Academic Difference Between GDS and Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever is happening at W schools is not relevant to what we are trying to share to current Sidwell/GDS parents based on recent experiences. OP is asking about GDS/Sidwell.

Of course it's relevant, because you're making it sound like Sidwell and GDS have the only legacies in the DC area applying to selective colleges and that it's somehow a magic bullet for admission. There are way more legacies applying to the same schools from public schools. Even with potentially improved odds, most legacies still aren't getting in, whether they're applying from public or private.

DP but incredible, isn't it? People just cannot stop measuring up/comparing themselves to the Ws and MCPS. They just cannot stop it. It's measuring stick that every school, publics or privates, tries to measure up to.
Even this thread that has nothing to do with MCPS, y'all bring MCPS into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The vast majority of Sidwell and GDS parents are college graduates. Therefore, their children are “hooked” (legacies) at some college(s). If you or your spouse didn’t graduate from an Ivy+, that’s too bad for your child. They can always use the hook his/her parents provided. But that’s not good enough for you, is it?

There are way more legacies at the W schools than at Sidwell and GDS.

Based on sheer numbers, there are also way more students at the W schools than Sidwell and GDS. A higher percentage of Sidwell grads are heading to Ivy+ schools than the W schools I looked at recently. That’s what really matters.

Tell us what’s left after you net out the college admits who are athletes, school administrator kids, URM with the same GPA, and nationally ranked EC students?

[Anonymous]

Move to Nebraska and be top 10 in the country in a sport. Plus strong GPA and tough courses.

That’ll do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there an academic difference between either school? It seems like GDS is easier to graduate from with an Ivy-worthy GPA than Sidwell. I'm not insulting GDS, nor am I trolling. My kid is applying to both of these schools and is an athlete the coaches are interested in.

If we are shooting for a 3.9+ GPA, would GDS be a better fit? I think he like Sidwell's facilities and culture better, but GDS may be an easier journey for someone looking to get stellar grades.

What does this forum think?

Have you been following what’s happening at Ivy schools the last 10 years? They’ve tanked their reputation and academics by going all DEI department, studies and majors.

Good luck in the job market and with endowment donations. Working at non profits with 70% overhead to pay a barely working person won’t last long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges know the academic rigor involved at both schools, so getting less than a 3.9 may not be a dealbreaker. What it really comes down to is whether your kid prefers a progressive approach or a traditional one.

Lol wishful thinking. Why would a college take a 3.5 from either of these school when they can take someone who gets 4.0 of higher from the same school or one of the numbers similar or more rigorous private and public schools throughout the country?

There aren't really more rigorous schools across the country. There is an upper echelon of private schools; Sidwell is included in that cohort.

Just because you believe that does not make it true. Groton School, Phillips Exeter Academy, Choate Rosemary Hall, Harvard-Westlake School, Phillips Academy Andover, The Nueva School, Commonwealth School, The College Preparatory School, St. Mark’s School of Texas, Trinity School, etc, etc.

Sidwell and GDS are not even close to these schools. Sidwell and GDS are in the third or fourth tier of private schools. They a good but every major city has 2-3 similar schools.

Dude left out all of HADES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if your kid goes to Sidwell and gets a 3.75 GPA, they are doing really well and will be in the mix for top schools. Sounds like your kid might have an athletic hook, which will help a lot

True if true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever is happening at W schools is not relevant to what we are trying to share to current Sidwell/GDS parents based on recent experiences. OP is asking about GDS/Sidwell.

Of course it's relevant, because you're making it sound like Sidwell and GDS have the only legacies in the DC area applying to selective colleges and that it's somehow a magic bullet for admission. There are way more legacies applying to the same schools from public schools. Even with potentially improved odds, most legacies still aren't getting in, whether they're applying from public or private.

DP but incredible, isn't it? People just cannot stop measuring up/comparing themselves to the Ws and MCPS. They just cannot stop it. It's measuring stick that every school, publics or privates, tries to measure up to.
Even this thread that has nothing to do with MCPS, y'all bring MCPS into it.

Fine, replace MCPS with "all public schools in this country" and my point still remains.

[Anonymous]

Consider the Cathedral schools. Academically equivalent of Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there an academic difference between either school? It seems like GDS is easier to graduate from with an Ivy-worthy GPA than Sidwell. I'm not insulting GDS, nor am I trolling. My kid is applying to both of these schools and is an athlete the coaches are interested in.

If we are shooting for a 3.9+ GPA, would GDS be a better fit? I think he like Sidwell's facilities and culture better, but GDS may be an easier journey for someone looking to get stellar grades.

What does this forum think?

Based on this year’s IG posts, 2023 Sidwell students had better luck gaining admission to Ivy+ colleges than GDS students. It may vary from year to year though.

All hooked except one or two.

The vast majority of Sidwell and GDS parents are college graduates. Therefore, their children are “hooked” (legacies) at some college(s). If you or your spouse didn’t graduate from an Ivy+, that’s too bad for your child. They can always use the hook his/her parents provided. But that’s not good enough for you, is it?

Pls don’t conflate one of the 400,000 Harvard alums with real legacies whose families are wealthy, successful, and has donated millions over the years.

Every alums kid cannot get a seat as said parent’s alum. Stop pretending that’s a “leg up.”

I agree with you. Posters on this board act as if legacies from Sidwell (and other elite privates) who are admitted to T20 colleges are unqualified. There’s been loads of research on this issue and the findings are that most of these legacies have equivalent or better stats than “unhooked” admits. I know several high stats, double Harvard legacies that were denied admissions. Many people don’t understand that legacy status is not determinative without a lot of other things working in your student’s favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there an academic difference between either school? It seems like GDS is easier to graduate from with an Ivy-worthy GPA than Sidwell. I'm not insulting GDS, nor am I trolling. My kid is applying to both of these schools and is an athlete the coaches are interested in.

If we are shooting for a 3.9+ GPA, would GDS be a better fit? I think he like Sidwell's facilities and culture better, but GDS may be an easier journey for someone looking to get stellar grades.

What does this forum think?

Based on this year’s IG posts, 2023 Sidwell students had better luck gaining admission to Ivy+ colleges than GDS students. It may vary from year to year though.

All hooked except one or two.

The vast majority of Sidwell and GDS parents are college graduates. Therefore, their children are “hooked” (legacies) at some college(s). If you or your spouse didn’t graduate from an Ivy+, that’s too bad for your child. They can always use the hook his/her parents provided. But that’s not good enough for you, is it?

Pls don’t conflate one of the 400,000 Harvard alums with real legacies whose families are wealthy, successful, and has donated millions over the years.

Every alums kid cannot get a seat as said parent’s alum. Stop pretending that’s a “leg up.”

I agree with you. Posters on this board act as if legacies from Sidwell (and other elite privates) who are admitted to T20 colleges are unqualified. There’s been loads of research on this issue and the findings are that most of these legacies have equivalent or better stats than “unhooked” admits. I know several high stats, double Harvard legacies that were denied admissions. Many people don’t understand that legacy status is not determinative without a lot of other things working in your student’s favor.

False. Legacies in the 3.5 to 3.7 range with less rigorous classes got into HYP while 3.9+ students with rigorous classes did not at Sidwell this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if your kid goes to Sidwell and gets a 3.75 GPA, they are doing really well and will be in the mix for top schools. Sounds like your kid might have an athletic hook, which will help a lot

If you mean top schools like T20 without a hook and a 3.75 - this is not likely. (Maybe ED Chicago)

Well, maybe things have changed, but my kid got into a T20 with no hook and a 3.6 just a couple years ago.

Yes - they have changed! Families need to understand this. No sour grapes here - but there are a few of us trying to be "real" with the updated experience.

Why have things changed, exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there an academic difference between either school? It seems like GDS is easier to graduate from with an Ivy-worthy GPA than Sidwell. I'm not insulting GDS, nor am I trolling. My kid is applying to both of these schools and is an athlete the coaches are interested in.

If we are shooting for a 3.9+ GPA, would GDS be a better fit? I think he like Sidwell's facilities and culture better, but GDS may be an easier journey for someone looking to get stellar grades.

What does this forum think?

Based on this year’s IG posts, 2023 Sidwell students had better luck gaining admission to Ivy+ colleges than GDS students. It may vary from year to year though.

All hooked except one or two.

The vast majority of Sidwell and GDS parents are college graduates. Therefore, their children are “hooked” (legacies) at some college(s). If you or your spouse didn’t graduate from an Ivy+, that’s too bad for your child. They can always use the hook his/her parents provided. But that’s not good enough for you, is it?

Pls don’t conflate one of the 400,000 Harvard alums with real legacies whose families are wealthy, successful, and has donated millions over the years.

Every alums kid cannot get a seat as said parent’s alum. Stop pretending that’s a “leg up.”

I agree with you. Posters on this board act as if legacies from Sidwell (and other elite privates) who are admitted to T20 colleges are unqualified. There’s been loads of research on this issue and the findings are that most of these legacies have equivalent or better stats than “unhooked” admits. I know several high stats, double Harvard legacies that were denied admissions. Many people don’t understand that legacy status is not determinative without a lot of other things working in your student’s favor.

False. Legacies in the 3.5 to 3.7 range with less rigorous classes got into HYP while 3.9+ students with rigorous classes did not at Sidwell this year.

Life’s hard. Too bad those 3.9+ Sidwell students weren’t also HYP legacies. They should blame their parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there an academic difference between either school? It seems like GDS is easier to graduate from with an Ivy-worthy GPA than Sidwell. I'm not insulting GDS, nor am I trolling. My kid is applying to both of these schools and is an athlete the coaches are interested in.

If we are shooting for a 3.9+ GPA, would GDS be a better fit? I think he like Sidwell's facilities and culture better, but GDS may be an easier journey for someone looking to get stellar grades.

What does this forum think?

Based on this year’s IG posts, 2023 Sidwell students had better luck gaining admission to Ivy+ colleges than GDS students. It may vary from year to year though.

All hooked except one or two.

The vast majority of Sidwell and GDS parents are college graduates. Therefore, their children are “hooked” (legacies) at some college(s). If you or your spouse didn’t graduate from an Ivy+, that’s too bad for your child. They can always use the hook his/her parents provided. But that’s not good enough for you, is it?

Pls don’t conflate one of the 400,000 Harvard alums with real legacies whose families are wealthy, successful, and has donated millions over the years.

Every alums kid cannot get a seat as said parent’s alum. Stop pretending that’s a “leg up.”

I agree with you. Posters on this board act as if legacies from Sidwell (and other elite privates) who are admitted to T20 colleges are unqualified. There’s been loads of research on this issue and the findings are that most of these legacies have equivalent or better stats than “unhooked” admits. I know several high stats, double Harvard legacies that were denied admissions. Many people don’t understand that legacy status is not determinative without a lot of other things working in your student’s favor.

False. Legacies in the 3.5 to 3.7 range with less rigorous classes got into HYP while 3.9+ students with rigorous classes did not at Sidwell this year.

Life’s hard. Too bad those 3.9+ Sidwell students weren’t also HYP legacies. They should blame their parents.

Legacies will end soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there an academic difference between either school? It seems like GDS is easier to graduate from with an Ivy-worthy GPA than Sidwell. I'm not insulting GDS, nor am I trolling. My kid is applying to both of these schools and is an athlete the coaches are interested in.

If we are shooting for a 3.9+ GPA, would GDS be a better fit? I think he like Sidwell's facilities and culture better, but GDS may be an easier journey for someone looking to get stellar grades.

What does this forum think?

Based on this year’s IG posts, 2023 Sidwell students had better luck gaining admission to Ivy+ colleges than GDS students. It may vary from year to year though.

All hooked except one or two.

The vast majority of Sidwell and GDS parents are college graduates. Therefore, their children are “hooked” (legacies) at some college(s). If you or your spouse didn’t graduate from an Ivy+, that’s too bad for your child. They can always use the hook his/her parents provided. But that’s not good enough for you, is it?

Pls don’t conflate one of the 400,000 Harvard alums with real legacies whose families are wealthy, successful, and has donated millions over the years.

Every alums kid cannot get a seat as said parent’s alum. Stop pretending that’s a “leg up.”

I agree with you. Posters on this board act as if legacies from Sidwell (and other elite privates) who are admitted to T20 colleges are unqualified. There’s been loads of research on this issue and the findings are that most of these legacies have equivalent or better stats than “unhooked” admits. I know several high stats, double Harvard legacies that were denied admissions. Many people don’t understand that legacy status is not determinative without a lot of other things working in your student’s favor.

False. Legacies in the 3.5 to 3.7 range with less rigorous classes got into HYP while 3.9+ students with rigorous classes did not at Sidwell this year.

Life’s hard. Too bad those 3.9+ Sidwell students weren’t also HYP legacies. They should blame their parents.

Legacies will end soon.

If so, then HYP legacies will simply get in another way or become legacies at other Ivy+ colleges. It’s just rearranging the deck chairs. Privilege and access will always beget privilege and access. It’s the American way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there an academic difference between either school? It seems like GDS is easier to graduate from with an Ivy-worthy GPA than Sidwell. I'm not insulting GDS, nor am I trolling. My kid is applying to both of these schools and is an athlete the coaches are interested in.

If we are shooting for a 3.9+ GPA, would GDS be a better fit? I think he like Sidwell's facilities and culture better, but GDS may be an easier journey for someone looking to get stellar grades.

What does this forum think?

Based on this year’s IG posts, 2023 Sidwell students had better luck gaining admission to Ivy+ colleges than GDS students. It may vary from year to year though.

All hooked except one or two.

The vast majority of Sidwell and GDS parents are college graduates. Therefore, their children are “hooked” (legacies) at some college(s). If you or your spouse didn’t graduate from an Ivy+, that’s too bad for your child. They can always use the hook his/her parents provided. But that’s not good enough for you, is it?

Pls don’t conflate one of the 400,000 Harvard alums with real legacies whose families are wealthy, successful, and has donated millions over the years.

Every alums kid cannot get a seat as said parent’s alum. Stop pretending that’s a “leg up.”

I agree with you. Posters on this board act as if legacies from Sidwell (and other elite privates) who are admitted to T20 colleges are unqualified. There’s been loads of research on this issue and the findings are that most of these legacies have equivalent or better stats than “unhooked” admits. I know several high stats, double Harvard legacies that were denied admissions. Many people don’t understand that legacy status is not determinative without a lot of other things working in your student’s favor.

False. Legacies in the 3.5 to 3.7 range with less rigorous classes got into HYP while 3.9+ students with rigorous classes did not at Sidwell this year.

Life’s hard. Too bad those 3.9+ Sidwell students weren’t also HYP legacies. They should blame their parents.

Legacies will end soon.

If so, then HYP legacies will simply get in another way or become legacies at other Ivy+ colleges. It’s just rearranging the deck chairs. Privilege and access will always beget privilege and access. It’s the American way.

Evil