Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 21:26     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
It is an extremely high end and respected school. We are applying to high school and will drive from Virginia to go there. The only schools that can compete are NCS (I don't think Albans can though it is close) and possibly Sidwell because of the macro name it has. Academically, I think if I had a Girl, it would be close between. NCS and GDS.
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 21:16     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:GDS is a hot mess right now. Whether hot or mess will predominate over the course of the next decade is an open question. I don't think the Administration is trying to decrease applications, but the next few years will involve extensive fundraising efforts which might reshape how admissions decisions are made and what type of families are courted.


Can you elaborate? Why is a hot mess? Is it the administration? Purchase of the new property? They spoke very briefly on the financial sustainability of the school and said moving to one campus was geared towards that and they are looking to eventually be less dependent on tuition. They also said they are committed to providing families who qualify with the need they have.

Was that all not really true?
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 21:15     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.


Do you mean it's odd I expected a tour on a Sunday or odd they didn't provide one? I personally found it odd not to. There where less people there than at Sidwell's open house and they provided a tour and breakout sessions for parents to speak with staff in a smaller setting and even a financial aid session. It seemed odd they would have a two hour open house and the first be for the Lowe
School and the second hour for middle school and nothing more. To be honest my husband and I left feeling like wasted our time.

And now I have to decide if it's worth running around in this last week trying to tour the school and schedule a parent interview. I get that they don't have to sell the school, but then why bother even have an open house? Going through the motions is really silly. Hold small group tours and be done with it.



You sound incredibly high maintenance.
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 21:05     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
GDS is a hot mess right now. Whether hot or mess will predominate over the course of the next decade is an open question. I don't think the Administration is trying to decrease applications, but the next few years will involve extensive fundraising efforts which might reshape how admissions decisions are made and what type of families are courted.
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:57     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.


Do you mean it's odd I expected a tour on a Sunday or odd they didn't provide one? I personally found it odd not to. There where less people there than at Sidwell's open house and they provided a tour and breakout sessions for parents to speak with staff in a smaller setting and even a financial aid session. It seemed odd they would have a two hour open house and the first be for the Lowe
School and the second hour for middle school and nothing more. To be honest my husband and I left feeling like wasted our time.

And now I have to decide if it's worth running around in this last week trying to tour the school and schedule a parent interview. I get that they don't have to sell the school, but then why bother even have an open house? Going through the motions is really silly. Hold small group tours and be done with it.


only you can decide if its worth jumping through all those hoops. for many, many families they will think its definitely worth it, so if a few families drop off after this open house, its less work for the school in terms of papers and time and interviews. in a sense, its a partial elimination process, or self-elimination in your case.


I suppose. I guess given all the great things I've heard about GDS over the years this approach was definitely not what I expected. I'll probably muster through and apply because it's not in me to just walk away from
something without seeing it all the way through. Which is why I was hoping to get a little insight from current parent or students there.
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:56     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.


Do you mean it's odd I expected a tour on a Sunday or odd they didn't provide one? I personally found it odd not to. There where less people there than at Sidwell's open house and they provided a tour and breakout sessions for parents to speak with staff in a smaller setting and even a financial aid session. It seemed odd they would have a two hour open house and the first be for the Lowe
School and the second hour for middle school and nothing more. To be honest my husband and I left feeling like wasted our time.

And now I have to decide if it's worth running around in this last week trying to tour the school and schedule a parent interview. I get that they don't have to sell the school, but then why bother even have an open house? Going through the motions is really silly. Hold small group tours and be done with it.


only you can decide if its worth jumping through all those hoops. for many, many families they will think its definitely worth it, so if a few families drop off after this open house, its less work for the school in terms of papers and time and interviews. in a sense, its a partial elimination process, or self-elimination in your case.


I suppose. I guess given all the great things I've heard about GDS over the years this approach was definitely not what I expected. I'll probably muster through and apply because it's not in me to just walk away feo
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:49     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.


Do you mean it's odd I expected a tour on a Sunday or odd they didn't provide one? I personally found it odd not to. There where less people there than at Sidwell's open house and they provided a tour and breakout sessions for parents to speak with staff in a smaller setting and even a financial aid session. It seemed odd they would have a two hour open house and the first be for the Lowe
School and the second hour for middle school and nothing more. To be honest my husband and I left feeling like wasted our time.

And now I have to decide if it's worth running around in this last week trying to tour the school and schedule a parent interview. I get that they don't have to sell the school, but then why bother even have an open house? Going through the motions is really silly. Hold small group tours and be done with it.


Odd that they didn't provide one. I mean, you are on campus, and there are no kids around. Why wouldn't they give a tour? Seems odd.



No its a waste of time. Unless there are people doing stuff and you get a sense of the atmosphere of the place, one empty room is as much significant as any other.

there is zero point touring an empty building.


If you aren't familiar with the campus at all, there is no downside in providing a tour. It is certainly less disruptive than doing them during the school day.

Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:46     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.


Do you mean it's odd I expected a tour on a Sunday or odd they didn't provide one? I personally found it odd not to. There where less people there than at Sidwell's open house and they provided a tour and breakout sessions for parents to speak with staff in a smaller setting and even a financial aid session. It seemed odd they would have a two hour open house and the first be for the Lowe
School and the second hour for middle school and nothing more. To be honest my husband and I left feeling like wasted our time.

And now I have to decide if it's worth running around in this last week trying to tour the school and schedule a parent interview. I get that they don't have to sell the school, but then why bother even have an open house? Going through the motions is really silly. Hold small group tours and be done with it.


Odd that they didn't provide one. I mean, you are on campus, and there are no kids around. Why wouldn't they give a tour? Seems odd.



there is zero point touring an empty building.


If you aren't familiar with the campus at all, there is no downside in providing a tour. It is certainly less disruptive than doing them during the school day.

Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:43     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.[/quote]

Do you mean it's odd I expected a tour on a Sunday or odd they didn't provide one? I personally found it odd not to. There where less people there than at Sidwell's open house and they provided a tour and breakout sessions for parents to speak with staff in a smaller setting and even a financial aid session. It seemed odd they would have a two hour open house and the first be for the Lowe
School and the second hour for middle school and nothing more. To be honest my husband and I left feeling like wasted our time.

And now I have to decide if it's worth running around in this last week trying to tour the school and schedule a parent interview. I get that they don't have to sell the school, but then why bother even have an open house? Going through the motions is really silly. Hold small group tours and be done with it. [/quote]

Odd that they didn't provide one. I mean, you are on campus, and there are no kids around. Why wouldn't they give a tour? Seems odd.

[/quote]

I completely agree. I got the impression most people where expecting to get a tour as well. I overheard many parents asking the staff when they could tour and they said they hold them on M, W and F. However, I've been on their website numerous times and did not see that information on there. I have to wonder if it's some weird way of reducing the number of applications they receive but I don't understand why they would do that either.

Needless to say it left a bad taste in my mouth and I wonder if that's a sign of a bigger issue.
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:40     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.


Do you mean it's odd I expected a tour on a Sunday or odd they didn't provide one? I personally found it odd not to. There where less people there than at Sidwell's open house and they provided a tour and breakout sessions for parents to speak with staff in a smaller setting and even a financial aid session. It seemed odd they would have a two hour open house and the first be for the Lowe
School and the second hour for middle school and nothing more. To be honest my husband and I left feeling like wasted our time.

And now I have to decide if it's worth running around in this last week trying to tour the school and schedule a parent interview. I get that they don't have to sell the school, but then why bother even have an open house? Going through the motions is really silly. Hold small group tours and be done with it.


only you can decide if its worth jumping through all those hoops. for many, many families they will think its definitely worth it, so if a few families drop off after this open house, its less work for the school in terms of papers and time and interviews. in a sense, its a partial elimination process, or self-elimination in your case.
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:39     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.


Do you mean it's odd I expected a tour on a Sunday or odd they didn't provide one? I personally found it odd not to. There where less people there than at Sidwell's open house and they provided a tour and breakout sessions for parents to speak with staff in a smaller setting and even a financial aid session. It seemed odd they would have a two hour open house and the first be for the Lowe
School and the second hour for middle school and nothing more. To be honest my husband and I left feeling like wasted our time.

And now I have to decide if it's worth running around in this last week trying to tour the school and schedule a parent interview. I get that they don't have to sell the school, but then why bother even have an open house? Going through the motions is really silly. Hold small group tours and be done with it.


Odd that they didn't provide one. I mean, you are on campus, and there are no kids around. Why wouldn't they give a tour? Seems odd.



there is zero point touring an empty building.
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:28     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.


Do you mean it's odd I expected a tour on a Sunday or odd they didn't provide one? I personally found it odd not to. There where less people there than at Sidwell's open house and they provided a tour and breakout sessions for parents to speak with staff in a smaller setting and even a financial aid session. It seemed odd they would have a two hour open house and the first be for the Lowe
School and the second hour for middle school and nothing more. To be honest my husband and I left feeling like wasted our time.

And now I have to decide if it's worth running around in this last week trying to tour the school and schedule a parent interview. I get that they don't have to sell the school, but then why bother even have an open house? Going through the motions is really silly. Hold small group tours and be done with it.


Odd that they didn't provide one. I mean, you are on campus, and there are no kids around. Why wouldn't they give a tour? Seems odd.

Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:23     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is as good, provided you don't buy into the hype that its rep is as good as Sidwell.


In what way isn't it? I've lived in this area for over 20 years and I have always heard of Sidwell and GDS mentioned in the same category.
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:21     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:The new campus complex will be fabulous!


Except our kid will maybe get one year at the new school...today they said "fingers crossed we will be ready to move by 2020." That didn't sound overly confident.
Anonymous
Post 12/13/2015 20:19     Subject: GDS...is it as good as its reputation?
Anonymous wrote:Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.


Do you mean it's odd I expected a tour on a Sunday or odd they didn't provide one? I personally found it odd not to. There where less people there than at Sidwell's open house and they provided a tour and breakout sessions for parents to speak with staff in a smaller setting and even a financial aid session. It seemed odd they would have a two hour open house and the first be for the Lowe
School and the second hour for middle school and nothing more. To be honest my husband and I left feeling like wasted our time.

And now I have to decide if it's worth running around in this last week trying to tour the school and schedule a parent interview. I get that they don't have to sell the school, but then why bother even have an open house? Going through the motions is really silly. Hold small group tours and be done with it.