What have I overlooked among the DC area private schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine is a terrible song. I mean, just listen to it.

agreed. It is musically uninteresting. The lyrics are slightly more interesting, but only slightly.

Rolling Stone ranked "Imagine" number 3 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time." The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation named "Imagine" the greatest song in the past 100 years as voted by listeners on the show 50 Tracks. Virgin Radio conducted a UK favorite song survey in December 2005, and listeners voted "Imagine" number 1. Australians selected it the greatest song of all time.

Jimmy Carter said, "in many countries around the world—my wife and I have visited about 125 countries—you hear John Lennon's song 'Imagine' used almost equally with national anthems."

But the anonymous moms and music critics of DC are NOT impressed.

Is your insight into private schools as flawed as your taste in music?

Um, does Jimmy Carter know it has the line "Imagine there's no countries?"

I know people love the song. But its really terrible. Lots of people agree with me. Trite, overwrought, lyrics that scream "deep" but really make no sense and incredibly simplistic music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see that the GDS open house is not until mid-November and the Maret open house is not until mid-December. What thoughts do experienced GDS and Maret parents have regarding the wisdom of doing a tour BEFORE the open house?

Suggestions on what DS should wear for a tour of GDS?

Is this OP?

Why does it matter? Is it THAT important for you to know that your judgmental posts have been read?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine is a terrible song. I mean, just listen to it.

agreed. It is musically uninteresting. The lyrics are slightly more interesting, but only slightly.

Rolling Stone ranked "Imagine" number 3 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time." The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation named "Imagine" the greatest song in the past 100 years as voted by listeners on the show 50 Tracks. Virgin Radio conducted a UK favorite song survey in December 2005, and listeners voted "Imagine" number 1. Australians selected it the greatest song of all time.

Jimmy Carter said, "in many countries around the world—my wife and I have visited about 125 countries—you hear John Lennon's song 'Imagine' used almost equally with national anthems."

But the anonymous moms and music critics of DC are NOT impressed.

Is your insight into private schools as flawed as your taste in music?

most national anthems are musically uninteresting as well. So, probably Carter meant this as an insult.

[Anonymous]

Can your boy cross the street alone?Go for Maret-away from busy street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see that the GDS open house is not until mid-November and the Maret open house is not until mid-December. What thoughts do experienced GDS and Maret parents have regarding the wisdom of doing a tour BEFORE the open house?

Suggestions on what DS should wear for a tour of GDS?

We were told that they should wear whatever they are comfortable in. Tshirt and jeans are fine. Dressier fine, too, if that's what DS likes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see that the GDS open house is not until mid-November and the Maret open house is not until mid-December. What thoughts do experienced GDS and Maret parents have regarding the wisdom of doing a tour BEFORE the open house?

Suggestions on what DS should wear for a tour of GDS?

We were told that they should wear whatever they are comfortable in. Tshirt and jeans are fine. Dressier fine, too, if that's what DS likes.

I'd stay away from coat and tie, which might suggest that you don't understand GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS is secular and can work well for bright kids who aren't interested in sports. Please don't nix your kid's chance of getting in by presenting him they way you did here. If he's smart, his test scores will indicate that. Focus on other things in the application and interview.

test scores only show so much

It's true that test scores only show so much, but if the scores aren't good, all the more reason not to oversell your kid's brights, so you don't come off as deluded, in addition to exasperating.

If test scores don't reveal the full extent of brightness, how would "not good" test scores make a belief in a DC's brightness "delusional?" Either the test scores are definitive or they are not.

Which area schools blindly (and mindlessly) rely upon test scores exclusively to assess brightness?

No school relies on test scores alone, but there aren't many other objective indications of brightness. You won't have a chance to wow them at the open house, but definitely do an interview AFTER the open house. My DC was accepted to a Big 3 largely based on an extraordinary interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine is a terrible song. I mean, just listen to it.

agreed. It is musically uninteresting. The lyrics are slightly more interesting, but only slightly.

Rolling Stone ranked "Imagine" number 3 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time." The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation named "Imagine" the greatest song in the past 100 years as voted by listeners on the show 50 Tracks. Virgin Radio conducted a UK favorite song survey in December 2005, and listeners voted "Imagine" number 1. Australians selected it the greatest song of all time.

Jimmy Carter said, "in many countries around the world—my wife and I have visited about 125 countries—you hear John Lennon's song 'Imagine' used almost equally with national anthems."

But the anonymous moms and music critics of DC are NOT impressed.

Is your insight into private schools as flawed as your taste in music?

Um, does Jimmy Carter know it has the line "Imagine there's no countries?"

I know people love the song. But its really terrible. Lots of people agree with me. Trite, overwrought, lyrics that scream "deep" but really make no sense and incredibly simplistic music.

There is genius in simplicity. "Lots of people" do not agree with you.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would lay off the Wallace stuff since his life is not one you want your kid to emulate. The last thing I want as an admissions director is a hanging on my hands.

[Anonymous]

the boarding school idea was mentioned as a joke, but seriously there are many xlnt extermely demanding boarding schools all over NE United States. I think it might help your kid to understand that perhaps he is not as brilliant and well-read as he thinks he is. Send him to Phillips Exeter, Hotchkiss, Groton, etc. and get some of that ego stomped out of him when he meets the other kids. Sounds like he needs to be leveled out for a few years before you begin the college application process.

[Anonymous]

Homeschool. He won't have any friends in any school.

[Anonymous]

Also taking OP at face value. I guess Burke must do their OH earlier than some others (? I think?) because we just got back from theirs yesterday - seems like what you might be looking for in terms of there not being as much of a sports-centric environment and more of an emphasis on arts/academics. That's part of the reason we're looking at it for our DS.


Hope this helps

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see that the GDS open house is not until mid-November and the Maret open house is not until mid-December. What thoughts do experienced GDS and Maret parents have regarding the wisdom of doing a tour BEFORE the open house?

Suggestions on what DS should wear for a tour of GDS?

We were told that they should wear whatever they are comfortable in. Tshirt and jeans are fine. Dressier fine, too, if that's what DS likes.

I'd stay away from coat and tie, which might suggest that you don't understand GDS.

Another reason I find GDS totally annoying. Oh my! The horror of a child dressing up for a school admissions interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see that the GDS open house is not until mid-November and the Maret open house is not until mid-December. What thoughts do experienced GDS and Maret parents have regarding the wisdom of doing a tour BEFORE the open house?

Suggestions on what DS should wear for a tour of GDS?

Is this OP?

Why does it matter? Is it THAT important for you to know that your judgmental posts have been read?

OP - you seem be on the right track with GDS and Maret. Those schools know how to teach without indoctrinating super bright kids. Just ignore the snarks.

[Anonymous]

The GDS open house in Monday November 11 at 7:00 PM. I would not look at the open house as the opportunity for your DC to shine. You'll will have the usual number of people trying to stand out with obnoxious questions. Just observe them and understand that they are the competition. Arrange for an interview after the open house - that we be your opportunity to create that "first impression" that will make your DC stand out - if he is truly as outstanding as you describe.