Sibling admissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There has been trouble with siblings applications at Beauvoir the last couple of years

How so? Beauvoir was always pretty much a shoe in for siblings if their testing came back high. If the testing is not good and their recs from nursery are not good ie: behavioral issues etc... they may not get in. Most get admitted though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When more siblings than available seats apply for a grade, some of the siblings have to be put on waitlist. This is mostly a school capacity issue. If they apply again in future years they have a chance.

Yes maybe but if you’ve applied twice and didn’t get in you should really take a hint that the school doesn’t think it’s a good fit. I know a family that applied to the same school twice and considering a third time. They seem obsessed with getting their child into the school and for whatever reason it doesn’t seem like the school thinks it is a good fit. The school I think is in the wrong here they should be honest and upfront with the family instead of leading them on and giving false hope.

I know kids who've gotten in the third time around at Sidwell. Not getting in doesn't always mean the child wouldn't do well there. Certain years are harder than others and if the family has another child at the school, it makes sense why they'd keep trying.

That is ridiculous. They could make room if they wanted to. Obviously by the second denial you should move on and not put your kid through that again.

I have three kids and understand how great it is to have all of your children at one school but I would seriously consider applying one of my children a third time to a school that rejected them twice and I would also be asking the school for realistic feedback. If the school told me after two rejections (especially for early grades) that my child was great but that there was a dearth of spots for siblings I would think long and hard about whether it was worth it to put my child through the application process a third time with the possibility of them being rejected again and I would request candid feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When more siblings than available seats apply for a grade, some of the siblings have to be put on waitlist. This is mostly a school capacity issue. If they apply again in future years they have a chance.

Yes maybe but if you’ve applied twice and didn’t get in you should really take a hint that the school doesn’t think it’s a good fit. I know a family that applied to the same school twice and considering a third time. They seem obsessed with getting their child into the school and for whatever reason it doesn’t seem like the school thinks it is a good fit. The school I think is in the wrong here they should be honest and upfront with the family instead of leading them on and giving false hope.

I know kids who've gotten in the third time around at Sidwell. Not getting in doesn't always mean the child wouldn't do well there. Certain years are harder than others and if the family has another child at the school, it makes sense why they'd keep trying.

That is ridiculous. They could make room if they wanted to. Obviously by the second denial you should move on and not put your kid through that again.

I have three kids and understand how great it is to have all of your children at one school but I would seriously consider applying one of my children a third time to a school that rejected them twice and I would also be asking the school for realistic feedback. If the school told me after two rejections (especially for early grades) that my child was great but that there was a dearth of spots for siblings I would think long and hard about whether it was worth it to put my child through the application process a third time with the possibility of them being rejected again and I would request candid feedback.

I agree. Clearly it is not a good fit. They would make room for one more if they could as we all have seen schools do time and time again for last minute arrivals or vips. Not good to do that to your kid 3xs. Seems sometimes it is more about what parents want than what is good for their kid. Yes agree schools should be more honest. I know they are trying to be kind but sometimes it ends up leading the family on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do most schools give siblings an advantage in admissions?

Depends but I think yes many do. Beauvoir and NPS do while I think Sidwell does not. Most Catholics I think give priority to siblings.

Sidwell has sibling priority, but less so than other schools

Sidwells sibling priority is pretty strong if you are willing to apply a couple of times. Vast majority of siblings eventually get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen siblings rejected at a Catholic school almost certainly because of the school’s experience with the parents of the enrolled student. Schools tolerate helicoptering, attendance issues and outsized use of faculty and staff time. But they don’t necessarily want to sign up for several more years or a double dose of it.

Hahaha… yes! Often it has more to do with the parents than the kids. 😃