Who was the most annoying Admissions Officer?

[Anonymous]

I would argue that anyone who thinks Annie Farquhar is a snob doesn't actually know her. I can't even begin to imagine the basis for an argument that she is a snob.

Of course it's folks who do not know her who've gotten the impression she's a bit of a snob. (Some, not all, folks.) Isn't that clear? Also, why keep posting on this, since you're inspiring more critical posts, like 13:41 and mine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have to say the Maret Admissions Office was the most annoying. I almost did not want to post because I bet someone monitors this from time to time and would hate to give them any tips on improving. Not sure I agree with the posters who say she is a snob but she definitely has an agenda. I tend to support their agenda even if my could will reap no benefits from it. They create a relationship with those parents they wish to cultivate and have virtually no contact with others. Could be snobbery. Could be efficiency, could be bad manners.

What do you mean by this? What do they do, and how so?

[Anonymous]

Some people are given the time of day, others are not. This impression was verified by current Maret parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people are given the time of day, others are not. This impression was verified by current Maret parents.

i assume the same could be said for any school administrator, teacher or parent. some people seem to have awfully thin skins around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people are given the time of day, others are not. This impression was verified by current Maret parents.

What do you mean "given the time of day"? What, specifically, do they do with or for some prospective parents, and not with others? Without any specifics at all, it's hard to give much credit to your assertions.

[Anonymous]

Funny, I had a different experience. We're sort of run of the mill parents with a very smart kid and no FA, but nothing else particularly of interest. Not much reason to cultivate us. She was extremely pleasant during the meeting and answered questions later on after the w/l notification.

This conversation seems to have ended up as a depressing "is she or isn't she" discussion. Both sides have been well represented. Is there anything else to say that would inform parents in the future or are searching on this site?

[Anonymous]

I really liked Julie Lewis at Sheridan she was VERY nice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have to say the Maret Admissions Office was the most annoying. I almost did not want to post because I bet someone monitors this from time to time and would hate to give them any tips on improving. Not sure I agree with the posters who say she is a snob but she definitely has an agenda. I tend to support their agenda even if my could will reap no benefits from it. They create a relationship with those parents they wish to cultivate and have virtually no contact with others. Could be snobbery. Could be efficiency, could be bad manners.

Maret is a small school and, as such, has to be very careful in who it admits. I have no relationship to Maret, but would just objectively point out that they have the lowest tuition of any "top" tier DC Private. That is a rare value in this town and, I think that it is completely above board that to maintain that they choose their admit pool VERY carefully. It is like some people can survive a bad marriage better than others. Maret is small therefore they cannot afford to admit folks who will add nothing to the school. They need bright kids from active families who will not just volunteer , but be good at what they volunteer to do( consist w/ values of the school) and they need some parents who can $$$$$.

I met with the Maret AD and did feel like I was being probed. That is OK because it told me a few things about the school: a good school has a sharp discerning AD and she is definitely THAT. Secondly, every other family getting in has to pass same muster, which is doubly reassuring. Also, she has been there, like what , 30 years so that is real institutional integrity at work.

[Anonymous]

DC is applying to Maret for high school, and we couldn't have been more impressed by the admissions staff. They were warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable. And we have no particular connections.

[Anonymous]

We also applied to Maret for HS (not this year) and despite that fact that my child was not admitted it was a very positive experience.

[Anonymous]

DC applied to Maret this year for HS and overall it was a very personalized experience considering the size of the school vs. the applicant pool. We found the admissions staff very professional and friendly. Its DCs 1st choice but I have since heard that there are very few spots (less than 20) ....

[Anonymous]

We will be applying to high schools in a few years. The admission staff at many of the schools we have looked at in the past seemed to be much more concerned with the parents than the kids. We believe for high school that changes. We are nobodies who were not given the time of day. We are secretly fairly wealthy. We give to current school reasonable amounts but once children are or almost done we will give more substantially. Schools will have to take our kids for themselves. We do not want money to sway acceptances or treatment while they are there.

[Anonymous]

9:05, I understand your point of view, and last year did not use DH's status at all when applying to K for our DS. He got into schools completely on his own. That said, I now see that DH's status could be the deciding factor between our DS and another exactly the same, and unfortunately that is the way the world is - status and money matter. In the future, I would not hesitate to use DH as the factor that tips the balance toward our child, but I would not use DH to just get my child in somewhere he would not otherwise get in - because there wouldn't be the right fit, and that would be terrible for my DS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9:05, I understand your point of view, and last year did not use DH's status at all when applying to K for our DS. He got into schools completely on his own. That said, I now see that DH's status could be the deciding factor between our DS and another exactly the same, and unfortunately that is the way the world is - status and money matter. In the future, I would not hesitate to use DH as the factor that tips the balance toward our child, but I would not use DH to just get my child in somewhere he would not otherwise get in - because there wouldn't be the right fit, and that would be terrible for my DS.

I'm confused. You didn't write your husband's name on the application? How did your 4-year-old get in "completely on his own?" Did he fill out the applications himself as well? What a bright young thing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's your problem. I'm not going to share the details but it's true. In our case the AD office exhibited a curiosity about our stature in our profession that didn't sit right with me. I actually wish I had not learned this.

That is their job! You are naive.