Academic Difference Between GDS and Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Is there an academic difference between either school? It seems like GDS is easier to graduate from with an Ivy-worthy GPA than Sidwell. I'm not insulting GDS, nor am I trolling. My kid is applying to both of these schools and is an athlete the coaches are interested in.

If we are shooting for a 3.9+ GPA, would GDS be a better fit? I think he like Sidwell's facilities and culture better, but GDS may be an easier journey for someone looking to get stellar grades.

What does this forum think?

Based on this year’s IG posts, 2023 Sidwell students had better luck gaining admission to Ivy+ colleges than GDS students. It may vary from year to year though.

All hooked except one or two.

The vast majority of Sidwell and GDS parents are college graduates. Therefore, their children are “hooked” (legacies) at some college(s). If you or your spouse didn’t graduate from an Ivy+, that’s too bad for your child. They can always use the hook his/her parents provided. But that’s not good enough for you, is it?

Pls don’t conflate one of the 400,000 Harvard alums with real legacies whose families are wealthy, successful, and has donated millions over the years.

Every alums kid cannot get a seat as said parent’s alum. Stop pretending that’s a “leg up.”

I agree with you. Posters on this board act as if legacies from Sidwell (and other elite privates) who are admitted to T20 colleges are unqualified. There’s been loads of research on this issue and the findings are that most of these legacies have equivalent or better stats than “unhooked” admits. I know several high stats, double Harvard legacies that were denied admissions. Many people don’t understand that legacy status is not determinative without a lot of other things working in your student’s favor.

False. Legacies in the 3.5 to 3.7 range with less rigorous classes got into HYP while 3.9+ students with rigorous classes did not at Sidwell this year.

USA college system has never looked purely at GPA and test scores.

Go alumni interview and learn something yourself.

Harvard wants intellect, type A “leaders” not bookworms.

Harvard does not want leaders. They want the children of the rich and powerful because these children will be rich and powerful.

Harvard college is a quirky place.
Maybe you should go check it out for yourself- take a tour, talk to the students, sit in some classes and listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there an academic difference between either school? It seems like GDS is easier to graduate from with an Ivy-worthy GPA than Sidwell. I'm not insulting GDS, nor am I trolling. My kid is applying to both of these schools and is an athlete the coaches are interested in.

If we are shooting for a 3.9+ GPA, would GDS be a better fit? I think he like Sidwell's facilities and culture better, but GDS may be an easier journey for someone looking to get stellar grades.

What does this forum think?

Only academic difference is sidwell and the cathedral schools have a better known reputation and expansive, diverse in interests, alum base.
I work in tech and the STA and NCS alum club in SF and SV was very active, fun and helpful. The alum, post college were impressive as well.

[Anonymous]

GdS you can do your own thing. Fast, slow, difficult, easy, etc.

Read the curriculum guide and make sure the core and required classes and flavor are how you want to spend your time.
You only have 4 years there so pick based in that. If you want accelerated whatever and qualify for it, all the DC private schools will allow that to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there an academic difference between either school? It seems like GDS is easier to graduate from with an Ivy-worthy GPA than Sidwell. I'm not insulting GDS, nor am I trolling. My kid is applying to both of these schools and is an athlete the coaches are interested in.

If we are shooting for a 3.9+ GPA, would GDS be a better fit? I think he like Sidwell's facilities and culture better, but GDS may be an easier journey for someone looking to get stellar grades.

What does this forum think?

Don’t think either are “easy.”

And the incremental time, pain and luck required for a 3.9 may not be worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh really?
https://alumni.princeton.edu/stories/princeton-annual-giving-campaign-2023

Love all that gifted overpriced public and private stocks that subsequently tanked. Enjoy your mark to market “donations” whilst we took the tax shield at all time highs!

Shift the goalposts when your claims are quickly proven wrong. Cry more.

[Anonymous]

This site is obsessed with the “big 3” but in reality there are probably 10 schools that are roughly equivalent in academic rigor in the DC metro area.

Don’t let the strivers determine your kids future.

[Anonymous]

Such a lame thread. Hyp are lame and so are most of the private schools around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consider the Cathedral schools. Academically equivalent of Sidwell.

But arguably not of GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consider the Cathedral schools. Academically equivalent of Sidwell.

But arguably not of GDS.

GdS is a choose your own adventure place. And notoriously doesn’t communicate well or in a timely manner with parents. Be a go-getter, go narrow, flub around, try everything, skate by, sit in art class all senior year, whatever goes.

No one, except maybe your parents if they’re aware, will sit you down and make academic plans for you or demands of you.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell parents are strivers, unabashedly so, while at Gds, the parents pretend to be cool and not care do much. But they do!

[Anonymous]

Sfs: No need to beg another school to provide the AP testing location for your student.

[Anonymous]

Elite schools outside the DMV that do not offer AP classes include

Phillips Exeter
Phillips Andover
Choate Rosemary
Trinity
St. Ann's
Hotchkiss
St. Paul's
Crossroads

These schools are all sending well-prepared kids to elite colleges and I would hardly call most of them "woke."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elite schools outside the DMV that do not offer AP classes include

Phillips Exeter
Phillips Andover
Choate Rosemary
Trinity
St. Ann's
Hotchkiss
St. Paul's
Crossroads

These schools are all sending well-prepared kids to elite colleges and I would hardly call most of them "woke."

Where’s the data on how many AP tests are taken by their students annually and the scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Colleges know the academic rigor involved at both schools, so getting less than a 3.9 may not be a dealbreaker. What it really comes down to is whether your kid prefers a progressive approach or a traditional one.

Lol wishful thinking. Why would a college take a 3.5 from either of these school when they can take someone who gets 4.0 of higher from the same school or one of the numbers similar or more rigorous private and public schools throughout the country?

Yeah, I think the issue here is that very bright kids at these schools get a 3.5 GPA. However, even though DCUM talks non-stop about how hard they are, there are certainly kids smart enough to get a 3.9-4.0 GPA there. There are kids that do it every year.

When Ivies are only admitting <3 students per school, they are going to take the top GPAs, URM, Legacy, VIP/Donor applicants. The typical big law child with a 3.6 GPA/1500+ SAT will be tossed into the trashcan. They don't fit any institutional priority or aren't the among top students in their class.

Lol

Its true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elite schools outside the DMV that do not offer AP classes include

Phillips Exeter
Phillips Andover
Choate Rosemary
Trinity
St. Ann's
Hotchkiss
St. Paul's
Crossroads

These schools are all sending well-prepared kids to elite colleges and I would hardly call most of them "woke."

Where’s the data on how many AP tests are taken by their students annually and the scores?

(DP)
Philips Andover: "Students score a “5” on 58% of AP tests and a “4” on 27%."
Choate: "Students scored a “4” or “5” on 79% of AP tests. "
Deerfield: "36% of AP exam scores were “5”s, and 31% were “4”s

You can find the rest here: https://www.apguru.com/blog/list-of-top-10-boarding-schools-in-the-united-states