Stone Ridge vs Visitation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SR is very liberal, especially regarding LGBTQ. Catholicism is more of an afterthought, so if religion is important to you, then you will get less of it at SR. Visi is more traditional and prestigious, with lots of legacies, but academically is not as modern as SR.

I wouldn't say Catholicism is an afterthought, just a different take.

Absolutely, there are Sacred Heart nuns getting arrested in immigration protests. They believe in living the Gospel of loving the stranger in a strange land and you will hear that reflected in the teaching and community at SR. You will find fewer MAGA Catholics at SR and more who focus on loving their neighbor, like the alum who started the DC Diaper Bank. If your focus is "traditional", which may be more of a code for making your high school great again, then go to Visi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SR is very liberal, especially regarding LGBTQ. Catholicism is more of an afterthought, so if religion is important to you, then you will get less of it at SR. Visi is more traditional and prestigious, with lots of legacies, but academically is not as modern as SR.

I wouldn't say Catholicism is an afterthought, just a different take.

Absolutely, there are Sacred Heart nuns getting arrested in immigration protests. They believe in living the Gospel of loving the stranger in a strange land and you will hear that reflected in the teaching and community at SR. You will find fewer MAGA Catholics at SR and more who focus on loving their neighbor, like the alum who started the DC Diaper Bank. If your focus is "traditional", which may be more of a code for making your high school great again, then go to Visi

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely no reason to pay obscene amounts of money for these private schools when all the girls end up at SEC (no Vandy) and mid-tier colleges anyways. Send them to public schools and they will get just as good an education and college outcomes.

Lol I hope my kid goes to a fun school. They’ll be just fine in life. Will gladly pay 40-60k a year to not use MCPS. They are a mess and getting worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SR is very liberal, especially regarding LGBTQ. Catholicism is more of an afterthought, so if religion is important to you, then you will get less of it at SR. Visi is more traditional and prestigious, with lots of legacies, but academically is not as modern as SR.

I wouldn't say Catholicism is an afterthought, just a different take.

Absolutely, there are Sacred Heart nuns getting arrested in immigration protests. They believe in living the Gospel of loving the stranger in a strange land and you will hear that reflected in the teaching and community at SR. You will find fewer MAGA Catholics at SR and more who focus on loving their neighbor, like the alum who started the DC Diaper Bank. If your focus is "traditional", which may be more of a code for making your high school great again, then go to Visi

+1

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SR is very liberal, especially regarding LGBTQ. Catholicism is more of an afterthought, so if religion is important to you, then you will get less of it at SR. Visi is more traditional and prestigious, with lots of legacies, but academically is not as modern as SR.

I wouldn't say Catholicism is an afterthought, just a different take.

Absolutely, there are Sacred Heart nuns getting arrested in immigration protests. They believe in living the Gospel of loving the stranger in a strange land and you will hear that reflected in the teaching and community at SR. You will find fewer MAGA Catholics at SR and more who focus on loving their neighbor, like the alum who started the DC Diaper Bank. If your focus is "traditional", which may be more of a code for making your high school great again, then go to Visi

There are plenty of wonderful MAGA families at SR but they know who the judgmental liberals are and steer clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely no reason to pay obscene amounts of money for these private schools when all the girls end up at SEC (no Vandy) and mid-tier colleges anyways. Send them to public schools and they will get just as good an education and college outcomes.

Lol I hope my kid goes to a fun school. They’ll be just fine in life. Will gladly pay 40-60k a year to not use MCPS. They are a mess and getting worse.

Exactly. MCPS woke policies continue to harm students. Their test scores are awful. They allow criminals wearing ankle monitors to bring guns into school. Totally unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is the Visi experience for students coming from public? DD is very interested in applying next year however we aren’t sure how tough it will be for her to establish friendships with girls who have known each other for some time. Would love to hear toward experiences coming from a similar situation.

My DD did not come from public but came from a small private where she was the only one in her graduating class to attend Visi. It did take her awhile to find her footing socially, although she did hit the ground running academically almost immediately. The general population at Visi is, how do I say this, well coiffed, fashionable, country club(ish) and socially savvy. My DD is more of a cute nerd so these girls weren’t really her scene. Most girls here are very smart but there are some who are not and do struggle, eventually leave, etc.

My DD did eventually settle into a lovely group of girls around mid-Spring and is now, really happy at the school. But the first couple of months I was a little worried about whether she would adjust. Many of the girls come from the same feeder schools, so to outsiders it may seem like those girls are in the “in” crowd because they seem more confident and “cliqued up” off right from the start. 9th grade year, there is also HEAVY pressure to secure a date for Gonzaga’s homecoming and to be invited to a pre and/or post party and all of these photos are plastered all over social media. Some of this culture is perpetuated by the parents but the school does little to manage this type of thing. The school hosts a Gonzaga/Visi picnic early in the Fall and the goal is to get a homecoming invitation at that time or as a result of the event. Yes - LOTS of unnecessary pressure and feeling left out if you don’t manage to secure a date. There is really so much drama surrounding all of this which is so unfortunate for a girls school which should be empowering its students to feel confident and that their value is not attached to whether they get a homecoming date or not.

Also know going in that Visi is not lenient when it comes to test taking/scoring, etc. Your grade is your grade and don’t whine about it. You also are NOT allowed to keep your already scored tests. So for example if you plan to use your old tests to study for the mid terms or finals - you can’t. They go over them in class and the teacher takes them back. Visi has lots of strict, inflexible rules. Not a problem for my kid (who loves rules and the rigid structure) but just know this going in.

I hope my comment doesn’t get buried because these are things I would have liked to know in advance. I will say I would NOT have picked this school if I knew all of this in advance because it was a rough learning curve for her and us. However she is 100% happy and always talks about wanting her own daughter to go here. And I am happy for her.

[Anonymous]

^^ Meant to also add that now, with DD as a senior, the college counseling has been amazing so if that is important to you, the school does a fantastic job. No complaints.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the Visi experience for students coming from public? DD is very interested in applying next year however we aren’t sure how tough it will be for her to establish friendships with girls who have known each other for some time. Would love to hear toward experiences coming from a similar situation.

My DD did not come from public but came from a small private where she was the only one in her graduating class to attend Visi. It did take her awhile to find her footing socially, although she did hit the ground running academically almost immediately. The general population at Visi is, how do I say this, well coiffed, fashionable, country club(ish) and socially savvy. My DD is more of a cute nerd so these girls weren’t really her scene. Most girls here are very smart but there are some who are not and do struggle, eventually leave, etc.

My DD did eventually settle into a lovely group of girls around mid-Spring and is now, really happy at the school. But the first couple of months I was a little worried about whether she would adjust. Many of the girls come from the same feeder schools, so to outsiders it may seem like those girls are in the “in” crowd because they seem more confident and “cliqued up” off right from the start. 9th grade year, there is also HEAVY pressure to secure a date for Gonzaga’s homecoming and to be invited to a pre and/or post party and all of these photos are plastered all over social media. Some of this culture is perpetuated by the parents but the school does little to manage this type of thing. The school hosts a Gonzaga/Visi picnic early in the Fall and the goal is to get a homecoming invitation at that time or as a result of the event. Yes - LOTS of unnecessary pressure and feeling left out if you don’t manage to secure a date. There is really so much drama surrounding all of this which is so unfortunate for a girls school which should be empowering its students to feel confident and that their value is not attached to whether they get a homecoming date or not.

Also know going in that Visi is not lenient when it comes to test taking/scoring, etc. Your grade is your grade and don’t whine about it. You also are NOT allowed to keep your already scored tests. So for example if you plan to use your old tests to study for the mid terms or finals - you can’t. They go over them in class and the teacher takes them back. Visi has lots of strict, inflexible rules. Not a problem for my kid (who loves rules and the rigid structure) but just know this going in.

I hope my comment doesn’t get buried because these are things I would have liked to know in advance. I will say I would NOT have picked this school if I knew all of this in advance because it was a rough learning curve for her and us. However she is 100% happy and always talks about wanting her own daughter to go here. And I am happy for her.

I echo this all-could have written it myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the Visi experience for students coming from public? DD is very interested in applying next year however we aren’t sure how tough it will be for her to establish friendships with girls who have known each other for some time. Would love to hear toward experiences coming from a similar situation.

My DD did not come from public but came from a small private where she was the only one in her graduating class to attend Visi. It did take her awhile to find her footing socially, although she did hit the ground running academically almost immediately. The general population at Visi is, how do I say this, well coiffed, fashionable, country club(ish) and socially savvy. My DD is more of a cute nerd so these girls weren’t really her scene. Most girls here are very smart but there are some who are not and do struggle, eventually leave, etc.

My DD did eventually settle into a lovely group of girls around mid-Spring and is now, really happy at the school. But the first couple of months I was a little worried about whether she would adjust. Many of the girls come from the same feeder schools, so to outsiders it may seem like those girls are in the “in” crowd because they seem more confident and “cliqued up” off right from the start. 9th grade year, there is also HEAVY pressure to secure a date for Gonzaga’s homecoming and to be invited to a pre and/or post party and all of these photos are plastered all over social media. Some of this culture is perpetuated by the parents but the school does little to manage this type of thing. The school hosts a Gonzaga/Visi picnic early in the Fall and the goal is to get a homecoming invitation at that time or as a result of the event. Yes - LOTS of unnecessary pressure and feeling left out if you don’t manage to secure a date. There is really so much drama surrounding all of this which is so unfortunate for a girls school which should be empowering its students to feel confident and that their value is not attached to whether they get a homecoming date or not.

Also know going in that Visi is not lenient when it comes to test taking/scoring, etc. Your grade is your grade and don’t whine about it. You also are NOT allowed to keep your already scored tests. So for example if you plan to use your old tests to study for the mid terms or finals - you can’t. They go over them in class and the teacher takes them back. Visi has lots of strict, inflexible rules. Not a problem for my kid (who loves rules and the rigid structure) but just know this going in.

I hope my comment doesn’t get buried because these are things I would have liked to know in advance. I will say I would NOT have picked this school if I knew all of this in advance because it was a rough learning curve for her and us. However she is 100% happy and always talks about wanting her own daughter to go here. And I am happy for her.

Thanks for sharing. I’m curious did you look at any other schools and do you think SR would have been a better fit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the Visi experience for students coming from public? DD is very interested in applying next year however we aren’t sure how tough it will be for her to establish friendships with girls who have known each other for some time. Would love to hear toward experiences coming from a similar situation.

My DD did not come from public but came from a small private where she was the only one in her graduating class to attend Visi. It did take her awhile to find her footing socially, although she did hit the ground running academically almost immediately. The general population at Visi is, how do I say this, well coiffed, fashionable, country club(ish) and socially savvy. My DD is more of a cute nerd so these girls weren’t really her scene. Most girls here are very smart but there are some who are not and do struggle, eventually leave, etc.

My DD did eventually settle into a lovely group of girls around mid-Spring and is now, really happy at the school. But the first couple of months I was a little worried about whether she would adjust. Many of the girls come from the same feeder schools, so to outsiders it may seem like those girls are in the “in” crowd because they seem more confident and “cliqued up” off right from the start. 9th grade year, there is also HEAVY pressure to secure a date for Gonzaga’s homecoming and to be invited to a pre and/or post party and all of these photos are plastered all over social media. Some of this culture is perpetuated by the parents but the school does little to manage this type of thing. The school hosts a Gonzaga/Visi picnic early in the Fall and the goal is to get a homecoming invitation at that time or as a result of the event. Yes - LOTS of unnecessary pressure and feeling left out if you don’t manage to secure a date. There is really so much drama surrounding all of this which is so unfortunate for a girls school which should be empowering its students to feel confident and that their value is not attached to whether they get a homecoming date or not.

Also know going in that Visi is not lenient when it comes to test taking/scoring, etc. Your grade is your grade and don’t whine about it. You also are NOT allowed to keep your already scored tests. So for example if you plan to use your old tests to study for the mid terms or finals - you can’t. They go over them in class and the teacher takes them back. Visi has lots of strict, inflexible rules. Not a problem for my kid (who loves rules and the rigid structure) but just know this going in.

I hope my comment doesn’t get buried because these are things I would have liked to know in advance. I will say I would NOT have picked this school if I knew all of this in advance because it was a rough learning curve for her and us. However she is 100% happy and always talks about wanting her own daughter to go here. And I am happy for her.

Thanks for sharing. I’m curious did you look at any other schools and do you think SR would have been a better fit?

I did look at SR but Visi had a much more organized and impressive Open House and follow up. During Open House, the girls at Visi were very impressive - confident, friendly and genuinely enthusiastic about the school. Did not get the same vibe when we went to SR’s Open House.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the Visi experience for students coming from public? DD is very interested in applying next year however we aren’t sure how tough it will be for her to establish friendships with girls who have known each other for some time. Would love to hear toward experiences coming from a similar situation.

My DD did not come from public but came from a small private where she was the only one in her graduating class to attend Visi. It did take her awhile to find her footing socially, although she did hit the ground running academically almost immediately. The general population at Visi is, how do I say this, well coiffed, fashionable, country club(ish) and socially savvy. My DD is more of a cute nerd so these girls weren’t really her scene. Most girls here are very smart but there are some who are not and do struggle, eventually leave, etc.

My DD did eventually settle into a lovely group of girls around mid-Spring and is now, really happy at the school. But the first couple of months I was a little worried about whether she would adjust. Many of the girls come from the same feeder schools, so to outsiders it may seem like those girls are in the “in” crowd because they seem more confident and “cliqued up” off right from the start. 9th grade year, there is also HEAVY pressure to secure a date for Gonzaga’s homecoming and to be invited to a pre and/or post party and all of these photos are plastered all over social media. Some of this culture is perpetuated by the parents but the school does little to manage this type of thing. The school hosts a Gonzaga/Visi picnic early in the Fall and the goal is to get a homecoming invitation at that time or as a result of the event. Yes - LOTS of unnecessary pressure and feeling left out if you don’t manage to secure a date. There is really so much drama surrounding all of this which is so unfortunate for a girls school which should be empowering its students to feel confident and that their value is not attached to whether they get a homecoming date or not.

Also know going in that Visi is not lenient when it comes to test taking/scoring, etc. Your grade is your grade and don’t whine about it. You also are NOT allowed to keep your already scored tests. So for example if you plan to use your old tests to study for the mid terms or finals - you can’t. They go over them in class and the teacher takes them back. Visi has lots of strict, inflexible rules. Not a problem for my kid (who loves rules and the rigid structure) but just know this going in.

I hope my comment doesn’t get buried because these are things I would have liked to know in advance. I will say I would NOT have picked this school if I knew all of this in advance because it was a rough learning curve for her and us. However she is 100% happy and always talks about wanting her own daughter to go here. And I am happy for her.

This mirrors many of my thoughts. Except DD came from one of the feeders. Settled in with a lovely group of new girls not from her k-8. I sometimes say I wouldn’t pick Visi again but I more often look around and think how lucky she is and how overall happy she is. It’s just that Visi makes everything so hard- making a team, joining a club, getting into honors classes. I wish that part wasn’t such a grind. But academically and socially it’s been a great fit.

[Anonymous]

I think the Gonzaga thing is too much when you’re really just getting acclimated to a new school. For example, you think you’ve found your group of friends and then suddenly there’s all of this hoopla about who gets a date and who doesn’t and the pre/post party drama can make a girl who was feeling good about her school choice and was finally gaining some self confidence then suddenly feel completely alone and ostracized. I don’t like the event but I especially think it is poor timing given it’s so early in the year and the girls are just getting their bearing socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SR is very liberal, especially regarding LGBTQ. Catholicism is more of an afterthought, so if religion is important to you, then you will get less of it at SR. Visi is more traditional and prestigious, with lots of legacies, but academically is not as modern as SR.

I wouldn't say Catholicism is an afterthought, just a different take.

Absolutely, there are Sacred Heart nuns getting arrested in immigration protests. They believe in living the Gospel of loving the stranger in a strange land and you will hear that reflected in the teaching and community at SR. You will find fewer MAGA Catholics at SR and more who focus on loving their neighbor, like the alum who started the DC Diaper Bank. If your focus is "traditional", which may be more of a code for making your high school great again, then go to Visi[/

When has SR made any statement about ICE in the last 5 years? Do they support teachers protesting?

[Anonymous]

I did look at SR but Visi had a much more organized and impressive Open House and follow up. During Open House, the girls at Visi were very impressive - confident, friendly and genuinely enthusiastic about the school. Did not get the same vibe when we went to SR’s Open House.

Interesting since this was my experience with SR at their Open House this year. The tour groups were very disorganized and large groups were sent on their way with students that weren’t sure about the route. I also wasn’t thrilled with the student panel, there wasn’t anything mind blowing about the student experience or course offerings.