Anonymous wrote:Hello --

Just hitching my star to this thread, if you don't mind. Would you have an inkling of our chances to get our kids into either Sidwell or GDS next school year? Our son will be in 1st grade and daughter an incoming 3rd grader.

I've read through both websites extensively but just needed some input since they won't be transferring at entry-level.

Thank you so much.

For your 1st grade son, it's a complete crapshoot because 1st grade is not an entry year. He can be considered only if someone else is dropping out. And even then, it's hard to know if others will be seeking admission.

For your daughter, 3rd grade is an entry year. I can't remember the exact number, but I think they add something like 16-20 new students in 3rd grade. I believe the private schools FAQ has information about this. I've seen some things that suggest there are usually well over 100 applicants for those spots. Odds are tough, but better than for PK/K.

This is just a guess, but if your daughter is a strong candidate for 3rd grade, then I'm guessing they'd be more inclined to admit your son for any open spot in 1st. It might also depend on whether your son has other good school options available.

If you call the admissions people next week, they will probably give you better info. They're very nice on the phone. Good luck!

Hello --

Just hitching my star to this thread, if you don't mind. Would you have an inkling of our chances to get our kids into either Sidwell or GDS next school year? Our son will be in 1st grade and daughter an incoming 3rd grader.

I've read through both websites extensively but just needed some input since they won't be transferring at entry-level.

Thank you so much.

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

Sure, go ahead and apply in a year. Whatever. Just take the spot at GDS and see how it goes. My money says that your daughter will do fine at GDS and in a year you'll forget all about applying to Sidwell.

FWIW, Sidwell's after-school program is quite weak IMHO. Seriously, go for GDS already. Current SFS LS parent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I am admittedly a conspiracy theorist, but I still wonder if the "original post" is not just a "false post" (it just provides so many identifying details) made by one person trying to embarrass or discredit another admitted family. For example, why would the family of a child who already speaks Spanish at home, be looking for after-school Spanish enrichment opportunities?

I agree with you. But not with your question in bold. A child who speaks Spanish still needs to learn how to read and write in Spanish.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I am admittedly a conspiracy theorist, but I still wonder if the "original post" is not just a "false post" (it just provides so many identifying details) made by one person trying to embarrass or discredit another admitted family. For example, why would the family of a child who already speaks Spanish at home, be looking for after-school Spanish enrichment opportunities?

or just fake and stupid. We aren't talking to a real mom here.

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I am admittedly a conspiracy theorist, but I still wonder if the "original post" is not just a "false post" (it just provides so many identifying details) made by one person trying to embarrass or discredit another admitted family. For example, why would the family of a child who already speaks Spanish at home, be looking for after-school Spanish enrichment opportunities?

And fast forward to college and the OP will be obsessing about whether it is OK for her kid to go to Yale versus Harvard or Princeton, because Yale is only #2 in US News. This is a pretty ridiculous (worrying that GDS isn't academically strong enough?!!) and potentially damaging (to her poor kid) set of attitudes, particularly if this bad already. If she were asking about some other aspect of the two schools that actually is different (i.e. how religious is Sidwell-will my kid/family feel weird with the Quaker stuff, or "we are pretty socially conservative, is the emphasis on gay rights/acceptance at GDS intrusive enough to make us uncomfortable", or even "will my kid end up offending my formal friends and family by calling them by their first names after learning to call teachers by their first names at GDS") that would make some sense, but truly to worry about any significant difference in the academics of the two schools in terms of NMSFs and college acceptances for a kid that is in PreK is just crazy (and as one PP said, the numbers for both those measures are not significantly different, likewise the Cathedral schools, would argue GDS/Sidwell/StA/NCS and Maret and Holton are in the same academic range and any kid is going to be challenged by HS at all of them, and have similar college admission chances, so the choices for which is the best fit is going to come down to other factors besides academics).

Anonymous wrote: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.

She doesn't. I asked her that several posts ago. Her kids speaks Spanish and limited English, although OP calls her bilingual.

We just applied and got accepted to Sidwell for two DCs and I do not remember answering what colleges parents went to.

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.

First of all, you've been through the entire application process and all you know about the schools are their college stats?

Second, you determine which school is better by those stats. You look at your child and you look at the schools and you judge that way. And you should be prepared to change schools if what is initially a good match stops being a good match. (This happened with both my kids even though they were in schools that went through 12th grade).

Finally, Sidwell asks what colleges parents of applicants attended (which is not a typical question) and there is some feeling that they preselect ivy legacies. I got that from a Sidwell mom who is convinced of it.

OP, why did you even apply to GDS at all?

Anonymous wrote:

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.

And two years ago, the opposite was true. GDS had something like 15 semi-finalists in a class of 120.

I vote that you give up your spot at GDS. If you can't appreciate the school for its excellent academics, you shouldn't go there. But you dd won't get into Sidwell next year, either.

FYI - no dog in this fight. My kids are at Cathedral schools.

I agree I am kinda annoyed by this poster. You friggin' got your kid into a great school, one many posters would kill for, and yet you think it is some kind of poor consolation prize. GDS admissions clearly made a mistake accepting your family.

And I say this as someone going to a small monetssori school who never applied to gds because of price, so I'm just an objective observer. GDS is a great school and you don't deserve it!

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.

And two years ago, the opposite was true. GDS had something like 15 semi-finalists in a class of 120.

I vote that you give up your spot at GDS. If you can't appreciate the school for its excellent academics, you shouldn't go there. But you dd won't get into Sidwell next year, either.

FYI - no dog in this fight. My kids are at Cathedral schools.

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

No. GDS will probably not care much, but they will think you're a little foolish to put your child through the application process two years in a row when your child already goes to a terrific school.

My understanding from parents with kids at both schools is that at the lower school level, the schools are very similar. So I can't imagine why you would want to reapply to Sidwell next year when your child has will have already settled into GDS. It's just silly. If, at 3rd grade, you decide GDS is no longer a good fit for your child or family, then apply out for 4th grade.

And as others have said, if your kid was rejected from Sidwell this year (and not even waitlisted) , the likelihood of being accepted next year is virtually nil.

Good luck.