Does kid need all As to get into Sidwell

[Anonymous]

I went to a challenging public high school and found college much easier. The big difference for me was in the volume of work. In high school I'd get assignments in 8 classes, all due the next day. There was just so much work. By contrast, in college our grades came almost exclusively from one midterm and one final exam. I could do homework at my pace and only as much as I needed to do to understand the content. Plus in high school ECs are really mandatory for college admissions. In college ECs are just for fun--there isn't nearly the same pressure to join and demonstrate "leadership."

I was a double major in chemistry and physics so not easy majors, especially with all the premeds in my core chem classes, and it was still so much less stressful than high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle schooler at gds doesn’t have that much work

It’s coming. High school at GDS is 3-4 hours a night. They are very proud of this fact and tell all prospective high school students and their parents.

That's simply not true. My high schooler doesn't have nearly that much, and he gives tours as well, and no one in the admissions office would have said that.

Sure It is said at every step of the admissions process. A few parents had follow up questions for the guy(with the head of school next to him)and he clearly(actually proudly) said it is 3-4 hours a night. The head of school agreed. GDS tells prospective high school students and their parents the school gives 3-4 hours of homework each night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to call out any family friends but people do leave these schools in order to succeed academically and athletically elsewhere, and have a less crazy life and equal success.

At least in banking or something you’re learning in the job and have tons of exit opps in 3 years at better jobs and balance. For 9-12 why go through hell for the same exit opps as a more sane top public or balance private.

You assume incorrectly that the happy moderate chill schools have "the same exit opps" as Sidwell. They do not.

They might be a perfectly excellent choice for 9-12, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older kids are the kind of students who thrive at Sidwell. And they did. Yet they didn’t want their younger siblings to be subjected to the same experience. It wasn’t cutthroat and they truly adored their friends, who were solidly nice people and will be friends for life, but the rigor can be crushing and the trade-offs are real. Interestingly, my older kids appreciate it more now that they’re in college and see how well-prepared they are for that step up in difficulty. There was no learning curve freshman year. They were able to dive right into upper level courses and know how to maximize their academic experience and can handle jobs and extracurriculars on top of the academics because Sidwell was, well, such a grind. Plus they value their friendships from Sidwell. But they still want their 2 younger siblings to have a more well-rounded HS experience. Jury is out on what they’ll do.

+1. Hi friend. I could have written this exact post except for different number of kids.

NP. I have an only kid so no worry about younger sibs, but I'm posting to say I too could've written the PP. It's very accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a challenging public high school and found college much easier. The big difference for me was in the volume of work. In high school I'd get assignments in 8 classes, all due the next day. There was just so much work. By contrast, in college our grades came almost exclusively from one midterm and one final exam. I could do homework at my pace and only as much as I needed to do to understand the content. Plus in high school ECs are really mandatory for college admissions. In college ECs are just for fun--there isn't nearly the same pressure to join and demonstrate "leadership."

I was a double major in chemistry and physics so not easy majors, especially with all the premeds in my core chem classes, and it was still so much less stressful than high school.

Good point. Lots of overkill/overload in workload in the high schools around here, unclear the reasoning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to call out any family friends but people do leave these schools in order to succeed academically and athletically elsewhere, and have a less crazy life and equal success.

At least in banking or something you’re learning in the job and have tons of exit opps in 3 years at better jobs and balance. For 9-12 why go through hell for the same exit opps as a more sane top public or balance private.

You assume incorrectly that the happy moderate chill schools have "the same exit opps" as Sidwell. They do not.

They might be a perfectly excellent choice for 9-12, however.

An intelligent, travel sport, hard working, charismatic top 5-10% student absolutely has the same college “exit opps” if s/he went to sidwell or SWW or Bullis or BCC.

Now if they were all that and also at TJ or Blair magnet hoovering up all the stem school admits I’d be really impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is in a highly competitive school similar to Sidwell and it's not abnormal for 1-3 kids each year to leave right before 9th usually to another great private.

I wouldn't say they were counseled out but by then kids and parents know more about their learning style and what they'd like for their high school experience. One child of a family friend who left when DC was in early elementary is now at a great medical school.

Only 1-3!?!

I used to work with someone who’s wife owns a DC based tutoring company for the last 15-20 years now. She knows exactly which schools have the most miserable students and parents, slogging away for perceived something or other.

To be fair, wouldn’t the tutoring company primarily see kids who are struggling so not necessarily representative of the entire student population? My kid is very happy at a Big 3. It’s a lot of work but the reason they chose this school is this is the type of academic environment they prefer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is in a highly competitive school similar to Sidwell and it's not abnormal for 1-3 kids each year to leave right before 9th usually to another great private.

I wouldn't say they were counseled out but by then kids and parents know more about their learning style and what they'd like for their high school experience. One child of a family friend who left when DC was in early elementary is now at a great medical school.

Only 1-3!?!

I used to work with someone who’s wife owns a DC based tutoring company for the last 15-20 years now. She knows exactly which schools have the most miserable students and parents, slogging away for perceived something or other.

To be fair, wouldn’t the tutoring company primarily see kids who are struggling so not necessarily representative of the entire student population? My kid is very happy at a Big 3. It’s a lot of work but the reason they chose this school is this is the type of academic environment they prefer.

When 80% of SFs and NCs is using constant tutors, no. And the other 20% has their mom or dad helping them daily or weekly. Some cultures prefer the parent as a tutor and motivating factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is in a highly competitive school similar to Sidwell and it's not abnormal for 1-3 kids each year to leave right before 9th usually to another great private.

I wouldn't say they were counseled out but by then kids and parents know more about their learning style and what they'd like for their high school experience. One child of a family friend who left when DC was in early elementary is now at a great medical school.

Only 1-3!?!

I used to work with someone who’s wife owns a DC based tutoring company for the last 15-20 years now. She knows exactly which schools have the most miserable students and parents, slogging away for perceived something or other.

To be fair, wouldn’t the tutoring company primarily see kids who are struggling so not necessarily representative of the entire student population? My kid is very happy at a Big 3. It’s a lot of work but the reason they chose this school is this is the type of academic environment they prefer.

When 80% of SFs and NCs is using constant tutors, no. And the other 20% has their mom or dad helping them daily or weekly. Some cultures prefer the parent as a tutor and motivating factor.

I’ve never hired a tutor for my high schooler and haven’t helped them with homework since 5th grade so there’s that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is in a highly competitive school similar to Sidwell and it's not abnormal for 1-3 kids each year to leave right before 9th usually to another great private.

I wouldn't say they were counseled out but by then kids and parents know more about their learning style and what they'd like for their high school experience. One child of a family friend who left when DC was in early elementary is now at a great medical school.

Only 1-3!?!

I used to work with someone who’s wife owns a DC based tutoring company for the last 15-20 years now. She knows exactly which schools have the most miserable students and parents, slogging away for perceived something or other.

To be fair, wouldn’t the tutoring company primarily see kids who are struggling so not necessarily representative of the entire student population? My kid is very happy at a Big 3. It’s a lot of work but the reason they chose this school is this is the type of academic environment they prefer.

When 80% of SFs and NCs is using constant tutors, no. And the other 20% has their mom or dad helping them daily or weekly. Some cultures prefer the parent as a tutor and motivating factor.

I’ve never hired a tutor for my high schooler and haven’t helped them with homework since 5th grade so there’s that.

That’s great your student has never had tutoring or supplementing from an adult. Not sure what school or program they’re at but congrats I guess! Yours definitely an anomaly in our various circles. And of course some families try to hide the amount of parental help or tutoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is in a highly competitive school similar to Sidwell and it's not abnormal for 1-3 kids each year to leave right before 9th usually to another great private.

I wouldn't say they were counseled out but by then kids and parents know more about their learning style and what they'd like for their high school experience. One child of a family friend who left when DC was in early elementary is now at a great medical school.

Only 1-3!?!

I used to work with someone who’s wife owns a DC based tutoring company for the last 15-20 years now. She knows exactly which schools have the most miserable students and parents, slogging away for perceived something or other.

Tell us the schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to call out any family friends but people do leave these schools in order to succeed academically and athletically elsewhere, and have a less crazy life and equal success.

At least in banking or something you’re learning in the job and have tons of exit opps in 3 years at better jobs and balance. For 9-12 why go through hell for the same exit opps as a more sane top public or balance private.

You assume incorrectly that the happy moderate chill schools have "the same exit opps" as Sidwell. They do not.

They might be a perfectly excellent choice for 9-12, however.

An intelligent, travel sport, hard working, charismatic top 5-10% student absolutely has the same college “exit opps” if s/he went to sidwell or SWW or Bullis or BCC.

Now if they were all that and also at TJ or Blair magnet hoovering up all the stem school admits I’d be really impressed.

Just quoting you -- if a kid needs to "leave these schools [like Sidwell] in order to succeed academically," they're not generally a top 5% kind of kid Unless the school they flee to is pretty bad.

You also moved the goal post by fleshing out the profile of said student, who is now additionally a top athlete and charismatic and hard working (and top of her class). Yes, I agree that this magical and unusual prospect might end up at Tufts although they transferred from Sidwell to Bullis after 8th grade.

The run of the mill, counseled out 8th grader would've had better EXIT OPPs by staying at Sidwell. The middle and bottom of the class there punches above its weight, year after year in a way that the middle of BCC or SAES does not. (full pay, unhooked).

[Anonymous]

Here’s what I don’t understand and can hope someone can help me out. What does the grueling 3-4 hours of homework so for these kids? If the college outcomes at a less rigorous school like Maret look nearly identical or GDS or Sidwell, what is the point of it all? It doesn’t seem like the high schools better prepare these kids for college. So what gives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to call out any family friends but people do leave these schools in order to succeed academically and athletically elsewhere, and have a less crazy life and equal success.

At least in banking or something you’re learning in the job and have tons of exit opps in 3 years at better jobs and balance. For 9-12 why go through hell for the same exit opps as a more sane top public or balance private.

You assume incorrectly that the happy moderate chill schools have "the same exit opps" as Sidwell. They do not.

They might be a perfectly excellent choice for 9-12, however.

An intelligent, travel sport, hard working, charismatic top 5-10% student absolutely has the same college “exit opps” if s/he went to sidwell or SWW or Bullis or BCC.

Now if they were all that and also at TJ or Blair magnet hoovering up all the stem school admits I’d be really impressed.

Just quoting you -- if a kid needs to "leave these schools [like Sidwell] in order to succeed academically," they're not generally a top 5% kind of kid Unless the school they flee to is pretty bad.

You also moved the goal post by fleshing out the profile of said student, who is now additionally a top athlete and charismatic and hard working (and top of her class). Yes, I agree that this magical and unusual prospect might end up at Tufts although they transferred from Sidwell to Bullis after 8th grade.

The run of the mill, counseled out 8th grader would've had better EXIT OPPs by staying at Sidwell. The middle and bottom of the class there punches above its weight, year after year in a way that the middle of BCC or SAES does not. (full pay, unhooked).

My child's friend who after 8th due to academic reasons is now in a top medical school so I don't think you can argue that that isn't a great outcome. There are lots of other stories like this and the child had a much happier HS experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s what I don’t understand and can hope someone can help me out. What does the grueling 3-4 hours of homework so for these kids? If the college outcomes at a less rigorous school like Maret look nearly identical or GDS or Sidwell, what is the point of it all? It doesn’t seem like the high schools better prepare these kids for college. So what gives?

I think in part it's done to separate the kids. You hand select a very bright cohort and then if you don't make the work challenging, you end up with an entire class of A students. I can't imagine that works out well for college admissions. So they have to make the classes challenging enough that the cohort (previously A students at their sending schools) is stretched over the grading scale. my daughter is at NCS and I definitely feel this is going on. you have 85 girls. Let's say 75 of them are academic super achievers--you can't have 75 girls with straight As. So you just make the curriculum harder.