Who applies to GDS? I don't know anyone that applied there?

[Anonymous]

Loved everything about GDS except the fact that students address teachers by their first name. Decided we could live with it and took the plunge. Could not be happier with our decision. DC is thriving and based on my personal experience interacting with students at the lower school and the high school, GDS students are very respectful of adults. In my opinion, if parents are doing their job at home teaching their children how to respect others, whether children call their teachers by their first name or last name will not matter.

[Anonymous]

I pulled DC's application from DDS after the tour and parent interview. Could not STAND the admissions person who interviewed me. Arrogant, rigid, cold, excessively PC. And let me tell you, I am in theory exactly the kind of person who fits in perfectly at GDS: academic, lefty, from a family of activists, really wanted a progressive school, etc. But my God that woman was obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pulled DC's application from DDS after the tour and parent interview. Could not STAND the admissions person who interviewed me. Arrogant, rigid, cold, excessively PC. And let me tell you, I am in theory exactly the kind of person who fits in perfectly at GDS: academic, lefty, from a family of activists, really wanted a progressive school, etc. But my God that woman was obnoxious.

Yes, I know exactly who you're talking about. The whole excessive PC, self-righteous vibe smacked of insincerity. I also pulled our app. Good luck on your search. I'm still looking, funny was told by our school's admin that GDS would be a perfect fit for my DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I pulled DC's application from DDS after the tour and parent interview. Could not STAND the admissions person who interviewed me. Arrogant, rigid, cold, excessively PC. And let me tell you, I am in theory exactly the kind of person who fits in perfectly at GDS: academic, lefty, from a family of activists, really wanted a progressive school, etc. But my God that woman was obnoxious.

Yes, I know exactly who you're talking about. The whole excessive PC, self-righteous vibe smacked of insincerity. I also pulled our app. Good luck on your search. I'm still looking, funny was told by our school's admin that GDS would be a perfect fit for my DC.

Wow, this is so contrary to our experience during the admissions process. From the receptionist to the parent guide to the admissions staff, everyone was warm and open. By and large, we found admissions staff to be warm and friendly at nearly all schools to which our DC applied. We also really liked the admissions staff at Maret, NPS, and Sheridan. They appear to be hard jobs and I can't imagine I would be very successful at it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, I know exactly who you're talking about. The whole excessive PC, self-righteous vibe smacked of insincerity. I also pulled our app. Good luck on your search. I'm still looking, funny was told by our school's admin that GDS would be a perfect fit for my DC.

First, I'll reveal that we have not gone through this process yet (except at a preschool level), but I find it rather amazing that a parent would decide not to apply to a school based solely on their dislike of an admissions staff member. I am hoping, for both of your children's sake, that your negative impression of this person was a contributing rather than deciding factor in your decision making.

I mean, it is all about the fit for your dc first and foremost - not your fit with a staff member who neither you nor your dc will be likely to have much interaction with in the future.

And I don't know what "excessive PC" means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, I know exactly who you're talking about. The whole excessive PC, self-righteous vibe smacked of insincerity. I also pulled our app. Good luck on your search. I'm still looking, funny was told by our school's admin that GDS would be a perfect fit for my DC.

First, I'll reveal that we have not gone through this process yet (except at a preschool level), but I find it rather amazing that a parent would decide not to apply to a school based solely on their dislike of an admissions staff member. I am hoping, for both of your children's sake, that your negative impression of this person was a contributing rather than deciding factor in your decision making.

I mean, it is all about the fit for your dc first and foremost - not your fit with a staff member who neither you nor your dc will be likely to have much interaction with in the future.

And I don't know what "excessive PC" means.

Of course, more was involved in pulling our app. After touring the school and observing students in classrooms, etc. wouldn't have been a good fit for DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, I know exactly who you're talking about. The whole excessive PC, self-righteous vibe smacked of insincerity. I also pulled our app. Good luck on your search. I'm still looking, funny was told by our school's admin that GDS would be a perfect fit for my DC.

First, I'll reveal that we have not gone through this process yet (except at a preschool level), but I find it rather amazing that a parent would decide not to apply to a school based solely on their dislike of an admissions staff member. I am hoping, for both of your children's sake, that your negative impression of this person was a contributing rather than deciding factor in your decision making.

I mean, it is all about the fit for your dc first and foremost - not your fit with a staff member who neither you nor your dc will be likely to have much interaction with in the future.

And I don't know what "excessive PC" means.

Of course, more was involved in pulling our app. After touring the school and observing students in classrooms, etc. wouldn't have been a good fit for DC.

What about the "excessive PC" thing? What does that even mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, I know exactly who you're talking about. The whole excessive PC, self-righteous vibe smacked of insincerity. I also pulled our app. Good luck on your search. I'm still looking, funny was told by our school's admin that GDS would be a perfect fit for my DC.

First, I'll reveal that we have not gone through this process yet (except at a preschool level), but I find it rather amazing that a parent would decide not to apply to a school based solely on their dislike of an admissions staff member. I am hoping, for both of your children's sake, that your negative impression of this person was a contributing rather than deciding factor in your decision making.

I mean, it is all about the fit for your dc first and foremost - not your fit with a staff member who neither you nor your dc will be likely to have much interaction with in the future.

And I don't know what "excessive PC" means.

Of course, more was involved in pulling our app. After touring the school and observing students in classrooms, etc. wouldn't have been a good fit for DC.

What about the "excessive PC" thing? What does that even mean?

Are you sniffin out something in particular?

I'm AA and don't bash Gays and Lesbians nor do I find it acceptable when others do.

[Anonymous]

Nope, I'm AA too, and think it's great when schools sucessfully embrace gay and lesbian members of the community. What got me about GDS? it was the tone of self-righteousness and self-congratulation that did it for me. By excessively PC I mean-- she was going on and on-- in about how their "playground mediation" program, where kids take turns as mediators of playground disputes.... Now, under any circumstances this would have struck me as a little precious, but when it was coupled with an attitude of disapproving superiority, it was too much. Her attitude seemed to be, "there is one and only one way to approach education, and the way we do it here is right, the way everyone else does it is wrong, and if you feel anything other than wholehearted approval of our methods, you are a shallow and probably bad person." There was something a little stalinist about it all...

My children are now at Burgundy-- the first integrated school in Virginia-- and loving it. Burgundy is very progressive-- educationally and in terms of politics-- but doesn't seem to take itself quite so seriously, thank goodness.

FWIW, I have met several other parents -- also all on the progressive side of the political spectrum-- who were similarly put off by this very same woman. I don't doubt that there are lots of great teachers and staff at GDS, and I have friends whose kids are very happy there. But it wasn't for us, and this woman really exemplified why not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope, I'm AA too, and think it's great when schools sucessfully embrace gay and lesbian members of the community. What got me about GDS? it was the tone of self-righteousness and self-congratulation that did it for me. By excessively PC I mean-- she was going on and on-- in about how their "playground mediation" program, where kids take turns as mediators of playground disputes.... Now, under any circumstances this would have struck me as a little precious, but when it was coupled with an attitude of disapproving superiority, it was too much. Her attitude seemed to be, "there is one and only one way to approach education, and the way we do it here is right, the way everyone else does it is wrong, and if you feel anything other than wholehearted approval of our methods, you are a shallow and probably bad person." There was something a little stalinist about it all...

My children are now at Burgundy-- the first integrated school in Virginia-- and loving it. Burgundy is very progressive-- educationally and in terms of politics-- but doesn't seem to take itself quite so seriously, thank goodness.

FWIW, I have met several other parents -- also all on the progressive side of the political spectrum-- who were similarly put off by this very same woman. I don't doubt that there are lots of great teachers and staff at GDS, and I have friends whose kids are very happy there. But it wasn't for us, and this woman really exemplified why not.

Get over yourself already.

[Anonymous]

While we were waiting for our kid @ the GDS playdate, one of the teachers walked by and said "what's going on here?" I told him the parents were there for student admissions visits. The teacher gave me a look like many are called but the chosen are few and he said ever so smugly in his sing-song twang, "it's a great schoo-ool!" I was said, "we kno-ow, that's why we're he-ere!"

For the parent interview, we were kept waiting for 45 minutes by the lower school AD and entertained by a parent who proceeded to tell us the right way to raise our children. I was absolutely turned off by the smugness and arrogance but it is a great school. We were waitlisted and I immediately pulled our name from the list (not that that means a whole lot but it made me feel better to think I "rejected" them also :lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While we were waiting for our kid @ the GDS playdate, one of the teachers walked by and said "what's going on here?" I told him the parents were there for student admissions visits. The teacher gave me a look like many are called but the chosen are few and he said ever so smugly in his sing-song twang, "it's a great schoo-ool!" I was said, "we kno-ow, that's why we're he-ere!"

For the parent interview, we were kept waiting for 45 minutes by the lower school AD and entertained by a parent who proceeded to tell us the right way to raise our children. I was absolutely turned off by the smugness and arrogance but it is a great school. We were waitlisted and I immediately pulled our name from the list (not that that means a whole lot but it made me feel better to think I "rejected" them also :lol

Parents of prospects customarily spend 45 minutes with a parent volunteer before their interview with the lower school AD. Parents may go into the interview with the AD with a more refined set of questions and concerns based on the time they spent with the parent volunteer.

The lower school director came out and addressed our group while the DC were in their play visit. It is sobering to realize how many children are applying to so few spots. The director seemed to balanced the dynamic well: we're thrilled you are interested in the school and many other families are as well. While GDS was our first choice, and we were fortunate that our DC was admitted, we did expand our app pool following that visit as we realized that the odds of admissions are long for nearly all applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I pulled DC's application from DDS after the tour and parent interview. Could not STAND the admissions person who interviewed me. Arrogant, rigid, cold, excessively PC. And let me tell you, I am in theory exactly the kind of person who fits in perfectly at GDS: academic, lefty, from a family of activists, really wanted a progressive school, etc. But my God that woman was obnoxious.

Yes, I know exactly who you're talking about. The whole excessive PC, self-righteous vibe smacked of insincerity. I also pulled our app. Good luck on your search. I'm still looking, funny was told by our school's admin that GDS would be a perfect fit for my DC.

I think you guys may have experienced the previous person in charge of PreK-K admissions. I've heard she put people off. The current person is sweet and sincere and easy to converse with.

[Anonymous]

GDS is a wonderful school that appeals to more progressive, "socially liberal" people who wnat a "comfy" educational environment for their babies

[Anonymous]

To each their own!