dalton. Of course, being insecure DMV parents you all immediately check Dalton's admit lists and then start making excuses why GDS can't match them.

Stay gold.

What's wrong with you? Serious question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't using Dalton as an example because I love Dalton. Of course, being insecure DMV parents you all immediately check Dalton's admit lists and then start making excuses why GDS can't match them.

Stay gold.

What's wrong with you? Serious question.

Seriously. Do your friends in the DMV know this is what you think of them? And you obviously know the wrong Harvard people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me sum up the private school world, in brief:

There are people who want very very badly to be special. To this end, they will buy the things they are told will make them special: be that clothing, cars, or education brand names for their kids. I have a friend whose five year old was shut out one year in NYC? She moved to another country where the elite schools are easier to get into.

I think this was kind of sad.

Most private schools subsisted for decades (centuries) on diet of a very insular, homogenized class of students whose families came from the right banks and law firms and chambers of government. As American wealth expanded more people wanted seats at the same table. That stodgey fairly sheltered environment began to be seen as something to be envied, coveted. A way in. A seat at the table. A commodity beyond tuition fees. A future.

A lifestyle.

Now such things still exist for those of you who think you need it. I'm not denying that good pschools provide excellent educations. They do. But education's not that hard, and if all you're worried about is the merit and prestige of getting your kid into Harvard... You're missing what was supposed to be the point of going to a school like Harvard.

Nah, you don't get it. You don't go to Harvard to make connections anymore. You go go St Ann's.

DP but exactly. Your kid’s peers at elite private schools offer better future connections than most colleges. Even if say your kid ends up at a school like Syracuse, because of the parents wealth/their high school/looks (I know unfair) they could end up at a “top tier” frat or sorority. This opens up a lot of doors too.

You don’t think it’s all unfair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe she’s referring to the fact that 2024 is posting so breathlessly and weirdly. Out of all the schools, GDS does seem to need quite a bit of validation.

GDS isn’t posting. It’s a student account.

I was referring to this post. It’s weird and needy.

[Anonymous]

None of this takes away from the fact that GDS' outcomes this year have been superb.

[Anonymous]

Kinda like the Whitman page… but we are a public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me sum up the private school world, in brief:

There are people who want very very badly to be special. To this end, they will buy the things they are told will make them special: be that clothing, cars, or education brand names for their kids. I have a friend whose five year old was shut out one year in NYC? She moved to another country where the elite schools are easier to get into.

I think this was kind of sad.

Most private schools subsisted for decades (centuries) on diet of a very insular, homogenized class of students whose families came from the right banks and law firms and chambers of government. As American wealth expanded more people wanted seats at the same table. That stodgey fairly sheltered environment began to be seen as something to be envied, coveted. A way in. A seat at the table. A commodity beyond tuition fees. A future.

A lifestyle.

Now such things still exist for those of you who think you need it. I'm not denying that good schools provide excellent educations. They do. But education's not that hard, and if all you're worried about is the merit and prestige of getting your kid into Harvard... You're missing what was supposed to be the point of going to a school like Harvard.

Nah, you don't get it. You don't go to Harvard to make connections anymore. You go go St Ann's.

Actually gds started bc some Jewish families and African-American families got together in the 1940s so their kids could go to school together which wasn’t possible in most of the US - hardly Ivy League hobnobbing. But besides that and the other falsehoods in your post, I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me sum up the private school world, in brief:

There are people who want very very badly to be special. To this end, they will buy the things they are told will make them special: be that clothing, cars, or education brand names for their kids. I have a friend whose five year old was shut out one year in NYC? She moved to another country where the elite schools are easier to get into.

I think this was kind of sad.

Most private schools subsisted for decades (centuries) on diet of a very insular, homogenized class of students whose families came from the right banks and law firms and chambers of government. As American wealth expanded more people wanted seats at the same table. That stodgey fairly sheltered environment began to be seen as something to be envied, coveted. A way in. A seat at the table. A commodity beyond tuition fees. A future.

A lifestyle.

Now such things still exist for those of you who think you need it. I'm not denying that good pschools provide excellent educations. They do. But education's not that hard, and if all you're worried about is the merit and prestige of getting your kid into Harvard... You're missing what was supposed to be the point of going to a school like Harvard.

Nah, you don't get it. You don't go to Harvard to make connections anymore. You go go St Ann's.

DP but exactly. Your kid’s peers at elite private schools offer better future connections than most colleges. Even if say your kid ends up at a school like Syracuse, because of the parents wealth/their high school/looks (I know unfair) they could end up at a “top tier” frat or sorority. This opens up a lot of doors too.

You don’t think it’s all unfair?

Who cares if it’s fair or unfair? It’s life. It’s reality. It’s human behavior. You’re not going to change it, so grow up and accept it.

Life’s not fair, in case your mother never told you that.