Detroit Country Day School review by Yale University student.
Detroit Country Day School (DCDS) is a rigorous school that focuses on all aspects from math and science to arts to humanities to athletics. The school is made up of a lot of rich children that are not that competitive and maybe a handful of competitive and driven kids. If you succeed and are top of the school, you will go to the college of your choice. However, if you are an average student it is more beneficial for you to go to a public high school. Many kids receive mediocre GPAs and go to MSU (Michigan State University), when the could have attended public high schools, received better grades and gone to University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In the long run though, the name DCDS gets you far. The school's teachers are amazing and the teaching philosophy is to teach beyond the standard of average high schoolers. The school wants to prepare you for college and that it does. Class sizes are small, students build relationships with teachers, and the atmosphere is comfortable. Teachers go beyond the call of duty and are a great help when they are needed. Work load, however, is a lot. If you are struggling, though, teachers are there to help, as well as free tutors and tons of other support. On the other hand, if you are advanced, teachers will also work with you one-on-one and even design courses around you. It is rare that students are so advanced that they have to go else where because there are always more and higher level courses available.
My first discussion about college came in 8th grade. The school takes the term "prep.... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Detroit Country Day School as experienced by former pupil and Yale University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on college counseling
They have contacts at most of the major universities and feel perfectly comfortable picking up the phone and advocating for a student to get accepted somewhere they feel is a good fit for that student. However, these counselors are certainly not magic bullets. They cannot guarantee that a student will get into an Ivy League university...
For those wishing to move on to Oxford or Cambridge, the provision is second-to-none. In the months running up to application and interview, every subject faculty offers classes (often run by former Oxbridge tutors) exploring further areas of their subject as well as offering advice on personal statements, interview technique and more...
I entered in 6th grade and I took a series of math and English exams.... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Detroit Country Day School by former pupil and Yale University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on admissions
For the interview, dress conservatively. Try to be very clean and put together. Also, I was a tour guide for two years and at the end of every tour, we were asked to evaluate the candidate so if you think the tour is not apart of the process, you are very wrong. Ask questions and be interested. Also, tip for the parents: the kids speak on the tour. Do not ask their questions for them...
Most younger siblings have an easy time in the admissions process. I can only think of one case of a younger sibling not being admitted. About half of the students who entered with me had come from public schools. The remainder came from private K-6 schools, or had transferred from other New York private schools The Elizabeth Morrow School and St. Bernard were two of the larger feeder schools...
For students who live far away, there is housing available. It is rare, but these students live on campus with teachers and their families. The school cafeteria is good and accommodates all dietary restrictions. The food is "healthy choice" and there is a salad and sandwich bar if nothing looks appealing. The facilities are very nice, new computers, a computer help desk for your laptop, brand new performing arts center, fully equipped library, two gyms, weight room, etc. Everything is available to students and there are so many resources to uses. Teachers also try to use the resources to the.... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Detroit Country Day School as experienced by former pupil and Yale University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review