WOW - what if we applied all of this extra time and energy spent on attacking an FAQ that was only supposed to HELP give people more ways to do their own research into something useful.

How about putting this zeal and enthusiasm/anger into fixing our public schools, providing food for the needy, that pesky Global Warming or the Israeli/Palestinian land dispute?

Look PP.. im not going to go back and forth with you but as with EVERYTHING in life you have to do your own research. With that being said there is ALOT of good information in the OP.. No one should take one single bit of information and run with it but it's definitely a good start.

Wow, I'm amazed at how easily impressed you are pp and so many earlier boosters on this thread. You can find better research by just googling a name or a topic.

omfg you have GOT to be kidding me! You women are nuts! This is a very informative thread...

I wrote a poem (in sympathy with SAM2) which I posted on the "Big 3" sticky but I am proud of it so I'm posting it here too. (Who knows, I may seek a publisher next so that a wider audience in the world can read my private school doggerel.)

I was happy, oh yes, carefree,
When I first moved to DC,
Until I found out
And was crippled with doubt,
About something called "the Big Three"!

These schools of wonder and grace,
Each one a magnificent place,
My child would adore
To go through the door,
And emerge an Ivy League Ace.

But, alas! I learned of the debate
Which tangles DCUM forums with hate
Which ARE the big three?
Are they only in DC?
Or in a neighboring state?

Sidwell, Cathedral and St. Albans too
Will argue their "Big Three" status to you
Potomac, Maret, Georgetown Day
And the girls of Holton should have their say,
The laxers of Landon, the Georgetown Prep boys,
St. Stephens St. Agnes is making some noise . . .

Every child shouts: "My school is Big Three!"
. . . OH wait, that's their PARENTS . . .do pardon me!

The insanity grows. Jeff, good for you for giving an outlet for the people who are obsessed with whether their kid attends a school with a label ("Big 3") that I have actually never heard outside this board. For those looking for helpful posts with good links, SAM2's good work is still available. If you don't agree information in those links is helpful, ignore it and visit schools, talk to current parents, and form your own opinion. Ultimately, college admission (which I think is what the angst is ultimately about) will come down to your child's academic index (grades and scores) and any special talent (athletics, or being descended from you, Legacy Ivy League Mom or Dad). No matter the label "Big [insert integer here]," these are all excellent schools that will prepare your child well for the college they ultimately choose.

Anonymous wrote:Ok, just posted it. thanks.

Thank you. I've applied the magic sticky powder.

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree -- by virtue of the fact it is front and center...it has been endorsed..."actions speak louder than words"-- i.e. the action of having it listed first makes it an endorsement by Jeff. If it's so great ...it will find its way back to the top.

If there is any controversy over whether or not I have "endorsed" this FAQ, let me clear that up right now. I wholeheartedly endorse this FAQ as a useful resource for those interested in independent and private schools in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. There, I'm sure that will send it directly to the top of the best-sellers list.

Again, anyone who believes there are errors in the FAQ is welcome to submit corrections. You are even welcome to create an entirely new FAQ. If someone wants to create a FAQ that does nothing but address the question of "Who is the big 3?", I will make it a sticky (and also sell popcorn for the ensuring dust up).

Ok, I'll bite (I'm the PP who proposed an alternative definition for Big 3 that does not endorse any particular schools.) I'll post a "FAQ: Who is the Big 3?" thread now. Thanks for agreeing to make it sticky.

Ok, just posted it. thanks.

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree -- by virtue of the fact it is front and center...it has been endorsed..."actions speak louder than words"-- i.e. the action of having it listed first makes it an endorsement by Jeff. If it's so great ...it will find its way back to the top.

If there is any controversy over whether or not I have "endorsed" this FAQ, let me clear that up right now. I wholeheartedly endorse this FAQ as a useful resource for those interested in independent and private schools in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. There, I'm sure that will send it directly to the top of the best-sellers list.

Again, anyone who believes there are errors in the FAQ is welcome to submit corrections. You are even welcome to create an entirely new FAQ. If someone wants to create a FAQ that does nothing but address the question of "Who is the big 3?", I will make it a sticky (and also sell popcorn for the ensuring dust up).

Ok, I'll bite (I'm the PP who proposed an alternative definition for Big 3 that does not endorse any particular schools.) I'll post a "FAQ: Who is the Big 3?" thread now. Thanks for agreeing to make it sticky.

You just didn't know how valuable your endorsement was, did you Jeff?! Careful, though, reckless stickying risks tarnishing the brand.

Anonymous wrote:I agree -- by virtue of the fact it is front and center...it has been endorsed..."actions speak louder than words"-- i.e. the action of having it listed first makes it an endorsement by Jeff. If it's so great ...it will find its way back to the top.

If there is any controversy over whether or not I have "endorsed" this FAQ, let me clear that up right now. I wholeheartedly endorse this FAQ as a useful resource for those interested in independent and private schools in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. There, I'm sure that will send it directly to the top of the best-sellers list.

Again, anyone who believes there are errors in the FAQ is welcome to submit corrections. You are even welcome to create an entirely new FAQ. If someone wants to create a FAQ that does nothing but address the question of "Who is the big 3?", I will make it a sticky (and also sell popcorn for the ensuring dust up).

Someone intervened before my post went up: this is what I am agreeing with:

Compiling all of this data must have been very time consuming. It's a shame that a few bullies are picking on you simply because you identified the schools that most people refer to as the "Big 3"--even though this definition is often requested on this board. Kudos to you and please keep doing what you're doing--despite those who are trying to intimidate you.

I am in complete agreement with PP. You have shared useful information. When I first staring reading these boards 8 months ago, I thought Big 3 meant the ones I heard of when I moved to DC the first time in 1978: GDS/Cathedral Schools/Sidwell. (Sorry to all the others who have chosen other schools.) I moved away and then came back in 1993 and never heard of Maret until 1994 when a work colleague enrolled his daughter. (No kids until much later.)

It is amazing how snarky and mean people can be in DCUM when behind the luxury of anonymity. I am both appalled and fascinated.

SAM2: your summary is helpful to those new to city, these boards and the private school scene. If you got constructive criticism, I would modify. Otherwise, I think you have saved lots of people time in searching these boards for info or readers who see the same questions again and again. You have been open in identifying your sources and methodology. People can take what they find useful and do their own research. This is not an academic paper up for peer review for a degree, a government report or a newspaper article. But you are very brave to make this attempt. This board sometimes has all the ambience of a cobra's nest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that Jeff has endorsed this Stay at Home Anonymous poster -- people may rely to their detriment on her postings. That's not good.

Whether Jeff has endorsed this thread or not, it would appear it has some official status as it is on top of the forum. This space is usually reserved for moderator sanctioned threads. While the OP may want to be of service, it is concerning that part of her "data on test scores and other academic awards is compiled" http://fwd4.me/Jes which includes stats grid is speculative, incomplete, inaccurate. Yes there are some accuracies, but she is relying own questionable data which is incomplete and she fails to cite references with footnotes (Wikipedia style) or even assign years for this data. The fact of the matter is that the grid is incorrect. I would not mind her post if it were not tacked on at the top of the private school forums - which makes it look official. No one elected this person moderator or deemed her to be fair and her data is skewed. It is misleading that she has taken it upon herself to post her thread at the top of the forum.

I feel strongly the post needs to be removed from it's current status at the top of the forum.

Please consider this Jeff.
Thank you!!

I agree -- by virtue of the fact it is front and center...it has been endorsed..."actions speak louder than words"-- i.e. the action of having it listed first makes it an endorsement by Jeff. If it's so great ...it will find its way back to the top.

SAM2,

Compiling all of this data must have been very time consuming. It's a shame that a few bullies are picking on you simply because you identified the schools that most people refer to as the "Big 3"--even though this definition is often requested on this board. Kudos to you and please keep doing what you're doing--despite those who are trying to intimidate you.

Anonymous wrote:Dear SAM2,
You have done a great job in terms of your original FAQ post, your willingness to add and amend as necessary, and your incredibly polite responses to many of the responsive posts that were less than balanced in tone (and that is an understatement). I am really sorry that you had to come in for such abuse, but please know your efforts are appreciated by many. If it's any consolation, the responsive posts certainly validated your conclusions as to which subjects are controversial! (Now anybody starting a thread on "what schools are in the Big 3" MUST be looking for an argument!) Again, kudos and thanks.