How do quiet/shy children fare in the admissions process?

[Anonymous]

Parents of shy/quiet children, how did your child do in the admissions process?

The playdate feedback we have gotten has been positive, but the shy thing keeps coming up. We don't want to change our child but I am wondering if we'll get a fair chance in a competitive process.

Scores were great, recs were too (I assume), and we are easygoing and generous parents to the school community.

It would be great to hear some success stories for quiet kids being admitted!

[Anonymous]

No worries PPs. From what I have gleaned - ADs are just as interested in shy kids as they are in highly extroverted ones. Generally every room needs a mix of types and it would perhaps not be best to have a room full of identical/similar personalities.

Of course, some of this depends on how old your child is as well. Shyness is not much of an issue at lower grades -- but could be more important as they get older I would guess.

[Anonymous]

Can you imagine a classroom filled entirely with extroverted children? Agree with pp that schools are always looking for a mix of kids in order to achieve balance in the classroom. Don't be worried OP unless your child is so shy that she or he refuses to participate in activities.

[Anonymous]

No worries, OP. Shy DS is a Beauvoir alum and is now at STA. I was really concerned about his shyness during the admission process at both schools. The feedback that I received was highly positive. Both times, we were either enthusiastically told: we enjoyed meeting him/he had a wonderful visit. Very surprised that he enjoyed participating at Beauvoir's play date and loved his interview-visits at STA. The schools ADs assured me that his shyness would not be problem.

Just tell your DC what to expect that seemed to really help.