Why do people dislike the Big Three?

[Anonymous]

It's all about money and prestige.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"a member of one of the so-called 'Big 3'"?

I think THAT speaks for itself.

That was a joke to make then point. Sorry I didn't use an emotion to accentuate the point.

[Anonymous]

I, too, am curious about which schools have better academics than NCS/Sidwell/GDS.

[Anonymous]

Lab wrote:I'd break OP's question into two parts (although I'm not sure OP intended to ask both parts):

(1) Why do people hate the label "Big 3"? That's the question most people seem to be answering here. I think the answer is clear -- lots of people think their own schools are just as good or better than the three schools that people commonly associate with the label "Big 3." They hear the term "Big 3" and hate that it might suggest their own schools are somehow lesser. Personally, I think the term is useful shorthand for DCUM, and I'm not offended by it at all, but I generally don't care what others think about me or my kid's school. Still, I can understand why others are bothered, even if I think they're over-reacting.

(2) Why do people hate the particular three schools associated with the term "Big 3"? I think that's a tougher question because I suspect that many people have different reasons for their hatred. For a few, maybe they had a child at the school and did not like it, but I've only seen a few times on DCUM where people claim they pulled a child out of one of these schools over dislike, so I suspect that's pretty rare. For some, maybe it's that they have met some parents or kids from these schools and did not like them. But if that's the reason, I think it's a silly one because each of these schools has hundreds (thousands?) of kids/parents, so I doubt anyone has met enough to draw a valid assessment. For a lot, I suspect it's just that they think people who attend these schools think they're superior -- not really jealousy, but human nature.

FWIW, I've often wondered the same thing. I've never seen any reason to dislike any of these schools, or any other school for that matter. I toured several schools, and know parents/kids at several. I like some better than others (not only schools, but also parent/kids), I've never seen much reason to hate any place as much as some people here do. Maybe I just need to get out more.

God, what a pretentious bore. "Maybe I just need to get out more." No $hit.

[Anonymous]

Lab wrote:
I'd break OP's question into two parts (although I'm not sure OP intended to ask both parts):

Bossy and a know-it-all - must be a teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I, too, am curious about which schools have better academics than NCS/Sidwell/GDS.

I guess it's a no-brainer your child is at one of these schools. Why is it so hard to believe that there are other schools out there just as good or better?? Did you even bother to look at any other schools besides the "Social 3" to see for yourself, or did you just get caught up in the hype, & only look at NCS/Sidwell/GDS? What about Maret, Landon, WIS, Holton Arms, hell, I was even impressed with British! Seriously, where else did you look?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I, too, am curious about which schools have better academics than NCS/Sidwell/GDS.

Maybe it's these kinds of comments that make people dislike the "BIG3"...AS IF somewhere else could be as good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, too, am curious about which schools have better academics than NCS/Sidwell/GDS.

I guess it's a no-brainer your child is at one of these schools. Why is it so hard to believe that there are other schools out there just as good or better?? Did you even bother to look at any other schools besides the "Social 3" to see for yourself, or did you just get caught up in the hype, & only look at NCS/Sidwell/GDS? What about Maret, Landon, WIS, Holton Arms, hell, I was even impressed with British! Seriously, where else did you look?

I'm not the PP, but you are just as bad as those that you have such disdain for. There is no "just as good or better" relative to any of these schools. School choice is individual. What maybe good/better/best for one child/family may not be for another. Full disclosure -- yes, I have two children (one at GDS and one at Beauvoir). And yes, I did look at other schools and one of my children actually did attend another school before transitioning to the "social 3", whatever the hell that means. It ended up not being a great fit (read: not good/better/best for my child) so we left. Why are you berated someone that you don't know about where they did or didn't look for a school or why they think academics are great at NCS/Sidwell/GDS or whether they did or didn't get caught up in the hype?

[Anonymous]

Or, people actually want to know which schools people think are better, because they are considering applying in the next cycle.

Holy jumping to conclusions, Batman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or, people actually want to know which schools people think are better, because they are considering applying in the next cycle.

Holy jumping to conclusions, Batman.

Well, it's a sad day if people have to come to this board to find out which schools are "better". So much for having a mind of your own.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell parent here -- "Why do people hate the 'Big 3'"? :
1) some people are resentful b/c their kids didn't get in;
2) some people have encountered or have heard of encounters with the small minority of parents/teachers/administrators/kids at those schools who have a superior, snotty attitude -- yes, this exists; no, it's not prevalent IMHO.

Now, can we please stop using the ridiculous and superficial term "Big Three" and admit that there are a lot of great schools in this area, public, private and religious, and that we're really lucky if we can find and afford one that's pretty good -- not perfect, b/c there is no such animal -- for our kids. Some schools -- for a variety of reasons, most unimportant and irrelevant to quality and fit for any individual child -- get more applications than other schools. That doesn't make those schools "better".

And, please, please can we stop fantasizing that parents at these schools are in some superannuated sorority/fraternity and that we socialize only with one another. Nothing could be further from the truth -- in fact, it's really laughable. Having had my kids in public school for elementary and then moved them to an independent school for middle and upper grades, I can tell you there are social climbers and down-to-earth types in both public and private schools -- and you'd never be able to guess from income/job titles/or CVs who's who -- the proof is in the pudding.

[Anonymous]

People assert that there are a variety of schools that are academically superior to the quote-unquote Big 3. I'm certainly willing to believe it. Which schools are they and why do you think they are better? It's a simple question and a logical follow-up to previous posts. Asking it doesn't imply that the questioner doesn't or can't or won't think for herself. It suggests that she's trying to collect information and opinions from various sources and then to evaluate it.

Conversely, to claim that "there are plenty of schools that are better academically" but then to refuse to name those schools and explain their respective strengths, makes the original claim sound as if it's rooted more in resentment than in actual knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Personally, given the absurd nature of the original post, I wouldn't be surprised if this question was a plant by a reporter or someone with time on his/her hands. He/she is probably laughing out loud at how easy it was to get people so worked up. If not, the OP is simply moronic.

[Anonymous]

This thread is bizarre - this school stuff is taken so personally I can't help but wonder the psychological implications of it all (for some of these posters AND their kids....). Gives me shivers...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I, too, am curious about which schools have better academics than NCS/Sidwell/GDS.

The best academics are the one that fit your kid's needs.