Parent Culture at Sidwell vs. GDS (Upper School)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone considered that GDS is the #1 Harvard feeder school in DC?

And we thought we were rid of you... sadly not. Be gone, troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a 9th grader last year get into each of the Big Three - Sidwell, GDS and NCS/St. Albans. During the accepted students day, we ran into a few kids (and their parents) multiple times as they had also been accepted at more than one Big 3 school. I have no idea what percentage of the total applicant population they (and we) represented.

This anecdote confirms my sense that there are likely no more than one or two dozen such students in any given year, which I'm also guessing can't be more than 3 to 5 percent of the applicant population in any given year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone considered that GDS is the #1 Harvard feeder school in DC?

And we thought we were rid of you... sadly not. Be gone, troll.

The troll is at the start of the thread (and throughout).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a 9th grader last year get into each of the Big Three - Sidwell, GDS and NCS/St. Albans. During the accepted students day, we ran into a few kids (and their parents) multiple times as they had also been accepted at more than one Big 3 school. I have no idea what percentage of the total applicant population they (and we) represented.

Wow, what an obnoxious conversation to have!

+1. I can't imagine behaving this way at an open house. I really can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a 9th grader last year get into each of the Big Three - Sidwell, GDS and NCS/St. Albans. During the accepted students day, we ran into a few kids (and their parents) multiple times as they had also been accepted at more than one Big 3 school. I have no idea what percentage of the total applicant population they (and we) represented.

Wow, what an obnoxious conversation to have!

+1. I can't imagine behaving this way at an open house. I really can't.

This is going directly over my head. What did the person do wrong?

[Anonymous]

Generally, except for as invented on DCUM, people don't go around at open houses asking where other children have been admitted, with particular emphasis on the "Big 3."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generally, except for as invented on DCUM, people don't go around at open houses asking where other children have been admitted, with particular emphasis on the "Big 3."

That's not what the PP said happened. They ran into some people repeatedly and recognized them. Still don't see how this is bad form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally, except for as invented on DCUM, people don't go around at open houses asking where other children have been admitted, with particular emphasis on the "Big 3."

That's not what the PP said happened. They ran into some people repeatedly and recognized them. Still don't see how this is bad form.

I think you're right about what the post says, but the take home here is that to be admitted to all is unlikely and that most people keep a low profile at open houses, which for these schools are not AT ALL small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally, except for as invented on DCUM, people don't go around at open houses asking where other children have been admitted, with particular emphasis on the "Big 3."

That's not what the PP said happened. They ran into some people repeatedly and recognized them. Still don't see how this is bad form.

I think you're right about what the post says, but the take home here is that to be admitted to all is unlikely and that most people keep a low profile at open houses, which for these schools are not AT ALL small.

I imagine that the PP is referencing admitted student receptions (not the cattle call open houses). There is certainly overlap between Sidwell, STA/NCS and GDS because families cast wide nets if they are gunning for HS private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many students do you think are actually admitted to more than one of Sidwell/GDS/NCS/STA in any given year?

How many even apply to more than one of them? They are so different.

Lots - they are more similar than they are different.

That wasn't our impression. DC ended up only applying to one of them (and several others) and had no interest in the other two.

[Anonymous]

Parents don't socialize that much in high school. Very different from lower schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally, except for as invented on DCUM, people don't go around at open houses asking where other children have been admitted, with particular emphasis on the "Big 3."

That's not what the PP said happened. They ran into some people repeatedly and recognized them. Still don't see how this is bad form.

I think you're right about what the post says, but the take home here is that to be admitted to all is unlikely and that most people keep a low profile at open houses, which for these schools are not AT ALL small.

I imagine that the PP is referencing admitted student receptions (not the cattle call open houses). There is certainly overlap between Sidwell, STA/NCS and GDS because families cast wide nets if they are gunning for HS private school.

+1 Even at our small k-8 there are 3-4 kids a year with multiple big 3 admits. These are not even superstars, just likable, smart kids.

[Anonymous]

we've found the sidwell culture--parents and students alike--to be warm and welcoming. as the kids get older, there can be less contact among the parents aside from the potlucks, concerts, art show, sports games, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking at these two schools, and are wondering about the parent culture at the upper school level.

We hear that GDS is more warm and welcoming and that Sidwell tends to have more cutthroat, competitive parents. If it is true of Sidwell, it's disappointing. In most ways, Sidwell's culture speaks to us a bit more than GDS. We like the spiritual dimension and the Quaker idea of "that of God in everyone."

I know the standard advice is to go talk to real people, but unfortunately the people the admissions office connects you to tend to be the school boosters. Rarely do admissions staff connect prospective parents to people who have more nuanced or ambivalent feelings.

In search of more honest opinions, it would be awesome to hear from current parents on how they feel about the parent cultures at the GDS and Sidwell upper schools. I'd really like to hear from two-income working parents who are not uber wealthy.

We're coming from a school that has a warm and supportive culture for both kids and parents. Would love to find a similar environment for upper school.

SFS lifers - you'll be just fine and people are welcoming and want all the kids to do well.

Just a quick word on "spiritual dimension". That's great it came through loud and clear at the events, but upper school is really busy and intense and the Quaker aspects that were well-threaded through PK-8 are harder to come by in 9-12 no matter what the school does. Time demands are big, and the big inflow of new students dilutes some aspects of the culture.

Both schools have visible social justice angles and not-so visible capitalists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you get accepted at both schools your child will be able to revisit the schools to determine which is best for them.

Highly doubt that this is actually possible. Sounds like OP is coming from another private, in which case they'd likely be declaring a first choice before decisions are made so that their current school's outplacement team can lobby hard for that choice accordingly, essentially conceding admission to the second choice. My sense is that the ability to choose between Sidwell and GDS after having been admitted to both is a near-mythical situation that very few applicants likely enjoy in any given year.

Admitted to and chose b/t Blair, GDS, SFS, and STA. Went with SFS after going to all admit events and shadow days.
Little brother only applied to SFS and GDS, went with SFS.