Potomac Admissions Visit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does chitchat on the tour really make a difference? I find it hard to believe that is a component of admissions.

Yeah I was going to post that as well. We thought we did poorly in the chit chat and ended up getting admitted. The interview and essays is where you distinguish yourself.

It's less about the student distinguishing him or herself, and more about the impression that kids and parents get on the tour.

Perhaps the kid and the parent need to have a little more self-esteem than how many words were spoken to them by somebody that will have no impact in the admissions' decision. I am a lawyer that does some lobbying and I fall into that trap as well. Senator so and so only spoke to me for 30 seconds when I saw him.

That's not the point I was trying to make. I'm not asking for fawning or counting words spoken to my or my kid. My point is, if the Admission person is chatting up a child about sports and that dominates the conversation during the tour, the takeaway could be that Potomac is a school. where sports are most highly valued. That was my kid's takeaway, even though as I hear from parents on this board, there is more to Potomac than sports.

Nonetheless, it is the point you made.

NP. No, it wasn't. I understood the OP's point perfectly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does chitchat on the tour really make a difference? I find it hard to believe that is a component of admissions.

Yeah I was going to post that as well. We thought we did poorly in the chit chat and ended up getting admitted. The interview and essays is where you distinguish yourself.

It's less about the student distinguishing him or herself, and more about the impression that kids and parents get on the tour.

Perhaps the kid and the parent need to have a little more self-esteem than how many words were spoken to them by somebody that will have no impact in the admissions' decision. I am a lawyer that does some lobbying and I fall into that trap as well. Senator so and so only spoke to me for 30 seconds when I saw him.

That's not the point I was trying to make. I'm not asking for fawning or counting words spoken to my or my kid. My point is, if the Admission person is chatting up a child about sports and that dominates the conversation during the tour, the takeaway could be that Potomac is a school. where sports are most highly valued. That was my kid's takeaway, even though as I hear from parents on this board, there is more to Potomac than sports.

Nonetheless, it is the point you made.

NP. No, it wasn't. I understood the OP's point perfectly.

NP is correct. I said it was about the impressions that kids and parents get on the tour. Not the impressions that kids and parents GIVE on the tour. I could give a hoot about that (as long as parents and kids are polite and respectful, I'm grand).

[Anonymous]

Wow - we are scheduled to tour and this whole thread makes me want to not bother.
Its school for kids. Not college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does chitchat on the tour really make a difference? I find it hard to believe that is a component of admissions.

Yeah I was going to post that as well. We thought we did poorly in the chit chat and ended up getting admitted. The interview and essays is where you distinguish yourself.

It's less about the student distinguishing him or herself, and more about the impression that kids and parents get on the tour.

Perhaps the kid and the parent need to have a little more self-esteem than how many words were spoken to them by somebody that will have no impact in the admissions' decision. I am a lawyer that does some lobbying and I fall into that trap as well. Senator so and so only spoke to me for 30 seconds when I saw him.

That's not the point I was trying to make. I'm not asking for fawning or counting words spoken to my or my kid. My point is, if the Admission person is chatting up a child about sports and that dominates the conversation during the tour, the takeaway could be that Potomac is a school. where sports are most highly valued. That was my kid's takeaway, even though as I hear from parents on this board, there is more to Potomac than sports.

Nonetheless, it is the point you made.

NP. No, it wasn't. I understood the OP's point perfectly.

NP is correct. I said it was about the impressions that kids and parents get on the tour. Not the impressions that kids and parents GIVE on the tour. I could give a hoot about that (as long as parents and kids are polite and respectful, I'm grand).

I'm sorry, OP, for your negative impressions. DC is at another private, but have friends at Potomac--they seem to enjoy it. Also looked at Potomac since we're in NoVA....let's just say Potomac had a very "challenging" admissions environment for a number of years--you can search prior threads if you're inclined. Some of those issues have been addressed....maybe others persist? Be that as it may, Potomac certainly recruits a very high caliber of student. Hopefully the shadow day will go better.

To the Potomac parent PPs who were dismissive or willfully obtuse...not a good look.

[Anonymous]

^don't let one post bother you. Our tour last year was ok. It really depends on who you get as a tour guide. We found that made a huge difference in all the privates we toured.

It's worth checking out for yourself. We ended up choosing another school. Potomac wasn't the right place for us, but it obviously works for some people.

[Anonymous]

The admissions staff is lacking. It is like they are on another orbit from the rest of the school. I see them giving tours around school and want to cringe.

I hope your child's shadow day goes better. It really is a lovely place for all sorts of kids!

[Anonymous]

Looking at this thread, it's amazing how this has ballooned. Seriously -- it was just an admissions assistant who took kids on a tour; some kids are just chatty and some are less so. It's a tour, not an interview. Tour guides are there to answer questions, not to question the people being given the tour. I've been through this before at Potomac and other DC privates -- y'all are blowing this way, way out of proportion. This shouldn't be a dig on Potomac AT ALL. Jeez.

[Anonymous]

We were discussing our impressions. I don't think it ballooned, or perceived it as a dig at Potomac. I don't think anyone said that they weren't going to apply as a result of this discussion. I found it helpful to hear back from Potomac parents, as well as hear from other prospective applicants. I took the whole thing with a grain of salt, as I assume everyone else did. It's one data point among many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does chitchat on the tour really make a difference? I find it hard to believe that is a component of admissions.

Yeah I was going to post that as well. We thought we did poorly in the chit chat and ended up getting admitted. The interview and essays is where you distinguish yourself.

+1 don't think it has an impact on admission, but definitely may have an impact as to wether a child/family chooses to apply.

I think Potomac values the whole child: academics, athletics, arts and so forth and it's a shame several families did not feel this way on their tour.

[Anonymous]

Potomac parent here. I do understand where OP is coming from. When DC and I were on our tour, i walked away with the same thought as not a single Potomac rep came and spoke to me. My DC on the hand was perfectly fine with that (he was applying for US and as a teenager, prefers to avoid all chit chat possible). DC had few options to choose from and picked Potomac. I was apprehensive of his decision because of my personal bias from that tour and there was nothing else marked against Potomac.

Fast forward few years and we, as a family, are extremely happy with DC's decision! Academic at Potomac is strong, friends he met are supportive and nice, teachers are engaging, and parents are friendly. After the last welcome party by the summer DC entering Potomac, there were no more dealing with the admin team as they are busy with the next admission season.

[Anonymous]

Did they ever get rid of that Head of Admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are naive if you think Potomc is the only school 'recruiting' academically qualified athletes! Every school is this area are!

The only thing is other school's admin team hides it better.

Not really - it's pretty out in the open everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow - we are scheduled to tour and this whole thread makes me want to not bother.
Its school for kids. Not college.

If that is your attitude, you are probably better going to public. Private school parents really BELIEVE that the education of their child is important, that teachers at every grade matter, and that education is an investment you make in your child.

[Anonymous]

If that is your attitude, you are probably better going to public. Private school parents really BELIEVE that the education of their child is important, that teachers at every grade matter, and that education is an investment you make in your child.


And public school parents don't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potomac parent here. I do understand where OP is coming from. When DC and I were on our tour, i walked away with the same thought as not a single Potomac rep came and spoke to me. My DC on the hand was perfectly fine with that (he was applying for US and as a teenager, prefers to avoid all chit chat possible). DC had few options to choose from and picked Potomac. I was apprehensive of his decision because of my personal bias from that tour and there was nothing else marked against Potomac.

Fast forward few years and we, as a family, are extremely happy with DC's decision! Academic at Potomac is strong, friends he met are supportive and nice, teachers are engaging, and parents are friendly. After the last welcome party by the summer DC entering Potomac, there were no more dealing with the admin team as they are busy with the next admission season.

Thanks for posting - this was helpful for us.