Another Sidwell college counselor head quits

[Anonymous]

This whole thread is fascinating, especially since in a different thread various Sidwell boosters suggest that it is the perfect school and act surprised that some posters aren’t going to apply to Sidwell (and would not accept at Sidwell). A pretty wide disconnect between the two threads really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the same CCO head who never bothered to meet - and never encouraged her fellow counselors - to meet the Seniors of 2021 in person even after the school had moved from being online to in person. The teachers and athletic coaches were all in person starting in Jan 2021 but the counselors remained on zoom. We thought that was RIDICULOUS since most of the counselors that year were new and had never met the kids previously and had no personal relationship with them whatsoever. Our kid has moved on so it's water under the bridge but I'm glad the upcoming students are getting a new batch of counselors.

I agree with this. On top of the disaster on how how DC privates like Sidwell handled the pandemic, this was yet another insult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once you get past the high donor alumni, the athletic recruits, and the high-achieving URMs, there are only so many measly spots available for T20 schools. Don't blame the CCOs. If you are not in any of the above three categories, know what you are paying for. It is not college placement. It is for a bespoke educational experience for a very privileged/fortunate few. Your children have had x number of years of getting the best attention to all their educational and formative needs to be high-achieving young adults--no matter where they go to college. I feel sorry for the CCOs and the school admins in general. It has become a business, available to the highest bidder. No institutional respect whatsoever from the parents. When I went to boarding school, even the wealthiest parents (old money) had the good sense to let the admin handle things. No one trusts anybody anymore.

When you went to boarding school, the admins were capable of handling things. No one wants to tell a parent who has spent 750k+ over 14 years that the amazing education doesn't mean that their kid can do better than Dickenson

So, the expectation is to buy one’s DC into a competitive and desirable undergraduate school. Noted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the same CCO head who never bothered to meet - and never encouraged her fellow counselors - to meet the Seniors of 2021 in person even after the school had moved from being online to in person. The teachers and athletic coaches were all in person starting in Jan 2021 but the counselors remained on zoom. We thought that was RIDICULOUS since most of the counselors that year were new and had never met the kids previously and had no personal relationship with them whatsoever. Our kid has moved on so it's water under the bridge but I'm glad the upcoming students are getting a new batch of counselors.

I agree with this. On top of the disaster on how how DC privates like Sidwell handled the pandemic, this was yet another insult.

Agree about the disaster of online “learning” at Sidwell during COVID. Have kids at both the lower and middle school and it was pathetic how the kids were “taught”. Expected better from a private school especially since Beauvoir and the Catholic schools had more in-person learning at lower tuition. I know this is the wrong thread to vent but couldn’t help it….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the same CCO head who never bothered to meet - and never encouraged her fellow counselors - to meet the Seniors of 2021 in person even after the school had moved from being online to in person. The teachers and athletic coaches were all in person starting in Jan 2021 but the counselors remained on zoom. We thought that was RIDICULOUS since most of the counselors that year were new and had never met the kids previously and had no personal relationship with them whatsoever. Our kid has moved on so it's water under the bridge but I'm glad the upcoming students are getting a new batch of counselors.

Heard from multiple former families the same thing: college counseling is a joke at Sidwell. That said and done, I don’t think college counseling anywhere makes much of a difference. Legacy $$$ donors, athletic recruits, and URMs are being prioritized to get in, regardless of what the counselors say.

[Anonymous]

Parent of a current US student. Was wary of Sidwell CCO but was pleasantly surprised by our assigned counselor at our first meeting. Fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The CCO could definitely do more to give the impression that they actually care about the student. There was no sense of "I think this school would be good for you" or "have you thought about xyz?" It is a very transactional relationship which leaves something to be desired in a process whose success depends on the whole child landing somewhere that is the right fit.

The whole child landing somewhere that is the right fit? What does that even mean? Are you saying that part of the child could land somewhere that is a "wrong fit?"

Yes there is a wrong fit.

Why is half the class applying to Michigan?

Is that the right place for a kid looking for small class sizes? Many of my DS friends all threw in apps there just because. That hurts the kids who really want to go!

Yes by all means please stop applying to Michigan-your Sidwell snowflakes aren’t going to last a day there where you need to stand on your own two feet and compete with the smart kids.

The SFS kids we know at Michigan have had the combination of stellar academic experiences as well as the big campus, rah rah of football, basketball and all that goes on in a vibrant university setting. I cannot for the life of me understand why someone would think otherwise of SFS students at Michigan or any other flagship. Sidwell is not a school for the feint of heart academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the same CCO head who never bothered to meet - and never encouraged her fellow counselors - to meet the Seniors of 2021 in person even after the school had moved from being online to in person. The teachers and athletic coaches were all in person starting in Jan 2021 but the counselors remained on zoom. We thought that was RIDICULOUS since most of the counselors that year were new and had never met the kids previously and had no personal relationship with them whatsoever. Our kid has moved on so it's water under the bridge but I'm glad the upcoming students are getting a new batch of counselors.

Heard from multiple former families the same thing: college counseling is a joke at Sidwell. That said and done, I don’t think college counseling anywhere makes much of a difference. Legacy $$$ donors, athletic recruits, and URMs are being prioritized to get in, regardless of what the counselors say.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the same CCO head who never bothered to meet - and never encouraged her fellow counselors - to meet the Seniors of 2021 in person even after the school had moved from being online to in person. The teachers and athletic coaches were all in person starting in Jan 2021 but the counselors remained on zoom. We thought that was RIDICULOUS since most of the counselors that year were new and had never met the kids previously and had no personal relationship with them whatsoever. Our kid has moved on so it's water under the bridge but I'm glad the upcoming students are getting a new batch of counselors.

Heard from multiple former families the same thing: college counseling is a joke at Sidwell. That said and done, I don’t think college counseling anywhere makes much of a difference. Legacy $$$ donors, athletic recruits, and URMs are being prioritized to get in, regardless of what the counselors say.

But they should at least be trying to add value for parents/kids that don't know the landscape....beyond just making sure you have a "balanced list" (which - with all the changes this year, compounding on those from prior few years boils down to making sure there is at least one school you will get into).

[Anonymous]

Current Sidwell senior parent here. I was happy with the work of our Sidwell college counselor. I was also impressed with the covid-era distance learning. We’ve been here since K and it has been a fabulous experience. Yes, the landscape of college admissions is changing. That is a generational shift we just have to ride. Best to all in the college admissions process!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once you get past the high donor alumni, the athletic recruits, and the high-achieving URMs, there are only so many measly spots available for T20 schools. Don't blame the CCOs. If you are not in any of the above three categories, know what you are paying for. It is not college placement. It is for a bespoke educational experience for a very privileged/fortunate few. Your children have had x number of years of getting the best attention to all their educational and formative needs to be high-achieving young adults--no matter where they go to college. I feel sorry for the CCOs and the school admins in general. It has become a business, available to the highest bidder. No institutional respect whatsoever from the parents. When I went to boarding school, even the wealthiest parents (old money) had the good sense to let the admin handle things. No one trusts anybody anymore.

The second to last sentence is an interesting comment about boarding school parents. Inaccurate in my experience with a very elite boarding school. Seems as though you do not understand what was going on behind the scenes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once you get past the high donor alumni, the athletic recruits, and the high-achieving URMs, there are only so many measly spots available for T20 schools. Don't blame the CCOs. If you are not in any of the above three categories, know what you are paying for. It is not college placement. It is for a bespoke educational experience for a very privileged/fortunate few. Your children have had x number of years of getting the best attention to all their educational and formative needs to be high-achieving young adults--no matter where they go to college. I feel sorry for the CCOs and the school admins in general. It has become a business, available to the highest bidder. No institutional respect whatsoever from the parents. When I went to boarding school, even the wealthiest parents (old money) had the good sense to let the admin handle things. No one trusts anybody anymore.

When you went to boarding school, the admins were capable of handling things. No one wants to tell a parent who has spent 750k+ over 14 years that the amazing education doesn't mean that their kid can do better than Dickenson

So, the expectation is to buy one’s DC into a competitive and desirable undergraduate school. Noted.

This is not an unreasonable thought.

My impression is that most families view admission into elite private high schools as the first step in the college admissions process.

It is not really buying one's way into a competitive, desirable undergraduate school so much as it is the opportunity for intelligent,focused students to continue to work hard toward the goal of admission into an elite college or university.

[Anonymous]

Or maybe the normal parents view it as their child’s life which they are enjoying, peer group, facilities, education and all. I wish there was less focus on academics or college acceptance but I can’t imagine a better school life for our DC in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tough job I guess

We're in the midst of the "Great Resignation" and Sidwell just like any other business is affected.

The Great Resignation stopped last year.

I think there will be a Great Resignation across many in the college counseling arena. We've heard from friends with private counselors that it's such a crazy year and everything is turned upside down and many who are thinking it's time to do something else.

The industry is selling a service that it can no longer provide. If the best that you can do is tell a kid to apply to schools that are easier admits, why is the parent spending so much money on the service?

Exactly and tuition keeps going up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once you get past the high donor alumni, the athletic recruits, and the high-achieving URMs, there are only so many measly spots available for T20 schools. Don't blame the CCOs. If you are not in any of the above three categories, know what you are paying for. It is not college placement. It is for a bespoke educational experience for a very privileged/fortunate few. Your children have had x number of years of getting the best attention to all their educational and formative needs to be high-achieving young adults--no matter where they go to college. I feel sorry for the CCOs and the school admins in general. It has become a business, available to the highest bidder. No institutional respect whatsoever from the parents. When I went to boarding school, even the wealthiest parents (old money) had the good sense to let the admin handle things. No one trusts anybody anymore.

When you went to boarding school, the admins were capable of handling things. No one wants to tell a parent who has spent 750k+ over 14 years that the amazing education doesn't mean that their kid can do better than Dickenson

So, the expectation is to buy one’s DC into a competitive and desirable undergraduate school. Noted.

This is not an unreasonable thought.

My impression is that most families view admission into elite private high schools as the first step in the college admissions process.

It is not really buying one's way into a competitive, desirable undergraduate school so much as it is the opportunity for intelligent,focused students to continue to work hard toward the goal of admission into an elite college or university.

Of course it’s buying your way in! And being buddies with the right people and avoiding the undesirables so your connections will help you along the way. Pay to play. Always has been.