The Annual Waitlist / Waiting Pool Reality Check Thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While waitlists very occasionally move, the Gonzaga email confirming over-enrollment and no probably waitlist movement is, I suspect, the first of many.

I think that was a class move on Gonzaga's part and still strongly dislike how many schools use the waitlist as a nicer "no," giving parents false hope in the process.

It’s not a nicer no. It’s saying your DC is a good fit and we’d like to have them but it’s an issue of space and numbers.

A straight reject is saying no we don’t think it’s a fit.

Which would you rather?

I'd rather schools say "hey, your kid is qualified but we don't have the space so plan to go elsewhere." That happens to be the truth. Many schools waitpool all of their rejections and I don't think it's kind. Parents incorrectly think there is a decent chance of getting off of waitpools and it's misleading about something that is a big deal to families.

My bad. Our kids’ schools don’t use WL as soft rejects. They outright reject most applicants and being on the WL means you might have a chance of being admitted.

I agree it’s not kind to WL everyone or WL if there is no chance of moving off it.

[Anonymous]

I don’t believe in the waitlist everyone theory that goes around on this board. Just because people don’t post waitlist movement on DCUM doesn’t mean waitlist movement doesn’t exist. These rumors have zero factual basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t believe in the waitlist everyone theory that goes around on this board. Just because people don’t post waitlist movement on DCUM doesn’t mean waitlist movement doesn’t exist. These rumors have zero factual basis.

The schools flat-out say that waitlist movement is exceptionally rare. Potomac, GDS, Maret and I'm sure many other waitlist nearly everyone. Dozens or hundreds of kids. GDS even said that their waitlist movement is often in the single digits for the entirety of the school. That means that roughly 1% will get off the list.

Again, at least Gonzaga said that the show was over and that the waiting pool won't move so go to plan B/C/D.

[Anonymous]

They all say in letters it’s hard and unlikely but if you are a person they consider high on the waitlist, they might signal this. We were on several WL a few years ago and got off one - the other schools were friendly but the one we got off was more pointed in saying that they’d love to have a spot open up for our child and told us a timeline of when they were hoping to get info on availability & then called in that window.

[Anonymous]

None of them say "high on the waitlist" because they don't rank and go out of their way to say this. If I'm wrong, please quote the letter and school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of them say "high on the waitlist" because they don't rank and go out of their way to say this. If I'm wrong, please quote the letter and school.

Yes I know they don’t say ‘high on the waitlist’ but the words they used and the way things proceeded made it clear our child was absolutely high on their list - it was hours later that they called back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of them say "high on the waitlist" because they don't rank and go out of their way to say this. If I'm wrong, please quote the letter and school.

Yes I know they don’t say ‘high on the waitlist’ but the words they used and the way things proceeded made it clear our child was absolutely high on their list - it was hours later that they called back

Ps I am referring to verbal conversations during the process of getting off waitlists - not the letter (which of course either mentions nothing or says WL movement is rare)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of them say "high on the waitlist" because they don't rank and go out of their way to say this. If I'm wrong, please quote the letter and school.

Yes I know they don’t say ‘high on the waitlist’ but the words they used and the way things proceeded made it clear our child was absolutely high on their list - it was hours later that they called back

Agree. No one will tell you where you are on the WL but you get signals if you’re high. We were asked outright if your child is admitted will you accept. We said yes absolutely and were admitted the next morning. I was at the school two hours later with deposit check in hand.

[Anonymous]

I think waitlist reports are inflated. Many don't want to admit their child was rejected. Those on the waitlist do have a chance, most schools take at least a couple kids and if someone gets in, it might as well be your child. So if you care, contact the school, reiterate the reasons why that school is your top choice, why it would be a great fit for your child (add in any new accomplishments since apps were due), suggest how your child/you would be involved there (sports, service, drama, newspaper, etc.) and flat out state your child will attend if given a spot. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t believe in the waitlist everyone theory that goes around on this board. Just because people don’t post waitlist movement on DCUM doesn’t mean waitlist movement doesn’t exist. These rumors have zero factual basis.

The schools flat-out say that waitlist movement is exceptionally rare. Potomac, GDS, Maret and I'm sure many other waitlist nearly everyone. Dozens or hundreds of kids. GDS even said that their waitlist movement is often in the single digits for the entirety of the school. That means that roughly 1% will get off the list.

Again, at least Gonzaga said that the show was over and that the waiting pool won't move so go to plan B/C/D.

We were waitlisted at 2 schools and neither of them said that getting off the list is exceptionally rare. Cut the bull

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t believe in the waitlist everyone theory that goes around on this board. Just because people don’t post waitlist movement on DCUM doesn’t mean waitlist movement doesn’t exist. These rumors have zero factual basis.

The schools flat-out say that waitlist movement is exceptionally rare. Potomac, GDS, Maret and I'm sure many other waitlist nearly everyone. Dozens or hundreds of kids. GDS even said that their waitlist movement is often in the single digits for the entirety of the school. That means that roughly 1% will get off the list.

Again, at least Gonzaga said that the show was over and that the waiting pool won't move so go to plan B/C/D.

We were waitlisted at 2 schools and neither of them said that getting off the list is exceptionally rare. Cut the bull

Must not be competitive schools so sure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t believe in the waitlist everyone theory that goes around on this board. Just because people don’t post waitlist movement on DCUM doesn’t mean waitlist movement doesn’t exist. These rumors have zero factual basis.

The schools flat-out say that waitlist movement is exceptionally rare. Potomac, GDS, Maret and I'm sure many other waitlist nearly everyone. Dozens or hundreds of kids. GDS even said that their waitlist movement is often in the single digits for the entirety of the school. That means that roughly 1% will get off the list.

Again, at least Gonzaga said that the show was over and that the waiting pool won't move so go to plan B/C/D.

This is definitely not true at Potomac. We have kids there and each year, including this one, have had friends both waitlisted and rejected. We also know many kids who have gotten in off the waitlist in previous years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cute you wasted your monies on these schools when you will need it in a year to feed your children.

Wake up already

Congrats on the most inane comment of the night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cute you wasted your monies on these schools when you will need it in a year to feed your children.

Wake up already

Congrats on the most inane comment of the night.

Seriously, it’s obvious the PPabove has no idea the level of wealth at these schools. It’s not like the majority of families there are fed workers.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone get off waitlists today?