The application process is nuts... mini vent.

[Anonymous]

We had kids, a grade apart. We went to NPS so we had 7th entry year back to back years. First kid was a clean sweep. Applied to 7 schools, accepted to 7. Next kid was horrible 3/7. It’s very stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you applied to multiple schools and increased your odds, OP. When we went through the process the only schools we felt were a reasonable commuting distance were Potomac and GDS. Our son diligently worked at SSAT prep and scored in the 80s and 90s, did his student visits and tried to show his best side... and then we got waitlisted at both schools.

.

Where did you end up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think anyone who voluntarily puts themselves through the process of applying to private schools in this area, which is overflowing with outstanding public schools, deserves any stress and misery that comes their way as a result.

I do feel bad for your three, four and five year olds, though -- who you subject to poking and prodding at such young ages just so you can have an impressive bumper sticker for your Volvo.

Well, aren't you a peach?

Yea, well, I just don't get it. And I feel sorry for the kids.

And you never will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think anyone who voluntarily puts themselves through the process of applying to private schools in this area, which is overflowing with outstanding public schools, deserves any stress and misery that comes their way as a result.

I do feel bad for your three, four and five year olds, though -- who you subject to poking and prodding at such young ages just so you can have an impressive bumper sticker for your Volvo.

My 4 yo had a blast doing show and tell on zoom, playing games, and getting to visit some cool new playgrounds.

But thanks for feeling bad for them. I will relay your sympathy.

Did you tell him he was being evaluated by strangers, as a four year old, to determine whether he we good enough to be permitted to mix with their tribe?

Lolololol.

If the 20 minutes of zoom fun helps them miss out on hours upon hours of online standardized assessments putting $$ in Pearson's pocket, then it will all be worth it.

As for my child, they are thrilled to get to "compare and contrast" schools. No one blunter than a 4 year old critic.

[Anonymous]

Kids went to K-8. One stayed through 8 and that convinced us to apply the next out early because we realized they needed more differentiation than was possible at the K-8.

What we learned from applying out at 8 was better perspective about the college process. We already learned that much of admissions is out of your hands. We have already seen other kids with lower scores, grades, etc. get into schools over kids who have stronger records. Kids talk to each other so they know who scored what on the SSAT, who has high grades, who has run into disciplinary issues, who tried to pull strings, etc. These schools are small and you learn a lot about kids when you are in the same small classes for 9 years. Having now gone through the college process, we realized that the 8th grade admissions experience was a preview of the college admissions process.

When you apply out at 8, you see kids get in with connected, nationally famous or DC famous parents. Kids who aren’t great students but come from wealthy families (trust funds, families with foundations, etc.). You see kids who bring the athlete hook that the private schools are looking to help these kids get into well known highly competitive colleges—most college athletes are white kids from affluent backgrounds (e.g., LAX, soccer, baseball, etc.). Private high schools also look for the college legacy hook—this is one of the reasons why they want to know where the parents went to college, grad school, law school or business school. Go look up and see how many legacies Harvard admits into its freshman class—one year it was 34 percent. You think that Sidwell, GDS, Maret, the Cathedral Schools, Prep, Potomac, etc. don’t know that? They know it and are counting on those hooks to help their graduates get into the colleges that make their exmissions look great. They just don’t mention which kids in their exmissions list for college were legacies, athletes, or the children of famous people. How many were full pay, etc. I am so glad we learned this at 8th grade because it is like what goes on in college admissions at the top 20-40 schools. It is why you scratch your head at your neighbors amazing NMSF, stem kid, who won a national robotics championship, has a super high gpa, great extracurriculars, recommendations, etc. when they are rejected HPYS, etc. and your other neighbors’ kid whose qualifications are nowhere near as impressive but both parents went to Harvard got in to Harvard. There are a lot of factors that go into getting into college and a lot of factors that go into getting into private school and many of them are beyond your child’s control. The sooner your child and you realize that the better for them and for you. It frees you to focus on what is most important—your child developing the skills to succeed in college and life no matter where they go.

Focus on the education your child will get. We did that and have no regrets. My kid developed the skills needed to succeed in college and in life. The second is in the process of doing that. That is in your control. Focus on that and you’ll be good. I will also say that I am grateful that both of my kids are not lifers at their respective schools. I think it was good for them to have spent time at a K-8 even though one applied out early. Both of them have friends from their earlier years but they don’t have the school fatigue that some of their classmates who are lifers have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids went to K-8. One stayed through 8 and that convinced us to apply the next out early because we realized they needed more differentiation than was possible at the K-8.

What we learned from applying out at 8 was better perspective about the college process. We already learned that much of admissions is out of your hands. We have already seen other kids with lower scores, grades, etc. get into schools over kids who have stronger records. Kids talk to each other so they know who scored what on the SSAT, who has high grades, who has run into disciplinary issues, who tried to pull strings, etc. These schools are small and you learn a lot about kids when you are in the same small classes for 9 years. Having now gone through the college process, we realized that the 8th grade admissions experience was a preview of the college admissions process.

When you apply out at 8, you see kids get in with connected, nationally famous or DC famous parents. Kids who aren’t great students but come from wealthy families (trust funds, families with foundations, etc.). You see kids who bring the athlete hook that the private schools are looking to help these kids get into well known highly competitive colleges—most college athletes are white kids from affluent backgrounds (e.g., LAX, soccer, baseball, etc.). Private high schools also look for the college legacy hook—this is one of the reasons why they want to know where the parents went to college, grad school, law school or business school. Go look up and see how many legacies Harvard admits into its freshman class—one year it was 34 percent. You think that Sidwell, GDS, Maret, the Cathedral Schools, Prep, Potomac, etc. don’t know that? They know it and are counting on those hooks to help their graduates get into the colleges that make their exmissions look great. They just don’t mention which kids in their exmissions list for college were legacies, athletes, or the children of famous people. How many were full pay, etc. I am so glad we learned this at 8th grade because it is like what goes on in college admissions at the top 20-40 schools. It is why you scratch your head at your neighbors amazing NMSF, stem kid, who won a national robotics championship, has a super high gpa, great extracurriculars, recommendations, etc. when they are rejected HPYS, etc. and your other neighbors’ kid whose qualifications are nowhere near as impressive but both parents went to Harvard got in to Harvard. There are a lot of factors that go into getting into college and a lot of factors that go into getting into private school and many of them are beyond your child’s control. The sooner your child and you realize that the better for them and for you. It frees you to focus on what is most important—your child developing the skills to succeed in college and life no matter where they go.

Focus on the education your child will get. We did that and have no regrets. My kid developed the skills needed to succeed in college and in life. The second is in the process of doing that. That is in your control. Focus on that and you’ll be good. I will also say that I am grateful that both of my kids are not lifers at their respective schools. I think it was good for them to have spent time at a K-8 even though one applied out early. Both of them have friends from their earlier years but they don’t have the school fatigue that some of their classmates who are lifers have.

Very well said

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids went to K-8. One stayed through 8 and that convinced us to apply the next out early because we realized they needed more differentiation than was possible at the K-8.

What we learned from applying out at 8 was better perspective about the college process. We already learned that much of admissions is out of your hands. We have already seen other kids with lower scores, grades, etc. get into schools over kids who have stronger records. Kids talk to each other so they know who scored what on the SSAT, who has high grades, who has run into disciplinary issues, who tried to pull strings, etc. These schools are small and you learn a lot about kids when you are in the same small classes for 9 years. Having now gone through the college process, we realized that the 8th grade admissions experience was a preview of the college admissions process.

When you apply out at 8, you see kids get in with connected, nationally famous or DC famous parents. Kids who aren’t great students but come from wealthy families (trust funds, families with foundations, etc.). You see kids who bring the athlete hook that the private schools are looking to help these kids get into well known highly competitive colleges—most college athletes are white kids from affluent backgrounds (e.g., LAX, soccer, baseball, etc.). Private high schools also look for the college legacy hook—this is one of the reasons why they want to know where the parents went to college, grad school, law school or business school. Go look up and see how many legacies Harvard admits into its freshman class—one year it was 34 percent. You think that Sidwell, GDS, Maret, the Cathedral Schools, Prep, Potomac, etc. don’t know that? They know it and are counting on those hooks to help their graduates get into the colleges that make their exmissions look great. They just don’t mention which kids in their exmissions list for college were legacies, athletes, or the children of famous people. How many were full pay, etc. I am so glad we learned this at 8th grade because it is like what goes on in college admissions at the top 20-40 schools. It is why you scratch your head at your neighbors amazing NMSF, stem kid, who won a national robotics championship, has a super high gpa, great extracurriculars, recommendations, etc. when they are rejected HPYS, etc. and your other neighbors’ kid whose qualifications are nowhere near as impressive but both parents went to Harvard got in to Harvard. There are a lot of factors that go into getting into college and a lot of factors that go into getting into private school and many of them are beyond your child’s control. The sooner your child and you realize that the better for them and for you. It frees you to focus on what is most important—your child developing the skills to succeed in college and life no matter where they go.

Focus on the education your child will get. We did that and have no regrets. My kid developed the skills needed to succeed in college and in life. The second is in the process of doing that. That is in your control. Focus on that and you’ll be good. I will also say that I am grateful that both of my kids are not lifers at their respective schools. I think it was good for them to have spent time at a K-8 even though one applied out early. Both of them have friends from their earlier years but they don’t have the school fatigue that some of their classmates who are lifers have.

Shorter version: My kids didn’t get into HYP but who cares?

[Anonymous]

If you’re coming from public, you should be a little bit worried. Privates love privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re coming from public, you should be a little bit worried. Privates love privates.

Ok… My child came from public. I have one still in public. Both schools have very caring teachers. I really don’t think we need to make publics “lesser than”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think anyone who voluntarily puts themselves through the process of applying to private schools in this area, which is overflowing with outstanding public schools, deserves any stress and misery that comes their way as a result.

I do feel bad for your three, four and five year olds, though -- who you subject to poking and prodding at such young ages just so you can have an impressive bumper sticker for your Volvo.

Yeah but if your local publics aren’t working, the alternative if you don’t go private is MOVING. Have you seen the local real estate market? How is that a better option??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think anyone who voluntarily puts themselves through the process of applying to private schools in this area, which is overflowing with outstanding public schools, deserves any stress and misery that comes their way as a result.

I do feel bad for your three, four and five year olds, though -- who you subject to poking and prodding at such young ages just so you can have an impressive bumper sticker for your Volvo.

My 4 yo had a blast doing show and tell on zoom, playing games, and getting to visit some cool new playgrounds.

But thanks for feeling bad for them. I will relay your sympathy.

Seriously, we wish we had applied to privates in K rather than starting in 9th entry. Such a cakewalk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you applied to multiple schools and increased your odds, OP. When we went through the process the only schools we felt were a reasonable commuting distance were Potomac and GDS. Our son diligently worked at SSAT prep and scored in the 80s and 90s, did his student visits and tried to show his best side... and then we got waitlisted at both schools.

Pssst. Waitlisting is just another name for rejected. Pretty sure GDS “waitlists” ALL applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you applied to multiple schools and increased your odds, OP. When we went through the process the only schools we felt were a reasonable commuting distance were Potomac and GDS. Our son diligently worked at SSAT prep and scored in the 80s and 90s, did his student visits and tried to show his best side... and then we got waitlisted at both schools.

How in the world is McLean and Tenleytown in a reasonable distance and nothing in between??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think anyone who voluntarily puts themselves through the process of applying to private schools in this area, which is overflowing with outstanding public schools, deserves any stress and misery that comes their way as a result.

I do feel bad for your three, four and five year olds, though -- who you subject to poking and prodding at such young ages just so you can have an impressive bumper sticker for your Volvo.

My 4 yo had a blast doing show and tell on zoom, playing games, and getting to visit some cool new playgrounds.

But thanks for feeling bad for them. I will relay your sympathy.

Did you tell him he was being evaluated by strangers, as a four year old, to determine whether he we good enough to be permitted to mix with their tribe?

Lolololol.

If the 20 minutes of zoom fun helps them miss out on hours upon hours of online standardized assessments putting $$ in Pearson's pocket, then it will all be worth it.

As for my child, they are thrilled to get to "compare and contrast" schools. No one blunter than a 4 year old critic.

Huh? It’s the 8 years of $40k tuition that lets them miss out on the pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will share my experience. We are one year in elementary. It was stressful and we only applied to one school that goes until 12th. (feel grateful for that) We got in and are very happy. My DD had some specific desires for single gender that made it easier for us. We have good public options and have a child still in public. If it helps, we framed to our child that we don't know what's next until March but we know we have options. I would try really hard to keep positive thoughts about your current public option "worst case". I was prepared to re-apply as many times as needed each year to get the "best fit" rather than "anything but public" -- realize every family is different but our positivity toward public/options was calming.

You didn't get in -- your child did.

Speaks volumes regarding what private school is all about.