GDS, Maret, Sidwell waitlist

[Anonymous]

Our child did get admitted in 9th grade off the waitlist at GDS. We found out on June 1. There was quite a bit of behind the scenes plotting to try to move the needle. Including a push from our school to the GDS admissions team, and an amazing additional letter of recommendation, and a little other push here and there. Also, we were committed to attending even with a late admit, and they knew it. I think it all helped demonstrate our interest in the school.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Was this recent? I’ve heard no one got in the last 4 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And full pay, highly qualified kids also get waitlisted. There are not many spots, and there are many applicants, so "qualified" kids will not always get in.

I'm the PP and I fully agree. There are way more highly qualified applicants for 9th grade than spots, independent of HHI.

It's just urban myth that 9th grade offers go to the richest, yet less-talented, kids. Perhaps that's true in preK (?) but not 9th grade.

I’ll offer direct experience from a decade plus working at one of the top terminal 8 private’s that regularly feeds to a full range of DC metro Highs schools: public, private, parochial - including many to the elite private’s and “Big 3.” It is absolutely the case that the elites regularly admit less qualified, full paying applicants over more highly qualified FA applicants. Every year I see it first hand in the families and students I serve - exceptional candidates are put on WLs when strong but less qualified applicants from full pay families are admitted. I have even benefitted from this with my own children as ours is a full pay family and my children have been admitted with strong but not as stellar profiles from some of their classmates who are waitlisted and the only factor can be FA. Our HOS who manages the outplacement program regularly advises families that if admittance to an elite is a priority that they should do everything possible to avoid applying for FA, except if they represent a stellar candidate with diversity on multiple fronts. This isn’t urban myth, and I won’t even pass judgement other than offer the direct observation - and reflect that it’s the practical side of the private school funding model.

Full pay, 99% SSAT; waitlisted at 3 of Big 5. Unfortunately, did not include a back-up option. So, while what you are asserting is true, there must be something else that makes those kids attractive besides their full tuition payment.

[Anonymous]

I heard GDS had four holes-in-one in an 18 hole round and ran a sub-4 minute mile. I heard the primary school stood up to Western agression and perfectly stood for the junche!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And full pay, highly qualified kids also get waitlisted. There are not many spots, and there are many applicants, so "qualified" kids will not always get in.

I'm the PP and I fully agree. There are way more highly qualified applicants for 9th grade than spots, independent of HHI.

It's just urban myth that 9th grade offers go to the richest, yet less-talented, kids. Perhaps that's true in preK (?) but not 9th grade.

I’ll offer direct experience from a decade plus working at one of the top terminal 8 private’s that regularly feeds to a full range of DC metro Highs schools: public, private, parochial - including many to the elite private’s and “Big 3.” It is absolutely the case that the elites regularly admit less qualified, full paying applicants over more highly qualified FA applicants. Every year I see it first hand in the families and students I serve - exceptional candidates are put on WLs when strong but less qualified applicants from full pay families are admitted. I have even benefitted from this with my own children as ours is a full pay family and my children have been admitted with strong but not as stellar profiles from some of their classmates who are waitlisted and the only factor can be FA. Our HOS who manages the outplacement program regularly advises families that if admittance to an elite is a priority that they should do everything possible to avoid applying for FA, except if they represent a stellar candidate with diversity on multiple fronts. This isn’t urban myth, and I won’t even pass judgement other than offer the direct observation - and reflect that it’s the practical side of the private school funding model.

Sure, but the point was broader. The comment everyone was responding to was: "and that lesser qualified full pay applicants are admitted over higher qualified FA applicants." This happens. But it also happens that those lesser qualified full pay applicants are also admitted over higher qualified full pay applicants. This is especially true if the latter is coming from public school and doesn't have a private school network working for them behind the scenes as the GDS admit above mentions. Heck, lesser qualified FA applicants are also admitted over full pay applicants sometimes too. Every class is a mix of kids in terms of money and talent, and each one's polar opposite is out there somewhere in the rejected pile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And full pay, highly qualified kids also get waitlisted. There are not many spots, and there are many applicants, so "qualified" kids will not always get in.

I'm the PP and I fully agree. There are way more highly qualified applicants for 9th grade than spots, independent of HHI.

It's just urban myth that 9th grade offers go to the richest, yet less-talented, kids. Perhaps that's true in preK (?) but not 9th grade.

I’ll offer direct experience from a decade plus working at one of the top terminal 8 private’s that regularly feeds to a full range of DC metro Highs schools: public, private, parochial - including many to the elite private’s and “Big 3.” It is absolutely the case that the elites regularly admit less qualified, full paying applicants over more highly qualified FA applicants. Every year I see it first hand in the families and students I serve - exceptional candidates are put on WLs when strong but less qualified applicants from full pay families are admitted. I have even benefitted from this with my own children as ours is a full pay family and my children have been admitted with strong but not as stellar profiles from some of their classmates who are waitlisted and the only factor can be FA. Our HOS who manages the outplacement program regularly advises families that if admittance to an elite is a priority that they should do everything possible to avoid applying for FA, except if they represent a stellar candidate with diversity on multiple fronts. This isn’t urban myth, and I won’t even pass judgement other than offer the direct observation - and reflect that it’s the practical side of the private school funding model.

Full pay, 99% SSAT; waitlisted at 3 of Big 5. Unfortunately, did not include a back-up option. So, while what you are asserting is true, there must be something else that makes those kids attractive besides their full tuition payment.

I’m sorry to hear about your DC’s experience. I feel for them as I’ve seen it many times. Yes, increasingly it’s more than just being full pay with strong test scores. There is such a high demand for the elites that you really have to have a well balanced profile. That said, the earlier point is our experience as well. We know several families with children with exceptionally well balanced profiles who were WL when our DS was admitted with a strong, but certainly not as strong profile as theirs. The only difference I can imagine is our relative wealth (and admittedly connections). While I understand the outcome and business model I do wish there were more resources to allow for more exceptional students even if their families need support as I’ve found the academic and social community at our DC’s child to be limited by an over abundance of privilege, and at times mediocrity. It’s not to the point that I’ll put my child elsewhere, but there is a downside to the DC elites.

[Anonymous]

Wow..people are STILL seriously waiting for the WL to move?? It’s really time to move on..

[Anonymous]

Thank you to everyone who is advising to move on; I really needed to hear this, especially today. Yes we are a FA family on the WL...

[Anonymous]

We were WL at our 1st and 2nd choice, but we were accepted to our 3rd choice. We accepted, and moved on! All ready for next school year and happy it’s over. Your family will be just fine. There’s so many great schools in this area, don’t get stuck on this “Big 3” hoopla!!!

[Anonymous]

I urge everyone to always have a Plan B, C, D, E....

We applied me DC to seven schools and knowing our public was a solid option as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were WL at our 1st and 2nd choice, but we were accepted to our 3rd choice. We accepted, and moved on! All ready for next school year and happy it’s over. Your family will be just fine. There’s so many great schools in this area, don’t get stuck on this “Big 3” hoopla!!!

+1

It’s a remarkably liberating feeling letting go of the fantasy of getting of a Big 3 WL, they really are glorified rejections that do not speak well to the overall school experience. So many incredible alternates out there about which to feel good!