Feeling Incredibly Disappointed

[Anonymous]

Our child was waitlisted everywhere for 9th. I thought I was mentally prepared for this outcome since she only applied to a handful of top schools but I am surprised at how disappointed I feel. I am not sure how she is feeling because she had to run out to visit friends after she checked the results. She is coming from public school and will now stay in public school, which I suppose is fine. She has a nice group of friends, is doing well in school, and it will certainly be logistically and financially easier for her to go to our local public high school but it still stings. I, of course, think she is a terrific kid. So hard to know what these schools are looking for. I keep telling myself that everything happens for a reason and she will have a great high school experience no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, OP. It's really tough because there are so many great kids but only so many seats.

Fingers crossed that at least one of the WLs comes through. That happened to us a few years ago. It does happen.

[Anonymous]

This is hard but talk to her about her top schools above public. Then call or email once and tell them they will be your choice full pay if you get off waitlist. Then let it go.

[Anonymous]

She might get off a waitlist. Either way sounds like she will be fine. Wait until college applications. That is even more if a crapshoot but not to worry, they all land somewhere.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the exact same position (DD applying for 9th, waitlisted). Totally feel your pain.

I thought I was easy breezy about it, but she's more disappointed than I thought she'd be, and so am I! She too has a great public HS she can go to, but really, I thought it would be no problem for her to get in, and I was unprepared for this!! Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is hard but talk to her about her top schools above public. Then call or email once and tell them they will be your choice full pay if you get off waitlist. Then let it go.

This is Good Advice, OP

Also, we all know your daughter is fantastic and every mother in your place would be feeling the same. DC is just a crazy market because DCPS is so bad. If you are in a decent PS district count yourself lucky.

Most of my fiends whose kids didn't get in either sold their house and moved to FFX/MOCO or rented out their DC house until kids were in college and paid 2 mortgages

[Anonymous]

Right there with you. Two kids both waitlisted. Really disappointed about it for DS because the school we were applying for had the supports he needs. Our public school is just not cutting it.

[Anonymous]

Public is a great option. Good idea to vent to this board b”so you can then put on a brave face on with her. You know she is great and she will have lots of opportunities at the public school. We are so lucky in this area in that regard.

And yes, applying to private for 9th is really hard. There simply aren’t that many spaces. A waitlist is no reflection on her but rather the number of applicants.

[Anonymous]

I'm really sorry. 9th is so hard and Covid grading inflated GPAs so that almost everyone had straight As. I think the pool of "top" applicants was very large.

My kid made it in to a top school for 9th last year and it's been ok. My other two are in public. I really think I have a good perspective on the options and the private has just as many flaws as the public (different but just as many and we get to pay $50K for them). We are constantly wondering if we made a mistake. I mean, constantly. We signed the contract for next year and are still wondering if we should walk (and head back to public) in June when we're locked in.

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thanks for all of your kind words. Strangely enough, it helps reading them. I am going to feel the disappointment for the next hour and then just put it away before she gets back home. I realize there are much bigger problems in this world . . .

[Anonymous]

Is she at a private K-8 now? If so, get in touch with your current school and they may be able to help. In the meantime, do something fun with your kid. Remind her that many more girls apply than there are spots, etc. If you are not at a private now, decide which she likes most and write a first choice letter ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is she at a private K-8 now? If so, get in touch with your current school and they may be able to help. In the meantime, do something fun with your kid. Remind her that many more girls apply than there are spots, etc. If you are not at a private now, decide which she likes most and write a first choice letter ASAP.

No, she attends public school.

[Anonymous]

I really do think things work out some how in the end. She may find better extracurricular opportunities or find a friend group she'll have for life. There are huge advantages to public (more choices, more diversity, more choices of classes, local feel) and I've always been torn about our very good public v. private.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry OP! But college admissions is much better from public, especially DCPS. Hopefully that’s a silver lining…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is she at a private K-8 now? If so, get in touch with your current school and they may be able to help. In the meantime, do something fun with your kid. Remind her that many more girls apply than there are spots, etc. If you are not at a private now, decide which she likes most and write a first choice letter ASAP.

No, she attends public school.

Get that first choice letter out.