Anyone have DC move off a waitlist?

[Anonymous]

There are many schools which are top notch which are either elementary/middle or high school... varying greatly in size and ages. Many of these top notch elementary/middle schools send their students on to NSC/STA, Holton, Landon, Maret, Sidwell, GDS - [omitted]. Bottom line, too many apples and oranges to make such a vast generalization.

I am the one who "didn't refill her prescription" and yes I am damn tired of the vacuous-ness with which so many posters on this site say "top 3 or big 3." Is an idiotic term that is completely fabricated by posters on DCUM. No one in DC one who truly understands the DC private school world and related associations would create such an uninformed and ludiocrous term. For anyone to say private schools in WDC such as WIS, Sheridan, St Patricks, or NPS, are any less competitive or easier academically or have fewer "connected" families than Sidwell, the Cathedral Schools, GDS or Maret, really does not have a clue. They all have very competitive admission seasons, have extremely similar academic curriculums, admit children from a variety of socioeconomic and racial backgrounds and include a group of the wealthy, powerful, and/or famous. What vacuous posters call the "big 3" have no claim on that titled based on any of these criteria. With the exception of WIS, (which does run through 12th grade, but is on a somewhat different track-IB) the children who start at the aforementioned schools in WDC, that end at 6th or 8th grade, mostly go on to the other schools named above that go through highschool. And, just as many children who start at the schools that go from PK or K through 12th named above, do not graduate from those same schools where they started as young children. There is a great deal of movement between and amongst all of these schools and any family fortunate enough to enroll a child in any of them has done equally well by that child. Where one graduates in 12th grade is very minimally determined by what school one was admitted to at the age of 4, 5, or 6, and since the term seems to be largly defended by where a school sends its 12th graders to college, it becomes even more ridiculous under further consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any Big 3 w/l movement?

People need to STOP USING THIS STUPID PHRASE!!!!! Its so f#*@#ing annoying and ridiculous. There is NO SUCH THING!!! Ugh!!

There is such a thing - pretty much everyone knows the Big 3 exist...whether you choose to acknowledge it or not is your choice. It doesn't mean that there aren't wonderful schools out there that aren't Big 3 schools... Relax. I am assuming your child is not in a Big 3 or the term wouldn't bother you so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There are many schools which are top notch which are either elementary/middle or high school... varying greatly in size and ages. Many of these top notch elementary/middle schools send their students on to NSC/STA, Holton, Landon, Maret, Sidwell, GDS - [omitted]. Bottom line, too many apples and oranges to make such a vast generalization.

I am the one who "didn't refill her prescription" and yes I am damn tired of the vacuous-ness with which so many posters on this site say "top 3 or big 3." Is an idiotic term that is completely fabricated by posters on DCUM. No one in DC one who truly understands the DC private school world and related associations would create such an uninformed and ludiocrous term. For anyone to say private schools in WDC such as WIS, Sheridan, St Patricks, or NPS, are any less competitive or easier academically or have fewer "connected" families than Sidwell, the Cathedral Schools, GDS or Maret, really does not have a clue. They all have very competitive admission seasons, have extremely similar academic curriculums, admit children from a variety of socioeconomic and racial backgrounds and include a group of the wealthy, powerful, and/or famous. What vacuous posters call the "big 3" have no claim on that titled based on any of these criteria. With the exception of WIS, (which does run through 12th grade, but is on a somewhat different track-IB) the children who start at the aforementioned schools in WDC, that end at 6th or 8th grade, mostly go on to the other schools named above that go through highschool. And, just as many children who start at the schools that go from PK or K through 12th named above, do not graduate from those same schools where they started as young children. There is a great deal of movement between and amongst all of these schools and any family fortunate enough to enroll a child in any of them has done equally well by that child. Where one graduates in 12th grade is very minimally determined by what school one was admitted to at the age of 4, 5, or 6, and since the term seems to be largly defended by where a school sends its 12th graders to college, it becomes even more ridiculous under further consideration.

Why does it bother you so much what people label their schools? If you are happy with your school and think it is wonderful then that should be enough for you. You are right, there are numerous schools in DC that are wonderful, competitive etc..... However, there still are the Big 3 that are the MOST competitive and carry a certain prestige with them outside of the DC area. GDS, Cathedral Schools, and Sidwell are what most people consider the Big 3.

[Anonymous]

"There is such a thing - pretty much everyone knows the Big 3 exist"


Well, I'm a third generation private school educated Washingtonian, as is my dh. Neither of us had heard of it until I started reading this board, so I beg to differ. Between us and my cousins we cover StA x1, Sidwell x3, St Pats x4, Holton x2, Landon x2, Norwood x5, and Beauvoir x2. Not bragging, just calling bullsh*t on whoever thinks this term is so pervasive.

It's a term limited only to these boards and to VERY recent times. FWIW, when I graduated Maret took the bottom half of my Norwood class and you only went to GDS if you were asked to leave another school for behavior issues. I'm sure times have changed - I know Maret's academics are great now and I'm thrilled GDS has turned it's prior reputation into one where less type-A personalities thrive rather than get offramped. My point is only a request that you put it all in perspective. Choose the school that's right for your kid, not your resume. Who knows if ANY of these schools will still be "good" two decades from now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"There is such a thing - pretty much everyone knows the Big 3 exist"


Well, I'm a third generation private school educated Washingtonian, as is my dh. Neither of us had heard of it until I started reading this board, so I beg to differ. Between us and my cousins we cover StA x1, Sidwell x3, St Pats x4, Holton x2, Landon x2, Norwood x5, and Beauvoir x2. Not bragging, just calling bullsh*t on whoever thinks this term is so pervasive.

It's a term limited only to these boards and to VERY recent times. FWIW, when I graduated Maret took the bottom half of my Norwood class and you only went to GDS if you were asked to leave another school for behavior issues. I'm sure times have changed - I know Maret's academics are great now and I'm thrilled GDS has turned it's prior reputation into one where less type-A personalities thrive rather than get offramped. My point is only a request that you put it all in perspective. Choose the school that's right for your kid, not your resume. Who knows if ANY of these schools will still be "good" two decades from now.

This might be the best freakin post on this board ever. So, so true.

[Anonymous]

Well why would I care if the school is good two decades from now? STA is good now. That's all I care about. I'm not looking to live off the thrill of my sons' STA days.

I agree Big 3 is obnoxious. But to say it doesn't exist is not correct. I won't argue that the DCUM community may be a bunch of morons choosing the big 3. But they did, and so there it is, whether any of it is merited. If enough people rally together and want to lable the Cathedral Schools (for example) something more insulting, go ahead. But at this point Big 3 is in the lexicon. And of course (for the gajillionth time) there are lots of wonderful schools out there.

[Anonymous]

back to the original question, I have a friend whose kid got into Sidwell off the waitlist for pre-k.

[Anonymous]

21:38 was not talking about ignoring good, but about ignoring (I think) the "in" schools. ITA. There is no "big 3" anywhere but here on dcum. And it that's your definition of "pretty much everyone," then I'm sorry.

And to 22:40, LMAO. Well played.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"There is such a thing - pretty much everyone knows the Big 3 exist"


Well, I'm a third generation private school educated Washingtonian, as is my dh. Neither of us had heard of it until I started reading this board, so I beg to differ. Between us and my cousins we cover StA x1, Sidwell x3, St Pats x4, Holton x2, Landon x2, Norwood x5, and Beauvoir x2. Not bragging, just calling bullsh*t on whoever thinks this term is so pervasive.

It's a term limited only to these boards and to VERY recent times. FWIW, when I graduated Maret took the bottom half of my Norwood class and you only went to GDS if you were asked to leave another school for behavior issues. I'm sure times have changed - I know Maret's academics are great now and I'm thrilled GDS has turned it's prior reputation into one where less type-A personalities thrive rather than get offramped. My point is only a request that you put it all in perspective. Choose the school that's right for your kid, not your resume. Who knows if ANY of these schools will still be "good" two decades from now.

\

Hey no fair - you let the cat out of the bag. I graduated from Sidwell in the 70s when it was just a school, well before the pearly gates were apparently installed.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree that reputations change over time (although who cares). My mother-in-law congratulated my 8th grade daughter for getting on the waitlist at Sidwell, while saying nothing at all about having been accepted to GDS. That acceptance, apparently, wasn't a particularly noteworthy accomplishment. I thought that was pretty funny, given that GDS was her first choice!

[Anonymous]

I know of several people that got into St. Pat's off the waiting list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any Big 3 w/l movement?

People need to STOP USING THIS STUPID PHRASE!!!!! Its so f#*@#ing annoying and ridiculous. There is NO SUCH THING!!! Ugh!!

There is such a thing - pretty much everyone knows the Big 3 exist...whether you choose to acknowledge it or not is your choice. It doesn't mean that there aren't wonderful schools out there that aren't Big 3 schools... Relax. I am assuming your child is not in a Big 3 or the term wouldn't bother you so much.

My children have gone to Beauvoir, Sidwell, StA, NCS and Maret. I just KNOW the term is total Bull sh*t.

[Anonymous]

Well, the term is DCUM BS, but is the pecking order? Your kids all went to schools routinely represented here as top-tier. No unconventional picks or easy-to-get-into options on that list. In fact, exclusiveness seems to be what ties your list together -- it's not commitment to a particular pedagogical style or politics.

I don't think all privates are created equal. I think that there are a handful that are worth it (and what that handful is will vary depending on the kid), but that most don't provide a better education than a good public school.

It's like colleges -- private isn't inherently better than public. And "private" may cover a really wide range of institutions that bear little resemblance to each other.

[Anonymous]

I don't see why people get so bent out of shape about the term "big 3." It's short and descriptive, and everyone always knows what you mean (except for the 1-2 people who like to debate whether it's Maret or GDS that's part of the group). I don't think anyone who uses the term is implying that other schools are any lesser, and indeed I often see people on DCUM that use "big 3" as a pejorative insult.

It's sort of like if I were to rant about how stupid and offensive it is to call this board "DCUM" when in reality the name is "DCUMAD," and complain that leaving off "AD" (and Dads) excludes half the parents. Well, sure the name is DCUMAD, but that's too many letters to type, and everyone knows what I mean anyway, and life's too short to get mad about stuff like that.

Those who dislike "big 3" (or "DCUM") may have good reasons, but you're fighting the tide here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why people get so bent out of shape about the term "big 3." It's short and descriptive, and everyone always knows what you mean (except for the 1-2 people who like to debate whether it's Maret or GDS that's part of the group). I don't think anyone who uses the term is implying that other schools are any lesser, and indeed I often see people on DCUM that use "big 3" as a pejorative insult.

It's sort of like if I were to rant about how stupid and offensive it is to call this board "DCUM" when in reality the name is "DCUMAD," and complain that leaving off "AD" (and Dads) excludes half the parents. Well, sure the name is DCUMAD, but that's too many letters to type, and everyone knows what I mean anyway, and life's too short to get mad about stuff like that.

Those who dislike "big 3" (or "DCUM") may have good reasons, but you're fighting the tide here.

Oh god, I do get so irritated when folks use DCUM and write off all the ADs who also post here. Such disrespect. Unbelievable.

While I chuckle at Big 3 or the Urbanbaby equivalent of TT for top tier, most folks do grok the handful of schools to which people are referring when posters use those labels. My DC are at a Big 3. We would've been happy for them to attend any of the schools (e.g., Beauvoir, GDS, Maret, NPS, Sheridan, etc) to which we applied when they were going through the app process. But I can guarantee you there were parents on the playdates, at the open houses, etc, who made it clear that their kid was only going to a Big 3. And they always mentioned the same schools -- well, frankly, I think it is the Big 4 now -- Cathedral schools, GDS, Maret and Sidwell. Some looked askance when we said our DC was applying to other schools, as if that was an admission of weakness on the part of our kid's candidacy.

FWIW, I will continue to use Big 3/4. I assume the schools comprising that may change or expand over time. Until then, Big 3 (4).