Sidwell College Admissions This Year

[Anonymous]

College admissions have been unpredictable and sometimes shocking. But Sidwell students have been well prepared to succeed wherever they go. College isn't the end goal. It's just another step. They will all be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Inside goss easy that this has been a pretty rough year at Sidwell. Some of the "best" students don't have strong options.

Disagree.

What do you consider options that are not strong?

Ivy+MIT+Stanford+Caltech = strong

Throw in Chicago, Northwestern, Duke, Hopkins and Hopkins if you like.

So to be clear, you don't think NESCAC schools, or UC schools or Georgetown are strong?

I am just trying get a handle on the negative hyperbole meter.

Georgetown is really underwhelming. Students and alums there don’t like it at all. It’s just…there

My student at Georgetown and all his friends are loving Georgetown.

Ditto. It is surprising to read such negative comments about Georgetown. It's a gem, especially for undergraduate education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College admissions have been unpredictable and sometimes shocking. But Sidwell students have been well prepared to succeed wherever they go. College isn't the end goal. It's just another step. They will all be fine.

This may all be true, but it’s also a distraction in the context of this discussion. This is the kind of nonsense that Mamadou and the school trots out, consistent with its arrogant and dismissive tone towards parents. It is a very convenient way to deflect any scrutiny of the school.

“Shocking” results are not OK just because the kids are well prepared. Saying that they will all be fine in this context suggests that college placement doesn’t matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inside goss easy that this has been a pretty rough year at Sidwell. Some of the "best" students don't have strong options.

Disagree.

What do you consider options that are not strong?

Ivy+MIT+Stanford+Caltech = strong

Throw in Chicago, Northwestern, Duke, Hopkins and Hopkins if you like.

So to be clear, you don't think NESCAC schools, or UC schools or Georgetown are strong?

I am just trying get a handle on the negative hyperbole meter.

Georgetown is really underwhelming. Students and alums there don’t like it at all. It’s just…there

It is a consensus Top 25 school. I guess in your world, there are like Ivies and 6 other acceptable schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions have been unpredictable and sometimes shocking. But Sidwell students have been well prepared to succeed wherever they go. College isn't the end goal. It's just another step. They will all be fine.

This may all be true, but it’s also a distraction in the context of this discussion. This is the kind of nonsense that Mamadou and the school trots out, consistent with its arrogant and dismissive tone towards parents. It is a very convenient way to deflect any scrutiny of the school.

“Shocking” results are not OK just because the kids are well prepared. Saying that they will all be fine in this context suggests that college placement doesn’t matter.

It matters but not to the extent of the drama on dcum. Shocking, bloodbath, carnage....come on. That is overly dramatic nonsense. There are way too many applicants for way too few spots. The math is the math regardless if you learned the math at a fancy private school or anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions have been unpredictable and sometimes shocking. But Sidwell students have been well prepared to succeed wherever they go. College isn't the end goal. It's just another step. They will all be fine.

This may all be true, but it’s also a distraction in the context of this discussion. This is the kind of nonsense that Mamadou and the school trots out, consistent with its arrogant and dismissive tone towards parents. It is a very convenient way to deflect any scrutiny of the school.

“Shocking” results are not OK just because the kids are well prepared. Saying that they will all be fine in this context suggests that college placement doesn’t matter.

Why is it Sidwell's fault that COVID prompted colleges to go test optional causing a steep decline in acceptance rates everywhere? All they can do is advise families of the landscape, which they did. The kids who were realistic about their options and chose a variety of schools that would make them happy, did fine. I have yet to hear about a senior who had no options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inside goss easy that this has been a pretty rough year at Sidwell. Some of the "best" students don't have strong options.

Disagree.

What do you consider options that are not strong?

Ivy+MIT+Stanford+Caltech = strong

Throw in Chicago, Northwestern, Duke, Hopkins and Hopkins if you like.

So to be clear, you don't think NESCAC schools, or UC schools or Georgetown are strong?

I am just trying get a handle on the negative hyperbole meter.

Great schools which include some of my personal favorites. I also think they may well provide as good or better education the Ivies etc. But, I don't believe that these are seen as the strong (or strongest) options by the "best" of the Sidwell students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions have been unpredictable and sometimes shocking. But Sidwell students have been well prepared to succeed wherever they go. College isn't the end goal. It's just another step. They will all be fine.

This may all be true, but it’s also a distraction in the context of this discussion. This is the kind of nonsense that Mamadou and the school trots out, consistent with its arrogant and dismissive tone towards parents. It is a very convenient way to deflect any scrutiny of the school.

“Shocking” results are not OK just because the kids are well prepared. Saying that they will all be fine in this context suggests that college placement doesn’t matter.

Why is it Sidwell's fault that COVID prompted colleges to go test optional causing a steep decline in acceptance rates everywhere? All they can do is advise families of the landscape, which they did. The kids who were realistic about their options and chose a variety of schools that would make them happy, did fine. I have yet to hear about a senior who had no options.

"No Options" -- surely a low bar, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions have been unpredictable and sometimes shocking. But Sidwell students have been well prepared to succeed wherever they go. College isn't the end goal. It's just another step. They will all be fine.

This may all be true, but it’s also a distraction in the context of this discussion. This is the kind of nonsense that Mamadou and the school trots out, consistent with its arrogant and dismissive tone towards parents. It is a very convenient way to deflect any scrutiny of the school.

“Shocking” results are not OK just because the kids are well prepared. Saying that they will all be fine in this context suggests that college placement doesn’t matter.

Why is it Sidwell's fault that COVID prompted colleges to go test optional causing a steep decline in acceptance rates everywhere? All they can do is advise families of the landscape, which they did. The kids who were realistic about their options and chose a variety of schools that would make them happy, did fine. I have yet to hear about a senior who had no options.

IMO they did not advise families of the landscape or actually counsel families. “They will all be fine” is their crutch for not doing any meaningful, real advising or advocacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions have been unpredictable and sometimes shocking. But Sidwell students have been well prepared to succeed wherever they go. College isn't the end goal. It's just another step. They will all be fine.

This may all be true, but it’s also a distraction in the context of this discussion. This is the kind of nonsense that Mamadou and the school trots out, consistent with its arrogant and dismissive tone towards parents. It is a very convenient way to deflect any scrutiny of the school.

“Shocking” results are not OK just because the kids are well prepared. Saying that they will all be fine in this context suggests that college placement doesn’t matter.

Why is it Sidwell's fault that COVID prompted colleges to go test optional causing a steep decline in acceptance rates everywhere? All they can do is advise families of the landscape, which they did. The kids who were realistic about their options and chose a variety of schools that would make them happy, did fine. I have yet to hear about a senior who had no options.

IMO they did not advise families of the landscape or actually counsel families. “They will all be fine” is their crutch for not doing any meaningful, real advising or advocacy.

Senior parent. I agree with this. Some real complacency has set in at Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inside goss easy that this has been a pretty rough year at Sidwell. Some of the "best" students don't have strong options.

Disagree.

What do you consider options that are not strong?

Ivy+MIT+Stanford+Caltech = strong

Throw in Chicago, Northwestern, Duke, Hopkins and Hopkins if you like.

So to be clear, you don't think NESCAC schools, or UC schools or Georgetown are strong?

I am just trying get a handle on the negative hyperbole meter.

Great schools which include some of my personal favorites. I also think they may well provide as good or better education the Ivies etc. But, I don't believe that these are seen as the strong (or strongest) options by the "best" of the Sidwell students.

That is not the fault of the high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard they were excellent. A lot of the disappointed kids from ED got good news.

Really? Curious as I kind of heard the opposite. Happy to be corrected. Do you have any details?

No details- just rumors from my DD (a senior who does not go there but is friends with some kids who do go there). But I do know some kids with acceptances at high ranking SLACs, UVA, etc.

Good grief.

Thanks, though, for making clear how unhelpful and uninformed your initial comment was.

Plenty of disappointment. Top students had impressive outcomes, but many more are committing to safeties. They'll all do well in the end, but it is tough.

Did they all (or most) have impressive outcomes though. Not questioning, just curious given what I have been hearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions have been unpredictable and sometimes shocking. But Sidwell students have been well prepared to succeed wherever they go. College isn't the end goal. It's just another step. They will all be fine.

This may all be true, but it’s also a distraction in the context of this discussion. This is the kind of nonsense that Mamadou and the school trots out, consistent with its arrogant and dismissive tone towards parents. It is a very convenient way to deflect any scrutiny of the school.

“Shocking” results are not OK just because the kids are well prepared. Saying that they will all be fine in this context suggests that college placement doesn’t matter.

Why is it Sidwell's fault that COVID prompted colleges to go test optional causing a steep decline in acceptance rates everywhere? All they can do is advise families of the landscape, which they did. The kids who were realistic about their options and chose a variety of schools that would make them happy, did fine. I have yet to hear about a senior who had no options.

"No Options" -- surely a low bar, no?

+1. Who pays $50K+ to get a not "no options". I am sure every Sidwell kid can get into GMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions have been unpredictable and sometimes shocking. But Sidwell students have been well prepared to succeed wherever they go. College isn't the end goal. It's just another step. They will all be fine.

This may all be true, but it’s also a distraction in the context of this discussion. This is the kind of nonsense that Mamadou and the school trots out, consistent with its arrogant and dismissive tone towards parents. It is a very convenient way to deflect any scrutiny of the school.

“Shocking” results are not OK just because the kids are well prepared. Saying that they will all be fine in this context suggests that college placement doesn’t matter.

It matters but not to the extent of the drama on dcum. Shocking, bloodbath, carnage....come on. That is overly dramatic nonsense. There are way too many applicants for way too few spots. The math is the math regardless if you learned the math at a fancy private school or anywhere else.

Agreed. We've had multiple kids in the US recently. The process now sucks for most applicants from Big 3 high schools. The truth is the selective colleges don't want these kids anymore and there's nothing we can do about it. I think it's their loss. I'm not a Sidwell kool aid drinker, but based on what i've seen from my older kids and their friends, these students are so well prepared to be engaged, curious, thoughtful and productive members of society. I'm proud of the people they're becoming. I understand the pain of working so hard and now having to go to what feels like a second tier school, but there's only so much you can control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inside goss easy that this has been a pretty rough year at Sidwell. Some of the "best" students don't have strong options.

Disagree.

What do you consider options that are not strong?

Ivy+MIT+Stanford+Caltech = strong

Throw in Chicago, Northwestern, Duke, Hopkins and Hopkins if you like.

So to be clear, you don't think NESCAC schools, or UC schools or Georgetown are strong?

I am just trying get a handle on the negative hyperbole meter.

Great schools which include some of my personal favorites. I also think they may well provide as good or better education the Ivies etc. But, I don't believe that these are seen as the strong (or strongest) options by the "best" of the Sidwell students.

That is not the fault of the high school.

Whether it is the fault of the school or not is an obviously related but separate point. On this: All I can say is that the school has not done much in recent years (that is visible to students/parents) to reverse the downward trend.