Anonymous
Post 10/29/2025 15:39     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anyone else experiencing some weirdness at preschool? Parents you are friendly with acting aloof especially after bumping into each other at the same ongoing school event?

This process is so strange.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2025 21:48     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For posters who are saying they liked “HM” more than expected - curious as to what you expected? New to this scene and perhaps it’s obvious but not to me. Thanks!


I expected it to be colder, more formal, and to feel the intensity. Don’t get me wrong, it’s clearly a very academic school. But the admissions staff was warm and welcoming.


Exactly. It was very diverse, which I liked. Very warm. This is for K admissions, so the pressure cooker part didn’t come out. The kids seemed nice and normal. I just felt like a family like ours (has some money, not flashy or cares to social climb) could find others similar to us. They take a good amount of public school kids, too, which I think enriches the student body.


My DC got in HM K from public school several years ago. We didn’t know at the time, but HM has a couple of kids from public in each grade. It is really nice not to have everyone from the same UES schools. The student body is pretty diverse.


Love to hear it. How is your DC liking HM?


DC loves it and made good friends. To our surprise, we also became good friends with several parents. Both of us did not know what to expect since we heard HM had reputation of being competitive and cutting throat.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2025 21:15     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For posters who are saying they liked “HM” more than expected - curious as to what you expected? New to this scene and perhaps it’s obvious but not to me. Thanks!


I expected it to be colder, more formal, and to feel the intensity. Don’t get me wrong, it’s clearly a very academic school. But the admissions staff was warm and welcoming.


Exactly. It was very diverse, which I liked. Very warm. This is for K admissions, so the pressure cooker part didn’t come out. The kids seemed nice and normal. I just felt like a family like ours (has some money, not flashy or cares to social climb) could find others similar to us. They take a good amount of public school kids, too, which I think enriches the student body.


My DC got in HM K from public school several years ago. We didn’t know at the time, but HM has a couple of kids from public in each grade. It is really nice not to have everyone from the same UES schools. The student body is pretty diverse.


Love to hear it. How is your DC liking HM?
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2025 21:03     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For posters who are saying they liked “HM” more than expected - curious as to what you expected? New to this scene and perhaps it’s obvious but not to me. Thanks!


I expected it to be colder, more formal, and to feel the intensity. Don’t get me wrong, it’s clearly a very academic school. But the admissions staff was warm and welcoming.


Exactly. It was very diverse, which I liked. Very warm. This is for K admissions, so the pressure cooker part didn’t come out. The kids seemed nice and normal. I just felt like a family like ours (has some money, not flashy or cares to social climb) could find others similar to us. They take a good amount of public school kids, too, which I think enriches the student body.


My DC got in HM K from public school several years ago. We didn’t know at the time, but HM has a couple of kids from public in each grade. It is really nice not to have everyone from the same UES schools. The student body is pretty diverse.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2025 09:45     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone visit Friends Seminary?


Yes. For high school. Before the change in leadership. Liked it a lot. If looking at Friends, also look at Grace Church.


What's the story with the "change of leadership" at Friends? I think the old person retired? Is that good or bad? Any knowledge of the new person?
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 07:33     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anonymous wrote:Anyone visit Friends Seminary?


Yes. For high school. Before the change in leadership. Liked it a lot. If looking at Friends, also look at Grace Church.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 01:00     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anyone visit Friends Seminary?
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2025 21:23     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anonymous wrote:Honestly, if there’s any cohort of kids who can emerge from Calkins unscathed it’s Horace Mann students.


Correct--the cohort in the least need of literacy instruction.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2025 20:54     Subject: Current K Applicants
Honestly, if there’s any cohort of kids who can emerge from Calkins unscathed it’s Horace Mann students.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2025 20:53     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anonymous wrote:I felt awkward when HM admissions started talking about how great Lucy Calkins is.


Eek.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2025 20:31     Subject: Current K Applicants
I felt awkward when HM admissions started talking about how great Lucy Calkins is.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2025 20:13     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anonymous wrote:Riverdale had a welcoming vibe and the campus is gorgeous.

Trevor day was underwhelming


I found Trevor Day overwhelming chaos. But seems to work for the right kid.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2025 20:11     Subject: Current K Applicants
Riverdale had a welcoming vibe and the campus is gorgeous.

Trevor day was underwhelming
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2025 13:59     Subject: Current K Applicants
Not surprised about Riverdale at all. We applied to HM but decided to cut Riverdale from our list - have heard too many stories of obscene wealth, bullying, othering. Didn’t feel like spending time looking at the school when there are so many others to look at.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2025 10:38     Subject: Current K Applicants
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:HM felt normal and not snooty, I know it’s top tier but it felt accessible. Riverdale gave us the opposite feeling.


That is how we felt as well. We are applying for K. My friend is applying for middle school and said the same thing.


We experienced this too (k applicant).