Applying to Multiple Schools

[Anonymous]

We won't start the process until the Fall but what is the general consensus about how admissions directors feel about multiple school applications? I would think they would understand just as when you apply for a job, you apply for more than one to improve your chances. However, I've noticed many forum comments stating this isn't a good practice. Obviously, we would want to improve our chances for our DC and know the decision is entirely ours. Any civil insight would be most appreciated.

[Anonymous]

One thing that's a big variable is the year you are applying. Do you get two cracks at PK/K or just one?

Spouse and I looked at virtually every private school in DC for Pre-K, along with our local public school. We came away with a definite feeling that there were some places worth 30K and other places that were not. That was just our opinion - and was good to have a point of view.

Our family initially applied to 3 schools for PK - withdrew from one in February and were about ready to withdraw from a 2nd two weeks out to give the admissions people a way to keep their rates up.

I defer to the wisdom oft he almighty board - but I believe stating first choice at the more competitive schools in competitive entrance years is very important. Harder to pull that off if you apply to 8 plus schools I suppose.

Also convinced that admission folks have a sense as to where you are applying. One application actually asks - we were straight up.

It worked out for us this weekend at a Big 3. That's my .02.

[Anonymous]

I think AD know people apply to multiple schools. I don't know anyone who just applied to one school for say kindergarten, unless their other choice was public. This isn't an issue.

[Anonymous]

I don't know how accurate this is, but others have mentioned it on these boards and it made sense to me. It probably is less of an eyebrow raiser for ADs if the group of schools you apply to make sense together. So if you think progressive is a good fit for your child, applying to a few progressive schools would seem well thought out at least. If you know a traditional school would be better, applying to a traditional "set" would make sense. I think if I worked as an AD and saw a family that applied to 6 schools that were all over the place in terms of philosophy I would be confused by that and wonder if the parents were telling all of them what a great fit they thought it would be, in which case I'd worry about getting a good sense of the child. I think there is a danger in none of the ADs out of a group believing you'll enroll there if the list of schools is really varied.

[Anonymous]

Applying to multiple schools is normal, particularly if public is not a good backup. OTOH, if you apply to 6-8 schools which appear to be chosen for selectivity rather than educational philosophy, that can be a turn-off. (Not a lot of applicants to GDS will have St. Albans as their next choice).

[Anonymous]

At the lower grades, I just didn't think some of the privates were any better than our local public school.

Given tuition is basically the same for all of them - I think it's good to put things in rank order - compare to your public school and figure out what is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We won't start the process until the Fall but what is the general consensus about how admissions directors feel about multiple school applications? I would think they would understand just as when you apply for a job, you apply for more than one to improve your chances. However, I've noticed many forum comments stating this isn't a good practice. Obviously, we would want to improve our chances for our DC and know the decision is entirely ours. Any civil insight would be most appreciated.

I'm the author and forgot to mention we're applying for upper school. Thanks to all for great insight!

[Anonymous]

We applied to four upper schools that we thought would offer quality education. She was accepted to all four.

[Anonymous]

We applied DC to six schools for a PreK/K entry. When a DC is not a sib/faculty/legacy, one has to know that the odds are not necessarily in DC's favor at the competitive schools - hence, multiple apps. We had a first choice and the school knew it. I don't think the AD was turned off because we were applying to more than our first choice. We applied to all but one of the selective Big 3/4/5 schools as it is not a fit for our family. DC was either admitted or W/Led at all six schools.