Anonymous wrote:1) Landon Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver

2) St. Albans - Ralphie from Happy Days

3) Sidwell - Marsha from th Brady Bunch

4) GDS - Danny from the Partridge family

Spot on and very funny! (Though there are plenty of Jans at Sidwell too. I know -- I drive a carpool full of them!)

1) Landon Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver

2) St. Albans - Ralphie from Happy Days

3) Sidwell - Marsha from th Brady Bunch

4) GDS - Danny from the Partridge family

I think they are very lucky and very fortunate. I don't like the people who automatically assume anything about the particular child other than their good fortune.

Here's my limited experience with kids from these schools and it is far from a representative sample, just kids I have met..Let me also give the disclaimer I do not have a child at a big 3 school, nor did we ever apply for our children and I did not attend or apply either. This is based on neighbor's and/or colleagues kids..

Sidwell-met 1 student-quite bright and well spoken

GDS-met 3..
student #1.....articulate, down-to earth and respectful
student#2......bright, a little rude and impulsive, but nothing glaring
student #3..ditzy/vapid/superficial, rude and arrogant

Landon-polite and respectful-an alum..I know does not fit with the image people have of Landon on here and this is just one person I encountered

You meet my DC from a large urban high school that's been identified as "persistently lowest achieving." You think... Then you hear s/he (and several classmates) turned down "Big 3" to go there. You think...

If the student is from Sidwell or GDS, I assume that the parents are more liberal in their political leanings and are concerned about the environment (i.e. drive a Prius, eat organic). With STA parents, I tend to think they are more conservative/stiff.

I have found it to be a mistake to prejudge people based on one factor like where they went to school.

Are you talking about high school? I don't 'meet' many 8 year olds.

Depends on the school. StA, I think, "parents are striving jocks and/or wish to preserve the status quo". "Why did he just jump in line ahead of me here at Chipotle?" "Douchebag." "James Spader, Pretty in Pink"

If GDS, I think "smart kid. I bet the parents work for this Administration / Clinton Administration." "Gd, all that homework must suck."

Sidwell, same as GDS. I know that most of the rich, but not too smart, kids have been counseled out by high school, so if I meet a high schooler I assume s/he is smart.

None of the above. I think...rich family because that is the most important qualifier. You must be able to pay. After thinking rich then perhaps I think lucky. I certainly do not think#1. In fact had this exact conversation with a group of friends and it turned to our experiences with students at a particular school.

One in the group had a nephew that attended and opinion after opinion echoed the same experience...entitled, rude, not very bright kids. We were all a little surprised since the reputation is the opposite. Maybe a few bad admissions years.

Depends on the kid.

I don't prejudge people based solely on where they went/are going to school.

The girl I met seemed very friendly. Her Dad came with her in weathered jeans and tatty fleece to pick up her little sister from our preschool. Teacher asked her if Sidwell was fun. She said it was. I thought "good - education before clothes".

All of the above, but mainly LUCKY! We should know, shut out last year and accepted at all 3 this year! Same kid, Same parents.

What age? In high school, it's more of a reflection on the student; at younger age, it's merely a reflection of the parents.

c) LUCKY!!!

the kid got in despite the odds; the kid has parents who care a lot about education; the kid's parents have the resources to pay for tuition.

a) this kid must be smart, poised, and polished;

b) this kid must be spoiled;

c) lucky kid;

d) his parents must be insane or strivers or both.

e) all of the above.