Let’s talk waitlists, Catholic school edition
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Anonymous
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What Catholic high schools have a real waitlist that really moves versus a waitlist that is really just a soft rejection?
I understand last year was an anomaly with several Catholic high schools not going to their waitlist. I am curious about waitlist movement prior to last year. If your child got off the waitlist was it due to: a call from the principal to the HS, advising the HS of your child’s interest and commitment to the school, or just patience. Also, did your K-8 school have a history of sending students to the HS? Namely the waitlists for: Gonzaga Visitation St. John’s Georgetown Prep Stone Ridge (upper school) |
Anonymous
| Visitation’s definitely moves |
Anonymous
| Visi only took a handful from WL last year |
Anonymous
| Oof. I would not back on any of these moving in a big way. |
Anonymous
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SR waitlists are a soft no. Don’t expect movement there. We didn’t get off even after multiple emails letting them know they were our first choice, but we know a family on our block that applied late out of cycle and got in??
Schools should just reject instead of sending out these disingenuous maybes |
Anonymous
Agree with this. |
Anonymous
| OP do you have boy and girl twins or something? Why the interest in WLs of single sex schools of both genders? |
Anonymous
Sure do |
Anonymous
| I have a boy and girl at GZ and Visi, I would have said that the wait list moves more for Gonzaga but last year was very unusual and I'm not sure how that process and higher than expected yield will affect how they accepted students this year. Anecdotally, I have heard that writing a 'why Visi' letter and having your HOS call to advocate can help get someone of that wait list there, but, truthfully, I think the odds are low for both. I would start preparing for the very real possibility neither gets off a waitlist. I'm sorry, it's getting so much tougher out there for these schools. |
Anonymous
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Our Catholic ES/MS claims that it is able to get all graduating academically-qualified students into one Catholic HS or another, but it also is clear that one ought to apply widely (to multiple Catholic HSs) and is clear that a particular student might not get into their first-choice Catholic HS.
My interpretation of this is that our ES/MS works closely with the various local Catholic HSs’ admissions staff — behind the scenes and before all the HS slots are filled. I could be wrong, of course. |
Anonymous
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DS got off of Gonzaga’s waitlist a few years ago. The waitlist letter suggested that applicants who remained interested should write a letter expressing continued interest. So, the weekend after he found out he was waitlisted, he spent a good amount of time writing a letter explaining why he wanted to attend and saying (honestly) that GZ remained his first choice and that he would accept the spot if offered it. I heard that last year the yield was greater than expected and that GZ’s waitlist didn’t move at all or almost not at all. So, I think it just depends on the year.
If your DC is waitlisted, I would get them excited about whatever options they do have. But, if they’re waitlisted at their clear first choice, I think it’s worth at least reaching out and letting the school know that. You don’t have anything to loose. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| DS got off the waitlist for Prep a few years ago. It does happen. We, DS included, were proactive in helping to make this come together by recruiting the assistance of alumni, going to events at the school, and generally making it very clear we would immediately accept a place if one were offered. We also needed some luck in terms of the numbers of accepted boys opting for other high schools. |
Anonymous
| In recent years, SJC’s yield has been higher than usual, which has resulted in larger than expected classes. I think the chances of getting off the waitlist there aren’t great. |
Anonymous
These schools are telling you who they are in the admissions cycle. If they can’t tell you no now, they will likely always give in to certain parents and ignore another |
Anonymous
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FWIW, we just emailed SR last night to decline my DD's acceptance. They emailed back today to ask where she is going instead, to help them track data. She decided on boarding school so it has nothing to do w SR, as we think it's a wonderful school. They were so kind and gracious.
Her twin brother is on GZ's WL so finger's crossed! Hopefully, someone gets the spot at SR and sends good wishes our way for GZ! |