Does Brearley and Spense Waitlist Everyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

Thank you. It is pretty rude. from positive feedback to a rejection without notifying PSD. PSD is also terrible, hiding strong feedbacks from other top choices. If we apply from non connected preschool, should be much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

Thank you. It is pretty rude. from positive feedback to a rejection without notifying PSD. PSD is also terrible, hiding strong feedbacks from other top choices. If we apply from non connected preschool, should be much better.

That is really rude. Sorry this happened to you. I have never heard of something like this before.

[Anonymous]

That they didn’t have the courtesy to call your PSD about the change in decision is insane. I’m so sorry PP. Work those wait lists and I do think you dodged a bullet too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

She’s back! I guess when she said she was done annoying people she just meant on that other thread. Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

She’s back! I guess when she said she was done annoying people she just meant on that other thread. Lol.

lol

OP, good luck. The masses know you can spell. I am worried I mistyped bank info for our deposit yesterday. It was a long day. I would guess the PSD dropped the ball or misinterpreted the feedback if waitlist was a surprise. Your girl will be great at either - or another school! Just one more week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

She’s back! I guess when she said she was done annoying people she just meant on that other thread. Lol.

I don’t think she’s the only B parent who is unhappy. In the Facebook MUES forum there are plenty, and you can tell there are multiple different people because comments show up as “Anonymous123”, “Anonymous456”, etc., with every individual commenter being assigned a different number so you can tell who said what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

She’s back! I guess when she said she was done annoying people she just meant on that other thread. Lol.

I don’t think she’s the only B parent who is unhappy. In the Facebook MUES forum there are plenty, and you can tell there are multiple different people because comments show up as “Anonymous123”, “Anonymous456”, etc., with every individual commenter being assigned a different number so you can tell who said what.

I don't doubt that. Parents are unhappy at every school. None is perfect. I could just tell it was her from what she wrote and was laughing because of her comment on the other thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

I actually like that Brearley changed the way they are doing acceptances. I feel it’s more holistic and equitable compared to how Winfred was running the ship. I also feel like Brearley accepted more kids this year who were not connected (not sibling or legacy) from years prior.

I don’t know too much about the new head, but I’ll be curious how the school changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

Thank you. It is pretty rude. from positive feedback to a rejection without notifying PSD. PSD is also terrible, hiding strong feedbacks from other top choices. If we apply from non connected preschool, should be much better.

I think this falls more on your PSD than the admissions at Brearley. But many schools have been known to state “highly considering/ you’re in” to only then come back with a “waitlisted.”

We were waitlisted for our top choice with a FCL, even though we were in up until this past Tuesday. Then our PSD told us we would be waitlisted. We got in to our second choice (which we also really love).

Also with Brearley, this year they asked not to send FCL only Love letters. They also were black boxing through the whole process. PSD’s didn't know any kid was 100 percent in until yesterday. Brearley wasn’t giving out that info.

I do know with Chapin they have a weighted pool, so they don’t put everyone on a waitlist and only specific candidates. I feel like Brearley may be similar. Unlike Riverdale who waitlists everyone.

[Anonymous]

Its been many years but we got into Spence and Chapin direct, no WL, no connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

Thank you. It is pretty rude. from positive feedback to a rejection without notifying PSD. PSD is also terrible, hiding strong feedbacks from other top choices. If we apply from non connected preschool, should be much better.

Same feeling. PSD hid strong feedback from top choices. It does make me think that applying from a non-connected preschool might be much better.

[Anonymous]

Applying from a non-connected preschool has been extremely challenging, particularly when there is little meaningful communication during the process(this year I mean). It definitely makes me think that stronger preschool connections can make a real difference.

[Anonymous]

That's on your PSD. Family in our school applied from another city, and got their PSD to call and get some feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's on your PSD. Family in our school applied from another city, and got their PSD to call and get some feedback.

Did they say anything else about their experience from out of state? Were the schools receptive to the applicants and calls from that PSD? Do you think being out of state helped by standing out or hurt by not being in NYC?

[Anonymous]

IDK, I think they had a leg up on their own resumes- they were Ivy League science professors in their prior city and Ivy League science profs here. But they did get their PSD to get the basic feedback. Our school touts x class size coming from x/1.5 diff preschools so they at least are trying to dispel the notion of feeder schools.