Reenrollment contracts due before decisions from other schools?

[Anonymous]

Is it common at DC privates to have enrollment contracts due before families learn whether they are admitted to other schools?

I guess I understand that schools need to know if they have room, but how could you possibly switch without knowing if you are admitted elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

Yes, this is the way it has always been. Be prepared to forfeit your deposit at the current school.

[Anonymous]

If you have a good relationship at your current school and let them know the situation they may allow you to hold off committing.

[Anonymous]

It makes sense because otherwise how do they know how many offers to make?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It makes sense because otherwise how do they know how many offers to make?

Yes, I suppose it is a conundrum for both sides.

[Anonymous]

yep. The cost of switching schools has always been the $1000-2000 deposit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes sense because otherwise how do they know how many offers to make?

Yes, I suppose it is a conundrum for both sides.

It's not a conundrum for the school at all. It is for parents who may want to leave, but aren't sure. If you really wanted to leave, then you wouldn't sign the reenrollment contract regardless of where else you kid got in.

[Anonymous]

Every year. Schools place the burden of risk on parents. And they get the extra cash if a family moves after paying the deposit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every year. Schools place the burden of risk on parents. And they get the extra cash if a family moves after paying the deposit.

It doesn’t seem unreasonable at all. Why would the school finance the risk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it common at DC privates to have enrollment contracts due before families learn whether they are admitted to other schools?

I guess I understand that schools need to know if they have room, but how could you possibly switch without knowing if you are admitted elsewhere?

You can't. You take the risk, not the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every year. Schools place the burden of risk on parents. And they get the extra cash if a family moves after paying the deposit.

It doesn’t seem unreasonable at all. Why would the school finance the risk?

Exactly. Especially for families who want to leave. Business first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every year. Schools place the burden of risk on parents. And they get the extra cash if a family moves after paying the deposit.

It doesn’t seem unreasonable at all. Why would the school finance the risk?

Exactly. Especially for families who want to leave. Business first.

Well if everyone could be adults about it, the schools could ask if families definitely intend to re-enroll or if they are looking at other schools. They would then know how many seats they definitely have to fill and how many others they may have to fill. They could set the deposit deadline for the second group soon a few days after admission decisions are announced, at which point they could make a second round of offers from the wait list for any seats that open up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every year. Schools place the burden of risk on parents. And they get the extra cash if a family moves after paying the deposit.

It doesn’t seem unreasonable at all. Why would the school finance the risk?

Exactly. Especially for families who want to leave. Business first.

Well if everyone could be adults about it, the schools could ask if families definitely intend to re-enroll or if they are looking at other schools. They would then know how many seats they definitely have to fill and how many others they may have to fill. They could set the deposit deadline for the second group soon a few days after admission decisions are announced, at which point they could make a second round of offers from the wait list for any seats that open up.

Or they could make the deposit refundable within 30 days or so, which would press families to decide very quickly if they get an offer from another school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every year. Schools place the burden of risk on parents. And they get the extra cash if a family moves after paying the deposit.

It doesn’t seem unreasonable at all. Why would the school finance the risk?

Exactly. Especially for families who want to leave. Business first.

Well if everyone could be adults about it, the schools could ask if families definitely intend to re-enroll or if they are looking at other schools. They would then know how many seats they definitely have to fill and how many others they may have to fill. They could set the deposit deadline for the second group soon a few days after admission decisions are announced, at which point they could make a second round of offers from the wait list for any seats that open up.

Except that applicants who you hold until the second round got first round offers elsewhere. No school is going to risk losing a great applicant to another school who admits them first without at least having a deposit from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this is the way it has always been. Be prepared to forfeit your deposit at the current school.

+1. Consider the deposit a tax for squatting on a seat that you intend to vacate.