Applying is stressful

[Anonymous]

I am stressed, but I'm mostly just looking forward to being done. I definitely underestimated how much time this all takes between tours, parent interviews, playdates, and the essay questions. It is really a lot.

We are applying to pre-K and our plan was to only apply to our very top choices this year and expand our applications next year if we strike out everywhere. I'm so not looking forward to the very real chance of doing it all over again next year.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry if this adds to the stress, but please prepare yourselves for the possibility that you strike out everywhere, especially if you are not a fan of surprises and chose to apply to a small number of selective schools. I've been on both sides of it on M10, and I really did not prepare myself for the worst case scenario. You don't always get in somewhere, and you might not even find out the reason why, but I'm here to say that the worst case scenario also turns out fine. Our child who struck out is thriving where he ended up enrolling.

[Anonymous]

OP here - we applied to a wide swath so really hoping at least one works out since we don't have a Plan B (public not an option and we don't want to move). I guess plan B is to just reapply next year? But it doesn't seem like 1st is an option so I guess just keep applying every year? What do people do if K doesn't work out? We applied to the 8 schools that we legitimately think are a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - we applied to a wide swath so really hoping at least one works out since we don't have a Plan B (public not an option and we don't want to move). I guess plan B is to just reapply next year? But it doesn't seem like 1st is an option so I guess just keep applying every year? What do people do if K doesn't work out? We applied to the 8 schools that we legitimately think are a good fit.

Wow 8 seems like a lot for K. Is that normal? We will likely apply to 4 next year for DC. Should we consider more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - we applied to a wide swath so really hoping at least one works out since we don't have a Plan B (public not an option and we don't want to move). I guess plan B is to just reapply next year? But it doesn't seem like 1st is an option so I guess just keep applying every year? What do people do if K doesn't work out? We applied to the 8 schools that we legitimately think are a good fit.

This is PP. IME, it depends. In our area, for K, people go public if private doesn't work out. Your sending school may also have suggestions about privates that accept late applications. Or, if it's an option in your area, explore local public alternatives that are charters or have lotteries for out of boundary applicants. I think someone had this same suggestion upthread, but even identifying an acceptable plan b is helpful from an emotional standpoint. And it's all a million times better for K, as opposed to older grades, because your kid won't understand the rejection aspect of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - we applied to a wide swath so really hoping at least one works out since we don't have a Plan B (public not an option and we don't want to move). I guess plan B is to just reapply next year? But it doesn't seem like 1st is an option so I guess just keep applying every year? What do people do if K doesn't work out? We applied to the 8 schools that we legitimately think are a good fit.

You move. That’s plan B even if you don’t know it yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - we applied to a wide swath so really hoping at least one works out since we don't have a Plan B (public not an option and we don't want to move). I guess plan B is to just reapply next year? But it doesn't seem like 1st is an option so I guess just keep applying every year? What do people do if K doesn't work out? We applied to the 8 schools that we legitimately think are a good fit.

You move. That’s plan B even if you don’t know it yet.

You'll get in somewhere. The top schools are probably 20% (or even higher now that Covid closures are over) for K and the rest are much easier than that. 9th grade is trickier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - we applied to a wide swath so really hoping at least one works out since we don't have a Plan B (public not an option and we don't want to move). I guess plan B is to just reapply next year? But it doesn't seem like 1st is an option so I guess just keep applying every year? What do people do if K doesn't work out? We applied to the 8 schools that we legitimately think are a good fit.

Wow 8 seems like a lot for K. Is that normal? We will likely apply to 4 next year for DC. Should we consider more?

We are in DC. One is our parish Catholic which isn’t our ideal but is a backup. We really liked each of the others and like I said, don’t really have a plan B because our public isn’t an option and we can’t afford to move for a few years. The others are all schools that are competitive according to this board so hoping that at least one works out. We would be very happy to get into any of them although we do have favorites within for different reasons.

So no idea if it’s too much or if four is too little. We are already done but hopefully someone else can advise you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - we applied to a wide swath so really hoping at least one works out since we don't have a Plan B (public not an option and we don't want to move). I guess plan B is to just reapply next year? But it doesn't seem like 1st is an option so I guess just keep applying every year? What do people do if K doesn't work out? We applied to the 8 schools that we legitimately think are a good fit.

Wow 8 seems like a lot for K. Is that normal? We will likely apply to 4 next year for DC. Should we consider more?

We are in DC. One is our parish Catholic which isn’t our ideal but is a backup. We really liked each of the others and like I said, don’t really have a plan B because our public isn’t an option and we can’t afford to move for a few years. The others are all schools that are competitive according to this board so hoping that at least one works out. We would be very happy to get into any of them although we do have favorites within for different reasons.

So no idea if it’s too much or if four is too little. We are already done but hopefully someone else can advise you!

No one knows, really. We were told to apply to at least 3 and prepare to strike out. Kid got in everywhere, and that was its own issue, because it’s hard to know at 6 who your kid will be at 14. But you get to tell everyone no and have DCUM tell you you’ve burned your bridges forever, so that was fun! You can’t win. You also can’t lose. It all works out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Applying for K. Everything in (except a teacher recommendation- which is annoying), two playdates left to do (others already done). Stressing and waiting. Anyone else eager for March? I'm happy my kid has no idea what's going on.

HAHAHAhahahahahaa. As if this matters anywere, anytime, for anything. At all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait until 9th grade. The worst application year even worse than college.

Took me by surprise how stressful it was to apply for private HS from public school, but I'm glad we got a taste of what it might be like to apply to college, so hopefully we won't be totally blindsided when that time comes.

Good luck to everyone!

College is much worse than applying to 9th grade - especially if you were applying for 9th from public. For college (no matter where you are) - there is your own stress and then all your classmates' stresses....it's just awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait until 9th grade. The worst application year even worse than college.

Took me by surprise how stressful it was to apply for private HS from public school, but I'm glad we got a taste of what it might be like to apply to college, so hopefully we won't be totally blindsided when that time comes.

Good luck to everyone!

College is much worse than applying to 9th grade - especially if you were applying for 9th from public. For college (no matter where you are) - there is your own stress and then all your classmates' stresses....it's just awful.

Everything is going to be alright as long as you applied to a range of schools including safeties. We are talking up the safeties, both to ourselves and especially to our DC. It will be okay!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - we applied to a wide swath so really hoping at least one works out since we don't have a Plan B (public not an option and we don't want to move). I guess plan B is to just reapply next year? But it doesn't seem like 1st is an option so I guess just keep applying every year? What do people do if K doesn't work out? We applied to the 8 schools that we legitimately think are a good fit.

Wow 8 seems like a lot for K. Is that normal? We will likely apply to 4 next year for DC. Should we consider more?

We are in DC. One is our parish Catholic which isn’t our ideal but is a backup. We really liked each of the others and like I said, don’t really have a plan B because our public isn’t an option and we can’t afford to move for a few years. The others are all schools that are competitive according to this board so hoping that at least one works out. We would be very happy to get into any of them although we do have favorites within for different reasons.

So no idea if it’s too much or if four is too little. We are already done but hopefully someone else can advise you!

Thanks! We are outside of DC so I hope our local schools are a little less competitive. One of our 4 is our local Catholic as well, as a backup and we do not want to consider our local public either. I may add one more next year that I've been on the fence about as a just in case. Fingers crossed for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Applying for K. Everything in (except a teacher recommendation- which is annoying), two playdates left to do (others already done). Stressing and waiting. Anyone else eager for March? I'm happy my kid has no idea what's going on.

HAHAHAhahahahahaa. As if this matters anywere, anytime, for anything. At all.

I love the people who say this as it makes zero sense. Since when does trying to find the right fit for your child to help them grow into a healthy, strong, and independent person not matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Applying for K. Everything in (except a teacher recommendation- which is annoying), two playdates left to do (others already done). Stressing and waiting. Anyone else eager for March? I'm happy my kid has no idea what's going on.

HAHAHAhahahahahaa. As if this matters anywere, anytime, for anything. At all.

I love the people who say this as it makes zero sense. Since when does trying to find the right fit for your child to help them grow into a healthy, strong, and independent person not matter?

Because it's kindergarten and all play and every kid should be able to fit in. There's nothing special about K education and there is no such thing as the right fit at that age. You will see once you have the hindsight of an older parent that it does not matter AT ALL where your kid ends up in K. If they have the right nurturing at home, they will grow into healthy, strong and independent people.