Sidwell to increase tuition a WHOPPING 6.7%

[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.

-1 They sent out a ton of emails to finalize lists KNOWING that you were getting ED results any day. The reason they were booked is because other people read their emails and booked time. For some reason, you feel like you can ignore the emaisl and then complain about being snubbed on a public forum.

What - so everyone was supposed to book an appointment and then cancel if they got a positive ED?

Regardless, this doesn't answer the +2 point - CCO didn't get the list right in mid-December if they were suggesting additions in mid-January.

[Anonymous]

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.

The first poster isn't saying CCO should block anyone . . . rather it's give guidance. If the person has their heart set on A, they'll apply to A. But there are other students who might be choosing between A and B because both are good match reach for them. Knowing that 15 are applying to A and 2 to B is relevant info that could steer a decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

-1 They sent out a ton of emails to finalize lists KNOWING that you were getting ED results any day. The reason they were booked is because other people read their emails and booked time. For some reason, you feel like you can ignore the emaisl and then complain about being snubbed on a public forum.

What - so everyone was supposed to book an appointment and then cancel if they got a positive ED?

Regardless, this doesn't answer the +2 point - CCO didn't get the list right in mid-December if they were suggesting additions in mid-January.

Why is the kid waiting for someone else to suggest where she should apply to college? Did they do any leg work on their own?

[Anonymous]

^ You're being obtuse. CCO said "your list is good" in mid-Dec. and then a month later said "you need to add to your list" because we're worried you don't have enough safeties. What changed in that time period? Students hadn't gotten grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ You're being obtuse. CCO said "your list is good" in mid-Dec. and then a month later said "you need to add to your list" because we're worried you don't have enough safeties. What changed in that time period? Students hadn't gotten grades.

Maybe they were seeing the numbers of applications going into places like Pitt, Northeastern etc and wanted to ensure their charges had enough options. I would prefer that than to find out in April my kid had no options, right?

[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.

The first poster isn't saying CCO should block anyone . . . rather it's give guidance. If the person has their heart set on A, they'll apply to A. But there are other students who might be choosing between A and B because both are good match reach for them. Knowing that 15 are applying to A and 2 to B is relevant info that could steer a decision.

Again, I agree with you. Playing devil's advocate...if school A is the top choice and both school A and B are 5% admission rate schools, then it really is a lottery. If school B is a tier down, then sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The first poster isn't saying CCO should block anyone . . . rather it's give guidance. If the person has their heart set on A, they'll apply to A. But there are other students who might be choosing between A and B because both are good match reach for them. Knowing that 15 are applying to A and 2 to B is relevant info that could steer a decision.

Again, I agree with you. Playing devil's advocate...if school A is the top choice and both school A and B are 5% admission rate schools, then it really is a lottery. If school B is a tier down, then sure.

Does this college counselor also write the counselor recommendation to a school? If so, I would be quite concerned if the college counselor is steering me towards certain schools and away from others. Why? Because that counselor will likely provide you a lukewarm recommendation to Reach School A vs School B where they have a better shot. At the same time, they are providing enthusiastic recommendations to the kids they think have a much better shot at acceptance to Reach School A.

Unlike some large publics where counselor are overwhelmed (so a college is not shocked if the counselor recommendation is just a regurgitation of the kid's transcript/ECs), I think colleges expect a more personalized recommendation from the Sidwell counselor.

So, while noone wants to be told not to apply to Yale...maybe it is better to be blunt vs. "go ahead and apply" when behind the scenes they wrote a not a bad, but just a neutral recommendation for you (which is code for bad at the receiving school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

So much for all the talk of a growth mentality….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

So much for all the talk of a growth mentality….

Lots of growth in tuition!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

At least he's honest. I'm going to get torched on here, but it won't make what I'm about to say any less true. I have worked in higher education administration, including admissions, for over a decade. Do we solicit feedback from those who wish to provide it, either among prospective applicants, accepted students, or students looking for advice and outplacement to grad school and/or employment? Yes. Is it helpful? Rarely. Most feedback self-selects for the happiest and grumpiest, and it more often than not includes personal preferences and complaints more than it does useful advice that could be applied department-wide. Almost never does it reflect expertise. Accordingly, does feedback change what we do? Almost never. Why? Because in the main, we know what we're doing, and in the main, we're good at it, and if we didn't and if we weren't, people wouldn't come to our institution. At the very least, they would view the administration (including admissions and career offices) as the downsides that they accept in exchange for an educational experience and outplacement track-record they are otherwise satisfied with. Is it a fair expectation that a long-standing institution will change long-standing practices and personnel in light of the feedback of families passing through? Also no.

The same is true at places like Sidwell. They could take your feedback. Would they find it helpful? Rarely, not never, but rarely. Would it self select for the happiest and grumpiest? Yes. Would it more often than not include personal preferences and complaints more than useful advice that could be applied broadly? Absolutely. Would it reflect broad-ranging expertise? It would not, especially since those who have enough expertise to offer the counseling department broad-ranging advice probably did well without their help in the first place and would hardly be inclined to take time to give feedback. Would it change what they do? Again, no. Did you know the career office was considered by some to be a downside in what is otherwise a tradeoff for either a good educational experience or prestige or both? If you did your research, then you knew that. You bought into the institution, warts and all, and it is not a fair expectation for you to change it or for them to cow to your wishes. If they did, they wouldn't be much of an institution, much less one you'd buy into. You bought the name. You bought the institution. I hope you bought it for reasons that go beyond the sweatshirt, but regardless, you bought an institution that was here long before you were and will be here long after you're gone.

You may not like it, but you knew. Don't pretend you didn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

BUT is this done at Sidwell at all?? That is the problem…

I have a Sidwell senior and can confirm that our counselor - a member of the CCO team - had this blunt conversation both with DC and with us (parents.) It was not regarding Brown, but another school that had some internal competition from the class. This is almost verbatim what was said - we will support you if you decide to go for it ED, but here are the facts.

I too have a senior - my DCs counselor refused to have any kind of nuanced conversation of this kind with our DC or with us. I am glad for your senior that you were able to get some actual counseling from the CCO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:



Does this college counselor also write the counselor recommendation to a school? If so, I would be quite concerned if the college counselor is steering me towards certain schools and away from others. Why? Because that counselor will likely provide you a lukewarm recommendation to Reach School A vs School B where they have a better shot. At the same time, they are providing enthusiastic recommendations to the kids they think have a much better shot at acceptance to Reach School A.

Unlike some large publics where counselor are overwhelmed (so a college is not shocked if the counselor recommendation is just a regurgitation of the kid's transcript/ECs), I think colleges expect a more personalized recommendation from the Sidwell counselor.

So, while noone wants to be told not to apply to Yale...maybe it is better to be blunt vs. "go ahead and apply" when behind the scenes they wrote a not a bad, but just a neutral recommendation for you (which is code for bad at the receiving school).

The CCO writes one letter as a part of a packet that goes to the schools. they do not write individual letters on behalf of each student, to each college.

[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.

Would you trust them? Would you speculate that they might be steering your kid to Y to improve the odds for a big donor's kid at X? Counselors may be in a no-win position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not paying for that increase. I am done with this school. Somebody else can take my kid’s seat.

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No wonder Buttigieg was panicking. Just the PK-2 tuition costs for ONE kid is 10% of his salary. Let alone two at the same time.

Cabinet Secretaries make like $200k. It would be nearly 25% of his gross for one kid.

Ohh ouch, you're right.

Actually, it's much worse because tuition is paid in after-tax dollars. At 200K he's paying 40%.

If only he had a partner to share child expenses with. Oh, right, he happily does!

Yeah, who's a schoolteacher. You're right. They'll be positively *rolling* in it.