K Feedback / First Choice Letter

[Anonymous]

Our PSD said she doesn't get any feedback at all, so it's a bit of a black box as to where we should send our first choice letter. Is it true that schools don't give feedback around this time of year? How should we think about "love letters" vs. first choice letters? How many love letters can you send? We're worried about sending a first choice letter to a school that we don't have a shot at to begin with, so we don't want it to be a waste. I don't know how much weight schools put on the school reports though.

[Anonymous]

Following

[Anonymous]

Connected preschool. We had feedback from schools going into winter break. To my knowledge only a couple schools (HM and Collegiate) are known to be black boxes.

We sent love letters to every school we loved (I think we sent 3) and one first choice letter to our top choice. But we had feedback and knew that school was interested.

What does your PSD say to do? What have others from your preschool done in the past? Can't she guide you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our PSD said she doesn't get any feedback at all, so it's a bit of a black box as to where we should send our first choice letter. Is it true that schools don't give feedback around this time of year? How should we think about "love letters" vs. first choice letters? How many love letters can you send? We're worried about sending a first choice letter to a school that we don't have a shot at to begin with, so we don't want it to be a waste. I don't know how much weight schools put on the school reports though.

I think it's weird that your PSD says she doesn't get any feedback. No feedback at all, for anyone, from any school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our PSD said she doesn't get any feedback at all, so it's a bit of a black box as to where we should send our first choice letter. Is it true that schools don't give feedback around this time of year? How should we think about "love letters" vs. first choice letters? How many love letters can you send? We're worried about sending a first choice letter to a school that we don't have a shot at to begin with, so we don't want it to be a waste. I don't know how much weight schools put on the school reports though.

I think it's weird that your PSD says she doesn't get any feedback. No feedback at all, for anyone, from any school?

Agreed. Does she pick up the phone and call the schools her students applied to and talk to admissions? This is a very normal thing to expect of a PSD.

[Anonymous]

I'm many years out o this, but it's strange that your PSD claims not to get feedback. What school is this? It's a fairly normal part of the role for private preschools, and even the less-connected ones will have some form of communication with ongoing privates about their interest (or lack thereof) in specific applicants.

[Anonymous]

Yes exactly. We go to a good preschool but not one of these so called elite ones and our director gets feedback.

Does a love letter really do anything? What are you even supposed to say without saying you’re my first choice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes exactly. We go to a good preschool but not one of these so called elite ones and our director gets feedback.

Does a love letter really do anything? What are you even supposed to say without saying you’re my first choice?

We got into one of the schools we sent a love letter to. We just thanked them for spending time getting to know us/our child, reiterated what we loved about the school. They don't know if you're getting into our first choice letter school. It is worth writing a nice, non-committal letter to any school you'd send your child to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm many years out o this, but it's strange that your PSD claims not to get feedback. What school is this? It's a fairly normal part of the role for private preschools, and even the less-connected ones will have some form of communication with ongoing privates about their interest (or lack thereof) in specific applicants.

She claims that there is no communication until the last week of January, when it is kind of pointless to express a first choice. I don't know if the fact that there hasn't been any communication from private schools is indication of lack of interest in our application in general? Or if I am reading too much into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm many years out o this, but it's strange that your PSD claims not to get feedback. What school is this? It's a fairly normal part of the role for private preschools, and even the less-connected ones will have some form of communication with ongoing privates about their interest (or lack thereof) in specific applicants.

She claims that there is no communication until the last week of January, when it is kind of pointless to express a first choice. I don't know if the fact that there hasn't been any communication from private schools is indication of lack of interest in our application in general? Or if I am reading too much into it.

This is kind of crazy. Are there many others applying to private from this school? Do you know anyone who has been through it in the last couple years that you could ask? Other schools are getting feedback: PDS and admissions directors are talking and you should have some feedback before the new year.

That said, we didn’t send a first choice letter until the end of January, about two weeks before decisions. It wasn’t too late. I’m sorry- this process is stressful and your PSD isn’t making it easier.

[Anonymous]

OP what schools did you apply to? Maybe you can post here and anonymously on facebook groups (moms of the upper east side, etc) and you can see how much info others got and when for specific schools. I’m happy to share what I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm many years out o this, but it's strange that your PSD claims not to get feedback. What school is this? It's a fairly normal part of the role for private preschools, and even the less-connected ones will have some form of communication with ongoing privates about their interest (or lack thereof) in specific applicants.

She claims that there is no communication until the last week of January, when it is kind of pointless to express a first choice. I don't know if the fact that there hasn't been any communication from private schools is indication of lack of interest in our application in general? Or if I am reading too much into it.

I honestly can't remember when we got feedback, but we got it from all of the schools we applied to. First choice letters were discouraged by ISAAGNY back then, so we didn't need to write one. In any event, don't take lack of feedback as a negative. If they aren't interested, they aren't hesitant to say so.

[Anonymous]

Our PSD didn't get any feedback for us either. Connected preschool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our PSD didn't get any feedback for us either. Connected preschool

Yet? Or this is was last year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our PSD didn't get any feedback for us either. Connected preschool

Yet? Or this is was last year?

This year