Was Told By College Admissions Officer That Sidwell Secretly Ranks Students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue here is that Sidwell tells families they don't rank at all and tells families that they don't tell colleges anything about rank.

Two other issues are:
- Since this is done secretly, they can do this unevenly (for connected vs favorites vs not).

- It should not just be top 5 or 10 students but also include this information for someone in top 5-10% with a ranking that includes rigor.

It was very clear, after the fact, that the counseling office (and HOS, to be frank) was going to bat for a set of kids while essentially merely paper pushing for others (which includes a solid set of unhooked high stats kids).

What kind of set of kids? What were their hooks that made the school go to bat for them?
Did they have top stats as well??
Did they get top placements and did other unhooked high stats not get placements?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue here is that Sidwell tells families they don't rank at all and tells families that they don't tell colleges anything about rank.

Two other issues are:
- Since this is done secretly, they can do this unevenly (for connected vs favorites vs not).

- It should not just be top 5 or 10 students but also include this information for someone in top 5-10% with a ranking that includes rigor.

It was very clear, after the fact, that the counseling office (and HOS, to be frank) was going to bat for a set of kids while essentially merely paper pushing for others (which includes a solid set of unhooked high stats kids).

Nonsense! There was a student who sued Sidwell several years ago, regarding grading policies, and she was still admitted to and graduated from UPenn. How strongly do you think Sidwell went to bat for her during the admissions process? 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue here is that Sidwell tells families they don't rank at all and tells families that they don't tell colleges anything about rank.

Two other issues are:
- Since this is done secretly, they can do this unevenly (for connected vs favorites vs not).

- It should not just be top 5 or 10 students but also include this information for someone in top 5-10% with a ranking that includes rigor.

It was very clear, after the fact, that the counseling office (and HOS, to be frank) was going to bat for a set of kids while essentially merely paper pushing for others (which includes a solid set of unhooked high stats kids).

Nonsense! There was a student who sued Sidwell several years ago, regarding grading policies, and she was still admitted to and graduated from UPenn. How strongly do you think Sidwell went to bat for her during the admissions process? 🙄

College admissions has changed dramatically since 2019. It used to be that high rigor high stats kids (even unhooked) would have a great shot at T20. Not true anymore (not a complaint - that's life).

Plus, I believe she had a hook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue here is that Sidwell tells families they don't rank at all and tells families that they don't tell colleges anything about rank.

Two other issues are:
- Since this is done secretly, they can do this unevenly (for connected vs favorites vs not).

- It should not just be top 5 or 10 students but also include this information for someone in top 5-10% with a ranking that includes rigor.

It was very clear, after the fact, that the counseling office (and HOS, to be frank) was going to bat for a set of kids while essentially merely paper pushing for others (which includes a solid set of unhooked high stats kids).

Nonsense! There was a student who sued Sidwell several years ago, regarding grading policies, and she was still admitted to and graduated from UPenn. How strongly do you think Sidwell went to bat for her during the admissions process? 🙄

College admissions has changed dramatically since 2019. It used to be that high rigor high stats kids (even unhooked) would have a great shot at T20. Not true anymore (not a complaint - that's life).

Plus, I believe she had a hook.

You’re full of excuses. She sued Sidwell 5 years ago, not 25 years ago. She was then admitted to an Ivy, not a mere T20. What hook did she have, besides being Black? Do you honestly think that’s enough of a hook to overcome suing her high school?
I’m sure that UPenn could have admitted other Bkack students, with similar or better stats, who did NOT sue their high school.

Face it, Sidwell isn’t preventing any students from being admitted to top colleges.

[Anonymous]

I spoke with a marine biologist today and I have news for all of you: Water is wet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the philosophy behind not telling students their rank?

Quakerism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue here is that Sidwell tells families they don't rank at all and tells families that they don't tell colleges anything about rank.

Two other issues are:
- Since this is done secretly, they can do this unevenly (for connected vs favorites vs not).

- It should not just be top 5 or 10 students but also include this information for someone in top 5-10% with a ranking that includes rigor.

It was very clear, after the fact, that the counseling office (and HOS, to be frank) was going to bat for a set of kids while essentially merely paper pushing for others (which includes a solid set of unhooked high stats kids).

Nonsense! There was a student who sued Sidwell several years ago, regarding grading policies, and she was still admitted to and graduated from UPenn. How strongly do you think Sidwell went to bat for her during the admissions process? 🙄

College admissions has changed dramatically since 2019. It used to be that high rigor high stats kids (even unhooked) would have a great shot at T20. Not true anymore (not a complaint - that's life).

Plus, I believe she had a hook.

You’re full of excuses. She sued Sidwell 5 years ago, not 25 years ago. She was then admitted to an Ivy, not a mere T20. What hook did she have, besides being Black? Do you honestly think that’s enough of a hook to overcome suing her high school?
I’m sure that UPenn could have admitted other Bkack students, with similar or better stats, who did NOT sue their high school.

Face it, Sidwell isn’t preventing any students from being admitted to top colleges.

Who mentioned 25 years ago? 2019 was 5 years ago.

You are funny though - such an odd take. I'm sure Sidwell was happy to help this student move on somewhere she'd find palatable and hopefully avoid any more drama. And, what better defense than for Sidwell to be able to say - what's she complaining about - she had great outcome and is at UPenn. Or at a minimum - bend over backwards so they can't be further accused of tanking her chances.

Moving on - no need to dreg up 5 yr old news on an over the top Sidwell family - college admissions was been turned upside down by the pandemic and then again by SCOTUS....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue here is that Sidwell tells families they don't rank at all and tells families that they don't tell colleges anything about rank.

Two other issues are:
- Since this is done secretly, they can do this unevenly (for connected vs favorites vs not).

- It should not just be top 5 or 10 students but also include this information for someone in top 5-10% with a ranking that includes rigor.

It was very clear, after the fact, that the counseling office (and HOS, to be frank) was going to bat for a set of kids while essentially merely paper pushing for others (which includes a solid set of unhooked high stats kids).

Nonsense! There was a student who sued Sidwell several years ago, regarding grading policies, and she was still admitted to and graduated from UPenn. How strongly do you think Sidwell went to bat for her during the admissions process? 🙄

College admissions has changed dramatically since 2019. It used to be that high rigor high stats kids (even unhooked) would have a great shot at T20. Not true anymore (not a complaint - that's life).

Plus, I believe she had a hook.

You’re full of excuses. She sued Sidwell 5 years ago, not 25 years ago. She was then admitted to an Ivy, not a mere T20. What hook did she have, besides being Black? Do you honestly think that’s enough of a hook to overcome suing her high school?
I’m sure that UPenn could have admitted other Bkack students, with similar or better stats, who did NOT sue their high school.

Face it, Sidwell isn’t preventing any students from being admitted to top colleges.

Who mentioned 25 years ago? 2019 was 5 years ago.

You are funny though - such an odd take. I'm sure Sidwell was happy to help this student move on somewhere she'd find palatable and hopefully avoid any more drama. And, what better defense than for Sidwell to be able to say - what's she complaining about - she had great outcome and is at UPenn. Or at a minimum - bend over backwards so they can't be further accused of tanking her chances.

Moving on - no need to dreg up 5 yr old news on an over the top Sidwell family - college admissions was been turned upside down by the pandemic and then again by SCOTUS....

You sound very silly. Moving on is the right move…🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the philosophy behind not telling students their rank?

Quakerism.

No it’s not. Most of the privates don’t rank, not just Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the philosophy behind not telling students their rank?

Quakerism.

No it’s not. Most of the privates don’t rank, not just Sidwell.

Most privates also do not use a weighted GPA system. So, the 4.0 students could have taken radically different paths in terms of rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue here is that Sidwell tells families they don't rank at all and tells families that they don't tell colleges anything about rank.

Two other issues are:
- Since this is done secretly, they can do this unevenly (for connected vs favorites vs not).

- It should not just be top 5 or 10 students but also include this information for someone in top 5-10% with a ranking that includes rigor.

It was very clear, after the fact, that the counseling office (and HOS, to be frank) was going to bat for a set of kids while essentially merely paper pushing for others (which includes a solid set of unhooked high stats kids).

Who do they go to bat for and who do they just paper push?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue here is that Sidwell tells families they don't rank at all and tells families that they don't tell colleges anything about rank.

Two other issues are:
- Since this is done secretly, they can do this unevenly (for connected vs favorites vs not).

- It should not just be top 5 or 10 students but also include this information for someone in top 5-10% with a ranking that includes rigor.

It was very clear, after the fact, that the counseling office (and HOS, to be frank) was going to bat for a set of kids while essentially merely paper pushing for others (which includes a solid set of unhooked high stats kids).

Who do they go to bat for and who do they just paper push?

$$$$$ and parents with famous names. Duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the philosophy behind not telling students their rank?

Quakerism.

No it’s not. Most of the privates don’t rank, not just Sidwell.

Most privates also do not use a weighted GPA system. So, the 4.0 students could have taken radically different paths in terms of rigor.

Which colleges can see on the transcript.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue here is that Sidwell tells families they don't rank at all and tells families that they don't tell colleges anything about rank.

Two other issues are:
- Since this is done secretly, they can do this unevenly (for connected vs favorites vs not).

- It should not just be top 5 or 10 students but also include this information for someone in top 5-10% with a ranking that includes rigor.

It was very clear, after the fact, that the counseling office (and HOS, to be frank) was going to bat for a set of kids while essentially merely paper pushing for others (which includes a solid set of unhooked high stats kids).

Who do they go to bat for and who do they just paper push?

$$$$$ and parents with famous names. Duh.

I don't see this. I do see the famous name parents pulling their own connections. The ones in my kid's class are calling in favors for meetings with deans, college presidents, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No dog in this fight but I think OPs point is the school makes a big deal about how they do not rank…when clearly they do

+1

Do parents know where their child ranks?

Knowing your Top 5 or Top 10 (or bottom…) would be useful in deciding where to apply.

None of this is surprising to me.
Ofc they know/they do.
My kid is at a non-DMV private.
We ask in our CCO meeting, how does my kid compare to other kids aiming for T11-20? Are they in the top [15%][20%].
My kid is aiming for several T15-25 schools....
CCO was open not to shoot higher than where we are shooting for ED1.