Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're talking about upper school all of the schools you've listed are very close to each other in terms of a commute from Vienna: gds, sidwell, St. Albans, wis and maret upper schools are all within a mile or so of each other, so there is no appreciable commute difference from Vienna unless you are commuting on through to work which might affect the equation.

Gotta disagree. While generically similar, at that time of morning you are talking an exponential impact to the commute in increments of 5 to 10 minutes jumps.

Look at Google maps. Most of these schools are less than a mile from each other. Gds is a little further at about 2 miles from the others. If youre coming from Vienna I don't think the difference btw sidwell and maret in terms of your commute will be exponentially different. The best thing to do would be to see if there's a critical mass of other Vienna folks at the school so you can carpool.

I drive from GDS to Maret every day during rush hour and it takes at least 15 minutes. So being 1 mile apart doesn't matter, they have a very big difference in commute times.

Anonymous wrote: GDS sends more kids to Harvard than any other school in DC

This.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the parents who think carpool/car service/bus is an option. I don't want my kids in the car for a long commute regardless who drives. Life is too short to spend it in a car.

op didn't ask your opinion of the commute. just the facts of it.

My kid is in a carpool to a DC private and loves it. The kids do homework, sleep, catch up with each other, whatever. When I drive I enjoy hearing them talk to each other and share stories about their day. If it's just me, I enjoy having one on one time with her to chat. My other child is in public school close to home and sits on her phone most afternoons with me nagging her about it. My private school kid is much better at organizing her time and being productive.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the parents who think carpool/car service/bus is an option. I don't want my kids in the car for a long commute regardless who drives. Life is too short to spend it in a car.

op didn't ask your opinion of the commute. just the facts of it.

Anonymous wrote:More likely is you didn't hang with all the legacy families. Many of GDS kids to Harvard were born into it. Let's be a little forthright about that.

It's not so much legacy as having highly accomplished parents. That rubs off on their kids. A number of GDS parents are judges, work in the Solicitor General office, are quite connected in the Administration, or are very successful tech entrepreneurs, etc.

I don't understand the parents who think carpool/car service/bus is an option. I don't want my kids in the car for a long commute regardless who drives. Life is too short to spend it in a car.

Anonymous wrote:More likely is you didn't hang with all the legacy families. Many of GDS kids to Harvard were born into it. Let's be a little forthright about that.

Truth.

+1

Big donations also help when you're grands or relatives if not direct relations are alums. Legacy reigns supreme. Longer the lineage, likelier to get in.

Inside the beltway McLean to STA/Beauvoir/NCS is consistently 35-40 minutes in morning rush hour. Adjust accordingly for Vienna. Carpool can be a godsend if you can swing it.

God no. Can't you find a private school in Vienna/Fairfax area? Just commuting to DC is a pain on its own.

More likely is you didn't hang with all the legacy families. Many of GDS kids to Harvard were born into it. Let's be a little forthright about that.

You may not hang with the top students. I know several students personally that have gone on to Harvard.

"GDS sends more kids to Harvard than any other school in DC

Their secret sauce is to take uber-gifted and talented kids and educate them well and develop a very strong sense of self-confidence. There is a strong affinity with Harvard."

Why is it that all the kids that I know who've gone to GDS went to second or third tier schools? Haverford, Elon and DuPaul are perfectly good schools, but not exactly impressive.

Just go to Basis. It's down the street. Commute problem solved!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Vienna to St. Albans/NCS?

We have close friends who live in Vienna and participate in a van pool (private van co hired by parents) that leaves from GF Safeway parking lot to NCS/STA each morning.

Thanks. Good to know. Commute to Great Falls is great compared to DC! Of course, there is no question that my son and daughter will get in and that I will have the problem of figuring out the commute.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Vienna to St. Albans/NCS?

We have close friends who live in Vienna and participate in a van pool (private van co hired by parents) that leaves from GF Safeway parking lot to NCS/STA each morning.

Second pick up is at 7 AM at the Exxon on Kirby in McLean (the expensive gas station) right near GW Parkway.