Turning down admissions offers

[Anonymous]

Is turning down an admissions offer and reapplying the following school year to the more exclusive privates heavily frowned upon? Our family is a having hard time determining which school year would be best to switch the kids to private due to some work issues. We are not sure how bad it would look to apply, be accepted, turn down, then reapply the following year?

[Anonymous]

It would be extremely unusual for a place like Sidwell, STA to give you a spot, have you turn it down and then give you a spot again the following year.
Maybe if you were an URM family with an Olympic athlete kid.

They simply don't have to play your games. They have plenty of kids they can take without wondering if you'll take the spot on try #2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is turning down an admissions offer and reapplying the following school year to the more exclusive privates heavily frowned upon? Our family is a having hard time determining which school year would be best to switch the kids to private due to some work issues. We are not sure how bad it would look to apply, be accepted, turn down, then reapply the following year?

Depends on the school. Do NOT turn Sidwell down. It's the Harvard of the USA's private schools so they never need to chase you. But at other schools maybe.

[Anonymous]

I think you’d be fine trying this at places like Flint Hill. Places like NCS/STA and Potomac probably won’t bother to give you a second chance without significant extenuating circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is turning down an admissions offer and reapplying the following school year to the more exclusive privates heavily frowned upon? Our family is a having hard time determining which school year would be best to switch the kids to private due to some work issues. We are not sure how bad it would look to apply, be accepted, turn down, then reapply the following year?

Depends on the school. Do NOT turn Sidwell down. It's the Harvard of the USA's private schools so they never need to chase you. But at other schools maybe.

Agree don't turn Sidwell down. But Harvard of the USA private schools? You seriously need to get out more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is turning down an admissions offer and reapplying the following school year to the more exclusive privates heavily frowned upon? Our family is a having hard time determining which school year would be best to switch the kids to private due to some work issues. We are not sure how bad it would look to apply, be accepted, turn down, then reapply the following year?

Depends on the school. Do NOT turn Sidwell down. It's the Harvard of the USA's private schools so they never need to chase you. But at other schools maybe.

Agree don't turn Sidwell down. But Harvard of the USA private schools? You seriously need to get out more.

Yeah, seriously.
The people that a big deal over the Big Three have no idea how insignificant they are to the Exeter/Andovers etc. of the prep world.

[Anonymous]

I think this would be a turn off at the majority of schools unless you're able to articulate a solid reason for turning them down and how that reason was rectified before applying again - but that might not even work everywhere.

[Anonymous]

It's not fair to your child to go to a school expecting to apply out the following year. Make the best decision you can with the information you have and trust that you are making a good decision. Also, you need to give it more than a few months to know if it's working.

[Anonymous]

Only you, OP, know if the hook that got your kids into the school the first time is big enough and strong enough to get them in again.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it OP. You have no way of knowing the admissions people's attitudes towards this and it could change between now and when you reapply based on whoever is working there. Take the spot now if you think you'll want it. Assume your child won't be accepted again.

[Anonymous]

"Some work issues" and the best time to switch are not a good enough reason to turn down an offer. You shouldn't have applied.

[Anonymous]

At this point in time, kids are lucky to have a spot at any of the regularly mentioned schools in this forum. Probably even BIM and things are just going to get worse in future years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it OP. You have no way of knowing the admissions people's attitudes towards this and it could change between now and when you reapply based on whoever is working there. Take the spot now if you think you'll want it. Assume your child won't be accepted again.

+1. This is how it works 99% of the time.

[Anonymous]

For a competitive school you will not be offered a spot again if you turn it down.

[Anonymous]

OP, you should avoid turning down schools. I know of people who reapplied and their children were not admitted. A bird in hand…