To someone who asked if the answers were specific to Sidwell...yes -- each of the elites sort of has favorite category admits...Sidwell does tend liberal, politico, and press. Other schools have other favorite categories. There is nothing wrong with that ...the school is private and thus, they can pretty much choose whom they want.

They told us they do not like to take kids from comparable top privates - the educational experience is pretty similar, and whatever is making the child want to change is unlikely to be remedied by a move to Sidwell. And, as noted, they have an overabundance of other qualified candidates. We watched them turn down amazing candidates in that situation - kids they acknowledged would have been in the top quartile or better at Sidwell had they been admitted.

So it's a long, long shot: 4.0, 800 SSATs, and strong extracurriculars are not a guarantee.

If your kid wants go to Sidwell, or any other school, you need to apply. You face very stiff odds of getting in but it's impossible to get admitted if the school doesn't even know the kids is interested.

Anonymous wrote:Not speculating...that's just the way it is. I didn't say they wouldn't get in otherwise...just said it is not likely to happen.

No one's disputing the admission odds are long. But to me, your post seems to suggest that admissions may be significantly more likely for "a sibling, a legacy, an URM, a "VIP", politico, or press kid." Is that a fair reading of what you posted? Or did you mean something else entirely?

If I understood you correctly, do you have any first-hand evidence that's true for Sidwell specifically? Or is that just your innate sense of how admissions must work at private schools generally?

To be clear, I'm not trying to criticize you or argue with you. I'm just curious if you know some inside info about the Sidwell admissions process that the rest of us don't. It seems like you're just speculating like the rest of us (albeit making reasonable assumptions based on what many of us read on DCUM), but I'm trying to make sure I understand you.

P.S. to 16:31...there are only about 12 girl spots and 11 boy spots for 9th grade...so the odds are bad to start with

Not speculating...that's just the way it is. I didn't say they wouldn't get in otherwise...just said it is not likely to happen.

Anonymous wrote:If they're not a sibling, a legacy, an URM, a "VIP", politico, or press kid -- not likely to get in.

You just speculating, aren't you? I gather you're not speaking from first-hand information.

URM = under-represented minority

Anonymous wrote:If they're not a sibling, a legacy, an URM, a "VIP", politico, or press kid -- not likely to get in.

Sorry, still learning DCUM lingo. What is URM?

If they're not a sibling, a legacy, an URM, a "VIP", politico, or press kid -- not likely to get in.

So what sort of kid get's in?

My dd didn't get in with top scores, grades, and varsity athlete in 2 sports...now plays DI at an Ivy but Sidwell said no.

DC applied from another top private with fantastic grades, scores, recommendations but didn't get in. I really hated the application process there and was actually glad not to send DC there in the end, but thats another story.

Very competitive. When we applied a few years ago they indicated that they expected 200-250 applications for about 25 spots. They admit more than 25 since some kids will choose to go elsewhere but not sure how many more than 25. Most of the kids we know who were accepted for 9th had some hook - sibling, athlete, diversity, board child/stepchild, etc. But no guarantees there either - my alum child DC was not accepted, nor was his friend who was a sibling, and both were very good students with good test scores and extracurrics. That being said, if you think the school is a great fit for your child, no reason not to apply.

Does anyone have feedback about transferring into Sidwell's 9th grade. DC is coming from top private, has good grades, but hasn't taken the SSAT yet. I know that there are only 22 seats. Worst scenario is we stay at our old school. Insight?