Sidwell Application Process- Blech

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The process left a bad impression. Interview by alum, and no contact in person with any administrators. Just parent tours, a huge uninspiring meeting in the library, and a few online tests. Anyone else has in-person contact with admint? How would they ever assess if they don't meet in person with the applicant?

Money and connections and skin color don't require interviews, funny poster

Having seen this play out year-after-year, now from the inside I'd say that if there are 20 spots, 15 are pre-filled by legacies, siblings, VIPs, sports recruits, URMs, and kids who are in several of these categories. The school knows who these spots are going to before interviewing a soul.
Then maybe 5 spots are truly open. They can fill these without meeting kids. they take kids whose resumes are truly unique, kids who get those teacher recs which say "best in my career", etc.
There are probably always enough kids that REALLY stand out to fill the few spots they have.

This. We did not apply to Sidwell out of our K-8 because there were two kids in the class (who were equally strong students) who had a sibling at Sidwell. We knew that all else equal, the spots would go to them, so our chances were better at other schools (with more open 9th spots and fewer kids applying out from our school.).

This is true to varying degrees at all of the top schools, not just Sidwell. They have to interview hundreds of kids and parents for a small number of slots, many of which they have already “filled”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guys…don’t you get it? If you are on the B list, they link you up with an alumnus. If you’ve made the short list, you go straight up to the executive suite. They get SO many applicants each year !

I think you are wrong - it did not work that way when we applied for HS in a prior year. Everyone we knew had an interview with admissions and the students gave the tours. This year the parents give the tours and the students were much better ambassadors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The process left a bad impression. Interview by alum, and no contact in person with any administrators. Just parent tours, a huge uninspiring meeting in the library, and a few online tests. Anyone else has in-person contact with admint? How would they ever assess if they don't meet in person with the applicant?

Money and connections and skin color don't require interviews, funny poster

Having seen this play out year-after-year, now from the inside I'd say that if there are 20 spots, 15 are pre-filled by legacies, siblings, VIPs, sports recruits, URMs, and kids who are in several of these categories. The school knows who these spots are going to before interviewing a soul.
Then maybe 5 spots are truly open. They can fill these without meeting kids. they take kids whose resumes are truly unique, kids who get those teacher recs which say "best in my career", etc.
There are probably always enough kids that REALLY stand out to fill the few spots they have.

This. We did not apply to Sidwell out of our K-8 because there were two kids in the class (who were equally strong students) who had a sibling at Sidwell. We knew that all else equal, the spots would go to them, so our chances were better at other schools (with more open 9th spots and fewer kids applying out from our school.).

This is true to varying degrees at all of the top schools, not just Sidwell. They have to interview hundreds of kids and parents for a small number of slots, many of which they have already “filled”.

Well, you should know that admissions to all of these schools are lumpy and that some years Sidwell would take those siblings (or legacies) plus more....and in some years those siblings (or legacies) will choose to go to a school other than Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

The thread is so interesting. My sense from the Sidwell HS process was that it was not particularly hands on or warm and fuzzy. The parent tour was fine, kid loved the shadow day, interviewed with a faculty member, did the assessments and that was it. He interviewed with a teacher which I assumed was typical via zoom as did we. That was the best part of the process as it was upbeat and casual. When I emailed with a question, never heard back. Figured they were busy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guys…don’t you get it? If you are on the B list, they link you up with an alumnus. If you’ve made the short list, you go straight up to the executive suite. They get SO many applicants each year !

So if my daughter interviewed with someone on staff we should assume they have a better shot than an interview with an alum?

[Anonymous]

I have no inside knowledge but it makes sense that if you have a shot to make a good impression with an admissions officer it's better than having no shot by never meeting them.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it matters. Speculating doesn’t help. You’ll know quite soon. But until then maybe don’t disparage the school you’re dying to get into? That’s sound advice.

[Anonymous]

High School. parent and son had interviews with admissions officer.

[Anonymous]

We also had interviews with Staff not alumn. Obviously you are on the B list if you had one with the Alum. Best look elsewhere because everyone else we know (the cool kids, with connections) also got interview spots with staff & teachers. Actually, there may be a C list. You are on that one. Oh well, they'll never know they lost a potential Bill Gates.

[Anonymous]

16:43: there is a D list too. For douchebags. You made it.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if this has more to do with when you scheduled your interview. If you got in early, more likely to get an admissions offer. If mid-fall, could also get staff (thats what we got). If you waited until December or January when they were flooded with requests then far more likely to be assigned with an alum?

It was very apparent from their messages that Sidwell gets a ton of applicants so they need to triage.

[Anonymous]

curious if applicants coming from a k-8 private might be assigned staff v. those not already in the pipeline, alum?

[Anonymous]

While the process may be uninspiring it may not be reflective of the school. It is like college aged students discounting schools because of a weird tour guide. I am not a Sidwell parent but I would try to look past the admissions gaff in choosing a school. Sidwell may or may not be the right fit for other reasons.

[Anonymous]

They are already know which athletic and famous parent (or famous kid) recruits they are taking, and the classes are already decided upon. The tours and such are meaningless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are already know which athletic and famous parent (or famous kid) recruits they are taking, and the classes are already decided upon. The tours and such are meaningless.

No, not entirely. They are probably 50-75% pre-determined and pre-filled. But there are some genuinely open spots. my son got one for 9th and we are nobodies and he was not a recruited athlete. .