Is it true the Big 3 kids are getting hammered this year- and by that I mean bad admissions results?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of us send our kids to private because they are for certain with folks who chose to value education given the price tag. We all know that who you are friends with and work with shapes who you are and what you aspire to. Some of us chose private as it underscores religious beliefs we as parents profess. Some (looking at you DCPS) don’t want our kids walking though metal detectors, or in overcrowded classrooms. I don’t know that the experimental “testing optional” will work out. I dont know that the other aspects of life that weaken a child’s performance in school won’t carry to college. But what I do know is that I am giving my child the best education - which is about values and work ethic and yes, academic rigor - that I could afford.

You keep telling yourself that while you think about the hundreds of thousands of dollars you wasted while a kid from Wilson takes your spot at the school you covet and feel you are entitled to. I wish I could be there to see the misery on DCs face - you deserve it.

Good old dcum, where posters are oblivious to the fact that their posts reveal far more about themselves then those they think they are skewering.

[Anonymous]

I am a public school graduate myself. I think you can get a good education anywhere, but not every school is right for every kid. It was a leap of faith when I sent my first child to private because I was unhappy with the experience they were getting in public (that was particular to their needs, not to the overall experience, which worked fine for another of my kids). I also couldn't afford it until that point. But I am the same parent I would have been had they gone to public - I'm involved and care about education. I didn't suddenly morph into some weird caricature of Bunny at the country club. People like that STILL wouldn't want to hang out with me, I'm sure, whether I'm the parent of their classmate or not. I haven't met many people like that along the way, anyway. My kids are good people because we teach them values, and encourage them to be good friends and humans, which I would do regardless of the school setting. And a.) they would have been drawn to a similarly academically inclined peer group in either setting, because that's who they feel comfortable with and b.) it won't influence their college outcome either way. I chose this route because it seemed right for my kid, at the time, with the information I had on hand. I don't judge parents either way. As for college admissions among our neighbors and friends, seems to me that even this year, which has been pretty brutal and full of disappointments for many, they're all, both public and private school graduates, going to excellent schools in the end. Waitlists haven't budged much yet, but I think they will, and someone someday is going to write a dissertation on applying to college this particular year. In the meantime, they all seem to be doing just fine...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a public school graduate myself. I think you can get a good education anywhere, but not every school is right for every kid. It was a leap of faith when I sent my first child to private because I was unhappy with the experience they were getting in public (that was particular to their needs, not to the overall experience, which worked fine for another of my kids). I also couldn't afford it until that point. But I am the same parent I would have been had they gone to public - I'm involved and care about education. I didn't suddenly morph into some weird caricature of Bunny at the country club. People like that STILL wouldn't want to hang out with me, I'm sure, whether I'm the parent of their classmate or not. I haven't met many people like that along the way, anyway. My kids are good people because we teach them values, and encourage them to be good friends and humans, which I would do regardless of the school setting. And a.) they would have been drawn to a similarly academically inclined peer group in either setting, because that's who they feel comfortable with and b.) it won't influence their college outcome either way. I chose this route because it seemed right for my kid, at the time, with the information I had on hand. I don't judge parents either way. As for college admissions among our neighbors and friends, seems to me that even this year, which has been pretty brutal and full of disappointments for many, they're all, both public and private school graduates, going to excellent schools in the end. Waitlists haven't budged much yet, but I think they will, and someone someday is going to write a dissertation on applying to college this particular year. In the meantime, they all seem to be doing just fine...

Really thoughtful post. Thank you.

-Public school parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W school parent and longtime Ivy interviewer here. I haven’t noticed a significant drop in admissions to the very top schools (mainly hypsm). For the big 3 parents, I’d imagine that the increasing access for applicabts from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds and weaker public is creating a lot of pressure for slots at roughly T30 but not T10 schools. So for the parents of kids who did ok and thought being a Sidwell grad was a kind of insurance policy, they are seeing kids slide further down. It’s also the case that as you get out of T10 you start looking more at admissions policies y that downweight the soft parts of the application, where those big 3 kids tend to shine.

For those who think the public kids are all racking up the 4.5w by cheating, that’s offensive and totally untrue. As someone with a degree from an Honor Code university, I won’t tolerate those types of accusations. Trust goes both ways.

My DC has friends who opening admit to cheating! Obviously not everyone is doing it, but you can't be serious that you think it's not happening to a moderate extent.

As a college math professor, cheating is rampant. Obviously we have honest students but more students are cheating than I have seen in 30 yrs. and I only catch blatant ones who copy word for word from a website that makes no sense in terms of curriculum but ends up with the correct answer. Parents- check your kids phones and computers for Chegg (will do ANY problem) so don't even get on me about writing better tests. Look at photo math (take a picture and the problem is done!), Symbolab, course hero, mathway. I can't get over how many parents think their kids are so honest.

[Anonymous]

😳kid is off in the fall to an Honor Code school and from what I’ve read on Reddit, the system doesn’t seem to be as stringent as I expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of us send our kids to private because they are for certain with folks who chose to value education given the price tag. We all know that who you are friends with and work with shapes who you are and what you aspire to. Some of us chose private as it underscores religious beliefs we as parents profess. Some (looking at you DCPS) don’t want our kids walking though metal detectors, or in overcrowded classrooms. I don’t know that the experimental “testing optional” will work out. I dont know that the other aspects of life that weaken a child’s performance in school won’t carry to college. But what I do know is that I am giving my child the best education - which is about values and work ethic and yes, academic rigor - that I could afford.

You keep telling yourself that while you think about the hundreds of thousands of dollars you wasted while a kid from Wilson takes your spot at the school you covet and feel you are entitled to. I wish I could be there to see the misery on DCs face - you deserve it.

Wow. You have... issues.

You don't have to sit there pickling in your own hatred. You could step outside, get some therapy, learn a better way to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W school parent and longtime Ivy interviewer here. I haven’t noticed a significant drop in admissions to the very top schools (mainly hypsm). For the big 3 parents, I’d imagine that the increasing access for applicabts from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds and weaker public is creating a lot of pressure for slots at roughly T30 but not T10 schools. So for the parents of kids who did ok and thought being a Sidwell grad was a kind of insurance policy, they are seeing kids slide further down. It’s also the case that as you get out of T10 you start looking more at admissions policies y that downweight the soft parts of the application, where those big 3 kids tend to shine.

For those who think the public kids are all racking up the 4.5w by cheating, that’s offensive and totally untrue. As someone with a degree from an Honor Code university, I won’t tolerate those types of accusations. Trust goes both ways.

My DC has friends who opening admit to cheating! Obviously not everyone is doing it, but you can't be serious that you think it's not happening to a moderate extent.

As a college math professor, cheating is rampant. Obviously we have honest students but more students are cheating than I have seen in 30 yrs. and I only catch blatant ones who copy word for word from a website that makes no sense in terms of curriculum but ends up with the correct answer. Parents- check your kids phones and computers for Chegg (will do ANY problem) so don't even get on me about writing better tests. Look at photo math (take a picture and the problem is done!), Symbolab, course hero, mathway. I can't get over how many parents think their kids are so honest.

As the PP of the bolded, after I point out that you misrepresented my point (which was about accusations against public school kids by a private school parent) as something about college kids (a mixed population of public and private parents), I’m going to point out that I don’t believe your claim to be a college math prof, because you’d know that Wolfram Alpha is the way to get a computer to give you the answers to symbolic math problems ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s puzzling. Most private schools have been in-person or at least hybrid, while the public schools have floundered. Watered down grading, cheating, test optional. I’d be very wary of a 4.5 gpa coming out of a public this year. But, I suppose these colleges aren’t worried about it.

My kid has close to a 4.5 coming from a public school and it means absolutely nothing; might not even be top 20% of her class. She’s learned almost nothing the last year. Grades are determined by which kids are willing to grind/retake tests; they’re not a reflection in any way of content mastery.

[Anonymous]

My kid has close to a 4.5 coming from a public school and it means absolutely nothing; might not even be top 20% of her class. She’s learned almost nothing the last year. Grades are determined by which kids are willing to grind/retake tests; they’re not a reflection in any way of content mastery.

This is only true for public schools. Private school kids aren't allowed to turn work in at the last minute and get full credit or retake tests to get a higher score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kid has close to a 4.5 coming from a public school and it means absolutely nothing; might not even be top 20% of her class. She’s learned almost nothing the last year. Grades are determined by which kids are willing to grind/retake tests; they’re not a reflection in any way of content mastery.

This is only true for public schools. Private school kids aren't allowed to turn work in at the last minute and get full credit or retake tests to get a higher score.

My public school kid can do retakes. On any major test where she scores below an 80%. The most she can bring up that test score to, however, is an 80. So believe what you will but public school kids 4.5 gpa is impressive.

[Anonymous]

How the f do colleges take this into account when looking at applicants? They might as well just pull names out of a hat?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kid has close to a 4.5 coming from a public school and it means absolutely nothing; might not even be top 20% of her class. She’s learned almost nothing the last year. Grades are determined by which kids are willing to grind/retake tests; they’re not a reflection in any way of content mastery.

This is only true for public schools. Private school kids aren't allowed to turn work in at the last minute and get full credit or retake tests to get a higher score.

Private school kids wouldn’t need to regardless because they are already perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid who is a sophomore at a Big 3 and by that let's say I mean St Albans/NCS, GDS, Sidwell or Maret. I have heard through my school grapevine that this year the kids at the elite privates are having terrible results-
especially the unhooked kids. I have heard that they are negatively affected by test-optional, the elimination of AP's and grade deflation.

Ok please tell me your experiences- Big 3 parents only please...I am not interested in hearing how well your W school kid did, or how stupid you think I am for paying private school tuition.

That’s five schools! Am I taking crazy pills? What is wrong with you people???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of us send our kids to private because they are for certain with folks who chose to value education given the price tag. We all know that who you are friends with and work with shapes who you are and what you aspire to. Some of us chose private as it underscores religious beliefs we as parents profess. Some (looking at you DCPS) don’t want our kids walking though metal detectors, or in overcrowded classrooms. I don’t know that the experimental “testing optional” will work out. I dont know that the other aspects of life that weaken a child’s performance in school won’t carry to college. But what I do know is that I am giving my child the best education - which is about values and work ethic and yes, academic rigor - that I could afford.

You keep telling yourself that while you think about the hundreds of thousands of dollars you wasted while a kid from Wilson takes your spot at the school you covet and feel you are entitled to. I wish I could be there to see the misery on DCs face - you deserve it.

Wow. You have... issues.

You don't have to sit there pickling in your own hatred. You could step outside, get some therapy, learn a better way to live.

No hatred, only amusement at watching the entitled not getting what they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of us send our kids to private because they are for certain with folks who chose to value education given the price tag. We all know that who you are friends with and work with shapes who you are and what you aspire to. Some of us chose private as it underscores religious beliefs we as parents profess. Some (looking at you DCPS) don’t want our kids walking though metal detectors, or in overcrowded classrooms. I don’t know that the experimental “testing optional” will work out. I dont know that the other aspects of life that weaken a child’s performance in school won’t carry to college. But what I do know is that I am giving my child the best education - which is about values and work ethic and yes, academic rigor - that I could afford.

You keep telling yourself that while you think about the hundreds of thousands of dollars you wasted while a kid from Wilson takes your spot at the school you covet and feel you are entitled to. I wish I could be there to see the misery on DCs face - you deserve it.

Wow. You have... issues.

You don't have to sit there pickling in your own hatred. You could step outside, get some therapy, learn a better way to live.

No hatred, only amusement at watching the entitled not getting what they want.

I guess you must be bummed after hearing how well the big 3 schools did this year.