Also not sure why you are looking for Spanish in after school. If your child already speaks 2 languages fluently, but has limited English it sounds like you would be better off working on English with a private tutor rather than adding a 4th language, particularly since you are planning to stay here for at least 14 years (since you are already focused on college placement).

Bottom line-focus on the school day, not the after care program.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks a lot for the advices. I don't know much about schools except those from reading that sidwell has slightly higher percentage of students going to ivy and higher number of national finalists. I understand that numbers can't truly reflect whether a school is better, so I would really appreciate if I could get more information about the two schools from insiders.

Your kid is 4. College applications are far away. So is volleyball (i don't know of a single school that offers volleyball for 4 year olds). If she is capable of being admitted to an Ivy she will get in from either school, or even public school. What is your option other than GDS? I agree that Sidwell is highly unlikely next year but maybe she can reapply for middle or high school if GDS or whatever other option you choose isn't the right fit.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks a lot for the advices. I don't know much about schools except those from reading that sidwell has slightly higher percentage of students going to ivy and higher number of national finalists. I understand that numbers can't truly reflect whether a school is better, so I would really appreciate if I could get more information about the two schools from insiders.

OP, FYI, advice is singular or plural. Don't add the 's'.

op here. what's the risk of applying for sidwell K? GDS will be mad and not treat my kid well?

OP, my DD received offers for PreK at GDS and Sidwell for 2014-15. We are leaning toward Sidwell just because they seem a little tighter in terms of organization and structure. Both schools are winners. You have a Golden Ticket in your hand. Don't screw it up and hold out for Sidwell. It's unlikely to happen for K and not worth the risk.

Op here. Thanks a lot for the advices. I don't know much about schools except those from reading that sidwell has slightly higher percentage of students going to ivy and higher number of national finalists. I understand that numbers can't truly reflect whether a school is better, so I would really appreciate if I could get more information about the two schools from insiders.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone recall that post, not so long ago, purporting to be from a parent that was mortified that her child's nanny had also applied to GDS? Perhaps I am too suspicious, but I wonder if the nanny's child did get admitted to GDS, and . . .

. . . the parent's child did not?

The original post provides so many revealing details about the "purported" poster's child, and the "purported" poster's language alternates between incredibly articulate and then obviously faltering. I just wonder if someone is trying to embarrass another person?

Anonymous wrote:Do you not know GDS is just as good a school as sidwell? Holy cow, just be happy.

Umm - it's not really. Just not much to compare it to in DC.

Do you not know GDS is just as good a school as sidwell? Holy cow, just be happy.

Does anyone recall that post, not so long ago, purporting to be from a parent that was mortified that her child's nanny had also applied to GDS? Perhaps I am too suspicious, but I wonder if the nanny's child did get admitted to GDS, and . . .

Why would you ever want to go through this process again? Go to GDS and be done!

OP - surprised you didn't consider WIS. Seems like it would have been a great fit for your DC.

OP you are like someone who got into Yale, but wanted Princeton. Just because you got into Yale, does not mean that you are guaranteed at Princeton. It does not work that way -- either in college, or in elite private. You were rejected. Move on, before you find yourself rejecting the place you did get in (even if it is only in your own mind).

Try GDS out , if after a few years not happy, apply elsewhere, but getting into Sidwell in this situation for K is a very very long shot for all the reasons listed above. We had kids at both schools and overall were happier with GDS although both were really fantastic for our kids. Academics basically identical, but administration MUCH stronger at GDS, as is college counseling and arts programs. Athletics overall perhaps a bit stronger at Sidwell. But really these are incredibly similar schools.

If your DD was rejected by Sidwell it is highly, highly unlikely she will get in. Even if she was waitlisted it would be a long shot.