Has your first choice school changed since you started applications?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah ours changed drastically based on the admissions interviews and our interactions with the school. Our original top choice was just awful during the interview process, and we had separate interviews for two kids, each with different admissions officers. In both interviews, the interviewers gave off big "IDGAF" energy. They barely wanted to get to know us or our kids, one just talked at us and the other was barely engaged.

And then our last choice school, the one that we threw in last minute turned out to be really great. Our daughter liked her interactions with the school and we really liked our conversation. We still haven't been able to visit in person b/c of COVID so if we get in, we'll have to figure out if the online vibe matches the in-person one.

I am still shocked though by our formally first choice school. Like I know you are a highly sought after school, but I would imagine that a LOT of parents (and kids) are turned off by that kind of attitude.

Is this gds?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strangely enough, I wish we had applied to a couple of less academically rigorous/intense schools. I am starting to doubt our decision to limit our applications to the Big 3. Even if our child gets in, it may not be the most enjoyable experience. Our back up is our strong public school, which we would be fine with.

Were you influenced by talking to current families or more from the characterizations of pressure cookers on this board?

Both. This board makes the top schools sound incredibly joyless but current parents also freely admit that the academics are very intense. I have an academically strong child but I can't help but wonder if they would have a more enjoyable experience at a school like Bullis or SSSAS as opposed to GDS/Sidwell/St. Albans, etc. - particularly since I don't think the college outcomes from any of these schools for unconnected children are measurably different. Too late at this point but I think I would have done things a little differently. This is for a 9th grader.

I have a freshman at SSSAS who is very happy. As cliche as it sounds, it's definitely a joyful place for him. My husband and I both went to pressure cooker schools (mine was an even bigger pressure cooker than his) and we did not want that for our son.

He works hard both in school and in sports, but he also has enough down time which he desperately needs. The key is finding the right amount of balance of being busy and being able to relax. We believe it's really important to "be a kid" especially after these past two years. All of our kids have lost so much.

We've been very impressed with his teachers. They are incredibly supportive, but they also push him. He is also learning how to study, how to write, and how to manage his time.

Socially, he's also very happy and has lots of all different kinds of friends. He is very sporty, but also likes theater and video games and he's found friends with all of those interests. There are about 115 kids in the grade which doesn't feel too small or too big. There's also a really strong sense of community with annual traditions, etc. All the parents we have met have been welcoming and friendly.

I know application deadlines have passed, but if you truly are interested I would give admissions a call. It can't hurt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah ours changed drastically based on the admissions interviews and our interactions with the school. Our original top choice was just awful during the interview process, and we had separate interviews for two kids, each with different admissions officers. In both interviews, the interviewers gave off big "IDGAF" energy. They barely wanted to get to know us or our kids, one just talked at us and the other was barely engaged.

And then our last choice school, the one that we threw in last minute turned out to be really great. Our daughter liked her interactions with the school and we really liked our conversation. We still haven't been able to visit in person b/c of COVID so if we get in, we'll have to figure out if the online vibe matches the in-person one.

I am still shocked though by our formally first choice school. Like I know you are a highly sought after school, but I would imagine that a LOT of parents (and kids) are turned off by that kind of attitude.

Is this gds?

Yes.

You're not the only one!

[Anonymous]

The GDS comments on this thread are hilarious. We had the EXACT same reaction to our 9th grade family interview. The interviewer talked about the school non-stop and did not seem at all interested in getting to know our child/family in any meaningful way. After it was over, all our child said was "that was weird." At 9th grade, I also think family interviews present an odd dynamic. I prefer the interview the child only approach, or interview the child and parents separately approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The GDS comments on this thread are hilarious. We had the EXACT same reaction to our 9th grade family interview. The interviewer talked about the school non-stop and did not seem at all interested in getting to know our child/family in any meaningful way. After it was over, all our child said was "that was weird." At 9th grade, I also think family interviews present an odd dynamic. I prefer the interview the child only approach, or interview the child and parents separately approach.

Our DD was really upset. She felt like she did something wrong or thought the interviewer didn't like her bc she was so disinterested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah ours changed drastically based on the admissions interviews and our interactions with the school. Our original top choice was just awful during the interview process, and we had separate interviews for two kids, each with different admissions officers. In both interviews, the interviewers gave off big "IDGAF" energy. They barely wanted to get to know us or our kids, one just talked at us and the other was barely engaged.

And then our last choice school, the one that we threw in last minute turned out to be really great. Our daughter liked her interactions with the school and we really liked our conversation. We still haven't been able to visit in person b/c of COVID so if we get in, we'll have to figure out if the online vibe matches the in-person one.

I am still shocked though by our formally first choice school. Like I know you are a highly sought after school, but I would imagine that a LOT of parents (and kids) are turned off by that kind of attitude.

Is this gds?

We were so turned off by the entire GDS admissions process we didn't apply.

[Anonymous]

It just seemed obvious to me that GDS must have a separate admissions track for the connected etc, and the interviews were a tedious formality for the admissions staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our top choice changed, and we dropped GDS altogether. Their essay questions were so ridiculous and out of touch with actual normal human children that we decided the school wouldn't be a good fit for our family. Also, their inflexibility on allowing any access to the school was a turnoff. Some schools at least offered limited access - on weekends, masked and vaccinated, etc. The overall vibe of "we're so amazing, you're lucky we're even considering letting you spend $50k on us, sight unseen" is ok for some, but we just couldn't.

Yes, the parent interview and the lack of access to the school was a real turn-off. It's fallen down to the bottom of our list as well. Then again, we don't have a strong favorite as access to ALL campuses have been very limited. If we're lucky enough to have choices, I'm crossing my fingers the schools will allow shadow days for the kids they accepted and their parents. Before I send my DC and a big bag of cash to a school for the next several years, I want to make sure it's a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It just seemed obvious to me that GDS must have a separate admissions track for the connected etc, and the interviews were a tedious formality for the admissions staff.

I also got this impression. It just seemed like they didn't think we were worth their time. It really makes me wonder who they do think is worth their time? Seems like they missed out on some potentially really great kids and families.

[Anonymous]

Is it a good sign if your kid is invited to an athletic workout by the school? Or does this happen with every kid who expresses interest in a particular sport a some schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our top choice changed, and we dropped GDS altogether. Their essay questions were so ridiculous and out of touch with actual normal human children that we decided the school wouldn't be a good fit for our family. Also, their inflexibility on allowing any access to the school was a turnoff. Some schools at least offered limited access - on weekends, masked and vaccinated, etc. The overall vibe of "we're so amazing, you're lucky we're even considering letting you spend $50k on us, sight unseen" is ok for some, but we just couldn't.

Same. We got the very strong impression that it would not be a good fit for our family and decided not to bother. We are totally unconnected, so likely wouldn’t have gotten in anyway.

[Anonymous]

What were the GDS essay questions?

Sounds like their application process this year is as bad as Potomac in prior years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The GDS comments on this thread are hilarious. We had the EXACT same reaction to our 9th grade family interview. The interviewer talked about the school non-stop and did not seem at all interested in getting to know our child/family in any meaningful way. After it was over, all our child said was "that was weird." At 9th grade, I also think family interviews present an odd dynamic. I prefer the interview the child only approach, or interview the child and parents separately approach.

I think this is the only time dcum has agreed on something glad we arent the only ones

[Anonymous]

I think GDS has like 15 truly open spots for 9th grade this year. Someone on here asked admissions and they said 7 girl spots, 7 boy spots. Admissions must know this as they have to then interview 400 kids who won't make it. It must seem like a waste of time to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What were the GDS essay questions?

I’m curious too!