St. Albans School - how big a deal?

[Anonymous]

NCS and STA. Raise them up. Proudly they wave. Won't find anyone from GDS or Field or Sidwell doing that.
STA is a BFD. A BFD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At law school, we were all advised to include our high schools for resumes for jobs in the City or town where the high school is located. This was Harvard Law school, so it wasn't as though we were grasping to find some school to gain us a privileged edge that was lacking. The reason for including the high school was to indicate in the resume, without the firm needing to read through a cover letter, that we were from the town where the job was located, which would make it seem we would be more likely to stay. Especially in transient cities like Washington, employers may be more interested in hiring people they believe will remain long-term, rather than get DC experience then move back to their home towns. It made sense to me, so I included my area high school on my resume for DC law firms, but not on resumes going to firms in other cities. All turned out fine.

Was told the same thing at another law school on the other side of the country. At least for law firm hiring it was seen as a big deal to have city ties -- certainly that might not be the case in other industries, but for law it was a thing. And when I was on the hiring committee at a firm in DC, it did help when people (I mainly remember Sidwell showing up) listed their DC independent school. My guess is that it can help and it wouldn't hurt -- OP's snarky post aside, a great resume won't get thrown in the trash bc an applicant listed their local HS.

Decisions like these should require more than guesswork. As I said before, the different reactions that you're seeing here confirm that the practice is, at the very least, controversial. And as a partner in a major DC firm I have to tell you -- there is a real concern among hiring partners about hiring new lawyers who aren't afraid or unwilling to get their hands dirty. I'm not saying that STA or Sidwell grads are lazy or self-important, but I am saying that there are some lawyers involved in the hiring process who feel strongly that they'll get more bang for the buck from a scrappy kid who came from nothing and is hungry. So, again, why risk it? The upside is small, and the downside is potentially large.

If you want to make an exception for local high school graduates of fancy schools whose parents moved from the area after you graduated, fine. But you're being nit-picky.

I'm pretty sure that no one commenting on this thread has as much experience in this area (big law firm hiring in DC) as I do.

I am not sure that your additional years of interviewing (I've been at it for over 20) would necessarily provide any greater insight on the question. For my part, I don't think the DCUM is particularly reflective of those making hiring decisions. From what I understand, one of the well-known DC law firms is the largest employer of parents with kids at Beauvoir. Most of those kids go onto NCS and STA. I don't think those parents mind one bit seeing that applicants to their firm attended the same school their children attend or attended. It's a nice point of contact. This is a small town with lots of shared experiences. That can be a good thing for an applicant to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At law school, we were all advised to include our high schools for resumes for jobs in the City or town where the high school is located. This was Harvard Law school, so it wasn't as though we were grasping to find some school to gain us a privileged edge that was lacking. The reason for including the high school was to indicate in the resume, without the firm needing to read through a cover letter, that we were from the town where the job was located, which would make it seem we would be more likely to stay. Especially in transient cities like Washington, employers may be more interested in hiring people they believe will remain long-term, rather than get DC experience then move back to their home towns. It made sense to me, so I included my area high school on my resume for DC law firms, but not on resumes going to firms in other cities. All turned out fine.

Was told the same thing at another law school on the other side of the country. At least for law firm hiring it was seen as a big deal to have city ties -- certainly that might not be the case in other industries, but for law it was a thing. And when I was on the hiring committee at a firm in DC, it did help when people (I mainly remember Sidwell showing up) listed their DC independent school. My guess is that it can help and it wouldn't hurt -- OP's snarky post aside, a great resume won't get thrown in the trash bc an applicant listed their local HS.

Decisions like these should require more than guesswork. As I said before, the different reactions that you're seeing here confirm that the practice is, at the very least, controversial. And as a partner in a major DC firm I have to tell you -- there is a real concern among hiring partners about hiring new lawyers who aren't afraid or unwilling to get their hands dirty. I'm not saying that STA or Sidwell grads are lazy or self-important, but I am saying that there are some lawyers involved in the hiring process who feel strongly that they'll get more bang for the buck from a scrappy kid who came from nothing and is hungry. So, again, why risk it? The upside is small, and the downside is potentially large.

If you want to make an exception for local high school graduates of fancy schools whose parents moved from the area after you graduated, fine. But you're being nit-picky.

I'm pretty sure that no one commenting on this thread has as much experience in this area (big law firm hiring in DC) as I do.

I am not sure that your additional years of interviewing (I've been at it for over 20) would necessarily provide any greater insight on the question. For my part, I don't think the DCUM is particularly reflective of those making hiring decisions. From what I understand, one of the well-known DC law firms is the largest employer of parents with kids at Beauvoir. Most of those kids go onto NCS and STA. I don't think those parents mind one bit seeing that applicants to their firm attended the same school their children attend or attended. It's a nice point of contact. This is a small town with lots of shared experiences. That can be a good thing for an applicant to understand.

Agree. I spent 10 years on the hiring committee at a well-known DC firm. Tons of SFS, STA/NCS, GDS parents/Board Members/Board Chairs in the partnership and they liked the schools their kids attended. People also liked any local kid, period, for the ties to the area.

[Anonymous]

I went to what is considered the best he high school in the country. A long time ago. I had my HS on my resume because people were as impressed with it as they were with college. In addition alumns took an interest. It came up in a lot of interviews. It started the conversation off on a different level. Times may have changed but I don't see the harm. Although I agree to take it off after your first two jobs. All resumes should only be one page and that is expensive real estate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At law school, we were all advised to include our high schools for resumes for jobs in the City or town where the high school is located. This was Harvard Law school, so it wasn't as though we were grasping to find some school to gain us a privileged edge that was lacking. The reason for including the high school was to indicate in the resume, without the firm needing to read through a cover letter, that we were from the town where the job was located, which would make it seem we would be more likely to stay. Especially in transient cities like Washington, employers may be more interested in hiring people they believe will remain long-term, rather than get DC experience then move back to their home towns. It made sense to me, so I included my area high school on my resume for DC law firms, but not on resumes going to firms in other cities. All turned out fine.

Was told the same thing at another law school on the other side of the country. At least for law firm hiring it was seen as a big deal to have city ties -- certainly that might not be the case in other industries, but for law it was a thing. And when I was on the hiring committee at a firm in DC, it did help when people (I mainly remember Sidwell showing up) listed their DC independent school. My guess is that it can help and it wouldn't hurt -- OP's snarky post aside, a great resume won't get thrown in the trash bc an applicant listed their local HS.

Decisions like these should require more than guesswork. As I said before, the different reactions that you're seeing here confirm that the practice is, at the very least, controversial. And as a partner in a major DC firm I have to tell you -- there is a real concern among hiring partners about hiring new lawyers who aren't afraid or unwilling to get their hands dirty. I'm not saying that STA or Sidwell grads are lazy or self-important, but I am saying that there are some lawyers involved in the hiring process who feel strongly that they'll get more bang for the buck from a scrappy kid who came from nothing and is hungry. So, again, why risk it? The upside is small, and the downside is potentially large.

If you want to make an exception for local high school graduates of fancy schools whose parents moved from the area after you graduated, fine. But you're being nit-picky.

I'm pretty sure that no one commenting on this thread has as much experience in this area (big law firm hiring in DC) as I do.

I am not sure that your additional years of interviewing (I've been at it for over 20) would necessarily provide any greater insight on the question. For my part, I don't think the DCUM is particularly reflective of those making hiring decisions. From what I understand, one of the well-known DC law firms is the largest employer of parents with kids at Beauvoir. Most of those kids go onto NCS and STA. I don't think those parents mind one bit seeing that applicants to their firm attended the same school their children attend or attended. It's a nice point of contact. This is a small town with lots of shared experiences. That can be a good thing for an applicant to understand.

Agree. I spent 10 years on the hiring committee at a well-known DC firm. Tons of SFS, STA/NCS, GDS parents/Board Members/Board Chairs in the partnership and they liked the schools their kids attended. People also liked any local kid, period, for the ties to the area.

You guys just aren't going to budge on this, are you? And let me guess: you went to STA. People can be so blind . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCS and STA. Raise them up. Proudly they wave. Won't find anyone from GDS or Field or Sidwell doing that.
STA is a BFD. A BFD.

You sound like an asshole. But I agree with your point, up to a point. Sidwell is also resume-worthy.

[Anonymous]

I went to a top NE boarding school and posted yesterday that first I saw or heard of a prep school on a resume of anyone over the age of say 26-28 was when I arrived here at age 40. I'm pretty stumped by the self elitism coming from St Albans and now Sidwell parents. I never mention Andover or would any Andover alum ever do that or state it unless asked. It cheapens the way a lady or a gentleman presents and projects insecurity and a lack of confidence. On this board it leads to defensiveness, which along with dishonesty is the worst thing in business.

I didn't come from money and went to Andover on what my parents worked hard to partially pay and then the charity of the school's scholarship programs. I never experienced any anxiety about money or anything else at Andover because my dorm mates and peers never made a moment of their wealth, status or lack of it. That gave me a lot of confidence early in life for which I am still grateful. The best line I ever heard came from my roommate's father. They were a family with a tremendous amount of wealth and were public figures, and he told us over dinner once "a gentleman never projects, it is more powerful to impress than to sell an impression"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a top NE boarding school and posted yesterday that first I saw or heard of a prep school on a resume of anyone over the age of say 26-28 was when I arrived here at age 40. I'm pretty stumped by the self elitism coming from St Albans and now Sidwell parents. I never mention Andover or would any Andover alum ever do that or state it unless asked. It cheapens the way a lady or a gentleman presents and projects insecurity and a lack of confidence. On this board it leads to defensiveness, which along with dishonesty is the worst thing in business.

I didn't come from money and went to Andover on what my parents worked hard to partially pay and then the charity of the school's scholarship programs. I never experienced any anxiety about money or anything else at Andover because my dorm mates and peers never made a moment of their wealth, status or lack of it. That gave me a lot of confidence early in life for which I am still grateful. The best line I ever heard came from my roommate's father. They were a family with a tremendous amount of wealth and were public figures, and he told us over dinner once "a gentleman never projects, it is more powerful to impress than to sell an impression"

+1

[Anonymous]

What about having your high school on your LinkedIn profile? I see that a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about having your high school on your LinkedIn profile? I see that a lot.

Is "get back in touch" listed? SOme have it for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to what is considered the best he high school in the country. A long time ago. I had my HS on my resume because people were as impressed with it as they were with college. In addition alumns took an interest. It came up in a lot of interviews. It started the conversation off on a different level. Times may have changed but I don't see the harm. Although I agree to take it off after your first two jobs. All resumes should only be one page and that is expensive real estate.

Based on the poor writing in the previous post, I highly doubt the claims that poster attended the "best high school in the country."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At law school, we were all advised to include our high schools for resumes for jobs in the City or town where the high school is located. This was Harvard Law school, so it wasn't as though we were grasping to find some school to gain us a privileged edge that was lacking. The reason for including the high school was to indicate in the resume, without the firm needing to read through a cover letter, that we were from the town where the job was located, which would make it seem we would be more likely to stay. Especially in transient cities like Washington, employers may be more interested in hiring people they believe will remain long-term, rather than get DC experience then move back to their home towns. It made sense to me, so I included my area high school on my resume for DC law firms, but not on resumes going to firms in other cities. All turned out fine.

Was told the same thing at another law school on the other side of the country. At least for law firm hiring it was seen as a big deal to have city ties -- certainly that might not be the case in other industries, but for law it was a thing. And when I was on the hiring committee at a firm in DC, it did help when people (I mainly remember Sidwell showing up) listed their DC independent school. My guess is that it can help and it wouldn't hurt -- OP's snarky post aside, a great resume won't get thrown in the trash bc an applicant listed their local HS.

Decisions like these should require more than guesswork. As I said before, the different reactions that you're seeing here confirm that the practice is, at the very least, controversial. And as a partner in a major DC firm I have to tell you -- there is a real concern among hiring partners about hiring new lawyers who aren't afraid or unwilling to get their hands dirty. I'm not saying that STA or Sidwell grads are lazy or self-important, but I am saying that there are some lawyers involved in the hiring process who feel strongly that they'll get more bang for the buck from a scrappy kid who came from nothing and is hungry. So, again, why risk it? The upside is small, and the downside is potentially large.

If you want to make an exception for local high school graduates of fancy schools whose parents moved from the area after you graduated, fine. But you're being nit-picky.

I'm pretty sure that no one commenting on this thread has as much experience in this area (big law firm hiring in DC) as I do.

I am not sure that your additional years of interviewing (I've been at it for over 20) would necessarily provide any greater insight on the question. For my part, I don't think the DCUM is particularly reflective of those making hiring decisions. From what I understand, one of the well-known DC law firms is the largest employer of parents with kids at Beauvoir. Most of those kids go onto NCS and STA. I don't think those parents mind one bit seeing that applicants to their firm attended the same school their children attend or attended. It's a nice point of contact. This is a small town with lots of shared experiences. That can be a good thing for an applicant to understand.

Agree. I spent 10 years on the hiring committee at a well-known DC firm. Tons of SFS, STA/NCS, GDS parents/Board Members/Board Chairs in the partnership and they liked the schools their kids attended. People also liked any local kid, period, for the ties to the area.

You guys just aren't going to budge on this, are you? And let me guess: you went to STA. People can be so blind . . .

No. I'm a woman and a public high school grad. I am relying on my own experience (admittedly limited to hiring in the law context in the city of DC). I think I have made it clear that I would think it was weird for a 40-year-old to list their high school on the resume, but have seen many instances of local young people from public and private schools listing their high school as a way of showing local ties. (You seem obsessed on this the other way, by the way.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to what is considered the best he high school in the country. A long time ago. I had my HS on my resume because people were as impressed with it as they were with college. In addition alumns took an interest. It came up in a lot of interviews. It started the conversation off on a different level. Times may have changed but I don't see the harm. Although I agree to take it off after your first two jobs. All resumes should only be one page and that is expensive real estate.

Based on the poor writing in the previous post, I highly doubt the claims that poster attended the "best high school in the country."

I don't see how you could draw that conclusion from the para above. It's DCUM not Tolstoy. In fact, it's true. I wasn't bragging. I was pointing out that like StA it is a conversation starter in interviews especially if you stay in the city that the school is in and has a reputation and many alums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Putting a prep school on a resume is a cry for help. I went to a well known New England boarding school and to be honest the first time I'd heard of anyone putting a prep school on a resume or a LinkedIn page was when I arrived in DC as a forty year old. I have colleagues from work who told me that in Baltimore where you prepped is more prominent in your career than where you went to college. That is crazy. St Albans is a good school, but getting into mentioning it as a professional in a professional environment is a little creepy, and is a lot insecure. A gentleman doesn't need to let everyone know where he went to prep school if not asked.

LinkedIn specifically asks for high school when you create your profile. A lot of people might list it because they ask for it, but that doesn't mean it is on a paper resume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to what is considered the best he high school in the country. A long time ago. I had my HS on my resume because people were as impressed with it as they were with college. In addition alumns took an interest. It came up in a lot of interviews. It started the conversation off on a different level. Times may have changed but I don't see the harm. Although I agree to take it off after your first two jobs. All resumes should only be one page and that is expensive real estate.

Based on the poor writing in the previous post, I highly doubt the claims that poster attended the "best high school in the country."

I don't see how you could draw that conclusion from the para above. It's DCUM not Tolstoy. In fact, it's true. I wasn't bragging. I was pointing out that like StA it is a conversation starter in interviews especially if you stay in the city that the school is in and has a reputation and many alums.

STA was just listed as having the highest average SAT scores of any boarding school in the country. But now that resume etiquet is resolved, can we move on to obit etiquet? One is the Post today, and they listed STA as his HS. Is this okay for a 96 year old retired Judge, or is it just too much? -:

This is an amusing but silly thread.