Has your first choice school changed since you started applications?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school I had ranked #3 going in is now #1 for DS, who has applied for admission to 9th grade. Much of it comes down to whether or not the school offered an in-person open house and/or shadow day. DS feels little connection or affinity to any school that did not provide the opportunity to go on campus and to spend time with current students.

+100

Sidwell off list and GDS last for this reason. We forced the GDS application because older sibling had done in person open house and tour several years ago and really felt younger sibling would fit at the school. DC has no connection or excitement for the school though. DC’s top choices are all schools where he has visited several times (in person Q&As, open houses, visits, interviews). I get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They take about 50 for 9th, not 30.

I think they are overenrolled and taking less this year. And there are more siblings.

30 is depressing. They have always taken 50 in previous years. Surprised and disheartened.

[Anonymous]

We were told in our interview they take 50 for 9th at GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were told in our interview they take 50 for 9th at GDS.

The number confusion is due to siblings. This year they have 20+ siblings applying. They have a separate application for siblings that is due in Dec. There are 50 total spots but only 30 or so are left after sibings.
It's not a conspiracy. They add 50 kids. 20 of these are siblings that are added in a totally separate process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told in our interview they take 50 for 9th at GDS.

The number confusion is due to siblings. This year they have 20+ siblings applying. They have a separate application for siblings that is due in Dec. There are 50 total spots but only 30 or so are left after sibings.
It's not a conspiracy. They add 50 kids. 20 of these are siblings that are added in a totally separate process.

20 siblings is a lot! I know from friends that siblings are pretty much an auto-admit. One friend had their 2nd child admitted as a sibling into 9th with not great grades and an SSAT in the 30%. This was a few years ago. They were worried it wouldn’t be high enough, but the sibling was admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told in our interview they take 50 for 9th at GDS.

The number confusion is due to siblings. This year they have 20+ siblings applying. They have a separate application for siblings that is due in Dec. There are 50 total spots but only 30 or so are left after sibings.
It's not a conspiracy. They add 50 kids. 20 of these are siblings that are added in a totally separate process.

20 siblings is a lot! I know from friends that siblings are pretty much an auto-admit. One friend had their 2nd child admitted as a sibling into 9th with not great grades and an SSAT in the 30%. This was a few years ago. They were worried it wouldn’t be high enough, but the sibling was admitted.

Almost all siblings get in, yes.
GDS will also break down admits, beyond hooked applicants, based on school they are coming from, their race(if obvious), and the way GDS perceives the applicant's identity, trying to find types of applicants that fill the gaps in their current class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told in our interview they take 50 for 9th at GDS.

The number confusion is due to siblings. This year they have 20+ siblings applying. They have a separate application for siblings that is due in Dec. There are 50 total spots but only 30 or so are left after sibings.
It's not a conspiracy. They add 50 kids. 20 of these are siblings that are added in a totally separate process.

20 siblings is a lot! I know from friends that siblings are pretty much an auto-admit. One friend had their 2nd child admitted as a sibling into 9th with not great grades and an SSAT in the 30%. This was a few years ago. They were worried it wouldn’t be high enough, but the sibling was admitted.

Almost all siblings get in, yes.
GDS will also break down admits, beyond hooked applicants, based on school they are coming from, their race(if obvious), and the way GDS perceives the applicant's identity, trying to find types of applicants that fill the gaps in their current class.

And 95% will be either 1)people of color--including AA, hispanic, Asian/South Asian 2)LGBTQ 3)Jewish. Or 2 of the 3.
Lol. Not joking. There are literally a handful of straight, white, non-Jewish kids. A teeny, tiny handful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told in our interview they take 50 for 9th at GDS.

The number confusion is due to siblings. This year they have 20+ siblings applying. They have a separate application for siblings that is due in Dec. There are 50 total spots but only 30 or so are left after sibings.
It's not a conspiracy. They add 50 kids. 20 of these are siblings that are added in a totally separate process.

20 siblings is a lot! I know from friends that siblings are pretty much an auto-admit. One friend had their 2nd child admitted as a sibling into 9th with not great grades and an SSAT in the 30%. This was a few years ago. They were worried it wouldn’t be high enough, but the sibling was admitted.

Almost all siblings get in, yes.
GDS will also break down admits, beyond hooked applicants, based on school they are coming from, their race(if obvious), and the way GDS perceives the applicant's identity, trying to find types of applicants that fill the gaps in their current class.

And 95% will be either 1)people of color--including AA, hispanic, Asian/South Asian 2)LGBTQ 3)Jewish. Or 2 of the 3.
Lol. Not joking. There are literally a handful of straight, white, non-Jewish kids. A teeny, tiny handful.

I’m sure many of the siblings are white!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What were the GDS essay questions?

I’m curious too!

How would you describe your philosophy of life – your personal commitments, set of guiding principles, or deepest beliefs?

How do you like to spend your time outside of school?

What academic subjects most inspire you? Why?

Write about a change you’d like to make in your school or neighborhood community.

Describe a time when you encountered a particularly challenging situation. What was challenging about it, and how did you respond?

Those seem fine to me. Maybe the first one is a bit much, but a thoughtful 8th grader should be able to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What were the GDS essay questions?

I’m curious too!

How would you describe your philosophy of life – your personal commitments, set of guiding principles, or deepest beliefs?

How do you like to spend your time outside of school?

What academic subjects most inspire you? Why?

Write about a change you’d like to make in your school or neighborhood community.

Describe a time when you encountered a particularly challenging situation. What was challenging about it, and how did you respond?

Those seem fine to me. Maybe the first one is a bit much, but a thoughtful 8th grader should be able to do it.

lol. My husband wrote it for my son last year. My son had no idea what to write and honestly neither did he care.

These types of questions are just asking for kids to have their parents help.
I definitely know kids who could and would do them on their own (I have a kid like this) but so many others would not know where to start. That's why they're dumb questions.
Ask questions that kids can answer easily and you'll actually get kid responses.

[Anonymous]

Really, your 8th grader can’t handle those questions? Screen zombie, I’m guessing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What were the GDS essay questions?

I’m curious too!

How would you describe your philosophy of life – your personal commitments, set of guiding principles, or deepest beliefs?

How do you like to spend your time outside of school?

What academic subjects most inspire you? Why?

Write about a change you’d like to make in your school or neighborhood community.

Describe a time when you encountered a particularly challenging situation. What was challenging about it, and how did you respond?

Those seem fine to me. Maybe the first one is a bit much, but a thoughtful 8th grader should be able to do it.

These are very similar to questions asked by other schools, including SSSAS, Burke and Field

The first one is a bit over the top for kids who are 13/14. The number of essays required is also a bit excessive. Crazy process!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really, your 8th grader can’t handle those questions? Screen zombie, I’m guessing?

Yep. But he got in so it's all good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What were the GDS essay questions?

I’m curious too!

How would you describe your philosophy of life – your personal commitments, set of guiding principles, or deepest beliefs?

How do you like to spend your time outside of school?

What academic subjects most inspire you? Why?

Write about a change you’d like to make in your school or neighborhood community.

Describe a time when you encountered a particularly challenging situation. What was challenging about it, and how did you respond?

Those seem fine to me. Maybe the first one is a bit much, but a thoughtful 8th grader should be able to do it.

These are very similar to questions asked by other schools, including SSSAS, Burke and Field

The first one is a bit over the top for kids who are 13/14. The number of essays required is also a bit excessive. Crazy process!

Do those questions really require 5-paragraph essays though? I would think a one or two paragraphs for each would suffice? And if an 8th grader can’t handle that, how will they handle the work in Freshman English and History? Daddy/Mommy/tutor will do those too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really, your 8th grader can’t handle those questions? Screen zombie, I’m guessing?

Yep. But he got in so it's all good.

And lemme guess, your husband continues to do all his work.