Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 15:43     Subject: Re:Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:More on the letter....and role of parents vs students


https://www.today.com/parents/college-counselor-warns-parents-stop-sabotaging-other-kids-t151612


This letter makes me think of the classic salesman who overpromises and the poor operations person who has to tell the customer the salesman overpromised.

All these schools market on ivy league dreams, and then guidance is the one that gets arrows for delivery the truth.

Caveat emptor.


Not a Sidwell parent, but Sidwell and other schools absolutely DO NOT market on ivy league dreams. It is supposed to be about the secondary school experience and skills developed for the future. If families are viewing these schools as a way into certain colleges, that is their assumption and their problem if it doesn't pan out. Sidwell doesn't even publish college placement results and other schools give broad brush strokes. They do this for a reason - some accuse them of lack of transparency but it has more to do with not setting up false expectations or "marketing on ivy league dreams."


Hmm. While waiting in the admissions office during DC's interview, the only thing on the coffee table was a Sidwell magazine with an article on .... Sidwell's college placement announcements.


When was this. I would like to find the specific issue.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 15:16     Subject: Re:Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:More on the letter....and role of parents vs students


https://www.today.com/parents/college-counselor-warns-parents-stop-sabotaging-other-kids-t151612


This letter makes me think of the classic salesman who overpromises and the poor operations person who has to tell the customer the salesman overpromised.

All these schools market on ivy league dreams, and then guidance is the one that gets arrows for delivery the truth.

Caveat emptor.


Not a Sidwell parent, but Sidwell and other schools absolutely DO NOT market on ivy league dreams. It is supposed to be about the secondary school experience and skills developed for the future. If families are viewing these schools as a way into certain colleges, that is their assumption and their problem if it doesn't pan out. Sidwell doesn't even publish college placement results and other schools give broad brush strokes. They do this for a reason - some accuse them of lack of transparency but it has more to do with not setting up false expectations or "marketing on ivy league dreams."


Hmm. While waiting in the admissions office during DC's interview, the only thing on the coffee table was a Sidwell magazine with an article on .... Sidwell's college placement announcements.


OK, but again that was a magazine full of articles on the school and you chose to focus in a college lists.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 14:24     Subject: Re:Sidwell college advisor leaves
<<Sidwell's college placement announcements.>>

I have never seen that in print...
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 14:08     Subject: Re:Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:More on the letter....and role of parents vs students


https://www.today.com/parents/college-counselor-warns-parents-stop-sabotaging-other-kids-t151612


This letter makes me think of the classic salesman who overpromises and the poor operations person who has to tell the customer the salesman overpromised.

All these schools market on ivy league dreams, and then guidance is the one that gets arrows for delivery the truth.

Caveat emptor.


Not a Sidwell parent, but Sidwell and other schools absolutely DO NOT market on ivy league dreams. It is supposed to be about the secondary school experience and skills developed for the future. If families are viewing these schools as a way into certain colleges, that is their assumption and their problem if it doesn't pan out. Sidwell doesn't even publish college placement results and other schools give broad brush strokes. They do this for a reason - some accuse them of lack of transparency but it has more to do with not setting up false expectations or "marketing on ivy league dreams."


Hmm. While waiting in the admissions office during DC's interview, the only thing on the coffee table was a Sidwell magazine with an article on .... Sidwell's college placement announcements.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 14:06     Subject: Sidwell college advisor leaves
^^^^

Please point to a web page or brochure or comment made by Admissions staff or campus tour guides that trades on post-high school colleges for new alum.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 13:41     Subject: Re:Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:More on the letter....and role of parents vs students


https://www.today.com/parents/college-counselor-warns-parents-stop-sabotaging-other-kids-t151612


This letter makes me think of the classic salesman who overpromises and the poor operations person who has to tell the customer the salesman overpromised.

All these schools market on ivy league dreams, and then guidance is the one that gets arrows for delivery the truth.

Caveat emptor.


Not a Sidwell parent, but Sidwell and other schools absolutely DO NOT market on ivy league dreams. It is supposed to be about the secondary school experience and skills developed for the future. If families are viewing these schools as a way into certain colleges, that is their assumption and their problem if it doesn't pan out. Sidwell doesn't even publish college placement results and other schools give broad brush strokes. They do this for a reason - some accuse them of lack of transparency but it has more to do with not setting up false expectations or "marketing on ivy league dreams."



Sure, pal. Right on.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 13:17     Subject: Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:

Not all schools answer that demand with state-of-the-art gyms and green middle schools that get covered in architectural magazines. Yes, there are other schools in the area with great facilities. But these schools aren’t claiming Quaker values.


The campus physical plant hadn't been touched for 50 years. When renovating, they did a green addition to an existing building, converted the gym to a meeting house and built a new gym. I am not sure what is wrong with that. I would hope doing such renovation on any campus would be state of the art for the time it was built. Do you expect them to run their campus on oil and coal?
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 13:12     Subject: Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A school charging the tuition SFS charges is not one that espouses Quaker values. It’s really more of a gimmick now.


It's not a gimmick at the lower and middle schools.


Parents what resources for their kids. It costs money. That is why the schools charge money. The parochial schools are subsidized by the Church. Independent schools don't have that luxury.


Not all schools answer that demand with state-of-the-art gyms and green middle schools that get covered in architectural magazines. Yes, there are other schools in the area with great facilities. But these schools aren’t claiming Quaker values.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 13:08     Subject: Sidwell college advisor leaves
Perhaps the schools could demonstrate that Ivy isn't the end all by diversifying their Governing Boards. Most members seem to have an Ivy/Stanford/MIT undergrad or grad degree.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 13:00     Subject: Re:Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:More on the letter....and role of parents vs students


https://www.today.com/parents/college-counselor-warns-parents-stop-sabotaging-other-kids-t151612


This letter makes me think of the classic salesman who overpromises and the poor operations person who has to tell the customer the salesman overpromised.

All these schools market on ivy league dreams, and then guidance is the one that gets arrows for delivery the truth.

Caveat emptor.


Not a Sidwell parent, but Sidwell and other schools absolutely DO NOT market on ivy league dreams. It is supposed to be about the secondary school experience and skills developed for the future. If families are viewing these schools as a way into certain colleges, that is their assumption and their problem if it doesn't pan out. Sidwell doesn't even publish college placement results and other schools give broad brush strokes. They do this for a reason - some accuse them of lack of transparency but it has more to do with not setting up false expectations or "marketing on ivy league dreams."
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 12:48     Subject: Re:Sidwell college advisor leaves
The parents of these students ALREADY have established a terrific network for their kids just by sending them to Sidwell. And I get that after spending so much money, they might feel disappointed that their kid isn't the one the school encourages to apply to the Ivies but these kids are going to be just fine in life. Their greatest challenge might be their affluence, not that they got "only" into a place like Amherst. Sheesh, people.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 12:31     Subject: Re:Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:More on the letter....and role of parents vs students


https://www.today.com/parents/college-counselor-warns-parents-stop-sabotaging-other-kids-t151612


This letter makes me think of the classic salesman who overpromises and the poor operations person who has to tell the customer the salesman overpromised.

All these schools market on ivy league dreams, and then guidance is the one that gets arrows for delivery the truth.

Caveat emptor.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 10:41     Subject: Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A school charging the tuition SFS charges is not one that espouses Quaker values. It’s really more of a gimmick now.


It's not a gimmick at the lower and middle schools.


Parents what resources for their kids. It costs money. That is why the schools charge money. The parochial schools are subsidized by the Church. Independent schools don't have that luxury.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 10:17     Subject: Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:A school charging the tuition SFS charges is not one that espouses Quaker values. It’s really more of a gimmick now.


It's not a gimmick at the lower and middle schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2019 10:13     Subject: Sidwell college advisor leaves
Anonymous wrote:This is all ridiculous. This has been brewing for years. I have had a child at this school for years and this graduating class is famous for being a large outlier.

Please don't forget - this is Sasha Obama's class and a grandchild of Joe Biden. Do you think for a moment that the parents applying their children into this class didn't know that? They had delusions of grandeur of hobnobbing with the Obamas/Bidens. These parents had little care for a Quaker education/values. Rather, it is full of climbers and movers and shakers. There are lots of hyper aggressive Finance and Journalist types who stop at nothing to get what they want.

Sorry to tell you, with little exception, Sidwell parents are normal and boring. They love Quaker values and wouldnt think of doing this.

The allure of being close to a popular (now ex) President, attracted a certain type. Once this class and its parents graduate, youll see a lot of normal boring move along scenes.


also, this is a Capital Campaign class as well which means the class was filled initially as Sidwell was trying to raise lots of $$$. This also sets up expectations among some parents. The non-Capital Campaign classes have a much different vibe, much more low key.