Kindergarten Decisions: How is everyone doing today?

[Anonymous]

Now that the dust has settled on today’s deadline, how is everyone feeling?

Are you celebrating, disappointed, or still waiting to get off the waitlist?

This process was a rollercoaster-hope everyone is doing okay!

[Anonymous]

Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

Congratulations! Sounds like you had a very positive outcome in a hard year!

What do you mean surprised by the call form Trinity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

Congratulations! Sounds like you had a very positive outcome in a hard year!

What do you mean surprised by the call form Trinity?

Everyone just talks about how impossible it is to get in, and our school is not even well connected to Trinity (only legacies have been admitted) and so I was pleasantly surprised we made the cut after committee despite being relative nobodies.

Overall I’d say everyone should shoot their shot and try their best- don’t get discouraged if you’re not legacy or famous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

Congratulations! Sounds like you had a very positive outcome in a hard year!

What do you mean surprised by the call form Trinity?

Everyone just talks about how impossible it is to get in, and our school is not even well connected to Trinity (only legacies have been admitted) and so I was pleasantly surprised we made the cut after committee despite being relative nobodies.

Sorry, another question. What do mean the cut after committee?

Overall I’d say everyone should shoot their shot and try their best- don’t get discouraged if you’re not legacy or famous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

Congratulations! Sounds like you had a very positive outcome in a hard year!

What do you mean surprised by the call form Trinity?

Everyone just talks about how impossible it is to get in, and our school is not even well connected to Trinity (only legacies have been admitted) and so I was pleasantly surprised we made the cut after committee despite being relative nobodies.

Sorry, another question. What do mean the cut after committee?

Overall I’d say everyone should shoot their shot and try their best- don’t get discouraged if you’re not legacy or famous!

My understanding is that after child visits, they rank kids and take only a selection of these candidates to committee, which they then vote on to give a potential spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

Congratulations! Sounds like you had a very positive outcome in a hard year!

What do you mean surprised by the call form Trinity?

Everyone just talks about how impossible it is to get in, and our school is not even well connected to Trinity (only legacies have been admitted) and so I was pleasantly surprised we made the cut after committee despite being relative nobodies.

Sorry, another question. What do mean the cut after committee?

Overall I’d say everyone should shoot their shot and try their best- don’t get discouraged if you’re not legacy or famous!

My understanding is that after child visits, they rank kids and take only a selection of these candidates to committee, which they then vote on to give a potential spot.

Got it. Thank you!

So going to committee means you’re in the final running. I guess what we don’t know is how many people are in that pool. Do they analyze 25 kids for 1 spot? More? Fewer? These are the things we never know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

Congratulations! Sounds like you had a very positive outcome in a hard year!

What do you mean surprised by the call form Trinity?

Everyone just talks about how impossible it is to get in, and our school is not even well connected to Trinity (only legacies have been admitted) and so I was pleasantly surprised we made the cut after committee despite being relative nobodies.

Sorry, another question. What do mean the cut after committee?

Overall I’d say everyone should shoot their shot and try their best- don’t get discouraged if you’re not legacy or famous!

My understanding is that after child visits, they rank kids and take only a selection of these candidates to committee, which they then vote on to give a potential spot.

Got it. Thank you!

So going to committee means you’re in the final running. I guess what we don’t know is how many people are in that pool. Do they analyze 25 kids for 1 spot? More? Fewer? These are the things we never know!

Yeah no idea number of kids going to committee! Even after they decide on kids after committee it’s unclear how many kids they are actually juggling because this is the final horse trading- some kids won’t say it’s their first choice, for some it’s first choice and even then I’ve heard Trinity will do last minute changes to admissions decisions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

You say you're overall happy-- didn't you end up at your first choice? Or am I misunderstanding?

And "only" had one TT offer and one 2T offer. If you can only enroll in one school and you get your first choice, does it matter that you get no more offers? Maybe I'm reading too much into the "overall" and "only" in your post.

We're going through the process next year and if I only get one offer from my top choice school, I'd be drinking champagne.

[Anonymous]

Excited over here. It is a roller coaster of a process. I agree it is a bit more child driven than I anticipated- and I see that as a good thing. I don’t envy the admission professionals given all the factors to consider for a kid and family. Given the quantity of applicants, I think a little luck also had to help us along the way. Overwhelming to do the math, such as 200-300 parents showing up to Chapin’s final in-person event, acceptance rates are something to mentally prepare for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

You say you're overall happy-- didn't you end up at your first choice? Or am I misunderstanding?

And "only" had one TT offer and one 2T offer. If you can only enroll in one school and you get your first choice, does it matter that you get no more offers? Maybe I'm reading too much into the "overall" and "only" in your post.

We're going through the process next year and if I only get one offer from my top choice school, I'd be drinking champagne.

Oh we are very happy but like the other poster said it’s a rollercoaster. The school that accepted us was the last of our schools to notify so it was a real nail biter. And even in the last weeks as we “turned down” other schools by not giving them first choice we kept second guessing ourselves. You kind of fall in love with a few because you don’t know where things will work out in the end, so it’s also hard to accept after all the work, all the people you meet, all the enthusiasm that you shared — that suddenly you’re not actually going there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

You say you're overall happy-- didn't you end up at your first choice? Or am I misunderstanding?

And "only" had one TT offer and one 2T offer. If you can only enroll in one school and you get your first choice, does it matter that you get no more offers? Maybe I'm reading too much into the "overall" and "only" in your post.

We're going through the process next year and if I only get one offer from my top choice school, I'd be drinking champagne.

Oh we are very happy but like the other poster said it’s a rollercoaster. The school that accepted us was the last of our schools to notify so it was a real nail biter. And even in the last weeks as we “turned down” other schools by not giving them first choice we kept second guessing ourselves. You kind of fall in love with a few because you don’t know where things will work out in the end, so it’s also hard to accept after all the work, all the people you meet, all the enthusiasm that you shared — that suddenly you’re not actually going there!

What would have happened if the last school to notify had said no to you? Would you have been able to go back to the other schools that you didn’t give first choice to and have them reconsider, or would it have been too late by then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

You say you're overall happy-- didn't you end up at your first choice? Or am I misunderstanding?

And "only" had one TT offer and one 2T offer. If you can only enroll in one school and you get your first choice, does it matter that you get no more offers? Maybe I'm reading too much into the "overall" and "only" in your post.

We're going through the process next year and if I only get one offer from my top choice school, I'd be drinking champagne.

Oh we are very happy but like the other poster said it’s a rollercoaster. The school that accepted us was the last of our schools to notify so it was a real nail biter. And even in the last weeks as we “turned down” other schools by not giving them first choice we kept second guessing ourselves. You kind of fall in love with a few because you don’t know where things will work out in the end, so it’s also hard to accept after all the work, all the people you meet, all the enthusiasm that you shared — that suddenly you’re not actually going there!

What would have happened if the last school to notify had said no to you? Would you have been able to go back to the other schools that you didn’t give first choice to and have them reconsider, or would it have been too late by then?

Our safety accepted us so there was that but regardless we would have worked the waitlists!! I’m curious how people did with the waitlists in the end!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

Awesome. Anything in particular that made your kid shine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Overall we are happy with the outcome but it was certainly stressful. Outcome is much more based on the kid than I anticipated.

My family is financially comfortable for Manhattan but by no means are we wealthy or super connected so I had low expectations. Surprisingly we had great opportunities based on our kid’s performance- but being at a connected preschool we ultimately only had one TT offer, one 2T offer and 5 TT waitlists. In January our PSD was called by Dalton, Trinity and SS to see if they were our family’s first choice. Since they were not, we were waitlisted but we were admitted into our TT first choice. We were surprised by the call from Trinity given everything we’d heard.

At the same time, we heard a friend of a friend who is extremely wealthy ($1b+ family money) and used their connections to get recommendations at a few TT schools. I assumed this would guarantee entry. However the kid is spoiled and was unprepared for the activities at visits, and parents did not worry too much assuming connections would work out. Kid was flat out rejected despite these connections. Parents are shocked, scrambling now for something else. I feel bad - he is four after all - but it gave me a little more faith in the system that they don’t just hand out offers based on wealth and celebrity status.

That’s a great outcome! Your family has no hooks whatsoever ? What do you think made your kid stand out?