Do some people just "jump" the wait list?

[Anonymous]

I ask because I have often heard parents recommending that other parents apply in the summer or check if there are any spots, because often times a spot will just pop up (I assume because a family has left). But this is for schools which are very competitive (at least entry wise) so I can't imagine they didn't have long wait lists.

How common is this?

[Anonymous]

Not every school has a wait list. Some actually have lowered enrollment (not by choice) and are still looking to enroll.

[Anonymous]

I know for a fact that even the most competitive schools will make a place if a "certain kind of family" (wealthy and connacted) moves to town and needs a spot or spots. Its not common but it does happen!

[Anonymous]

Yes this happens not just when the new adminuistration types moved to town but also if someone leaves a class then the admissions office tries to keep that balance -- so if a girl leaves, usually a girl then gets in kind of thing. This also can happen when say a basketball star or violinist leaves and may need someone to take their spot. That's for older grades when talents are more defined, but even in pre K, if a talkative kid leaves they may try to get that same kind of personality, as the Admissions Offices have a full picture of the class and know how to best achieve their vision (which is why so many 99%ile great kids don't get in everywhere as it is all about balance).

[Anonymous]

Of course this happens. Schools always say the wait lists are not numbered. So, it's not as if one kid is number one on a list and anothe kid is # 12 or whatever. That's because schools work to balance boys and girls, diversity and non, geography, etc. It is true a spot may open up as people have alluded to here for a big name or wealthy family, a diplomat, big CEO's family relocating here, etc.

[Anonymous]

All the above is true. What is also true is that many families on waitlists are also either accepted at different schools or have backup plans (public, moving, staying at current school, etc.) So the number of people actively on a waitlist by this time of year is starting to go down ... once a family has committed to pay tuition at a school or have sold their house to move, they are far less likely to accept a late admission offer off a waitlist, even if it was a cherished school.

[Anonymous]

Look at the Obamas. Do you think they actually applied to any of the area schools here? There are all sorts of special circumstances. I also hear the international families get to jump the line, too, depending upon some factors.

[Anonymous]

The wait list is not a line. It is a group of students who the schools are potentially interested in (or, for some schools, a group of students who applied and didn't get accepted, including some the schools are potentially interested in). The schools make no commitment that they will choose from the wait list in some order, or at all - it's not like the charter school lotteries.

[Anonymous]

I have known a ton of people to get in over the summer - and def. not all highly connected- K-8 and K-12 - def. make the call if you are willing to make the commitment.

[Anonymous]

Last September on the first day of school, I was dropping my son off at STA when I saw the director of admissions walking out of the lower school with a couple and their son who apparently had just matriculated that day. The couple had school brochures in their hands, and they were taking a picture of their son with the director of admissions. Looked to me as if he had just interviewed and been accepted and was set to start school that day. The couple did look quite polished.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last September on the first day of school, I was dropping my son off at STA when I saw the director of admissions walking out of the lower school with a couple and their son who apparently had just matriculated that day. The couple had school brochures in their hands, and they were taking a picture of their son with the director of admissions. Looked to me as if he had just interviewed and been accepted and was set to start school that day. The couple did look quite polished.

Umm, I know DCUM lives on rumors but the school brochures as proof the child had been admitted THAT DAY is pretty thin. Nevertheless, I don't doubt these schools will do summer admits for desirable students (defined as brilliant or well-connected or an athletic game-changer or a great minority candidate). In particular, summer admission is an old trick in these parts to direct admit athletes without going thru the full committee process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The wait list is not a line. It is a group of students who the schools are potentially interested in (or, for some schools, a group of students who applied and didn't get accepted, including some the schools are potentially interested in). The schools make no commitment that they will choose from the wait list in some order, or at all - it's not like the charter school lotteries.

I agree, but then I also feel bad for these parents asking about waitlist movement. It seems unfair to lead people to believe they are on a list that might grow, depending if more desirable applicants show up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last September on the first day of school, I was dropping my son off at STA when I saw the director of admissions walking out of the lower school with a couple and their son who apparently had just matriculated that day. The couple had school brochures in their hands, and they were taking a picture of their son with the director of admissions. Looked to me as if he had just interviewed and been accepted and was set to start school that day. The couple did look quite polished.

Umm, I know DCUM lives on rumors but the school brochures as proof the child had been admitted THAT DAY is pretty thin. Nevertheless, I don't doubt these schools will do summer admits for desirable students (defined as brilliant or well-connected or an athletic game-changer or a great minority candidate). In particular, summer admission is an old trick in these parts to direct admit athletes without going thru the full committee process.

Never claimed the brochures were "proof." In fact, I used the words "apparently" and "looked to me as if." When chatting on DCUM I apply the same standard of proof as I do at a cocktail party.

[Anonymous]

You don't even need to be polished. As a teacher, summer admits are often the children we are concerned about going into the school year. Often times (not ALL the times, but OFTEN times) these are children who were not admitted elsewhere, often because they present as high needs, but are taken to fill extra spots.

A lot of schools, especially those outside the big three, are hurting for enrollment because of the economy. If they hit mid-summer and are still low, some will relax their standards and just take bodies to fill seats.

I realize there are lots of reasons for students to still be applying in the summer, and not all are applying because they were rejected elsewhere. But this is OFTEN the case and is a major concern for teacher. This is one area where pedagogy and finances conflict.

[Anonymous]

Most of the privates in this area are NOT hurting financially ... refer to the threads discussing why it is that privates continue to raise their tuitions at rates above inflation year in and year out. One of the reasons they do is because they can ... demand still outstrips supply of spaces (for now and the forseeable future). Secondly, they continue to raise tuition so that they do not need to soften their admission standards too much if demand does fade off in the short term. I know for CERTAIN that our school has underenrolled K classes for several years because they did not wish to just take "warm bodies" over children and families that were likely to be successful and fit into the philosophy of the school. All schools have occassional years where underenrollment is tolerated financially to keep the school where it wants to be in terms of pedagogy, educational philosophy, ability of students, and so forth.