NCS Reception

[Anonymous]

Talking with current and former NCS parents (in the case of former the daughter graduated NCS and is now in college), the high school work load is a lot. In all instances the girls appreciated and valued the education they received, but the common thread was that they wished there was a bit more joy during the high school years. Even if your daughter isn't in high school currently, it is important to understand what it will be like throughout the years at NCS. It is an amazing school, but might not be the right fit for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, I love NCS, but I have to agree with the previous posted. it was disorganized, confusing, and underwhelming. It seemed as though they through it together that day. My daughter loved it, but as a parent, I expected more especially since people had not sent back contracts yet and this was the NCS time to put its best foot forward. Maybe next year they will hold it in the upper school and add some more class. The admissions letter was beautiful, but the reception was haphazard. I have to agree that all of that talk of homework wreaked of unhappiness and the statement about we frolic in a grass field and learn to avoid tourists was silly and underscores the need for a protected playground space for lower school girls.

+1 I accepted admission and am confident we will be happy with the choice (picked NCS over Holton) but the reception was underwhelming.

For what grade did? We just picked NCS over Holton, 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talking with current and former NCS parents (in the case of former the daughter graduated NCS and is now in college), the high school work load is a lot. In all instances the girls appreciated and valued the education they received, but the common thread was that they wished there was a bit more joy during the high school years. Even if your daughter isn't in high school currently, it is important to understand what it will be like throughout the years at NCS. It is an amazing school, but might not be the right fit for all.

What school does not homework for HS students attending a college prep school or even a top public school with AP/Honors courses?! I am tired of reading threads about how stressed NCS girls are and how much homework they have. We looked at all the top all girl schools in the DC area and I haven't found one school where the girls are sitting around homework free. As a parent of a public school child who is already in college, she had loads of homework in her AP/Honors courses and she is thriving at a top university where she also has loads of homework. I am looking for a school that will prepare my incoming 9th grade daughter for the work load she will have ahead in college. If NCS is a place where girls are challenged, supported and encouraged by her peers, not afraid to speak out for what she believes in, have to learn to manage time, has homework and yes helps her not fear healthy competition (after all she will probably work in a field dominated by men) then I am extremely happy she chose NCS as her high school. Fancy receptions are not needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Talking with current and former NCS parents (in the case of former the daughter graduated NCS and is now in college), the high school work load is a lot. In all instances the girls appreciated and valued the education they received, but the common thread was that they wished there was a bit more joy during the high school years. Even if your daughter isn't in high school currently, it is important to understand what it will be like throughout the years at NCS. It is an amazing school, but might not be the right fit for all.

What school does not homework for HS students attending a college prep school or even a top public school with AP/Honors courses?! I am tired of reading threads about how stressed NCS girls are and how much homework they have. We looked at all the top all girl schools in the DC area and I haven't found one school where the girls are sitting around homework free. As a parent of a public school child who is already in college, she had loads of homework in her AP/Honors courses and she is thriving at a top university where she also has loads of homework. I am looking for a school that will prepare my incoming 9th grade daughter for the work load she will have ahead in college. If NCS is a place where girls are challenged, supported and encouraged by her peers, not afraid to speak out for what she believes in, have to learn to manage time, has homework and yes helps her not fear healthy competition (after all she will probably work in a field dominated by men) then I am extremely happy she chose NCS as her high school. Fancy receptions are not needed.

I think your daughter will be happy there. Mine is.

[Anonymous]

We also have chosen NCS over Holton for 4th grade, but we were underwhelmed by the reception. It should have had a more celebratory air to it, and if families have more questions, they should be addressed on a case by case basis. The STA reception for admitted 4th grade families was much better: a speech by the Head of Lower School and AD, and mingling among faculty members, parents and students. That is what we were hoping for from NCS. I didn't even see my daughter the entire night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an alum, I'm glad to hear NCS doesn't waste money on swag for admitted students.

I hate swag too, but, please get off your high horse. Swag doesn't make the tiniest dent in the budget at these schools and some people like it. And it's also ridiculous to argue that schools that give swag do so because they "have to." Even Sidwell gave us a magnet when our kids started there -- I'm betting it's in the back of the kitchen junk drawer -- along with the Princeton lanyard.

[Anonymous]

Relax partners. My DD just graduated from NCS and led a stress free existence. Most if not all of the stress comes from the parents some of whom have an "Ivy or Bust" mentality. If that's you so be it. The education was fabulous and my DD had plenty of time during the day to work on homework and rarely stayed up past 11 pm. Her peer group was driven but not cutthroat. Once again, if you want to be an astrophysicist go ahead it isn't going to get you any brownie points at NCS. You're respected but just as much as the artsy girl who wants to go to Parsons. The one thing I truly enjoyed was the low key atmosphere. You can call it Old WASP or whatever you want but we made sure that all of the parents were included in everything.
If you're looking for Ladies that Lunch I'm certain the Junior League has a few openings and you can sit down with the helmet heads and commiserate about how all the tech money is ruining the DMV. You're hubby, associate with a net worth, $4M, can't make the grade. Life sucks ducks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an alum, I'm glad to hear NCS doesn't waste money on swag for admitted students.

+1. Although I think a little swag for students who have accepted admission is nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relax partners. My DD just graduated from NCS and led a stress free existence. Most if not all of the stress comes from the parents some of whom have an "Ivy or Bust" mentality. If that's you so be it. The education was fabulous and my DD had plenty of time during the day to work on homework and rarely stayed up past 11 pm. Her peer group was driven but not cutthroat. Once again, if you want to be an astrophysicist go ahead it isn't going to get you any brownie points at NCS. You're respected but just as much as the artsy girl who wants to go to Parsons. The one thing I truly enjoyed was the low key atmosphere. You can call it Old WASP or whatever you want but we made sure that all of the parents were included in everything.
If you're looking for Ladies that Lunch I'm certain the Junior League has a few openings and you can sit down with the helmet heads and commiserate about how all the tech money is ruining the DMV. You're hubby, associate with a net worth, $4M, can't make the grade. Life sucks ducks.

Just another drunk NCS mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax partners. My DD just graduated from NCS and led a stress free existence. Most if not all of the stress comes from the parents some of whom have an "Ivy or Bust" mentality. If that's you so be it. The education was fabulous and my DD had plenty of time during the day to work on homework and rarely stayed up past 11 pm. Her peer group was driven but not cutthroat. Once again, if you want to be an astrophysicist go ahead it isn't going to get you any brownie points at NCS. You're respected but just as much as the artsy girl who wants to go to Parsons. The one thing I truly enjoyed was the low key atmosphere. You can call it Old WASP or whatever you want but we made sure that all of the parents were included in everything.
If you're looking for Ladies that Lunch I'm certain the Junior League has a few openings and you can sit down with the helmet heads and commiserate about how all the tech money is ruining the DMV. You're hubby, associate with a net worth, $4M, can't make the grade. Life sucks ducks.

Just another drunk NCS mom.

Fun! I can't wait to join them...

[Anonymous]

Huge waste of money for us. Totally on us. Thought that DD would take advantage of the opportunity. Her grades were just above a 3.0 and not in line with her stellar test scores. We thought that these scores might have been enough for a couple of reach colleges - given that the so so grades were from NCS and not a Podunk public- but she wasn't accepted anywhere that's considered competitive at all. Hope it works out for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huge waste of money for us. Totally on us. Thought that DD would take advantage of the opportunity. Her grades were just above a 3.0 and not in line with her stellar test scores. We thought that these scores might have been enough for a couple of reach colleges - given that the so so grades were from NCS and not a Podunk public- but she wasn't accepted anywhere that's considered competitive at all. Hope it works out for you!

I think the problem with NCS and a lot of top public and privates is legacy kids. Those kids will have an edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huge waste of money for us. Totally on us. Thought that DD would take advantage of the opportunity. Her grades were just above a 3.0 and not in line with her stellar test scores. We thought that these scores might have been enough for a couple of reach colleges - given that the so so grades were from NCS and not a Podunk public- but she wasn't accepted anywhere that's considered competitive at all. Hope it works out for you!

I think the problem with NCS and a lot of top public and privates is legacy kids. Those kids will have an edge.

While legacy kids have an edge, I don't think it has the same displacement factor as it does at the prep school level. I.e., if Harvard is accepting a legacy case from NCS, they still have 1599 other places in the class, so can accept someone from NCS who's not legacy pretty easily (and go beyond that - while Harvard has plenty of graduates, most of their kids aren't going to be competitive applicants, which is where it matters - you still need the credentials, it's just that you float to the top among other qualified applicants). Compare that to NCS (or any other school, Sidwell, etc.) that accepts only 10 kids for 7th grade or 20 kids for high school. A lot smaller number and less flexibility.

[Anonymous]

Too bad she can't sell her test score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huge waste of money for us. Totally on us. Thought that DD would take advantage of the opportunity. Her grades were just above a 3.0 and not in line with her stellar test scores. We thought that these scores might have been enough for a couple of reach colleges - given that the so so grades were from NCS and not a Podunk public- but she wasn't accepted anywhere that's considered competitive at all. Hope it works out for you!

What would you attribute her grade average to? Unfair grading? Lack of effort on her part? Too much work to keep up with?