I would add that kids are applying to many more schools. With the common application this is easier now.

I remember about 5 (?) years ago the college counsellor at NCS angered many parents by only allowing certain kids to apply to certain schools. She had the power to tell girls she would not advocate for them if they disobeyed her.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Sidwell parent of a recent graduate. To say the least, the college counseling program has a mixed reputation within the school community. Certainly, lots of kids get in to great schools but not at the rate that meet parents' expectations. I don't know if that's because of unrealistic expectations or because the counselors are lame. I suspect it's a little bit of both. Parents at other schools do seem more enthusiastic about their college counselors. While I have heard satisfaction from parents about the Sidwell college counseling, I have never heard anyone be strongly supportive.

There's a ton of unrealistic expectations among the independent school parents in this area generally, combined with a worry that "going to a good college" matters more than ever before (whether or not that his true).

Compared to the 80s, when most parents applied to college:
--Admissions percentages are way, way down
--Geographic competition, both in the US and internationally, is way, way, up
--"SAT Inflation": The great score that would have gotten you in in 1983 isn't so special anymore, after the SAT "re-normed" their tests (inflated the scores) and test prep has become ubiquitous

Parent of graduate at another "big 3". I think the problem with college guidance at these schools is that everyone is applying to the same schools and the college guidance counselor can't appear to pick favorites. I have a friend whose DC went to Field where the guidance was clearly head and shoulders above ours, because the students apply to a range of colleges (and do well across the board with the goals they set) so the guidance office can actually advocate for its students at the schools they want to attend. It may be the nature of the beast that if everyone applies to ivies and the same top SLACs, the office has no choice but to be more passive. Add to that is the parent expectations that this is somehow their (meaning the parents') reward for sending their child to that school) and the competitiveness fostered among the applicants, and it just becomes an unhappy situation.

I'm a Sidwell parent of a recent graduate. To say the least, the college counseling program has a mixed reputation within the school community. Certainly, lots of kids get in to great schools but not at the rate that meet parents' expectations. I don't know if that's because of unrealistic expectations or because the counselors are lame. I suspect it's a little bit of both. Parents at other schools do seem more enthusiastic about their college counselors. While I have heard satisfaction from parents about the Sidwell college counseling, I have never heard anyone be strongly supportive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No matter how many times threads which are thinly veiled to illicit negative responses are posted, one fact solidly remains. People still apply in droves to Sidwell regardless of how constant the negative threads to raise doubt are posted.

So even though Sidwell, Landon, NCS, Holton, St. Albans, Beauvoir, etc, are skewered now and then, then and now, there is a positive element that keeps people applying and families remain.

Negative postings impact the few, not the many.

You seem a bit defensive.

12:56 here for the last time. So sorry but your veiled attempt to start an argument has been dismissed. Find someone else to play with. Later for the nonsense.

Anonymous wrote:"illicit" or "elicit"? Was something illicit going on?

12:56 here. Yes, I meant 'elicit'. Try not and make more out of it then what was meant.

"illicit" or "elicit"? Was something illicit going on?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No matter how many times threads which are thinly veiled to illicit negative responses are posted, one fact solidly remains. People still apply in droves to Sidwell regardless of how constant the negative threads to raise doubt are posted.

So even though Sidwell, Landon, NCS, Holton, St. Albans, Beauvoir, etc, are skewered now and then, then and now, there is a positive element that keeps people applying and families remain.

Negative postings impact the few, not the many.

You seem a bit defensive.

Defensive of what? All of the private schools in the DC area? Come on ...

Anonymous wrote:No matter how many times threads which are thinly veiled to illicit negative responses are posted, one fact solidly remains. People still apply in droves to Sidwell regardless of how constant the negative threads to raise doubt are posted.

So even though Sidwell, Landon, NCS, Holton, St. Albans, Beauvoir, etc, are skewered now and then, then and now, there is a positive element that keeps people applying and families remain.

Negative postings impact the few, not the many.

You seem a bit defensive.

Anonymous wrote:No matter how many times threads which are thinly veiled to illicit negative responses are posted, one fact solidly remains. People still apply in droves to Sidwell regardless of how constant the negative threads to raise doubt are posted.

So even though Sidwell, Landon, NCS, Holton, St. Albans, Beauvoir, etc, are skewered now and then, then and now, there is a positive element that keeps people applying and families remain.

Negative postings impact the few, not the many.

Very true. One thing all the schools mentioned have in common are strong academics in their US (except Beauvoir obviously) which is a selling point to overlook the other BS. I can't think of one private school in this area that hasn't had a problem. Maybe not to the extent as some but it's definitely out there.

No matter how many times threads which are thinly veiled to illicit negative responses are posted, one fact solidly remains. People still apply in droves to Sidwell regardless of how constant the negative threads to raise doubt are posted.

So even though Sidwell, Landon, NCS, Holton, St. Albans, Beauvoir, etc, are skewered now and then, then and now, there is a positive element that keeps people applying and families remain.

Negative postings impact the few, not the many.

they had a position posted for an assistant head, too.

Most? The head of college guidance, Eric Monheim, is moving to New England. I haven't heard that anyone else is leaving.

I heard that most of the Sidwell college guidance office is turning over this year. Anyone know why?