NCS Reception

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then that is a massive failure on the NCS's part.

I don't think that the poster is saying, or even implying, that it was a massive failure on NCS's part. My DC is in a similar situation at a similar school. If you have a B average at a "top 3" (or whatever) school you are going to have a tough time competing against higher achieving students at other schools. It is just an extremely competitive environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then that is a massive failure on the NCS's part.

I don't think that the poster is saying, or even implying, that it was a massive failure on NCS's part. My DC is in a similar situation at a similar school. If you have a B average at a "top 3" (or whatever) school you are going to have a tough time competing against higher achieving students at other schools. It is just an extremely competitive environment.

What does it mean to have a B average at one of these schools? Is a B average bottom quarter? Because if 3.0 is average to low average, then I think WL at a not competitive school signals bad college counseling. If you're at NCS or equivalent, that is.

[Anonymous]

Hit the books people! Tests are meaningless otherwise.

[Anonymous]

As a former admissions director (2years ago) of an Ivy college now relocated to DC and currently sending my own daughter to NCS. Our office found the graduates of NCS to be stellar candidates and very capable of the workload. It was a no brainer where to send our children to school when my spouse relocated to DC area. As mentioned above high test scores and low grades is a red flag. Please keep in mind going to NCS will not get you into a great school alone, your daughter needs to put forth the effort. It is rare to see candidates from NCS applying with such low grades without a story behind it (loss of parent, working to help support family, major incident during HS years). If your daughter is all A's at public it doesn't mean she will be all A's at NCS. As an admission advisor we take in consideration of the rigor of the schools, opportunities presented and opportunities taken. GPA's from top private schools are weighted different than other schools with less rigor. If your daughter is not motivated, has difficultly keeping up, fails to take advantage of opportunities provided then it would be best advised that she return to public school that will help her shine amongst her peers if she is trying to enter the competitive college environment. Remember the there are multiple factors involved in admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a former admissions director (2years ago) of an Ivy college now relocated to DC and currently sending my own daughter to NCS. Our office found the graduates of NCS to be stellar candidates and very capable of the workload. It was a no brainer where to send our children to school when my spouse relocated to DC area. As mentioned above high test scores and low grades is a red flag. Please keep in mind going to NCS will not get you into a great school alone, your daughter needs to put forth the effort. It is rare to see candidates from NCS applying with such low grades without a story behind it (loss of parent, working to help support family, major incident during HS years). If your daughter is all A's at public it doesn't mean she will be all A's at NCS. As an admission advisor we take in consideration of the rigor of the schools, opportunities presented and opportunities taken. GPA's from top private schools are weighted different than other schools with less rigor. If your daughter is not motivated, has difficultly keeping up, fails to take advantage of opportunities provided then it would be best advised that she return to public school that will help her shine amongst her peers if she is trying to enter the competitive college environment. Remember the there are multiple factors involved in admissions.

What I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around is that Bs are "low grades." I'm not saying that they aren't considered low. Apparently they are. I just think someone at an NCS type school can get a B and still have put a hell of a lot of work into the class and learned a hell of a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a former admissions director (2years ago) of an Ivy college now relocated to DC and currently sending my own daughter to NCS. Our office found the graduates of NCS to be stellar candidates and very capable of the workload. It was a no brainer where to send our children to school when my spouse relocated to DC area. As mentioned above high test scores and low grades is a red flag. Please keep in mind going to NCS will not get you into a great school alone, your daughter needs to put forth the effort. It is rare to see candidates from NCS applying with such low grades without a story behind it (loss of parent, working to help support family, major incident during HS years). If your daughter is all A's at public it doesn't mean she will be all A's at NCS. As an admission advisor we take in consideration of the rigor of the schools, opportunities presented and opportunities taken. GPA's from top private schools are weighted different than other schools with less rigor. If your daughter is not motivated, has difficultly keeping up, fails to take advantage of opportunities provided then it would be best advised that she return to public school that will help her shine amongst her peers if she is trying to enter the competitive college environment. Remember the there are multiple factors involved in admissions.

What I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around is that Bs are "low grades." I'm not saying that they aren't considered low. Apparently they are. I just think someone at an NCS type school can get a B and still have put a hell of a lot of work into the class and learned a hell of a lot.

+1!! And to say most NCS girls keep their grades above a 3.0 (unless they lose a parent!) is simply unbelievable unless NCS has major grade inflation. I am a NCS alum (from the 80s) and I can tell you back then - there was no grade inflation and many many girls got Bs and even some Cs. But then again back then a 3.5 got you into an Ivy, a Univ if Chicago, UVA, etc. With a 3.0 you would still be competitive and likely in at UW-Madison, UVA. A 2.8ish was the Skidmore/Denison crowd. The times they are a changin!

[Anonymous]

My daughter graduated from NCS recently.
1. Obviously not all 3.0 are the same. A 3.0 from NCS with very rigorous classes will much do better than a 3.0 with easier classes, all other things being equal, such as ECs, legacy, recruited athletes, etc.
2. I had another child at Sidwell and IME, the college placement between NCS/STA and Sidwell (above the same number of kids) was about the same.
3. The homework between NCS and Sidwell was the same(I suspect also similar to other schools.)
4. I do think that the competitive nature at NCS does effect the relationships at NCS compare to Sidwell. My NCS child had the time of her life at NCS., but not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

And great GPAs with shitty test scores aren't a red flag?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter graduated from NCS recently.
1. Obviously not all 3.0 are the same. A 3.0 from NCS with very rigorous classes will much do better than a 3.0 with easier classes, all other things being equal, such as ECs, legacy, recruited athletes, etc.
2. I had another child at Sidwell and IME, the college placement between NCS/STA and Sidwell (above the same number of kids) was about the same.
3. The homework between NCS and Sidwell was the same(I suspect also similar to other schools.)
4. I do think that the competitive nature at NCS does effect the relationships at NCS compare to Sidwell. My NCS child had the time of her life at NCS., but not for everyone.

Ok let's assume the OP's child had mostly B's, a couple of C's and a couple of A's with a less rigorous classload. Let's even say she wasn't good at sports and didn't do a lot extracurricularly. Is it unfair to expect a Skidmore/Denison/BU coming from NCS?

[Anonymous]

If only. Tests alone are meaningless these days. Thank the gods that that wasn't the case when I was a kid.

[Anonymous]

Let's say the OP had a very rigorous course load and lots of ecs. Test scores are meaningless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter graduated from NCS recently.
1. Obviously not all 3.0 are the same. A 3.0 from NCS with very rigorous classes will much do better than a 3.0 with easier classes, all other things being equal, such as ECs, legacy, recruited athletes, etc.
2. I had another child at Sidwell and IME, the college placement between NCS/STA and Sidwell (above the same number of kids) was about the same.
3. The homework between NCS and Sidwell was the same(I suspect also similar to other schools.)
4. I do think that the competitive nature at NCS does effect the relationships at NCS compare to Sidwell. My NCS child had the time of her life at NCS., but not for everyone.

Ok let's assume the OP's child had mostly B's, a couple of C's and a couple of A's with a less rigorous classload. Let's even say she wasn't good at sports and didn't do a lot extracurricularly. Is it unfair to expect a Skidmore/Denison/BU coming from NCS?

If scores are appropriate, IME, easily could expect this if not higher for the above example.

[Anonymous]

Scores are appropriate?

[Anonymous]

My NCS grad wanted to take a specific class and admin asked her if she would rather have a higher GPA or that class? She took the class and yes, it was kick---, but boy did she love the experience. She is now happily pursuing that topic as a major and doing very well. GPA might be important, but it's not everything. Far better to have a few struggles you can overcome with resilience than to think you deserve to be handed a perfect grade for showing up. Could not have asked for a better school or a better outcome for my DD. You should be humbled and thankful to even be at the reception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then that is a massive failure on the NCS's part.

How so?