Sidwell to increase tuition a WHOPPING 6.7%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP - I agree with your sentiments. I think most students (and parents) are well aware of how fierce competition is and if the counselors were to be a little bit more transparent of how many kids with higher stats are applying to the same school while another similar (or even slightly lower ranked) school is being relatively overlooked, I think kids would consider pivoting to the alternative choice.

As an example, if tons of kids were applying Northwestern ED and didn't have a chance, maybe the CCO could let them know that Johns Hopkins/Rice/Notre Dame has less applicants that year from the school so would the student be interested in using their ED/EA slots and applying there instead. Of course, its up to the student if they want to drastically change their focus from Northwestern to one of these other schools but at least they would go in eyes wide open.

I strongly believe that kids today are genuinely more open to guidance than they were a few years ago. The reality of the pandemic has made people a lot more humble.

I get your point, and I generally agree with you but....

There is almost no difference in terms of access between Northwestern, JHU, Rice, and Notre Dame, to use your examples. They are all 5% schools. So how much does it really matter whether 2 or 20 kids from the same school apply? The result is likely to be the same either way. May as well go for the first choice school, right?

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

SFS should do exit interview surveys with students and parents after graduation. They might find it useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SFS should do exit interview surveys with students and parents after graduation. They might find it useful.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SFS should do exit interview surveys with students and parents after graduation. They might find it useful.

+1

Unfortunately it will not happen. Like 14:11 said "I was disappointed but not surprised to learn that Mamadou said this morning that they do not formally ask for feedback from parents about the college counseling office and that they are not planning to do so this year." SFS even doesn't want to have feedback from parents about the college counseling office. How do you expect the school will do exit interview?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You are very lucky to have this particulate counselor. Most of us as far as I know don't have the luck.

How does Sidwell assign college counselors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are very lucky to have this particulate counselor. Most of us as far as I know don't have the luck.

How does Sidwell assign college counselors?

Junior class was told this was done alphabetically.

But who knows whether parents in the know were able to adjust? (this is not an accusation).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are very lucky to have this particulate counselor. Most of us as far as I know don't have the luck.

How does Sidwell assign college counselors?

Now it is done alphabetically. 1/4 get A-E or whatever, and so on.

[Anonymous]

Exit interviews should be about everything, not just CCO. It really would help the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP - I agree with your sentiments. I think most students (and parents) are well aware of how fierce competition is and if the counselors were to be a little bit more transparent of how many kids with higher stats are applying to the same school while another similar (or even slightly lower ranked) school is being relatively overlooked, I think kids would consider pivoting to the alternative choice.

As an example, if tons of kids were applying Northwestern ED and didn't have a chance, maybe the CCO could let them know that Johns Hopkins/Rice/Notre Dame has less applicants that year from the school so would the student be interested in using their ED/EA slots and applying there instead. Of course, its up to the student if they want to drastically change their focus from Northwestern to one of these other schools but at least they would go in eyes wide open.

I strongly believe that kids today are genuinely more open to guidance than they were a few years ago. The reality of the pandemic has made people a lot more humble.

Another Sidwell parent. We even diplomatically asked for the information but was politely told they can’t give any hint. We didn’t go after it.

14:14. You should have asked more pointedly. We did, and were told what the situation was. No specific names of course, but that DC would be taking a long shot on this particular ED choice, and here is why.

I’m a different pp, but we also did not get that kind of information. And I question whether it really should be necessary to ask “pointedly” and whether pointedly might be interpreted by some counselors as confrontational. Especially since we all were lectured (yelled at?) by Bryan early on in the process about acceptable parent behavior, due to the events that had occurred in prior years.

I have a hazy pre-pandemic recollection of this. From what I do remember, it was brutal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exit interviews should be about everything, not just CCO. It really would help the school.

Agreed - every school should do this. But I must admit, other schools that our children have attended (that terminated in earlier grades) didn't do this either. (and those schools don't hold parents at such arm's length as SFS does)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are very lucky to have this particulate counselor. Most of us as far as I know don't have the luck.

How does Sidwell assign college counselors?

Now it is done alphabetically. 1/4 get A-E or whatever, and so on.

Yes, Students with last name A-whatever go to counselor 1, etc. for counselors 2 and 3, and then whatever-Z go to counselor 4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this thread is not about college counseling but the 15 kids applied ED to Brown could have been somewhat avoided. The CCO office needs to be more transparent. Seniors are applying in almost a vacuum and have very little idea who else from within Sidwell is applying ED to the same school. If a college is oversubscribed from the senior class, we believe the CCO could have gently guided students - including ours - by saying "the competition is intense for college X from just within our school community so would you consider applying ED to college Y instead?" Some kids may have their heart set on college X and may disregard this suggestion but most senior kids know that competition is brutal and if they have better chances at a comparable but less popular college, they would change their ED/EA decisions. We found that the CCO went along with any suggestions we had without any critical responses or analysis in return. Their standard response was "we are hear to support your decisions" but what they don't realize is that kids need actual guidance and counseling versus support (which at its best means we will send your recommendations and transcript) for what the kid does not know is an unrealistic application.

+100. CCO dropped the ball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this thread is not about college counseling but the 15 kids applied ED to Brown could have been somewhat avoided. The CCO office needs to be more transparent. Seniors are applying in almost a vacuum and have very little idea who else from within Sidwell is applying ED to the same school. If a college is oversubscribed from the senior class, we believe the CCO could have gently guided students - including ours - by saying "the competition is intense for college X from just within our school community so would you consider applying ED to college Y instead?" Some kids may have their heart set on college X and may disregard this suggestion but most senior kids know that competition is brutal and if they have better chances at a comparable but less popular college, they would change their ED/EA decisions. We found that the CCO went along with any suggestions we had without any critical responses or analysis in return. Their standard response was "we are hear to support your decisions" but what they don't realize is that kids need actual guidance and counseling versus support (which at its best means we will send your recommendations and transcript) for what the kid does not know is an unrealistic application.

While I agree it would be nice if they did this, they don't because they probably assume that once someone gets their heart stuck on an ED, they won't be able to talk the applicant out of it.

Some of the NE boarding schools vet applicants to certain schools, so for example, only 5 even get to apply to Yale. Would you prefer that? Would you like it better if a school said 'you cannot apply to harvard or yale, we have already given those shots to other classmates, so consider Z instead"

I wouldn't and doubt you would either.

I’m not pp, but I am a parent of a Sidwell senior. Allow me to suggest that there is a middle ground: “We know that you have your heart set on Brown, but here’s what you should know...[fill in relevant info about competitiveness and the particular kid, how many kids applying etc]. It’s up to you whether you apply to Brown ED, but if there’s another school that you feel strongly about that might be less of a stretch, let’s talk about and consider that one also. Because you only get one ED shot, you should use it wisely. And then whatever you decide, we will fully support that decision.”

I know from friends with kids at other comparable probates that this kind of conversation can and does take place with school college counselors.

Holton does not do this either. Way too many girls apply ED to the same college

[Anonymous]

I hope the teachers get a fat raise. They deserve it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't know how many Sidwell parents on this forum have or know senior students. Class of 2022 is one of the strongest but ED/EA results seem very poor this year. Most of us send our kids to SFS for quality education. Sooner or later your kids will be a senior. Parents should express our real concern and interests while paying increasing tuitions.

Isn't SFS the only private school with 10 national merit semifinalists or something like that?

But most NMSFs didn't get in EA/ED. LOL. Sidwell CCO is really subpar.

+1 (class of ‘22 parent here)

+2. Were apparently advising some seniors in mid-Jan to apply to more "safety" schools - mind you after the Jan. 1 deadline for many schools, and right up against the later deadlines of Jan. 15 for some schools.

+3 Try to schedule an appointment to check the Naviance Data and finalized the RD list prior to the winter break after knowing the ED result, but we were told her schedule was fully booked. COO was closed except for checking the emails.

Indefensible. I hope you raised a storm. And good luck to your DC on RD decisions.

Agree it was indefensible . . . college apps are basically due Jan. 1 or so, so if you're in college counseling you should expect to be reasonably available over the holidays, especially when there's basically zero time otherwise between when ED/EA decisions come out and final apps have to go in. It's like being an accountant - early April is busy, you don't take vacation then.

CCO should have been available through Dec. 23 and again the week between xmas and new year . . . and then take vacation in January.