<p>I'm looking at attending either Riverdale or the United Nations International School (UNIS) next year. How are these schools socially? Are the kids nice? How preppy/snobby are the students? Are students who enter grades such as 10th and 11th grade instead of 9th grade well received? </p>
<p>These are not typically discussed at all on this forum. NYC day schools aren’t usually discussed unless for an example or something similar to that. Run a search in the search bar and on Google, and you’ll find whatever threads or comments have ever been made on either school. Otherwise, all I can really tell you is to research and go with your gut. Make a pros and cons list. Just from the names, it sounds like UNIS might be more international and specialized, which might be the sort of thing you’re looking for or it might not. Congrats and good luck!</p>
<p>Riverdale and UNIS are very different. Riverdale has more of the snooty rep whereas UNIS is known for the international families…you may get more info on them if you go to <a href=“http://www.urbanbaby.com”>www.urbanbaby.com</a> and ask this question in their NYSchools section. GL </p>
<p>Go on UrbanBaby definitely, but don’t really take anything that people say too seriously. Riverdale is very tough to get into, with strong academics and sports. 9th grade is the prime entry year. Definitely more of a NYC privileged crowd. UNIS is in a different “world” so to speak - catering to expat families. They will be more lenient in terms of admission into 10th or 11th grade. Also consider Avenues and Grace. GL!</p>
<p>Agree with GMC2918 the urbanbaby site is hit or miss with information. Many times you get responses from ppl who have first hand knowledge of a school and are just repeating hearsay BUT once in a while you will get a current parent give you some good and honest insight. I have friends who went to Riverdale themselves but have chosen not to apply for their own dcs this past admissions season. I’d say visit both schools and see for yourself about their vibe. GL </p>
<p>Is there are reason they choose not to apply for their own dcs? </p>
<p>@Gambino5 they didn’t like the culture of the school for their dc. The felt like the student body had changed since their time there or maybe that they’ve matured and realized that was the vibe was all along…either way it was not a good fit academically and also socially for their kids. These are very well off families who wanted more of good social communities and less of the entitled feel</p>
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<p>I also went to Riverdale and chose not to send my kids there for K. However, I do think that the high school s more diverse and interesting, and I would have been happy to have my DD attend. It’s not what she wanted however, so we decided against it. Academically, it is very strong - certainly stronger than UNIS. Most of the private high schools accept quite a few new 9th graders, so the social “rep” of the lower/middle schools don’t necessarily follow through to the upper school. If you are able (I’m not sure why only RCS and UNIS?) look at Grace and Avenues. They are newer and may have more openings for 10th grade.</p>
<p>Just to clarify my friends who chose not to apply this past admission season were applying to 9th grade. I do agree with GMC2918…the newer schools like Grace Church and Avenues may have space. I know a few families at the Grace HS and they’re happy. There is also Leman (not sure of that’s the correct name since they’ve changed it a few yrs back)…they have a HS and may have spots. They aren’t as new as the other two but fairly new compared to the other private schools here in the city. </p>