I would have to say the Maret Admissions Office was the most annoying. I almost did not want to post because I bet someone monitors this from time to time and would hate to give them any tips on improving. Not sure I agree with the posters who say she is a snob but she definitely has an agenda. I tend to support their agenda even if my could will reap no benefits from it. They create a relationship with those parents they wish to cultivate and have virtually no contact with others. Could be snobbery. Could be efficiency, could be bad manners.

Anonymous wrote:The AD for the middle school at the National Cathedral School was really frosty to us. To the point that, as we were leaving, I almost asked her what we were doing wrong, so we could do better at the next school. Thank goodness I didn't. Because, amazingly, DC got in. We turned NCS down, and the frosty AD was one reason (although not the only reason) that we turned it down.

We found the Maureen warm and gracious. Couldn't have been happier with our experience working with her.

Anonymous wrote:16:28 I think it's a big act. I don't want to open up the topic of Maret's W/L rejection. She's a closet snob, BTW.

I would argue that anyone who thinks Annie Farquhar is a snob doesn't actually know her. I can't even begin to imagine the basis for an argument that she is a snob.

The AD for the middle school at the National Cathedral School was really frosty to us. To the point that, as we were leaving, I almost asked her what we were doing wrong, so we could do better at the next school. Thank goodness I didn't. Because, amazingly, DC got in. We turned NCS down, and the frosty AD was one reason (although not the only reason) that we turned it down.

Anonymous wrote:This thread smacks of sour grapes. Just because you didn't get into a school there's no reason to slam the ADs. The timing if this thread is what gives you away.

ADs can be objectively snotty, not all, but certainly some (and DC got into an elite school). I don't see why we need to gloss over that fact of life here. Or worse, are you suggesting that we continue to suck up to them even when we're anonymous?

Anonymous wrote:That's your problem. I'm not going to share the details but it's true. In our case the AD office exhibited a curiosity about our stature in our profession that didn't sit right with me. I actually wish I had not learned this.

and a faculty member told you that?

That's your problem. I'm not going to share the details but it's true. In our case the AD office exhibited a curiosity about our stature in our profession that didn't sit right with me. I actually wish I had not learned this.

Anonymous wrote:8:04 Absolutely. It's what they ask about the parents that is eye-popping.

i find that hard to believe

8:04 Absolutely. It's what they ask about the parents that is eye-popping.

Anonymous wrote:I agree re: Maret. We were interviewed by some girl who was in her mid-to-late 20s. She was horrid.

some girl? was this recently?

Anonymous wrote:I've heard the same complaints about Sidwell this round (Middle School specifically).

We had a very odd experience applying to GDS for high school this winter. (I won't elaborate at the risk of identifying myself.) It had nothing to do with clicking with the AD contact. Rather, they were disorganized on several levels.

Maret is snooty. I'm the PP who knows faculty there. The AD pumps faculty members about applicants' families they (the faculty members) know. Believe me, snobbery is at work here.

fascinating. i can't imagine that when an applicant family puts on their application that they know someone on the faculty, the admission office might actually do their job and ask about them...

I agree re: Maret. We were interviewed by some girl who was in her mid-to-late 20s. She was horrid.

I should say the AD's office pumps faculty members.

I've heard the same complaints about Sidwell this round (Middle School specifically).

We had a very odd experience applying to GDS for high school this winter. (I won't elaborate at the risk of identifying myself.) It had nothing to do with clicking with the AD contact. Rather, they were disorganized on several levels.

Maret is snooty. I'm the PP who knows faculty there. The AD pumps faculty members about applicants' families they (the faculty members) know. Believe me, snobbery is at work here.

Anonymous wrote:Hey, Sidwell receives a lot of applications and has to reject a lot of good candidates, because they don't have enough space for everyone. I certainly wouldn't take it personally.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought Sidwell's admissions team was very warm, patient and welcoming.

You must not have been applying to the Upper School.

I really didn't take it personally. But the process was much less pleasant than at other schools where DC was also rejected or wait listed.