I doubt that revamping the college counseling process is what BASIS needs to do help students crack the most highly competitive colleges. They could take common sense steps to ratchet up students' chances in other ways.

The most obvious problem is that BASIS crams too much AP work into 3 years of HS. We left after sophomore year for this reason. Our kid is taking 4 AP classes sr. year at a private (the norm at the private), plus doing an internship 15 hours/wk. BASIS could do much more to support kids in developing serious ECs. When a kid is expected to take all AP exams by the end of jr. year, there isn't really enough time for high-powered ECs the family has to arrange off-campus.

BASIS could also stop wasting the language skills of kids who arrive with them in 4th grade. The policy of not permitting kids to study a modern language per the curriculum until 8th is dumb. We were in that situation and kept going with a language on our own. Our kid scored a 5 on AP for the language in 9th grade (took the exam at a different school; BASIS wouldn't work with us). She took a Cambridge Exam A-Level in the language this past November. We got the result a month ago, in time to include it with college applications. The BASIS DC position that if you care about languages, shut up and head to DCI isn't constructive.

You do realize that if “a dozen” BASIS students are admitted into top schools that’s roughly 30% of the graduating class, right?! Don’t compare the number of students going to top colleges, but rather the percentage of the graduating class…In any event, BASIS is supposedly looking to revamp is college counseling process, recognizing the extreme competitiveness for top college admissions these days.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not buying that lots of BASIS seniors are being admitted to colleges admitting in the single digits. A dozen annually tops. Claiming that lots are admitted but can’t afford to go is a facile dodge.

This. The hip new cry poor dodge peddled by the amateurs running the place. We got an ear full at a recent open house. A few of the parents couldn’t resist challenging the mindless path-to-the-college-of-your-dreams spiel. Wasn’t clear where the critical thinking or individuality comes in, if it does.

More than 2-3 kids went to top colleges last year and therefore clearly more than 5%. And it is relevant whether students received significant merit financial aid which caused them to choose a lower ranked school. But more importantly, families/students at BASIS looking for a high achieving cohort and a legit an advanced education will find it. This is extremely hard to find in DC public schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not buying that lots of BASIS seniors are being admitted to colleges admitting in the single digits. A dozen annually tops. Claiming that lots are admitted but can’t afford to go is a facile dodge.

12th grade classes at BASIS are between 40 and 50 kids. I don't think you are making the case you think you are by suggesting that only 25-30% of grads are admitted to elite colleges.

PP above said less than 5% to top 20 colleges.

That’s really low for a cooker pressure school of higher achieving kids that places so much emphasis on AP.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not buying that lots of BASIS seniors are being admitted to colleges admitting in the single digits. A dozen annually tops. Claiming that lots are admitted but can’t afford to go is a facile dodge.

12th grade classes at BASIS are between 40 and 50 kids. I don't think you are making the case you think you are by suggesting that only 25-30% of grads are admitted to elite colleges.

I’m not buying that lots of BASIS seniors are being admitted to colleges admitting in the single digits. A dozen annually tops. Claiming that lots are admitted but can’t afford to go is a facile dodge.

What does the fact that the family doesn't feel comfortable shelling out $70K per year or taking on loads of debt have to do with it being "cover for some of the program's glaring shortcomings" ?

Many top schools DO NOT give merit or scholarships for ECs and if you are over a certain income level, but not extremely wealthy, spending/borrowing $300k on ONE child doesn't make sense for some families.

That is true whether or not your child graduated from BASIS or TJ.

Anonymous wrote:Why were the Basis College matriculations so mediocre last year?
I just watched the commencement video.
Most "honors" grads going to places like Temple, Penn State, Michigan State.
Valedictorian to Duke
Salutatorian to NW
Only Ivy admits were Brown (URM), Yale (URM), Yale (kid who had done years of Latin quiz bowl competitions at Yale).
Less than 5% of the class to top 20 schools.

I know that college isn't everything but why take years of AP classes if you're going to end up at Penn State?
You could make it there on much, much less.

PP--you are confusing matriculate with acceptances. These are schools that these wonderful students are attending. You have no idea what schools they were admitted to nor do you know the reasons why they made the choices they did. For example, my niece, got 3 wrong on the SAT, was admitted to MIT but learned that MIT only provides need-based scholarships. And, they do NOT consider you as having need if your household income exceeds $160k. It was a tough pill to swallow since her household could not afford the roughly $70k per year to send her to MIT. She then took a full ride at a wonderful state school that certain of you would deem mediocre.

The larger point here is why can't people support and applaud these kids for working hard and pursuing higher education rather than repeatedly and ridiculously tearing down their school to no avail or sane reason?? Just be happy that this DC Public school is preparing these kids for a bright, productive future.

Most importantly, if you don't like BASIS, don't go. All of the complaining, snarky comments, incorrect theories and assertions do not stop scores of parents from enrolling their kids each year. You are just wasting your time. Maybe you can focus on improving the school your kid attends. Or, maybe take up needlecraft. Signed, frustrated and fed-up.

Silly to be frustrated and fed up with anything posted on DCUM. Come on, almost any critical comment about BASIS is deemed snarky, incorrect etc. even when it comes from a parent whose child/children attended the school for years. It's a 2-way street.

As for your niece whose family couldn't afford to send her to MIT. Just not the case. Families can freely borrow to cover college costs in this country. What you're really saying is that the family didn't value an MIT education enough to borrow heavily to cover costs via a combo of private and federally subsidized student loans. That's a reasonable position, but something different than a student being unable to attend.

What I don't care for is how BASIS posters like to claim that kids got into top colleges but couldn't matriculate.attend as cover for some for some of the program's glaring shortcomings. Few HS ECs aren't first-rate at BASIS DC, and the curriculum is too narrow to support achievement across the board. What's worse, many of the best teachers leave in search of better pay and treatment (w/the trend accelerating). This is old territory for DCUM.

Why were the Basis College matriculations so mediocre last year?
I just watched the commencement video.
Most "honors" grads going to places like Temple, Penn State, Michigan State.
Valedictorian to Duke
Salutatorian to NW
Only Ivy admits were Brown (URM), Yale (URM), Yale (kid who had done years of Latin quiz bowl competitions at Yale).
Less than 5% of the class to top 20 schools.

I know that college isn't everything but why take years of AP classes if you're going to end up at Penn State?
You could make it there on much, much less.

PP--you are confusing matriculate with acceptances. These are schools that these wonderful students are attending. You have no idea what schools they were admitted to nor do you know the reasons why they made the choices they did. For example, my niece, got 3 wrong on the SAT, was admitted to MIT but learned that MIT only provides need-based scholarships. And, they do NOT consider you as having need if your household income exceeds $160k. It was a tough pill to swallow since her household could not afford the roughly $70k per year to send her to MIT. She then took a full ride at a wonderful state school that certain of you would deem mediocre.

The larger point here is why can't people support and applaud these kids for working hard and pursuing higher education rather than repeatedly and ridiculously tearing down their school to no avail or sane reason?? Just be happy that this DC Public school is preparing these kids for a bright, productive future.

Most importantly, if you don't like BASIS, don't go. All of the complaining, snarky comments, incorrect theories and assertions do not stop scores of parents from enrolling their kids each year. You are just wasting your time. Maybe you can focus on improving the school your kid attends. Or, maybe take up needlecraft. Signed, frustrated and fed-up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread echoes the typical refrain of admins when parents question how BASIS handles college counseling and applications. What you get is, don't complain, BASIS is free and has a fantastic track record in admissions. If you're unhappy it's because your kid isn't all that good.

I see room for improvement. Some DC privates competing with BASIS in admissions are adapting better to a changing admissions landscape.

For example there are privates and public schools in the burbs that have started advising seniors aiming for Ivies to take 1-2 Cambridge A-Levels in Nov of senior year. This approach gives rising seniors 5 months after the last APs they've taken whose scores come in time to go with Jan applications to prep for additional standardized subject tests. A-Levels are on a par with IB Diploma higher level exams. Cambridge scores help seniors stand out on college applications.

At privates, AP course work doesn't wrap up junior year. BASIS could offer seniors more flexibility but the franchise is set in its ways. If you doubt this as a BASIS parent, ask the college counselor about Cambridge exams.

LOL. Couple of things. First, does it surprise you that private schools have better and more resources to adapt? Second, the fact that you are comparing BASIS to DC privates is the point. It is a public charter school.

Private schools have the mentality to adapt, and to relentlessly build on students' academic strengths. We know that BASIS admits dozens of 5th graders who speak, read and write good Spanish, French or Chinese, coming from the DCI feeders. Yet BASIS does nothing to help immersion kids keep up language skills (even via after-school study financed by parents), and only permits study languages at the beginning level from 8th grade. In the same situation, private school admins would see an opportunity to build on skills that would support elite college admissions success up the chain.

You clearly know NOTHING about education, private schools and resources. The only thing more astounding than your ignorance is your unwavering confidence in the face of sheet ignorance.

If you think the only thing holding BASIS back from adapting like GDS, Sidwell and others can is "mentality" then you are beyond help.

BASIS parent w/no idea what you're complaining about. The school has its strengths, and obviously doesn't have anywhere near the resources of GDS or Sidwell, but there's still a mentality issue. Not a "mentality" issue.

When we asked the counselor about applying to colleges from a gap year, were were advised that gap years are a terrible idea, so we don't advise taking them. Why no gap years? Because BASIS wants (really really wants), the bragging rights to every impressive senior year admissions offer students get.

How was the problem resources in that situation? Please explain.

Not sure why or how this is that hard. PPP to whom I responded suggested (ne, stated) that the only difference between BASIS and privates is the mentality that allows them to adapt and change. When one is resource constrained one focuses on things one can control. Why is that concept difficult for your to understand?

I'd also suggest that having a run in a with a college counselor and indicting a whole school on that basis is silly. It also ignores that every high school's counselors are tasked primarily with protecting the reputation of the school. I don't know any college counselors who are doin that instead of other jobs, if you know what I mean.

This is nonsense, nobody on this thread has argued that only material difference between BASIS college counseling and that at Sidwell etc. is one of mentality. But mentality isn't irrelevant.

We've been at BASIS long enough to know just how controlling and paternalistic certain admins can be. Families who can't afford private school develop strategies to help them circumvent public school roadblocks. We use a commercial transcript/midyear report forwarding service and generic recommendations. BASIS doesn't even have our full college list and doesn't need it. Not a big deal.

Gaslight much? The quote was this: " Some DC privates competing with BASIS in admissions are adapting better to a changing admissions landscape."

Do you lack basic reading comprehension skills or are you just a liar who hopes no one notices?

I'll wait...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread echoes the typical refrain of admins when parents question how BASIS handles college counseling and applications. What you get is, don't complain, BASIS is free and has a fantastic track record in admissions. If you're unhappy it's because your kid isn't all that good.

I see room for improvement. Some DC privates competing with BASIS in admissions are adapting better to a changing admissions landscape.

For example there are privates and public schools in the burbs that have started advising seniors aiming for Ivies to take 1-2 Cambridge A-Levels in Nov of senior year. This approach gives rising seniors 5 months after the last APs they've taken whose scores come in time to go with Jan applications to prep for additional standardized subject tests. A-Levels are on a par with IB Diploma higher level exams. Cambridge scores help seniors stand out on college applications.

At privates, AP course work doesn't wrap up junior year. BASIS could offer seniors more flexibility but the franchise is set in its ways. If you doubt this as a BASIS parent, ask the college counselor about Cambridge exams.

LOL. Couple of things. First, does it surprise you that private schools have better and more resources to adapt? Second, the fact that you are comparing BASIS to DC privates is the point. It is a public charter school.

Private schools have the mentality to adapt, and to relentlessly build on students' academic strengths. We know that BASIS admits dozens of 5th graders who speak, read and write good Spanish, French or Chinese, coming from the DCI feeders. Yet BASIS does nothing to help immersion kids keep up language skills (even via after-school study financed by parents), and only permits study languages at the beginning level from 8th grade. In the same situation, private school admins would see an opportunity to build on skills that would support elite college admissions success up the chain.

You clearly know NOTHING about education, private schools and resources. The only thing more astounding than your ignorance is your unwavering confidence in the face of sheet ignorance.

If you think the only thing holding BASIS back from adapting like GDS, Sidwell and others can is "mentality" then you are beyond help.

BASIS parent w/no idea what you're complaining about. The school has its strengths, and obviously doesn't have anywhere near the resources of GDS or Sidwell, but there's still a mentality issue. Not a "mentality" issue.

When we asked the counselor about applying to colleges from a gap year, were were advised that gap years are a terrible idea, so we don't advise taking them. Why no gap years? Because BASIS wants (really really wants), the bragging rights to every impressive senior year admissions offer students get.

How was the problem resources in that situation? Please explain.

Not sure why or how this is that hard. PPP to whom I responded suggested (ne, stated) that the only difference between BASIS and privates is the mentality that allows them to adapt and change. When one is resource constrained one focuses on things one can control. Why is that concept difficult for your to understand?

I'd also suggest that having a run in a with a college counselor and indicting a whole school on that basis is silly. It also ignores that every high school's counselors are tasked primarily with protecting the reputation of the school. I don't know any college counselors who are doin that instead of other jobs, if you know what I mean.

This is nonsense, nobody on this thread has argued that only material difference between BASIS college counseling and that at Sidwell etc. is one of mentality. But mentality isn't irrelevant.

We've been at BASIS long enough to know just how controlling and paternalistic certain admins can be. Families who can't afford private school develop strategies to help them circumvent public school roadblocks. We use a commercial transcript/midyear report forwarding service and generic recommendations. BASIS doesn't even have our full college list and doesn't need it. Not a big deal.

+1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I enjoy is the fact that BASIS is included in lists and sentences that also include top private schools where families pay a cool 50K per year per kid. The school is doing something right! If these expensive private schools aren’t better than BASIS I have no clue why anyone would fork over that kind of money. As a BASIS family, it’s not that we are willing to “settle” on our kids’ education. Quite the contrary. We believe BASIS offers the best free education we can get. Parents should strive for the best a school can provide, but if the yard stick is what a private school is offering, it’s entirely unrealistic. I do think parents can come together to bring about reasonable changes and improvements and I hope BASIS families keep cooperating on these matters to make the school as good as a free public charter school can be.

You've hit the nail on the head. This is DCUM in a nutshell. I am aware of no BASIS parents who walk around saying, "This is a better choice than Sidwell or GDS." What they (we) say is that this is an excellent choice in a free public education system and we feel lucky to have access to it. At which point people chime in to say it isn't as good as [insert private school or other schools not in DC].

What we say is that we can't wait to be done. Every BASIS family simply isn't jumping up and down about what an excellent choice the program was here in the 11th hour. Most of us make the best of BASIS, that's it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread echoes the typical refrain of admins when parents question how BASIS handles college counseling and applications. What you get is, don't complain, BASIS is free and has a fantastic track record in admissions. If you're unhappy it's because your kid isn't all that good.

I see room for improvement. Some DC privates competing with BASIS in admissions are adapting better to a changing admissions landscape.

For example there are privates and public schools in the burbs that have started advising seniors aiming for Ivies to take 1-2 Cambridge A-Levels in Nov of senior year. This approach gives rising seniors 5 months after the last APs they've taken whose scores come in time to go with Jan applications to prep for additional standardized subject tests. A-Levels are on a par with IB Diploma higher level exams. Cambridge scores help seniors stand out on college applications.

At privates, AP course work doesn't wrap up junior year. BASIS could offer seniors more flexibility but the franchise is set in its ways. If you doubt this as a BASIS parent, ask the college counselor about Cambridge exams.

LOL. Couple of things. First, does it surprise you that private schools have better and more resources to adapt? Second, the fact that you are comparing BASIS to DC privates is the point. It is a public charter school.

Private schools have the mentality to adapt, and to relentlessly build on students' academic strengths. We know that BASIS admits dozens of 5th graders who speak, read and write good Spanish, French or Chinese, coming from the DCI feeders. Yet BASIS does nothing to help immersion kids keep up language skills (even via after-school study financed by parents), and only permits study languages at the beginning level from 8th grade. In the same situation, private school admins would see an opportunity to build on skills that would support elite college admissions success up the chain.

You clearly know NOTHING about education, private schools and resources. The only thing more astounding than your ignorance is your unwavering confidence in the face of sheet ignorance.

If you think the only thing holding BASIS back from adapting like GDS, Sidwell and others can is "mentality" then you are beyond help.

BASIS parent w/no idea what you're complaining about. The school has its strengths, and obviously doesn't have anywhere near the resources of GDS or Sidwell, but there's still a mentality issue. Not a "mentality" issue.

When we asked the counselor about applying to colleges from a gap year, were were advised that gap years are a terrible idea, so we don't advise taking them. Why no gap years? Because BASIS wants (really really wants), the bragging rights to every impressive senior year admissions offer students get.

How was the problem resources in that situation? Please explain.

Not sure why or how this is that hard. PPP to whom I responded suggested (ne, stated) that the only difference between BASIS and privates is the mentality that allows them to adapt and change. When one is resource constrained one focuses on things one can control. Why is that concept difficult for your to understand?

I'd also suggest that having a run in a with a college counselor and indicting a whole school on that basis is silly. It also ignores that every high school's counselors are tasked primarily with protecting the reputation of the school. I don't know any college counselors who are doin that instead of other jobs, if you know what I mean.

This is nonsense, nobody on this thread has argued that only material difference between BASIS college counseling and that at Sidwell etc. is one of mentality. But mentality isn't irrelevant.

We've been at BASIS long enough to know just how controlling and paternalistic certain admins can be. Families who can't afford private school develop strategies to help them circumvent public school roadblocks. We use a commercial transcript/midyear report forwarding service and generic recommendations. BASIS doesn't even have our full college list and doesn't need it. Not a big deal.

Anonymous wrote:What I enjoy is the fact that BASIS is included in lists and sentences that also include top private schools where families pay a cool 50K per year per kid. The school is doing something right! If these expensive private schools aren’t better than BASIS I have no clue why anyone would fork over that kind of money. As a BASIS family, it’s not that we are willing to “settle” on our kids’ education. Quite the contrary. We believe BASIS offers the best free education we can get. Parents should strive for the best a school can provide, but if the yard stick is what a private school is offering, it’s entirely unrealistic. I do think parents can come together to bring about reasonable changes and improvements and I hope BASIS families keep cooperating on these matters to make the school as good as a free public charter school can be.

You've hit the nail on the head. This is DCUM in a nutshell. I am aware of no BASIS parents who walk around saying, "This is a better choice than Sidwell or GDS." What they (we) say is that this is an excellent choice in a free public education system and we feel lucky to have access to it. At which point people chime in to say it isn't as good as [insert private school or other schools not in DC].