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What type of kid does Sidwell look for?
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Anonymous
My son will be in K next year and I've applied to Sidwell (as well as some other schools). Just curious what type of kid Sidwell is looking for? My son is very bright (aren't they all?  but he couldn't care less if anyone knows it. He is not a people pleaser and definitely comfortable being himself and not going with the flow. He's the kid who questions adults even though he eventually does what he is supposed to. He's the kid who would answer questions incorrectly at a playdate with a smirk on his face. Or he would say "What do you think?" when asked a question. What schools would accept a kid like this? I feel like the other kids in his pre-K class are just so robotic.
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Anonymous
Or polite. |
Anonymous
| Except for one of the girls, I wouldn't describe the kids as polite. They don't question anything (even things that you would think they would wonder about like a change in the routine, etc). I volunteer in the classroom (it is a coop preschool) so I get a chance to spend some time around the students there. |
Anonymous
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nah, OP is closer to the truth. I have a kid like this too. Eerie smart and the opposite of a pleaser. Loves to smirk, too.
He's not at Sidwell, but I can't recommend his current private school because it is proving not to be an excellent fit. I will watch this thread for any suggestions and I wonder if anyone else will admit to having a young child like this. |
Anonymous
| No, the rest of us all have children who are robotic. |
Anonymous
| My DC is very similar, but he doesn't smirk and is generally cooperative. He knows when to mix it up and when he is part of a group. |
Anonymous
| You had me until you decided to insult everyone else's children. I can imagine what the other moms think of you. |
Anonymous
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I don't know, OP. My mom was in private school admissions around here (but retired several years ago). She told me that the kids with good manners were the ones who stood out at playdates. Her school (not Sidwell) was looking for children who were both bright and "not difficult."
Good luck. |
Anonymous
Yes, we looked at Stepford coop, but there were no open slots, so we had to go elsewhere. |
Anonymous
Why would I care what other moms think of me? I'm not in high school. I get along with all of the other parents who coop and our kids get together for playdates and birthday parties etc. I wouldn't say my son is difficult or not polite. Actually he is quite polite around other adults. He just seems to ask more questions and wants to play devil's advocate. He's an only child so he spends a good bit of time around adults. Just wondering if any private schools in the area actually value individualism like they say. |
Anonymous
| Your child sounds like a brat. Not sure what school looks for brats, but I'll let you know if any come to mind. |
Anonymous
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Sidwell is looking for the "cream of the crop" OP. They can afford to be very choosy. If someone was put off by your son's seemingly smart alecky behavior - he may not be admitted.
Sidwell likes children who are the best in some category (music, arts, language, sports, etc.) They also value stellar attitudes and manners. |
Anonymous
| My daughter is also applying to Sidwell. Like your son she is very bright and asks lots of questions. The only time she really smirks is when she is giving a hard time to her younger sister. I have a nephew who sounds like your son. He's at a school out-of-state and has had a problem with teachers viewing him as a bit of a wise a**. I don't think he is a wise a** but people who don't know him well sometimes view his behavior that way. He is beginning to learn, as we all must, that there is a time and a place for everything. Maybe you could help your son learn to identify those situations where he can be a bit more playful with his questions and where he can't. |
Anonymous
| I agree. No school is not going to change just to accommodate your child--especially when they have plenty of smart kids with better manners to choose from. |
Anonymous
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there seem to be a lot of 'leaders' in my child's class - outgoing, confident kids (even in the younger grades!) - kids who in PK/K are capable of doing things independently, smart and inquisitive kids - there is a fair amount of independent work so kids that can stay on task and follow directions...and who ask questions because they want to know more....
and of course, the deliberate balance of gender and other diversity categories! |