Anonymous
03/20/2024 08:33
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Don’t forget behavior.
Our child was at a private that sent many students to top schools. Children were not prepared for exmissions, but they were generally expected to be considerate and well-behaved. They were also expected to have friendly conversations with adults. The ones who did not meet this expectation did not get into top schools, even when the parents were VIPs and grades were great. The kids who got into top schools were not uniformly smart, but they were uniformly kind.
One very intelligent, career-driven mom’s overachieving child was rejected or waitlisted everywhere because of her own oblivious and obnoxious behavior. When she found out via the HoS inquiring that she was the reason her child not accepted, she then started explaining how the schools were short-sighted and missing out by not accepting her child. This might all be true, but it also exemplifies the very behavior that might have prevented her from being a wanted member of the community.
Our child was at a private that sent many students to top schools. Children were not prepared for exmissions, but they were generally expected to be considerate and well-behaved. They were also expected to have friendly conversations with adults. The ones who did not meet this expectation did not get into top schools, even when the parents were VIPs and grades were great. The kids who got into top schools were not uniformly smart, but they were uniformly kind.
One very intelligent, career-driven mom’s overachieving child was rejected or waitlisted everywhere because of her own oblivious and obnoxious behavior. When she found out via the HoS inquiring that she was the reason her child not accepted, she then started explaining how the schools were short-sighted and missing out by not accepting her child. This might all be true, but it also exemplifies the very behavior that might have prevented her from being a wanted member of the community.
Anonymous
03/20/2024 08:32
Subject: Re:private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Test scores?
My sons scored 98 on HSPT and got into GZ, GP, SJC, etc.
His friends with lower scores did not. They all were A students in MS.
My sons scored 98 on HSPT and got into GZ, GP, SJC, etc.
His friends with lower scores did not. They all were A students in MS.
Anonymous
03/20/2024 08:25
Subject: Re:private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Anonymous wrote:Some schools are just really hard to get into. Families in public assume the only hurdle is paying for it and they can hop over whenever they like, but it just doesn’t work like that. The sooner you can make the switch the better your chances, assuming it’s an entry year.
Did OP say they or their UMC friends were applying from public?
Anonymous
03/19/2024 21:30
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
I feel you, OP! I was just thinking today it stings a little seeing a friend's kid going to what we thought was our first choice school that rejected DC last year. (DC is very happy at the school we picked/that picked us, but still.) In this case, a few of the factors mentioned above are probably in play, in addition to the applications being for different years.
Anonymous
03/19/2024 21:28
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
OP - as another PP noted - you can't compare across years. These schools need to fill out a class and the needs each year are different...so is the applicant pool. I wouldn't worry about it..just move on. It's worse for college so maybe get used the idea (and learn the lesson).
Anonymous
03/19/2024 21:22
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Vs
Anonymous
03/19/2024 20:55
Subject: Re:private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Some schools are just really hard to get into. Families in public assume the only hurdle is paying for it and they can hop over whenever they like, but it just doesn’t work like that. The sooner you can make the switch the better your chances, assuming it’s an entry year.
Anonymous
03/19/2024 20:27
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Are you being honest with yourself?
Are your kids participating, and theirs are excelling? Are your kids on the team, but theirs are player of the game/all tournament types? Are all of the kids in the all state band/orchestra, but their kids are the concert master or section leader?
Take your mommy goggles off and be realistic.
Are your kids participating, and theirs are excelling? Are your kids on the team, but theirs are player of the game/all tournament types? Are all of the kids in the all state band/orchestra, but their kids are the concert master or section leader?
Take your mommy goggles off and be realistic.
Anonymous
03/19/2024 20:19
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Showing up to admission events bs just submitting an application.
Anonymous
03/19/2024 20:15
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
When DD was applying a few years ago the kids we know who got in included a basketball phenom and their twin, a very smart and well-rounded URM girl from Potomac/CC/Bethesda area, 3 siblings -two younger and one older-who were also strong students, one exceptionally smart kid with what we suspect are outlier scores and well rounded, one girl who showed a lot of leadership and probably interviews great, two STEM focused girls who were accelerated in math, a girl recruited for lacrosse.
Anonymous
03/19/2024 20:00
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Test scores, first choice letters, legacy, URM, sports, being potentially very large donors in addition to full pay.
You seem very confident that you know what went into the other kids' applications, and sometimes there are things that their parents haven't mentioned to you.
You seem very confident that you know what went into the other kids' applications, and sometimes there are things that their parents haven't mentioned to you.
Anonymous
03/19/2024 19:58
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Anonymous wrote:We just found out about private school admissions for several of our friends' children. They did amazingly well and got into the most competitive middle and high schools.
My kids applied in the last few years and didn't get into the more competitive schools. We were disappointed, but it is what it is.
I can't help but feel a little sting that all these kids are getting into schools that my kids were rejected from--mostly because I do not understand what set them apart. Our kids all seem very similar--well-rounded with good grades/school involvement, nice kids. Families are nice. Parents are involved. Everyone is UMC or wealthy. We are close with these families so I don't think they are doing any crazy, amazing ECs or accomplishments that I don't know about. I know their grades (similar to my kids).
What sets kids apart in 5th or 8th grade? Essays? letter of Rec? Parent essays? Family involvement in schools?
I think my kids are great, so I wish I knew what prevented them from gaining admission.
Different years are going to have different results. It doesn’t sound like your kids were applying at the same time for the same grades, so you really can’t directly compare results.
Anonymous
03/19/2024 19:26
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Also, we had former attendees/board members write letters of recommendation.
Anonymous
03/19/2024 19:25
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
Educational consultants who advocate for your child.
Anonymous
03/19/2024 19:23
Subject: private school admissions--what sets kids apart?
We just found out about private school admissions for several of our friends' children. They did amazingly well and got into the most competitive middle and high schools.
My kids applied in the last few years and didn't get into the more competitive schools. We were disappointed, but it is what it is.
I can't help but feel a little sting that all these kids are getting into schools that my kids were rejected from--mostly because I do not understand what set them apart. Our kids all seem very similar--well-rounded with good grades/school involvement, nice kids. Families are nice. Parents are involved. Everyone is UMC or wealthy. We are close with these families so I don't think they are doing any crazy, amazing ECs or accomplishments that I don't know about. I know their grades (similar to my kids).
What sets kids apart in 5th or 8th grade? Essays? letter of Rec? Parent essays? Family involvement in schools?
I think my kids are great, so I wish I knew what prevented them from gaining admission.
My kids applied in the last few years and didn't get into the more competitive schools. We were disappointed, but it is what it is.
I can't help but feel a little sting that all these kids are getting into schools that my kids were rejected from--mostly because I do not understand what set them apart. Our kids all seem very similar--well-rounded with good grades/school involvement, nice kids. Families are nice. Parents are involved. Everyone is UMC or wealthy. We are close with these families so I don't think they are doing any crazy, amazing ECs or accomplishments that I don't know about. I know their grades (similar to my kids).
What sets kids apart in 5th or 8th grade? Essays? letter of Rec? Parent essays? Family involvement in schools?
I think my kids are great, so I wish I knew what prevented them from gaining admission.