GDSS vs Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS definitely has a chip on shoulder about Sidwell. For our kid, the schools were quite different. Our kid was quiet and unassuming but hard worker and Sidwell seemed like a better fit.

I don't think GDS has a chip on its shoulder re Sidwell. It's just a situation where most GDS parents (and older kids) will have looked closely at Sidwell as an alternative and therefore, when asked, will have reasons why they preferred GDS to Sidwell. By contrast, there will be Sidwell parents who didn't seriously consider GDS and, instead, saw NCS/StA or Maret as their alternatives. Sidwell gets more attention, in part, because it occupies a middle ground among the "elite" DC privates -- clearly prestigious with challenging academics but not too liberal or too conservative or too small or too religious. It's perceived as the safe/wild card/can't go wrong option for people whose preferences are such that they wouldn't apply to schools that they consider more extreme or at the other end of the spectrum from their comfort zone.

IRL, I think Sidwell and GDS kids and parents tend to see themselves as having lots in common. And, in fact, I've known a number of families (past and present) to have kids at both schools simultaneously.

Interesting insight. And, of course, there's the elephant in the room. Many, many families apply to and choose SFS at least in part b/c of the Obamas.

[Anonymous]

Interesting insight. And, of course, there's the elephant in the room. Many, many families apply to and choose SFS at least in part b/c of the Obamas. "

Sidwell family here: I would say that is probably a factor in 95% of applications. I'm not saying that 95% of people apply because the Obamas are there. I think that 95% factor that in - pros + cons. My guess is that it bumped apps by 30 percent or more.

Obamas dont come to the school auction but Clinton did. Proceeds increased significatly just by having him there.

[Anonymous]

Unless GDS does something special with its new campus, Field will soon be its main rival.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless GDS does something special with its new campus, Field will soon be its main rival.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting insight. And, of course, there's the elephant in the room. Many, many families apply to and choose SFS at least in part b/c of the Obamas. "

Sidwell family here: I would say that is probably a factor in 95% of applications. I'm not saying that 95% of people apply because the Obamas are there. I think that 95% factor that in - pros + cons. My guess is that it bumped apps by 30 percent or more.

Obamas dont come to the school auction but Clinton did. Proceeds increased significatly just by having him there.

Current Sidwell parent here: for what it is worth, the fact that the Obamas attend the school is completely irrelevant. No impact on the other students one way or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting insight. And, of course, there's the elephant in the room. Many, many families apply to and choose SFS at least in part b/c of the Obamas. "

Sidwell family here: I would say that is probably a factor in 95% of applications. I'm not saying that 95% of people apply because the Obamas are there. I think that 95% factor that in - pros + cons. My guess is that it bumped apps by 30 percent or more.

Obamas dont come to the school auction but Clinton did. Proceeds increased significatly just by having him there.

Current Sidwell parent here: for what it is worth, the fact that the Obamas attend the school is completely irrelevant. No impact on the other students one way or another.

Marketing? I work in an international environment and most people kniw Sidwell as the school of Obama's daughters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting insight. And, of course, there's the elephant in the room. Many, many families apply to and choose SFS at least in part b/c of the Obamas. "

Sidwell family here: I would say that is probably a factor in 95% of applications. I'm not saying that 95% of people apply because the Obamas are there. I think that 95% factor that in - pros + cons. My guess is that it bumped apps by 30 percent or more.

Obamas dont come to the school auction but Clinton did. Proceeds increased significatly just by having him there.

Current Sidwell parent here: for what it is worth, the fact that the Obamas attend the school is completely irrelevant. No impact on the other students one way or another.

Marketing? I work in an international environment and most people kniw Sidwell as the school of Obama's daughters.

And your point is exactly what? My point is that it doesn't impact the daily lives of students at the school one way or another.

[Anonymous]

Actually it does impact the kids. But would never discuss that here for obvious reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless GDS does something special with its new campus, Field will soon be its main rival.

In what way? The schools are really different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boy am I tired of the "GDS sends more kids to Harvard" poster And the fact that this is a claim I've never heard made at GDS makes me wonder whether this poster is just being deliberately annoying. She's omnipresent here but invisible there and I spend more time there than here.

It's clearly a troll who doesn't like GDS and it intentionally trying to be annoying. Don't let her get to you. She certainly doesn't reflect the GDS parents I'm currently getting to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boy am I tired of the "GDS sends more kids to Harvard" poster And the fact that this is a claim I've never heard made at GDS makes me wonder whether this poster is just being deliberately annoying. She's omnipresent here but invisible there and I spend more time there than here.

It's clearly a troll who doesn't like GDS and it intentionally trying to be annoying. Don't let her get to you. She certainly doesn't reflect the GDS parents I'm currently getting to know.

I think she's mocking some actual GDS boosters who were pretty annoying themselves with bragging about GDS early decision college results and with other over-the-top GDS boosterism. IMHO it was actually pretty funny when she first started doing it. But I totally agree the joke is played out now and should be dropped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting insight. And, of course, there's the elephant in the room. Many, many families apply to and choose SFS at least in part b/c of the Obamas. "

Sidwell family here: I would say that is probably a factor in 95% of applications. I'm not saying that 95% of people apply because the Obamas are there. I think that 95% factor that in - pros + cons. My guess is that it bumped apps by 30 percent or more.

Obamas dont come to the school auction but Clinton did. Proceeds increased significatly just by having him there.

The Obama effect probably ran its course at Sidwell Friends several years ago. As you suggest, there are benefits and burdens. The Clinton era seems, to use a phrase, a simpler time and so last century. In today's social media and frenzied 24 hour political cycle, no good could ever come (at least to the president) from his attending a private school auction.

[Anonymous]

To summarize:

GDS: joy and squalor

Let's not forget Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

To summarize:

GDS: joy and squalor

Let's not forget Harvard.

LOL! But I decided not to feed the troll and focussed on attributes that got multiple mentions from what appeared to me to be different posters. And, of course, I was deliberately leaving out the things both schools have in common since this was a "how do I choose between them" thread.

OTOH, you've now got me thinking of school teeshirts with scholarly mottos:
Gaudium et Squalor
Ordnung und Obama

[Anonymous]

The Obama effect probably ran its course at Sidwell Friends several years ago. As you suggest, there are benefits and burdens. The Clinton era seems, to use a phrase, a simpler time and so last century. In today's social media and frenzied 24 hour political cycle, no good could ever come (at least to the president) from his attending a private school auction."

Now if GDS could just get over it.