Odds of getting into Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about non minority kid who needs financial aid. Any chances...top scores and grades

There's always a chance, but TBH your kid would have to have some powerful other hook - i.e. athletics or an exceptional talent in something (like has won Julliard musical competition) - in order to get FA. Not fair at all, but Sidwell tends to reserve FA for kids URMs.

This is not my experience. Citation?

Observation across a number of years. Fewer white kids who need FA admitted than URMs who need FA. There are plenty of white kids with good grades and scores who can pay full tuition.

So you know the financial status of every family and who received FA and who doesn't?

No, but I know a number of families of different races who have applied. If you have a decent size social network, even friends of friends reach out for admissions tips when they know you have a child at Sidwell.

From my experience, FA candidates are more successful when they are URM. That’s not to say there are never any white candidates who need FA who are admitted, but it usually takes something in their candidacy that is unusual or remarkable. Sometimes, it’s a not-well-off but well-connected parent - in the media, for example.

Sidwell has limited financial aid like any private school. It uses it selectively to diversify its student body. Class diversity on its own is not a big priority, so middle class white kids are not a priority FA target.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about non minority kid who needs financial aid. Any chances...top scores and grades

There's always a chance, but TBH your kid would have to have some powerful other hook - i.e. athletics or an exceptional talent in something (like has won Julliard musical competition) - in order to get FA. Not fair at all, but Sidwell tends to reserve FA for kids URMs.

This is not my experience. Citation?

Observation across a number of years. Fewer white kids who need FA admitted than URMs who need FA. There are plenty of white kids with good grades and scores who can pay full tuition.

So you know the financial status of every family and who received FA and who doesn't?

No, but I know a number of families of different races who have applied. If you have a decent size social network, even friends of friends reach out for admissions tips when they know you have a child at Sidwell.

From my experience, FA candidates are more successful when they are URM. That’s not to say there are never any white candidates who need FA who are admitted, but it usually takes something in their candidacy that is unusual or remarkable. Sometimes, it’s a not-well-off but well-connected parent - in the media, for example.

Sidwell has limited financial aid like any private school. It uses it selectively to diversify its student body. Class diversity on its own is not a big priority, so middle class white kids are not a priority FA target.

I don't know a lot of people there, but those I do know do not fit your theory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about non minority kid who needs financial aid. Any chances...top scores and grades

There's always a chance, but TBH your kid would have to have some powerful other hook - i.e. athletics or an exceptional talent in something (like has won Julliard musical competition) - in order to get FA. Not fair at all, but Sidwell tends to reserve FA for kids URMs.

This is not my experience. Citation?

Observation across a number of years. Fewer white kids who need FA admitted than URMs who need FA. There are plenty of white kids with good grades and scores who can pay full tuition.

So you know the financial status of every family and who received FA and who doesn't?

No, but I know a number of families of different races who have applied. If you have a decent size social network, even friends of friends reach out for admissions tips when they know you have a child at Sidwell.

From my experience, FA candidates are more successful when they are URM. That’s not to say there are never any white candidates who need FA who are admitted, but it usually takes something in their candidacy that is unusual or remarkable. Sometimes, it’s a not-well-off but well-connected parent - in the media, for example.

Sidwell has limited financial aid like any private school. It uses it selectively to diversify its student body. Class diversity on its own is not a big priority, so middle class white kids are not a priority FA target.

You are making a lot of assumptions which are based on, who knows what, but you are generally in error on your conclusions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS may have surpassed Sidwell by now.

The above is a troll. Once again someone pretending to be obnoxious GDS parent. NO real GDS parent would say that. And as a real GDS parent I can say it's very hard to get into Sidwell. Last year a friend of mine's daughter got into Sidwell but not GDS for 9th but another girl got into Maret and GDS but not Sidwell. Both were outstanding applicants. There is no rhyme or reason.

All of the highly academic, less sport driven schools: Holton, GDS, Maret, Cathedral schools, Potomac are very competitive for 9th. Unless you are hooked or an athlete in a sport the school cares about Tennis at Holton, Track and Field at GDS for example you are out of luck.

[Anonymous]

Crapshoot odds for each kid who applies unless a legacy family donating for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS may have surpassed Sidwell by now.

The above is a troll. Once again someone pretending to be obnoxious GDS parent. NO real GDS parent would say that. And as a real GDS parent I can say it's very hard to get into Sidwell. Last year a friend of mine's daughter got into Sidwell but not GDS for 9th but another girl got into Maret and GDS but not Sidwell. Both were outstanding applicants. There is no rhyme or reason.

All of the highly academic, less sport driven schools: Holton, GDS, Maret, Cathedral schools, Potomac are very competitive for 9th. Unless you are hooked or an athlete in a sport the school cares about Tennis at Holton, Track and Field at GDS for example you are out of luck.

There are definitely 3 schools you listed above who require students take a team sport 1 or 2 seasons of each year. The main non sports school lets its students skip Pe and do Yoga stretching instead; and definitely no sports team EC requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crapshoot odds for each kid who applies unless a legacy family donating for years.

Nope, this is not a guarantee.

[Anonymous]

All these pages and nothing on median SSAT scores ?!? What gives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All these pages and nothing on median SSAT scores ?!? What gives?

They keep those quiet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Last year a friend of mine's daughter got into Sidwell but not GDS for 9th but another girl got into Maret and GDS but not Sidwell. Both were outstanding applicants. There is no rhyme or reason.

Did these girls name a first choice? That can often make a difference in outcome even for the top applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these pages and nothing on median SSAT scores ?!? What gives?

They keep those quiet.

Half these schools avoid any sort of tests. Then no one will know how they stack up and how behind their curriculum is versus other schools and school systems. We moved here and have kids in different dc schools. They are bored academically, but all the field trips make up for the slow pace and few and narrow topics presented, right?

[Anonymous]

Even your one of the unlucky ones who could not get an interview at Sidwell does this hurt your chances? Do they ever accept kids sight unseen. I know a couple of parents who are skipping interviews and shadow days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about non minority kid who needs financial aid. Any chances...top scores and grades

There's always a chance, but TBH your kid would have to have some powerful other hook - i.e. athletics or an exceptional talent in something (like has won Julliard musical competition) - in order to get FA. Not fair at all, but Sidwell tends to reserve FA for kids URMs.

This is not my experience. Citation?

Observation across a number of years. Fewer white kids who need FA admitted than URMs who need FA. There are plenty of white kids with good grades and scores who can pay full tuition.

So you know the financial status of every family and who received FA and who doesn't?

No, but I know a number of families of different races who have applied. If you have a decent size social network, even friends of friends reach out for admissions tips when they know you have a child at Sidwell.

From my experience, FA candidates are more successful when they are URM. That’s not to say there are never any white candidates who need FA who are admitted, but it usually takes something in their candidacy that is unusual or remarkable. Sometimes, it’s a not-well-off but well-connected parent - in the media, for example.

Sidwell has limited financial aid like any private school. It uses it selectively to diversify its student body. Class diversity on its own is not a big priority, so middle class white kids are not a priority FA target.

You are making a lot of assumptions which are based on, who knows what, but you are generally in error on your conclusions.

You sound like you’re in deep denial.

I made no conclusions. I shared what my experience has been over an extended period of observing the admissions process. Dismiss it if you like. While no one but admissions has overall numbers, an observer can note trends.

If you want to contest the facts in the final paragraph, speak to admissions. Yes, they have limited aid. Yes, they want diversity. If you ask them bluntly if middle class white kids are a priority for financial aid, the honest answer will be no. More likely they will answer that each request for FA is evaluated on its own merits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know a lot of people there, but those I do know do not fit your theory.

Well, I have a child who attends, so I know a lot more people there than you do. I’ve also observed eight admissions cycles, usually knowing quite a few of the parents applying in each cycle.

[Anonymous]

This post discusses some experiences with FA at top schools. Do a search for FA and Sidwell.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/836660.page