Sidwell College Admissions This Year

[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.

They absolutely did. Lauren was very clear from the beginning of junior year how COVID was changing things, how the then current class (2021) had to adjust and how it was very important not to focus on the reach+ schools but rather the targets and safeties. Sorry you didn't get the message. It was pretty clear at the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You know what? If you are in state and interested in CS, GMU is a fine option. Do you know how much GMU grads are making in the tech sector at the age of 22?

[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.

But aren’t many of the safeties top 30 schools or highly regarded SLACs. Gone are the days of 1/3 of a private school class getting Ivy admits but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good year. Most kids would be thrilled to go to many of the schools on Sidwell’s list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They absolutely did. Lauren was very clear from the beginning of junior year how COVID was changing things, how the then current class (2021) had to adjust and how it was very important not to focus on the reach+ schools but rather the targets and safeties. Sorry you didn't get the message. It was pretty clear at the time.

Sure, but this puts the burden onto the students entirely, rather than to say how the school will maximize opportunities in this situation.

[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.

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.

1) what is a "second tier" school in this context?
2) It isn't JUST Sidwell kids. It is top kids from know schools all over the country. The universities are prioritizing first gen and kids with unique stories. The UMC white "average" smart kids who plays a sport or two and maybe an instrument or theater is dime a dozen. So, maybe they are all getting into HYPSM or whatever, by for the most part, they are all ending up at great schools who are thrilled to have them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

What is the downward trend? seriously asking. Having looked at the IG accounts of the last few years, it is all about the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But aren’t many of the safeties top 30 schools or highly regarded SLACs. Gone are the days of 1/3 of a private school class getting Ivy admits but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good year. Most kids would be thrilled to go to many of the schools on Sidwell’s list.

Even Exetor and Andover are not sending 1/3 of their classes to Ivies anymore. The colleges and universities are diversifying their applicant pool. On a macro level, that is a good thing. Obviously it stings becauase the classes of 2021 and 2022 at school like Sidwell are at the tip of the spear for this change, but so be it. No one is entitled to a seat at an Ivy or any other school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They absolutely did. Lauren was very clear from the beginning of junior year how COVID was changing things, how the then current class (2021) had to adjust and how it was very important not to focus on the reach+ schools but rather the targets and safeties. Sorry you didn't get the message. It was pretty clear at the time.

Sure, but this puts the burden onto the students entirely, rather than to say how the school will maximize opportunities in this situation.

What do you mean by "maximize the situation"?

Kids express their preferences for what they think they want to study, what kind of setting they are interested in and what parts of the country they would like to live in, and the school helps them develop a list. What is the maximizing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They absolutely did. Lauren was very clear from the beginning of junior year how COVID was changing things, how the then current class (2021) had to adjust and how it was very important not to focus on the reach+ schools but rather the targets and safeties. Sorry you didn't get the message. It was pretty clear at the time.

No need for the snarky response. And why are you making assumptions about my kid, who actually got in ED? That was no thanks to the school or its crappy counseling; everything I said above is 100% accurate, and I am pissed for my kid’s friends and classmates.

And I don’t know what you are talking about when you say “Lauren was very clear from the beginning of junior year...” Are you referring to the grade-wide zoom meetings? I attended all of those, and I disagree that any meaningful substantive advice or counseling was shared in those silly PowerPoint-heavy meetings going over checklists. Regardless, the real counseling and advising is supposed to occur in the individual meetings. And in those meetings, based on our experience and discussions with other parents, the counselors absolutely did not provide any real advice or counseling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They absolutely did. Lauren was very clear from the beginning of junior year how COVID was changing things, how the then current class (2021) had to adjust and how it was very important not to focus on the reach+ schools but rather the targets and safeties. Sorry you didn't get the message. It was pretty clear at the time.

Sure, but this puts the burden onto the students entirely, rather than to say how the school will maximize opportunities in this situation.

What do you mean by "maximize the situation"?

Kids express their preferences for what they think they want to study, what kind of setting they are interested in and what parts of the country they would like to live in, and the school helps them develop a list. What is the maximizing?

Sidwell counseling office is out of its depth in the new environment. Other schools have more "turbocharged" operations. They do not console themselves and others with "the kids will be fine"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I am confused. Isn’t the issue that the landscape of sub10% admission rates is tough? Which is exactly what sidwell said. That is the message.

They absolutely did. Lauren was very clear from the beginning of junior year how COVID was changing things, how the then current class (2021) had to adjust and how it was very important not to focus on the reach+ schools but rather the targets and safeties. Sorry you didn't get the message. It was pretty clear at the time.

Sure, but this puts the burden onto the students entirely, rather than to say how the school will maximize opportunities in this situation.

What do you mean by "maximize the situation"?

Kids express their preferences for what they think they want to study, what kind of setting they are interested in and what parts of the country they would like to live in, and the school helps them develop a list. What is the maximizing?

Sidwell counseling office is out of its depth in the new environment. Other schools have more "turbocharged" operations. They do not console themselves and others with "the kids will be fine"

[Anonymous]

I havent heard that other schools are "turbocharged". Would be curious as to specifics. If colleges don't want these kids, the CCO's hands are tied. Where you go to HS is no longer relevant for college admissions. The message has been repeatedly stated here. Do not send your kids to a specific HS expecting a bump in college admissions.

This year was a lot of "we don't know what to expect because of covid". I think it's clear that we can't blame Covid anymore. The colleges have new priorities. While the college counselors have danced around this in the past few years, they (and the HS admissions folks) need to make this clear.

[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.

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.

Get a grip. I also think a lot of the hand-wringing comes from the fact that affordability for college does not come into play for most private school families as it does and is the most important factor for literally everyone else, so private school families need something else to occupy themselves.

And these top universities are still filled with rich kids from big metro areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I havent heard that other schools are "turbocharged". Would be curious as to specifics. If colleges don't want these kids, the CCO's hands are tied. Where you go to HS is no longer relevant for college admissions. The message has been repeatedly stated here. Do not send your kids to a specific HS expecting a bump in college admissions.

This year was a lot of "we don't know what to expect because of covid". I think it's clear that we can't blame Covid anymore. The colleges have new priorities. While the college counselors have danced around this in the past few years, they (and the HS admissions folks) need to make this clear.

Turbocharged == Dalton in NY. No change in their outcomes, Covid or no Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I havent heard that other schools are "turbocharged". Would be curious as to specifics. If colleges don't want these kids, the CCO's hands are tied. Where you go to HS is no longer relevant for college admissions. The message has been repeatedly stated here. Do not send your kids to a specific HS expecting a bump in college admissions.

This year was a lot of "we don't know what to expect because of covid". I think it's clear that we can't blame Covid anymore. The colleges have new priorities. While the college counselors have danced around this in the past few years, they (and the HS admissions folks) need to make this clear.

Turbocharged == Dalton in NY. No change in their outcomes, Covid or no Covid.

PP Dalton was just an example..