Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 13:02     Subject: Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the purpose of requiring IQ tests for young children (or maybe any children). They are really expensive and of such limited utility. I wish it was not the norm around here--I was shocked when I found out it was.


+1


They are the way schools can weed out kids who are likely to have learning disabilities. That's the main benefit and purpose.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 13:00     Subject: Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:I agree. The IQ tests for very young kids are unreliable, and the admissions offices know it.

I know these schools are basically aiming to attract the 1%, but if they had ANY serious interest in getting a more socioeconomically diverse applicant pool they would not have an application process more intense than college admissions. Even if you get the application and testing fees waived, what kind of parents can take multiple days off from work to bring kids to open houses, interviews and shadow days? Affluent families with flexible hours and/or a stay at home spouse, that's who can do this. My two kid applied to four schools, and it essentially meant losing the better part of two full work weeks. It's crazy.

Schools that want to indicate some seriousness about getting lower income families or families with single parents should condense everything into one day and make open houses and tours optional,


+1000 agreed, and we can afford to take the time off but it got excessive. We applied to 5 schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 12:57     Subject: Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the purpose of requiring IQ tests for young children (or maybe any children). They are really expensive and of such limited utility. I wish it was not the norm around here--I was shocked when I found out it was.


+1
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 12:54     Subject: Re:Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:Alexandria Country Day: HOS, HLS, and teachers were warm and persuasive. They presented one face of the school. The admissions director presented something very different. When asked during our parent interview to identify a "weakness," we did. Her response,"well, she's just going to have to get over that."

We tried to ignore our parent interview and focus on our other positive interactions. In the end, we just couldn't ignore that the disciplinary philosophy and approach the AD presented during our interview (not just based the one comment, but other things she said) was jarring. It seemed out of sync with what was presented by the HOS and HLS, and created some doubts about what day-to-day life at the school would be like for a child. We decided we didn't want to risk it, and went with a school where we got consistent impressions from everyone at the school, and we just picked up the vibe that it was a wonderful, happy place for kids. I'm so glad we went with our gut. We've been very happy where we ended up.

However, I really liked Scott Baytosh and Melissa Davis of ACDS, who seem to pour their heart and soul into their work. I wondered if they know how the AD undermined the warm, caring impression they deliver. Interacting with them, I got the sense that ACDS is a school where they putting the kids' needs first. Interacting with the AD, I got the impression that it was about the convenience of the teachers and staff. She came across as a traditional disciplinarian, I,e kids should know their place. Not what we want per for our children.

A couple of my friends had a similar experience with ACDS' AD, ultimately deciding to attend other schools.





+1000 Our admissions process was great up until DD was accepted. The FA was terrible. I think they have a low endowment and choose to disqualify our family because of it. They totally screwed up calculating our HHI and refused to explain or make the correction. I was very disappointed, ultimately we accepted elsewhere. Also, Melissa Davis is leaving at the end of the year and a parent told me that she is happy she's leaving.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 12:00     Subject: Re:Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

How do you know this, PP?


LinkdIn shows you who has viewed your profile.


Not always. You can set your preferences to view profiles anonymously. If you have a LinkdIn page, you should expect people are going to view it. Could be just to put a face to a name, could be donor research, could just be curiosity. In any case, if you're putting it out there on the net, expect people to view it. Otherwise, what's the point.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 11:50     Subject: Re:Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:GDS: admissions office actually looked my profile up on LinkedIn during the admissions process (the Net is not anonymous, you know). Total turnoff and DC is not going there now...


What?!! Are you serious??? Not cool!

Why is this not cool? I don't get it. I will definetely check it out if I was part of the admissions office. For sure.
m

It's not cool because I told you what you needed to know about ME on the application. The process should be about my DC and not whatever information you think you can dig up on my professional page. I can only assume they want to see who else you are connected to for elbow rubbing purposes. Beyond ridiculous. Google my child if you want, but font Google me!


I can see this for the HS, but for the LS, the application is just as much about the family as it is about the kid. You should know better. Also, there are probably some parents who lie on these applications. IMHO, I'm glad to see the school do its due diligence. When a kid applies in boundary for the public school, I think it's totally OK for schools to do Google searches on parents to help ensure that you don't have kids out-of-boundary applying in. Also, don't be naive. Do you really think that you aren't Googled when ever you are sized up for whatever reason?


Does not make it right or appropriate.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 11:45     Subject: Re:Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:GDS: admissions office actually looked my profile up on LinkedIn during the admissions process (the Net is not anonymous, you know). Total turnoff and DC is not going there now...


What?!! Are you serious??? Not cool!

Why is this not cool? I don't get it. I will definetely check it out if I was part of the admissions office. For sure.
m

It's not cool because I told you what you needed to know about ME on the application. The process should be about my DC and not whatever information you think you can dig up on my professional page. I can only assume they want to see who else you are connected to for elbow rubbing purposes. Beyond ridiculous. Google my child if you want, but font Google me!


I can see this for the HS, but for the LS, the application is just as much about the family as it is about the kid. You should know better. Also, there are probably some parents who lie on these applications. IMHO, I'm glad to see the school do its due diligence. When a kid applies in boundary for the public school, I think it's totally OK for schools to do Google searches on parents to help ensure that you don't have kids out-of-boundary applying in. Also, don't be naive. Do you really think that you aren't Googled when ever you are sized up for whatever reason?
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 11:20     Subject: Re:Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:

How do you know this, PP?


LinkdIn shows you who has viewed your profile.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 09:59     Subject: Re:Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:GDS: admissions office actually looked my profile up on LinkedIn during the admissions process (the Net is not anonymous, you know). Total turnoff and DC is not going there now...


What?!! Are you serious??? Not cool!

Why is this not cool? I don't get it. I will definetely check it out if I was part of the admissions office. For sure.
m

It's not cool because I told you what you needed to know about ME on the application. The process should be about my DC and not whatever information you think you can dig up on my professional page. I can only assume they want to see who else you are connected to for elbow rubbing purposes. Beyond ridiculous. Google my child if you want, but font Google me!


It's so funny to me that people get offended by this. Also keep in mind they are dealing with so many applicant families that they may just want to, you know, see a picture of you so they can better remember who you are. Pretty sure if you were so connected someone already at the school would have tipped off the admissions office. Jeez.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 09:56     Subject: Re:Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:GDS: admissions office actually looked my profile up on LinkedIn during the admissions process (the Net is not anonymous, you know). Total turnoff and DC is not going there now...


What?!! Are you serious??? Not cool!


What's strange is that a lot of schools ask some of the basic LinkedIn info anyway, such as college/professional school and current employer. We can argue the relevance of that information, but schools think it could matter. Why not just ask on application rather than doing linkedin search?
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 09:55     Subject: Re:Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:GDS: admissions office actually looked my profile up on LinkedIn during the admissions process (the Net is not anonymous, you know). Total turnoff and DC is not going there now...


What?!! Are you serious??? Not cool!

Why is this not cool? I don't get it. I will definetely check it out if I was part of the admissions office. For sure.
m

It's not cool because I told you what you needed to know about ME on the application. The process should be about my DC and not whatever information you think you can dig up on my professional page. I can only assume they want to see who else you are connected to for elbow rubbing purposes. Beyond ridiculous. Google my child if you want, but font Google me!
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 09:45     Subject: Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One school sent my child a special package. Did not appreciate this - child now expects to go to that school.


My child thought the same regarding the special package. WL. Did not appreciate the package.

Special package?! Like what?!


Not useful to say this without naming the school.

anyway, Holton sent a package of stuff after DD's interview (I think it was) - it was like a deck of cards with different quotes from students with pictures, and maybe some other marketing trinkets.

In no way did she think it meant anything other than they hoped she would apply and eventually come there, like every other student who interviews.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 09:10     Subject: Re:Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:GDS: admissions office actually looked my profile up on LinkedIn during the admissions process (the Net is not anonymous, you know). Total turnoff and DC is not going there now...


What?!! Are you serious??? Not cool!

Why is this not cool? I don't get it. I will definetely check it out if I was part of the admissions office. For sure.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 09:06     Subject: Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
SJC- entire process cold, and paper based. For a school with so much money you'd think they'd upgrade their admissions department.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2016 09:04     Subject: Re:Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:GDS: admissions office actually looked my profile up on LinkedIn during the admissions process (the Net is not anonymous, you know). Total turnoff and DC is not going there now...


What?!! Are you serious??? Not cool!


How do you know this, PP?