NCS - Pros and Cons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Why would you send your kids to a school and spend $60K/year if the school has such disappointing college placements? At the end of the day no one remembers where you went to high school but your college stays with you for life.

No one knew this would happen (TO etc.) The other really scary thing is by the time the EA's came in full of deferrals and rejections, it was too late to apply to more safeties. The stress is indescribable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Why would you send your kids to a school and spend $60K/year if the school has such disappointing college placements? At the end of the day no one remembers where you went to high school but your college stays with you for life.

Because many parents send their kids to schools based on different factors other than college placement (e.g., small class sizes, etc.). People who send their kids to a particular school because they think it will magically open admission doors to them are short-sighted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Why would you send your kids to a school and spend $60K/year if the school has such disappointing college placements? At the end of the day no one remembers where you went to high school but your college stays with you for life.

No one knew this would happen (TO etc.) The other really scary thing is by the time the EA's came in full of deferrals and rejections, it was too late to apply to more safeties. The stress is indescribable.

So where is the 3.4-3.8 crowd going to end up this year? (because that is the majority of the rising junior class as well). Is it really as dire as it might appear so far (lots of this group with no options? I am happy to write to the school but I have such a hard time figuring this out and what is true and what is hyperbole on both sides of things. SCOIR does not support top50 admits below a 3.7 and elite admits below a 3.9 aside from a few lesser Ivy admits last year. I'm not sure the junior parents even know this although they all have access to SCOIR. They keep flying their 3.7 kids all over the country to see top 30 schools. I don't get it and keep wondering what I am missing. Does hope really spring that eternal? When does reality set in? Can a senior parent please share? I guess none of you really know as regular decision is not out yet.

[Anonymous]

The current generation of parents wants A-level grades and admittance to T30 schools for average effort and mediocre performance. They throw tantrums and spread rumors about other kids and their families to get a leg up. It’s embarrassing that people act this way, and that society doesn’t punish behavior like this anymore. Can we bring back social consequences for being a jerk?

Sorry, charlie/charlene didn’t get in. The school can change some things yes, but probably also your child wasn’t a good fit.

NCS college counseling is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current generation of parents wants A-level grades and admittance to T30 schools for average effort and mediocre performance. They throw tantrums and spread rumors about other kids and their families to get a leg up. It’s embarrassing that people act this way, and that society doesn’t punish behavior like this anymore. Can we bring back social consequences for being a jerk?

Sorry, charlie/charlene didn’t get in. The school can change some things yes, but probably also your child wasn’t a good fit.

NCS college counseling is fine.

No one here is talking about college counseling (at least not this string of recent comments). We are talking about the state of college admissions and the increased importance on GPA's in this TO world and the effect that has on a school with GPA's that tend to be lower than some other area schools. College counseling has no control over grading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current generation of parents wants A-level grades and admittance to T30 schools for average effort and mediocre performance. They throw tantrums and spread rumors about other kids and their families to get a leg up. It’s embarrassing that people act this way, and that society doesn’t punish behavior like this anymore. Can we bring back social consequences for being a jerk?

Sorry, charlie/charlene didn’t get in. The school can change some things yes, but probably also your child wasn’t a good fit.

NCS college counseling is fine.

Parents want to know, at a school with an average gpa of 3.5, what kind of college outcomes should they be exploring. This is a very different landscape for parents who haven't gone through it before (in my day you could go Ivy with a 1300+ sat). Folks just want to be armed with info and realistic expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current generation of parents wants A-level grades and admittance to T30 schools for average effort and mediocre performance. They throw tantrums and spread rumors about other kids and their families to get a leg up. It’s embarrassing that people act this way, and that society doesn’t punish behavior like this anymore. Can we bring back social consequences for being a jerk?

Sorry, charlie/charlene didn’t get in. The school can change some things yes, but probably also your child wasn’t a good fit.

NCS college counseling is fine.

Huh? This is so confusing. I have been reading this thread and I do not see anyone spreading rumors about any families? People are posting their experiences some are current seniors. Are you saying they would lie?
Are you okay? You sound unstable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current generation of parents wants A-level grades and admittance to T30 schools for average effort and mediocre performance. They throw tantrums and spread rumors about other kids and their families to get a leg up. It’s embarrassing that people act this way, and that society doesn’t punish behavior like this anymore. Can we bring back social consequences for being a jerk?

Sorry, charlie/charlene didn’t get in. The school can change some things yes, but probably also your child wasn’t a good fit.

NCS college counseling is fine.

Parents want to know, at a school with an average gpa of 3.5, what kind of college outcomes should they be exploring. This is a very different landscape for parents who haven't gone through it before (in my day you could go Ivy with a 1300+ sat). Folks just want to be armed with info and realistic expectations.

Yep. Can we stay on track with the conversation? It's actually quite productive.
It's an issue when the average GPA is 3.5 but average SAT is close to (if not at or above) 1500.
This isn't jiving with admissions, circa 2024.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current generation of parents wants A-level grades and admittance to T30 schools for average effort and mediocre performance. They throw tantrums and spread rumors about other kids and their families to get a leg up. It’s embarrassing that people act this way, and that society doesn’t punish behavior like this anymore. Can we bring back social consequences for being a jerk?

Sorry, charlie/charlene didn’t get in. The school can change some things yes, but probably also your child wasn’t a good fit.

NCS college counseling is fine.

The only jerk here is you! A senior parent wrote a heartfelt experience which I believe to be true. No tantrums just concern. Grow up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current generation of parents wants A-level grades and admittance to T30 schools for average effort and mediocre performance. They throw tantrums and spread rumors about other kids and their families to get a leg up. It’s embarrassing that people act this way, and that society doesn’t punish behavior like this anymore. Can we bring back social consequences for being a jerk?

Sorry, charlie/charlene didn’t get in. The school can change some things yes, but probably also your child wasn’t a good fit.

NCS college counseling is fine.

The only jerk here is you! A senior parent wrote a heartfelt experience which I believe to be true. No tantrums just concern. Grow up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current generation of parents wants A-level grades and admittance to T30 schools for average effort and mediocre performance. They throw tantrums and spread rumors about other kids and their families to get a leg up. It’s embarrassing that people act this way, and that society doesn’t punish behavior like this anymore. Can we bring back social consequences for being a jerk?

Sorry, charlie/charlene didn’t get in. The school can change some things yes, but probably also your child wasn’t a good fit.

NCS college counseling is fine.

No one here is talking about college counseling (at least not this string of recent comments). We are talking about the state of college admissions and the increased importance on GPA's in this TO world and the effect that has on a school with GPA's that tend to be lower than some other area schools. College counseling has no control over grading.

Let’s say teachers start giving higher grades. Minimum grade A Maximum Grade A++ and you receive your average kid gets a 4.3 GPA wish. It is hard for me to believe that this would benefit students applying to college in the long run. Maybe it helps 1-2 years tops, then the school is on the hook again for ‘poor’ college results.

The college results this year are great by the way.

Why should a school of NCS’ caliber make such a change if they do not believe it is going to help students in the long run?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here (really!!), some current classes are small in the 70s but 9th grade is currently 89 girls. 27 were added this year. My impression is the school would like to graduate about 90 girls.

Also, the college acceptances I have heard about (from my daughter who is not a senior but is in US) are quite strong. They are still making decisions but I haven’t heard about lot of shut outs. College admissions are a hard thing these days and we still think NCS is worth the possibility that our daughter could have gotten into a better school from our downright horrible DCPS. She is thriving at NCS. LS was not hard, MS ramped up a bit and US can be a slog but as PPs have said, time management and executive function skills are key.

I heard only one into Tulane (ranked 73) and none into BC so far. Those are shut outs for EA and ED and EDII. I am hearing good news from the parents with good news and not good news from the parents with not good news.

To clarify several applied to the above either and/or early action, early decision and/or early decision II and as those three options the above results so please don't down play the parents and students that not be getting good news. Same for 2023. Yes lots of great schools but many many were not happy with their college placement and were very open about it to all and still are open about it. Maybe you are only talking to people with good news or people not happy don't feel comfortable sharing its with you? Not sure.

Is it possible Tulane and maybe BC are changing the percentages they accept EA/ED? Perhaps these girls will end up somewhere good in RD. Point is, maybe RD is more important these days.

Several students from Holton and other DC privates were admitted to Tulane and BC. Stop gaslighting posters that are posting facts.

Thanks. I have noticed this as well. There are some posters on here that gas light all posts that are not positive about NCS or have the posts removed.


Right now there are about 20 NCS girls who are placed for college. They are either the top-of-the-class ones or others who chose large state schools with high admissions rates.
If I'm wrong about this, please let me know. It does appear that Tulane and Boston College (who historically were happy to work with deflated NCS GPAs) are not taking girls this year.
That is quite troubling.

does every girl usually apply ED somewhere? can we assume 50ish girls were either denied ED or deferred?

No because a couple of schools have non-restrictive early. So you can have an acceptance but not commit until other decisions come out. I know there is at least 1 Princeton acceptance not reflected on the reported decisions because that student is waiting to hear from others. I think there's a Yale acceptance as well.

But yes.....a lot of deferrals.

NCS didn't used to allow that. if you got in early somewhere (unless it was like a rolling state school), you had to go there even if the college's acceptance was not binding. NCS wouldn't send your transcript anywhere else if you got in early somewhere. Has that changed? You can apply early to, say, Columbia, get in, and then try for Yale regular decision?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current generation of parents wants A-level grades and admittance to T30 schools for average effort and mediocre performance. They throw tantrums and spread rumors about other kids and their families to get a leg up. It’s embarrassing that people act this way, and that society doesn’t punish behavior like this anymore. Can we bring back social consequences for being a jerk?

Sorry, charlie/charlene didn’t get in. The school can change some things yes, but probably also your child wasn’t a good fit.

NCS college counseling is fine.

No one here is talking about college counseling (at least not this string of recent comments). We are talking about the state of college admissions and the increased importance on GPA's in this TO world and the effect that has on a school with GPA's that tend to be lower than some other area schools. College counseling has no control over grading.

Let’s say teachers start giving higher grades. Minimum grade A Maximum Grade A++ and you receive your average kid gets a 4.3 GPA wish. It is hard for me to believe that this would benefit students applying to college in the long run. Maybe it helps 1-2 years tops, then the school is on the hook again for ‘poor’ college results.

The college results this year are great by the way.

Why should a school of NCS’ caliber make such a change if they do not believe it is going to help students in the long run?

Are you this much of an ass in person? Calling people’s kids “average?” Take a Valium lady and chill out. No one wants grade inflation. They just want accurate and more precise GPAs to my underrating.

If college acceptances are so great then why are so many of the seniors and senior parents saying otherwise? A few top 10’s does not mean others are feeling they are doing well. I can see no reason why they would lie? We are all hearing the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current generation of parents wants A-level grades and admittance to T30 schools for average effort and mediocre performance. They throw tantrums and spread rumors about other kids and their families to get a leg up. It’s embarrassing that people act this way, and that society doesn’t punish behavior like this anymore. Can we bring back social consequences for being a jerk?

Sorry, charlie/charlene didn’t get in. The school can change some things yes, but probably also your child wasn’t a good fit.

NCS college counseling is fine.

No one here is talking about college counseling (at least not this string of recent comments). We are talking about the state of college admissions and the increased importance on GPA's in this TO world and the effect that has on a school with GPA's that tend to be lower than some other area schools. College counseling has no control over grading.

Let’s say teachers start giving higher grades. Minimum grade A Maximum Grade A++ and you receive your average kid gets a 4.3 GPA wish. It is hard for me to believe that this would benefit students applying to college in the long run. Maybe it helps 1-2 years tops, then the school is on the hook again for ‘poor’ college results.

The college results this year are great by the way.

Why should a school of NCS’ caliber make such a change if they do not believe it is going to help students in the long run?

Are they great outside of the girls with a 3.9+?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here (really!!), some current classes are small in the 70s but 9th grade is currently 89 girls. 27 were added this year. My impression is the school would like to graduate about 90 girls.

Also, the college acceptances I have heard about (from my daughter who is not a senior but is in US) are quite strong. They are still making decisions but I haven’t heard about lot of shut outs. College admissions are a hard thing these days and we still think NCS is worth the possibility that our daughter could have gotten into a better school from our downright horrible DCPS. She is thriving at NCS. LS was not hard, MS ramped up a bit and US can be a slog but as PPs have said, time management and executive function skills are key.

I heard only one into Tulane (ranked 73) and none into BC so far. Those are shut outs for EA and ED and EDII. I am hearing good news from the parents with good news and not good news from the parents with not good news.

To clarify several applied to the above either and/or early action, early decision and/or early decision II and as those three options the above results so please don't down play the parents and students that not be getting good news. Same for 2023. Yes lots of great schools but many many were not happy with their college placement and were very open about it to all and still are open about it. Maybe you are only talking to people with good news or people not happy don't feel comfortable sharing its with you? Not sure.

Is it possible Tulane and maybe BC are changing the percentages they accept EA/ED? Perhaps these girls will end up somewhere good in RD. Point is, maybe RD is more important these days.

Several students from Holton and other DC privates were admitted to Tulane and BC. Stop gaslighting posters that are posting facts.

Thanks. I have noticed this as well. There are some posters on here that gas light all posts that are not positive about NCS or have the posts removed.


Right now there are about 20 NCS girls who are placed for college. They are either the top-of-the-class ones or others who chose large state schools with high admissions rates.
If I'm wrong about this, please let me know. It does appear that Tulane and Boston College (who historically were happy to work with deflated NCS GPAs) are not taking girls this year.
That is quite troubling.

does every girl usually apply ED somewhere? can we assume 50ish girls were either denied ED or deferred?

No because a couple of schools have non-restrictive early. So you can have an acceptance but not commit until other decisions come out. I know there is at least 1 Princeton acceptance not reflected on the reported decisions because that student is waiting to hear from others. I think there's a Yale acceptance as well.

But yes.....a lot of deferrals.

NCS didn't used to allow that. if you got in early somewhere (unless it was like a rolling state school), you had to go there even if the college's acceptance was not binding. NCS wouldn't send your transcript anywhere else if you got in early somewhere. Has that changed? You can apply early to, say, Columbia, get in, and then try for Yale regular decision?

DP. Early action is not always restrictive.