late application round

[Anonymous]

I have high school kids at a Big3 and every year of high school there have been kids who joined the class during the summer as new applicants (despite there being a "waitlist")

Schools always find room for kids they really want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see this online - what I see is a late application - which to me says you won't be considered along with March 7 decisions...but maybe to fill in any spots leftover after March 7 acceptances commit.

The text at the top of the admissions page says “The regular admissions process for the 2025/26 school year has closed. The late application process will open on February 3, 2025.” I don’t see anything about a decision timeline, so it’s unclear if they will make any decisions on the late round before decisions are announced for the regular round.

The regular process is closed. This "late application" doesn't really apply to the general public - this is for special cases (there are always some of these) - typically people who are moving to town and have connections through their current school and/or are VIP - and in a year like this - it will include families who are relocating for jobs in the new administration or a new congressional seat or high powered tangential related to both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have high school kids at a Big3 and every year of high school there have been kids who joined the class during the summer as new applicants (despite there being a "waitlist")

Schools always find room for kids they really want.

Interesting, in all my years as a Big 3 student, this happened zero times. We never got new classmates except at entry years, and neither did the grades above or below me. A couple people left (diplomat family, boarding school, etc.) but no one was added. It sounds like times have changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have high school kids at a Big3 and every year of high school there have been kids who joined the class during the summer as new applicants (despite there being a "waitlist")

Schools always find room for kids they really want.

But they turn away most - we know of multiple families that had unfortunate timed notification of work-related moves (around this time of year - so after the application deadlines) and they were all told "sorry, closed, try next year". Not just at Sidwell but at all the highly competitive schools (Like Big 7ish) They were all full pay with bright kids who were later accepted - but clearly not in the "we really want you - special - late application category"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see this online - what I see is a late application - which to me says you won't be considered along with March 7 decisions...but maybe to fill in any spots leftover after March 7 acceptances commit.

The text at the top of the admissions page says “The regular admissions process for the 2025/26 school year has closed. The late application process will open on February 3, 2025.” I don’t see anything about a decision timeline, so it’s unclear if they will make any decisions on the late round before decisions are announced for the regular round.

The regular process is closed. This "late application" doesn't really apply to the general public - this is for special cases (there are always some of these) - typically people who are moving to town and have connections through their current school and/or are VIP - and in a year like this - it will include families who are relocating for jobs in the new administration or a new congressional seat or high powered tangential related to both.

Then why advertise it on the admissions page? The people you describe don't need a formal website notice to go that route. The regular people seeing it are supposed to know it's not for them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see this online - what I see is a late application - which to me says you won't be considered along with March 7 decisions...but maybe to fill in any spots leftover after March 7 acceptances commit.

The text at the top of the admissions page says “The regular admissions process for the 2025/26 school year has closed. The late application process will open on February 3, 2025.” I don’t see anything about a decision timeline, so it’s unclear if they will make any decisions on the late round before decisions are announced for the regular round.

The regular process is closed. This "late application" doesn't really apply to the general public - this is for special cases (there are always some of these) - typically people who are moving to town and have connections through their current school and/or are VIP - and in a year like this - it will include families who are relocating for jobs in the new administration or a new congressional seat or high powered tangential related to both.

Then why advertise it on the admissions page? The people you describe don't need a formal website notice to go that route. The regular people seeing it are supposed to know it's not for them?

Because schools want and/or need to keep their options open. Say, a family with three boys in non-entry grade has to move in June (made up example), but the waitlist is majority girls for entry years. You want to keep channels open so you can manage those random shifts that always happen later on.

Sidwell (and numerous other schools) posted the same message last year, so this isn't new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see this online - what I see is a late application - which to me says you won't be considered along with March 7 decisions...but maybe to fill in any spots leftover after March 7 acceptances commit.

The text at the top of the admissions page says “The regular admissions process for the 2025/26 school year has closed. The late application process will open on February 3, 2025.” I don’t see anything about a decision timeline, so it’s unclear if they will make any decisions on the late round before decisions are announced for the regular round.

The regular process is closed. This "late application" doesn't really apply to the general public - this is for special cases (there are always some of these) - typically people who are moving to town and have connections through their current school and/or are VIP - and in a year like this - it will include families who are relocating for jobs in the new administration or a new congressional seat or high powered tangential related to both.

Then why advertise it on the admissions page? The people you describe don't need a formal website notice to go that route. The regular people seeing it are supposed to know it's not for them?

Because schools want and/or need to keep their options open. Say, a family with three boys in non-entry grade has to move in June (made up example), but the waitlist is majority girls for entry years. You want to keep channels open so you can manage those random shifts that always happen later on.

Sidwell (and numerous other schools) posted the same message last year, so this isn't new.

I'm the PP you responded to, but you weren't responding to what I asked. I understand the considerations you outlined above and agree your scenario is typical. My comment/question was in response to the person who claimed that the late application process was NOT for applicants/circumstances like you described, and was instead reserved for only political elites and similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see this online - what I see is a late application - which to me says you won't be considered along with March 7 decisions...but maybe to fill in any spots leftover after March 7 acceptances commit.

The text at the top of the admissions page says “The regular admissions process for the 2025/26 school year has closed. The late application process will open on February 3, 2025.” I don’t see anything about a decision timeline, so it’s unclear if they will make any decisions on the late round before decisions are announced for the regular round.

The regular process is closed. This "late application" doesn't really apply to the general public - this is for special cases (there are always some of these) - typically people who are moving to town and have connections through their current school and/or are VIP - and in a year like this - it will include families who are relocating for jobs in the new administration or a new congressional seat or high powered tangential related to both.

Then why advertise it on the admissions page? The people you describe don't need a formal website notice to go that route. The regular people seeing it are supposed to know it's not for them?

Because schools want and/or need to keep their options open. Say, a family with three boys in non-entry grade has to move in June (made up example), but the waitlist is majority girls for entry years. You want to keep channels open so you can manage those random shifts that always happen later on.

Sidwell (and numerous other schools) posted the same message last year, so this isn't new.

I'm the PP you responded to, but you weren't responding to what I asked. I understand the considerations you outlined above and agree your scenario is typical. My comment/question was in response to the person who claimed that the late application process was NOT for applicants/circumstances like you described, and was instead reserved for only political elites and similar.

I'm the one you replied to - I don't think the 3 boy family above will be considered at all - unless they are considered VIP or a very special circumstance. I suspect anyone applying late has to call admissions and they will filter out most regular people who call. I was also the person earlier who said this must be new....but now that I see what OP is referring to....it's not new. It's the same, slightly open door that is only open for special people. Rarely does a regular family get in outside of the application cycle unless they have a strong connection via prior school or via board or as a VIP or a highly desired candidate for some other reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see this online - what I see is a late application - which to me says you won't be considered along with March 7 decisions...but maybe to fill in any spots leftover after March 7 acceptances commit.

The text at the top of the admissions page says “The regular admissions process for the 2025/26 school year has closed. The late application process will open on February 3, 2025.” I don’t see anything about a decision timeline, so it’s unclear if they will make any decisions on the late round before decisions are announced for the regular round.

The regular process is closed. This "late application" doesn't really apply to the general public - this is for special cases (there are always some of these) - typically people who are moving to town and have connections through their current school and/or are VIP - and in a year like this - it will include families who are relocating for jobs in the new administration or a new congressional seat or high powered tangential related to both.

Then why advertise it on the admissions page? The people you describe don't need a formal website notice to go that route. The regular people seeing it are supposed to know it's not for them?

Because schools want and/or need to keep their options open. Say, a family with three boys in non-entry grade has to move in June (made up example), but the waitlist is majority girls for entry years. You want to keep channels open so you can manage those random shifts that always happen later on.

Sidwell (and numerous other schools) posted the same message last year, so this isn't new.

I'm the PP you responded to, but you weren't responding to what I asked. I understand the considerations you outlined above and agree your scenario is typical. My comment/question was in response to the person who claimed that the late application process was NOT for applicants/circumstances like you described, and was instead reserved for only political elites and similar.

I'm the one you replied to - I don't think the 3 boy family above will be considered at all - unless they are considered VIP or a very special circumstance. I suspect anyone applying late has to call admissions and they will filter out most regular people who call. I was also the person earlier who said this must be new....but now that I see what OP is referring to....it's not new. It's the same, slightly open door that is only open for special people. Rarely does a regular family get in outside of the application cycle unless they have a strong connection via prior school or via board or as a VIP or a highly desired candidate for some other reason.

Right but my question at 11:05 to the other PP was why advertise it on the website at all -- which will only attract the regular people like in your examples -- if the late process is truly only for special people. The special political elite applicants don't need a website notice to know that the door is always slightly open for them. Said another way, the families who can get in with clout don't need a special late February deadline because they can also call schools in May, June, etc. as their circumstances change.

In other words, I do not think the advertised Feb deadline is only for special applicants. But what do I know.

[Anonymous]

It’s a way to “officially” keep a door open for late applicants who are moving here. Gives them the discretion to squeeze in the ones they want on a case by case basis. Rich, connected folks from CA? Spot for you. Run of the mill folks? We’re full.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see this online - what I see is a late application - which to me says you won't be considered along with March 7 decisions...but maybe to fill in any spots leftover after March 7 acceptances commit.

The text at the top of the admissions page says “The regular admissions process for the 2025/26 school year has closed. The late application process will open on February 3, 2025.” I don’t see anything about a decision timeline, so it’s unclear if they will make any decisions on the late round before decisions are announced for the regular round.

The regular process is closed. This "late application" doesn't really apply to the general public - this is for special cases (there are always some of these) - typically people who are moving to town and have connections through their current school and/or are VIP - and in a year like this - it will include families who are relocating for jobs in the new administration or a new congressional seat or high powered tangential related to both.

Then why advertise it on the admissions page? The people you describe don't need a formal website notice to go that route. The regular people seeing it are supposed to know it's not for them?

Because schools want and/or need to keep their options open. Say, a family with three boys in non-entry grade has to move in June (made up example), but the waitlist is majority girls for entry years. You want to keep channels open so you can manage those random shifts that always happen later on.

Sidwell (and numerous other schools) posted the same message last year, so this isn't new.

I'm the PP you responded to, but you weren't responding to what I asked. I understand the considerations you outlined above and agree your scenario is typical. My comment/question was in response to the person who claimed that the late application process was NOT for applicants/circumstances like you described, and was instead reserved for only political elites and similar.

I'm the one you replied to - I don't think the 3 boy family above will be considered at all - unless they are considered VIP or a very special circumstance. I suspect anyone applying late has to call admissions and they will filter out most regular people who call. I was also the person earlier who said this must be new....but now that I see what OP is referring to....it's not new. It's the same, slightly open door that is only open for special people. Rarely does a regular family get in outside of the application cycle unless they have a strong connection via prior school or via board or as a VIP or a highly desired candidate for some other reason.

Right but my question at 11:05 to the other PP was why advertise it on the website at all -- which will only attract the regular people like in your examples -- if the late process is truly only for special people. The special political elite applicants don't need a website notice to know that the door is always slightly open for them. Said another way, the families who can get in with clout don't need a special late February deadline because they can also call schools in May, June, etc. as their circumstances change.

In other words, I do not think the advertised Feb deadline is only for special applicants. But what do I know.

They aren't advertising. This is a way for them to have an open door - but only for people they want to open it for. It's not a full fledged admissions process. Not every family that ends up being "special" enough has the kind of clout you are envisioning. Some do - some don't. Why don't you give them a call (or have a friend call) in Feb or May or June and see what happens. They'll tell you there are no spaces and apply next year. 100% guarantee it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see this online - what I see is a late application - which to me says you won't be considered along with March 7 decisions...but maybe to fill in any spots leftover after March 7 acceptances commit.

The text at the top of the admissions page says “The regular admissions process for the 2025/26 school year has closed. The late application process will open on February 3, 2025.” I don’t see anything about a decision timeline, so it’s unclear if they will make any decisions on the late round before decisions are announced for the regular round.

The regular process is closed. This "late application" doesn't really apply to the general public - this is for special cases (there are always some of these) - typically people who are moving to town and have connections through their current school and/or are VIP - and in a year like this - it will include families who are relocating for jobs in the new administration or a new congressional seat or high powered tangential related to both.

Then why advertise it on the admissions page? The people you describe don't need a formal website notice to go that route. The regular people seeing it are supposed to know it's not for them?

Probably because they’re getting a lot of calls and don’t want to field them. This way everyone knows.