Odds of getting into Sidwell

[Anonymous]

How about the Lower school? What are the odds? Does the location, Bethesda, make it inconvenient for many DC parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about the Lower school? What are the odds? Does the location, Bethesda, make it inconvenient for many DC parents?

Depends on the number of applicants. More slots but also double the number of applicants for those slots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Save your time and effort. When a school tells you they are only accepting 30-40 kids it should let you know admissions are rigged. In a town like DC, plenty of VIP kids taking majority of those slots. Sidwell may throw in a FA child to appear fair but they already know who they will be accepting.

My DC was accepted this year and majority of kids entering 9th grade are not the VIP kids. Those kids have either been there the whole time or came in pretty early. Actually there is a big distinction coming in at 9th grade because these kids are coming in on their own merits as opposed to the lower grades where it's hard to distinguish. Most of the 9th grade class is a variety of kids from MD, VA and DC private and public. And from feeder type schools and non feeder schools. All really smart kids who are passionate about something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Save your time and effort. When a school tells you they are only accepting 30-40 kids it should let you know admissions are rigged. In a town like DC, plenty of VIP kids taking majority of those slots. Sidwell may throw in a FA child to appear fair but they already know who they will be accepting.

Patently false.

They accept 30-40 students because that is what they have room for at that grade. They accepted another 30 in 7th and another 24 in 6th.

And, while there is a sibling priority, there is absolutely no given (like other schools) of admission.

[Anonymous]

What about non minority kid who needs financial aid. Any chances...top scores and grades

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While about a half dozen of the kids from DC's day school class applied to Sidwell, only one said it was his first choice. And he turned out to be the only one admitted, though he was probably not as strong a student as most of the other applicants. It makes sense that they only want the kids who really want to be there. I think it also makes a big difference whether the headmaster of your K-8 school is a strong advocate.

How do kids from public school even get in because they have no advocate from schools speaking on their behalf?

Sidwell looks at public school kids to bring in diversity, so don’t let that discourage your if you’re African American or Latinx.

PP, don't even bother applying. I am keeping it 100% real. If you are not full pay, political appointee, and/or super connected the odds are not in your favor in addition to the low odds of even being considered for the 30-40 slots. Look at schools where your child has better odds. Please keep in mind this is a very stressful process for kids too. I have seen too many kids vested in Sidwell, just to be put on the never moving waitlist. While rejection is part of life, they have more than enough time to experience in their future.

OP, ignore PP. Applying at any school is a bit of an ordeal, but do you really want to teach your kids not to reach for anything if it's difficult and there's a possibility of failure. Set reasonable expectations with your child at the outset, and make it clear that acceptance has nothing to do with their worth. Then go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about non minority kid who needs financial aid. Any chances...top scores and grades

There's always a chance, but TBH your kid would have to have some powerful other hook - i.e. athletics or an exceptional talent in something (like has won Julliard musical competition) - in order to get FA. Not fair at all, but Sidwell tends to reserve FA for kids URMs.

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify, the school accepts @20 kids in 7th and @17 kids in 6th. It might vary a bit year to year but it is not 30 for those grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I suggest you spread your net wide if your child wants to apply for private in 9th. If you do not want to return to public - be sure to have some backups outside of the highly competitive DMV schools.

If she ends up with a very clear favorite after shadow visits and interviews are complete, inform that school by early January. For the school that is your favorite (not the others): if you know someone in that school's community that could write the admissions office on your child's/family's behalf, then ask them to do so. The schools find it helpful if they know they are getting a nice family that would be a positive addition to their community.

Otherwise, just have your child do their best on testing, and putting their best foot forward. These schools will see academic record on paper, be sure she presents herself (and you present her) as being well rounded in other areas. Be honest because they are looking for consistency across the child, the parent, the school recommendations. Just being smart and "wanting more of a challenge" will not set her apart. Also be honest when asked questions about where she could improve. And be sure to pay attention to what the school says is it's values. It is important to craft your responses to match the school you are applying to. Don't edit the facts, but the way you present them.

Good luck.

Helpful post. You mentioned notifying your top pick by January. How would one communicate that they are their #1 choice. By this point in time all applications have been submitted.

You send them a separate letter for first choice (or email, but I'd say letter). Note that the "support letter" also needs to be sent by early January. They need these in hand before they start considering your application.

All this is good advice and applies to any school your child is applying to for 9th grade. DC was accepted for 9th - good grades/score but not VIP, not athlete, no "hook". DC wrote a letter to the admissions office stating Sidwell was first choice and explaining why. Who knows how much this helps, but all schools prefer to accept applicants they know will come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about non minority kid who needs financial aid. Any chances...top scores and grades

There's always a chance, but TBH your kid would have to have some powerful other hook - i.e. athletics or an exceptional talent in something (like has won Julliard musical competition) - in order to get FA. Not fair at all, but Sidwell tends to reserve FA for kids URMs.

This is not my experience. Citation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about non minority kid who needs financial aid. Any chances...top scores and grades

There's always a chance, but TBH your kid would have to have some powerful other hook - i.e. athletics or an exceptional talent in something (like has won Julliard musical competition) - in order to get FA. Not fair at all, but Sidwell tends to reserve FA for kids URMs.

URMs stands for?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about non minority kid who needs financial aid. Any chances...top scores and grades

There's always a chance, but TBH your kid would have to have some powerful other hook - i.e. athletics or an exceptional talent in something (like has won Julliard musical competition) - in order to get FA. Not fair at all, but Sidwell tends to reserve FA for kids URMs.

This is not my experience. Citation?

Observation across a number of years. Fewer white kids who need FA admitted than URMs who need FA. There are plenty of white kids with good grades and scores who can pay full tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I suggest you spread your net wide if your child wants to apply for private in 9th. If you do not want to return to public - be sure to have some backups outside of the highly competitive DMV schools.

If she ends up with a very clear favorite after shadow visits and interviews are complete, inform that school by early January. For the school that is your favorite (not the others): if you know someone in that school's community that could write the admissions office on your child's/family's behalf, then ask them to do so. The schools find it helpful if they know they are getting a nice family that would be a positive addition to their community.

Otherwise, just have your child do their best on testing, and putting their best foot forward. These schools will see academic record on paper, be sure she presents herself (and you present her) as being well rounded in other areas. Be honest because they are looking for consistency across the child, the parent, the school recommendations. Just being smart and "wanting more of a challenge" will not set her apart. Also be honest when asked questions about where she could improve. And be sure to pay attention to what the school says is it's values. It is important to craft your responses to match the school you are applying to. Don't edit the facts, but the way you present them.

Good luck.

Helpful post. You mentioned notifying your top pick by January. How would one communicate that they are their #1 choice. By this point in time all applications have been submitted.

You send them a separate letter for first choice (or email, but I'd say letter). Note that the "support letter" also needs to be sent by early January. They need these in hand before they start considering your application.

All this is good advice and applies to any school your child is applying to for 9th grade. DC was accepted for 9th - good grades/score but not VIP, not athlete, no "hook". DC wrote a letter to the admissions office stating Sidwell was first choice and explaining why. Who knows how much this helps, but all schools prefer to accept applicants they know will come.

When did he write the letter and who did he address it to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about non minority kid who needs financial aid. Any chances...top scores and grades

There's always a chance, but TBH your kid would have to have some powerful other hook - i.e. athletics or an exceptional talent in something (like has won Julliard musical competition) - in order to get FA. Not fair at all, but Sidwell tends to reserve FA for kids URMs.

This is not my experience. Citation?

Observation across a number of years. Fewer white kids who need FA admitted than URMs who need FA. There are plenty of white kids with good grades and scores who can pay full tuition.

So you know the financial status of every family and who received FA and who doesn't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I suggest you spread your net wide if your child wants to apply for private in 9th. If you do not want to return to public - be sure to have some backups outside of the highly competitive DMV schools.

If she ends up with a very clear favorite after shadow visits and interviews are complete, inform that school by early January. For the school that is your favorite (not the others): if you know someone in that school's community that could write the admissions office on your child's/family's behalf, then ask them to do so. The schools find it helpful if they know they are getting a nice family that would be a positive addition to their community.

Otherwise, just have your child do their best on testing, and putting their best foot forward. These schools will see academic record on paper, be sure she presents herself (and you present her) as being well rounded in other areas. Be honest because they are looking for consistency across the child, the parent, the school recommendations. Just being smart and "wanting more of a challenge" will not set her apart. Also be honest when asked questions about where she could improve. And be sure to pay attention to what the school says is it's values. It is important to craft your responses to match the school you are applying to. Don't edit the facts, but the way you present them.

Good luck.

Helpful post. You mentioned notifying your top pick by January. How would one communicate that they are their #1 choice. By this point in time all applications have been submitted.

You send them a separate letter for first choice (or email, but I'd say letter). Note that the "support letter" also needs to be sent by early January. They need these in hand before they start considering your application.

All this is good advice and applies to any school your child is applying to for 9th grade. DC was accepted for 9th - good grades/score but not VIP, not athlete, no "hook". DC wrote a letter to the admissions office stating Sidwell was first choice and explaining why. Who knows how much this helps, but all schools prefer to accept applicants they know will come.

Which school did he apply from?