Does kid need all As to get into Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Yes, if you want to be admitted in 9th grade you need to be a high achiever. But there are tons of great kids who have attended Sidwell for years who are average students. They are happy, normal kids. Just like any other school. Although yes, many of them are from families with above average wealth and connections. Same goes for GDS, Maret, St. Alban's and others.

[Anonymous]

My older kids are the kind of students who thrive at Sidwell. And they did. Yet they didn’t want their younger siblings to be subjected to the same experience. It wasn’t cutthroat and they truly adored their friends, who were solidly nice people and will be friends for life, but the rigor can be crushing and the trade-offs are real. Interestingly, my older kids appreciate it more now that they’re in college and see how well-prepared they are for that step up in difficulty. There was no learning curve freshman year. They were able to dive right into upper level courses and know how to maximize their academic experience and can handle jobs and extracurriculars on top of the academics because Sidwell was, well, such a grind. Plus they value their friendships from Sidwell. But they still want their 2 younger siblings to have a more well-rounded HS experience. Jury is out on what they’ll do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My older kids are the kind of students who thrive at Sidwell. And they did. Yet they didn’t want their younger siblings to be subjected to the same experience. It wasn’t cutthroat and they truly adored their friends, who were solidly nice people and will be friends for life, but the rigor can be crushing and the trade-offs are real. Interestingly, my older kids appreciate it more now that they’re in college and see how well-prepared they are for that step up in difficulty. There was no learning curve freshman year. They were able to dive right into upper level courses and know how to maximize their academic experience and can handle jobs and extracurriculars on top of the academics because Sidwell was, well, such a grind. Plus they value their friendships from Sidwell. But they still want their 2 younger siblings to have a more well-rounded HS experience. Jury is out on what they’ll do.

+1. Hi friend. I could have written this exact post except for different number of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is in a highly competitive school similar to Sidwell and it's not abnormal for 1-3 kids each year to leave right before 9th usually to another great private.

I wouldn't say they were counseled out but by then kids and parents know more about their learning style and what they'd like for their high school experience. One child of a family friend who left when DC was in early elementary is now at a great medical school.

Only 1-3!?!

I used to work with someone who’s wife owns a DC based tutoring company for the last 15-20 years now. She knows exactly which schools have the most miserable students and parents, slogging away for perceived something or other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent with a MS kid at Sidwell who came in late LS. Thanks for this honesty. This bums me out to hear, but I'm glad to know it. Would you say there's joy and enthusiasm about the learning? I went to fairly intense schools myself, but I was proud to read challenging literature and be part of a literary tradition, and to learn complex facts about history, etc. I loved my research projects. Sidwell parents, do you get the sense that kids get the chance to feel this way?

Joy and enthusiasm? I don't have a kid there but my friends who do certainly don't talk about it that way? They talk about kids comparing grades and even trying to get other kids grades reduced. Doesn't sound so joyful to me.

My DD is there and it is a grind and intense. But she loves it. She adores most of her teachers. Loves the classes. So, there is joy. Not sure what you’re talking about with trying to get others grades reduced. There’s really no sharing of grades.

Similar with our two kids. They work quite hard. They love the school, their teachers and friends. From a parent perspective, I really like how their friends have fun and also support each other. I’ve heard a few people whose judgement I trust express disappointment at times (not often) about a teacher or class, but our kids have had uniformly high quality teachers and engaging classes. There are stressful times (academic, social, family, life, etc.), but they have great supports and are happy kids.

On homework, our kids spend a lot of time working, but they also have time for extracurriculars, social lives, and just relaxing. They are very organized, though, which helps a lot. They also find their work really interesting (with some exceptions) and they care about it.

[Anonymous]

My DC is new to Sidwell, in middle school. Yes, there is more homework than at their previous school - at least something for most classes most nights. It's not busywork and it's not generally that much for any individual class, but it all adds up together, and is usually too much to get done during school. It's a bit more than I'd like and has impinged on sleep a few times, but most days it's fine and DC is pleased to be learning more and overall definitely prefers the tradeoff, and is otherwise happy there. That said, DC is an all-As type, and for children who aren't already pretty competent academically and organizationally, I agree that it could be more burdensome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent with a MS kid at Sidwell who came in late LS. Thanks for this honesty. This bums me out to hear, but I'm glad to know it. Would you say there's joy and enthusiasm about the learning? I went to fairly intense schools myself, but I was proud to read challenging literature and be part of a literary tradition, and to learn complex facts about history, etc. I loved my research projects. Sidwell parents, do you get the sense that kids get the chance to feel this way?

Joy and enthusiasm? I don't have a kid there but my friends who do certainly don't talk about it that way? They talk about kids comparing grades and even trying to get other kids grades reduced. Doesn't sound so joyful to me.

My DD is there and it is a grind and intense. But she loves it. She adores most of her teachers. Loves the classes. So, there is joy. Not sure what you’re talking about with trying to get others grades reduced. There’s really no sharing of grades.

Similar with our two kids. They work quite hard. They love the school, their teachers and friends. From a parent perspective, I really like how their friends have fun and also support each other. I’ve heard a few people whose judgement I trust express disappointment at times (not often) about a teacher or class, but our kids have had uniformly high quality teachers and engaging classes. There are stressful times (academic, social, family, life, etc.), but they have great supports and are happy kids.

On homework, our kids spend a lot of time working, but they also have time for extracurriculars, social lives, and just relaxing. They are very organized, though, which helps a lot. They also find their work really interesting (with some exceptions) and they care about it.

From the PP who wistfully remembers some of the good stuff about her own grind-y school days--thank you! I am sure that others are spot-on about the slog as well, but I'm glad to have this perspective to balance it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds absolutely miserable. I am stressed just thinking about it. Why does anyone want to go?

Some kids really thrive on it. It isn't for everyone. There are a ton of great schools in the area.

Also, the kids are incredibly prepared for college, like to the point that for most of them, college is easier.

I have heard people say the whole college is easier line many times with regard to these schools and it is such a head scratcher to me. Is this a goal? Why would anyone want college to be easier? An education should build not peak in high school!

I think I can answer this because I went to a magnet hs that was considered harder than college for many. It really depends on where you go to college. Many friends thought college was easier and they were able to focus on internships, athletics, etc. I went to Hopkins and college was not easier for me but I felt well prepared, unlike a lot of my peers who came from easier schools, both public and private.

What is the benefit for academic high-achievers to focus on athletics as young adults in college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, if you want to be admitted in 9th grade you need to be a high achiever. But there are tons of great kids who have attended Sidwell for years who are average students. They are happy, normal kids. Just like any other school. Although yes, many of them are from families with above average wealth and connections. Same goes for GDS, Maret, St. Alban's and others.

And I have seen even less than high achievers get into 9th due to family wealth. Of course this is true at all the schools PP mentions.
Short answer, OP, no.
Even if your unhooked full pay kid has all As they likely won't get in unless you are connected or have some hook. Limited spots.

[Anonymous]

If your child gets Bs in Middle School with actual effort, many of the academic schools are going to be really difficult. If the issue was lack of effort or distance learning and the student is bright and suddenly willing to put in a lot more effort it may be ok. Otherwise, even the regular level classes at Sidwell, the Cathedral schools, GDS, etc. are going to be really tough.

[Anonymous]

PP here--that was all in terms of difficulty of challenge once accepted, not in terms of chances for acceptance. Realize the question was about acceptance, but it's worth considering if your child can actually handle the challenge if accepted.

[Anonymous]

The kids from our K-8 that are accepted to Sidwell tend to be those who are solid academically (probably a few B's), but more importantly stand out in other ways--engaging personality, unique interests, top in drama or sports, or siblings. They are all kids who are very comfortable/confident with being themselves and independent go-getters about the activities they want to pursue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, for 9th grade admission.
And honestly, they should. I would not send an A/B student there. In my experience it's a challenge even for a kids who previously got very high As in public---and there's nothing worse than being in a school that's a bad fit.
It's just makes for an unhappy kid and there are lots of unhappy kids at the Big3 schools because they're overwhelmed by the workload in high school. They're really only a great fit for kids who love to work hard and put themselves to the academic limit.

+1000 Couldn't have said it any better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What can you tell us about stories of what happened with college admissions years back? Weren't parents stalking the counselors and badmouthing competing kids? Has the culture improved?

It was related to the child of a prominent parent, with a lot of sour grapes involved and a dash of a crazy parent or two. It was really an outlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds absolutely miserable. I am stressed just thinking about it. Why does anyone want to go?

Some kids really thrive on it. It isn't for everyone. There are a ton of great schools in the area.

Also, the kids are incredibly prepared for college, like to the point that for most of them, college is easier.

I have heard people say the whole college is easier line many times with regard to these schools and it is such a head scratcher to me. Is this a goal? Why would anyone want college to be easier? An education should build not peak in high school!

I think I can answer this because I went to a magnet hs that was considered harder than college for many. It really depends on where you go to college. Many friends thought college was easier and they were able to focus on internships, athletics, etc. I went to Hopkins and college was not easier for me but I felt well prepared, unlike a lot of my peers who came from easier schools, both public and private.

What is the benefit for academic high-achievers to focus on athletics as young adults in college?

If you have never played team sports, I can understand why you might ask this question, but for many, the love for the sport itself, to have a community within the school, to continue to develop teamwork, leadership and other skills that goes with being on a team. But mostly for enjoyment and comradarie.