sidwell college results--does everyone have top grades or are they getting in kids into strong schools imperfect grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:but still OP's question is relevant. Do those w Top 30 postings all have 3.8+

No one here knows the GPAs of all the kids. This is ridiculous.

Does Sidwell provide access to scattergrams? That would be a way to see if kids with below a 3.8 got into Top 30 schools last year.

Yes, SCOIR data is available to students/parents right before 11th grade. Sidwell only shows data for the 3 most recent graduating classes (2020 to 2023).
The last time I looked, most of the Ivies admitted at least one Sidwell student with a GPA as low as 3.6 (during that 3 year period). One Harvard admit had a 3.1.
I assume he/she was an extreme outlier. Most Sidwell Ivy admits have a 3.8 or higher.

Based on that information, you shouldn’t be surprised that there are many Sidwell T30 admits with GPAs below a 3.8. That happens every year.

Won’t show the hooks.

Here’s part where someone tries to argue that the 3.1 wasn’t hooked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:but still OP's question is relevant. Do those w Top 30 postings all have 3.8+

No one here knows the GPAs of all the kids. This is ridiculous.

Does Sidwell provide access to scattergrams? That would be a way to see if kids with below a 3.8 got into Top 30 schools last year.

Yes, SCOIR data is available to students/parents right before 11th grade. Sidwell only shows data for the 3 most recent graduating classes (2020 to 2023).
The last time I looked, most of the Ivies admitted at least one Sidwell student with a GPA as low as 3.6 (during that 3 year period). One Harvard admit had a 3.1.
I assume he/she was an extreme outlier. Most Sidwell Ivy admits have a 3.8 or higher.

Based on that information, you shouldn’t be surprised that there are many Sidwell T30 admits with GPAs below a 3.8. That happens every year.

Won’t show the hooks.

Here’s part where someone tries to argue that the 3.1 wasn’t hooked.

I don’t think that anyone can credibly argue the 3.1 Harvard admit wasn’t hooked. With that GPA, my guess is that student was at least triple-hooked!

[Anonymous]

This year a majority of the Sidwell Ivy admits are unhooked. And most, if not all, of the hooked Ivy legacies are academically strong (at least 3.8).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year a majority of the Sidwell Ivy admits are unhooked. And most, if not all, of the hooked Ivy legacies are academically strong (at least 3.8).

And the 3.1? Hooked. Some of the others you think are not probably are.

Private school kids applying to selective colleges are more likely to be hooked. And/or full pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year a majority of the Sidwell Ivy admits are unhooked. And most, if not all, of the hooked Ivy legacies are academically strong (at least 3.8).

And the 3.1? Hooked. Some of the others you think are not probably are.

Private school kids applying to selective colleges are more likely to be hooked. And/or full pay.

The 3.1 Harvard admit isn’t from the class of 2024. He/she is from a previous Sidwell class. Yes, of course that person was super duper hooked.

Btw, some of you say that full pay isn’t a hook. Then, when you see all of these private school Ivy admits, you rush to the comments to say it’s because they’re hooked and full pay. Which is it?

[Anonymous]

I thought this was supposed to be the year that private school students received their comeuppance, regarding elite college admissions. Based on these IG accounts, and what I’m hearing IRL, nothing has changed. It’s still business as usual. Privilege continues to beget more privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think colleges don't know what the math I-IV track is and/or don't care. They don't need kids to come in doing theoretical math; the standard even for math majors and even in 2024 is Calculus. Beyond this they want interesting kids who stand out in different ways.

I completely agree! The last time I checked, even MIT doesn’t require calculus (although they strongly recommend it).

They also strongly recommend that you start over at Calc I again when you get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was supposed to be the year that private school students received their comeuppance, regarding elite college admissions. Based on these IG accounts, and what I’m hearing IRL, nothing has changed. It’s still business as usual. Privilege continues to beget more privilege.

Not everyone at a private school is privileged. They are privileged to be there, but that doesn't mean they come from privilege. At least, this is true of most non-public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think colleges don't know what the math I-IV track is and/or don't care. They don't need kids to come in doing theoretical math; the standard even for math majors and even in 2024 is Calculus. Beyond this they want interesting kids who stand out in different ways.

I completely agree! The last time I checked, even MIT doesn’t require calculus (although they strongly recommend it).

They also strongly recommend that you start over at Calc I again when you get there.

I would definitely heed that recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was supposed to be the year that private school students received their comeuppance, regarding elite college admissions. Based on these IG accounts, and what I’m hearing IRL, nothing has changed. It’s still business as usual. Privilege continues to beget more privilege.

Not everyone at a private school is privileged. They are privileged to be there, but that doesn't mean they come from privilege. At least, this is true of most non-public schools.

yes. the top boarding schools have a large percentage of kids on almost full aid.
Even the DC privates have up to 40% of kids on aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year a majority of the Sidwell Ivy admits are unhooked. And most, if not all, of the hooked Ivy legacies are academically strong (at least 3.8).

And the 3.1? Hooked. Some of the others you think are not probably are.

Private school kids applying to selective colleges are more likely to be hooked. And/or full pay.

The 3.1 Harvard admit isn’t from the class of 2024. He/she is from a previous Sidwell class. Yes, of course that person was super duper hooked.

Btw, some of you say that full pay isn’t a hook. Then, when you see all of these private school Ivy admits, you rush to the comments to say it’s because they’re hooked and full pay. Which is it?

You do realize that different people make different comments, yes? That some people consider full pay a hook and some don’t?

Being full pay is def a consideration for colleges and what better signals full pay than a HS with +$50k tuition?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being full pay is def a consideration for colleges and what better signals full pay than a HS with +$50k tuition?

You really think that being full pay matters at all for admission at T20 type schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being full pay is def a consideration for colleges and what better signals full pay than a HS with +$50k tuition?

You really think that being full pay matters at all for admission at T20 type schools?

It’s certainly a consideration for the families who may not be able to afford the tuition if they can’t get some aid. And the colleges know this. And they want to protect their yield, don’t they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being full pay is def a consideration for colleges and what better signals full pay than a HS with +$50k tuition?

You really think that being full pay matters at all for admission at T20 type schools?

It’s certainly a consideration for the families who may not be able to afford the tuition if they can’t get some aid. And the colleges know this. And they want to protect their yield, don’t they?

These schools are need-blind, have generous financial aid policies, and are rejecting tons of full pay applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being full pay is def a consideration for colleges and what better signals full pay than a HS with +$50k tuition?

You really think that being full pay matters at all for admission at T20 type schools?

It’s certainly a consideration for the families who may not be able to afford the tuition if they can’t get some aid. And the colleges know this. And they want to protect their yield, don’t they?

+1. Being full-pay also means you can apply ED, because you don’t have to compare financial aid packages. Applying ED is a huge boost.