Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 18:58     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You have no idea whatsoever what kids are factoring into their choices, which schools they chose to apply to and which they did not, which schools they turn down any why, nor do you know what ADs are seeing when they choose a student.


I was on a board committee of one of these schools several years ago. The college guidance head at the time presented to us, and it was eye-opening. Sure, the school had the usual percentage of students going to "top 25" or whatever, but it was where kids had made other choices that were interesting. Many of the kids had gained admission to "higher ranked' schools but chose differently for specific programs or merit aid. so, someone might choose College of the Atlantic over a higher name school because of the marine biology program, just as an example.

But for at least the time I heard this presentation, it seemed to be quite normal. So when you look at those instagram pages, know that none of us have any idea where these kids were admitted, or what factors ultimately pushed them to one choice or another. Not everyone is chasing a "name" school, even from a "big 3"



I don't believe for a second that PP's explanation is normal. DC moms are already paying $40,000 for DC to attend HS. No way DC mom has DC skip T10 because of costs.


You have no idea who is paying what or where. Lots of kids have financial aid or relatives paying for high school who may not pay for college, etc. People lose jobs. People get sick or divorced.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 18:55     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
Actually, colleges do ask where both parents went to college and grad school, if applicable. Having said that, I agree that Yale wouldn't give a bump to children of Dartmouth alumni.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 16:32     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
Anonymous wrote:If a student gets into an Ivy, chances are the parents are legacy too or went to a different Ivy. Top athletes, First gen, and children of civil service workers seem to be the only exception.


What a weird understanding of college admissions. I'm curious, what does Yale do for children of Dartmouth alumni? As far as I know, colleges only ask if the applicant had any family attend the college, they don't ask where the parents attended. And when did children of civil service workers start to get boosts in college admissions? What would the rationale be for Princeton to let in the children of a bunch of GS-13s? Do you think they want more dads who were ties with short sleeve shirts? And according to the data from the Harvard affirmative action case, legacy admits as a whole had higher GPAs and SAT scores than other admits, even if their odds of admission were much higher than comparable applicants.

Anonymous
Post 10/23/2024 15:52     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
If a student gets into an Ivy, chances are the parents are legacy too or went to a different Ivy. Top athletes, First gen, and children of civil service workers seem to be the only exception.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2024 13:12     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Wrong.

Per capita BIM has the best college admissions of any private school in the DMV.

Already addressed a page earlier: “That's like saying Grenada had the most gold medals per capita at the Olympics. Mathematically true, but no one considers them to be an athletic powerhouse country.”
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2024 23:57     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
Anonymous wrote:Op - i don’t mind if you don’t believe it or if i am wrong. Was just an observation. It’s reflects well on the school and how colleges respect it.


GDS is full of wealthy families with advantages. You have to factor in student backgrounds as well as what they do in the classroom at GDS. GDS is really good at picking horses.

Anonymous
Post 10/22/2024 23:47     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
wtf is BIM?
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2024 22:17     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
Wrong.

Per capita BIM has the best college admissions of any private school in the DMV.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2024 21:12     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
Anonymous wrote:How do you know what activities GDS students are or aren't doing?

lol
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2024 19:13     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
Really, matriculations to top colleges from any HS are driven more by hooks than quality of school - and a lot of those hooks are legacy.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2024 19:13     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
Anonymous wrote:The top 5% at Jackson-Reed will have much better outcomes than a 4th decile unhooked student at any elite private school.

Why are you comparing apples to oranges?
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2024 19:00     Subject: GDS has the best college matriculation
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You have no idea whatsoever what kids are factoring into their choices, which schools they chose to apply to and which they did not, which schools they turn down any why, nor do you know what ADs are seeing when they choose a student.


I was on a board committee of one of these schools several years ago. The college guidance head at the time presented to us, and it was eye-opening. Sure, the school had the usual percentage of students going to "top 25" or whatever, but it was where kids had made other choices that were interesting. Many of the kids had gained admission to "higher ranked' schools but chose differently for specific programs or merit aid. so, someone might choose College of the Atlantic over a higher name school because of the marine biology program, just as an example.

But for at least the time I heard this presentation, it seemed to be quite normal. So when you look at those instagram pages, know that none of us have any idea where these kids were admitted, or what factors ultimately pushed them to one choice or another. Not everyone is chasing a "name" school, even from a "big 3"



I don't believe for a second that PP's explanation is normal. DC moms are already paying $40,000 for DC to attend HS. No way DC mom has DC skip T10 because of costs.