Official Admissions Decisions Thread 2026

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any idea when waitlist will start to move. I understand the whole acceptance to yielding numbers thing. But every year kids get off the waitlist, so just curious when to expect movement if there is any??

I imagine at the earliest, end of March since that’s when admitted students have to commit.

[Anonymous]

How much is the deposit? Does it change as between schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much is the deposit? Does it change as between schools?

Varies from school to school. Most common are $500, $1000, or 10% of tuition (which can be $5000+).

[Anonymous]

Many schools (most?) also have a “new student enrollment fee,” which is nothing other than a cash grab from families excited that their kid is going to a new school and would never object.

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir and Maret. Chose Beauvoir.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beauvoir and Maret. Chose Beauvoir.

Whoa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea when waitlist will start to move. I understand the whole acceptance to yielding numbers thing. But every year kids get off the waitlist, so just curious when to expect movement if there is any??

It’s usually after deposits are due because then the school has a clear sense of its yield. When my DS was offered a spot from the waitlist a few years ago, they let us know within hours of when deposits were due.

We were in the same camp. It was brutal though. DS was accepted at Sidwell but waitlisted at GDS. Put a deposit down at Sidwell. Got a call the day after with an offer to move off the WL at GDS. GDS was our first choice and we took the spot but had to forfeit the Sidwell deposit. It was a tough call.

Why GDS over Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9th grade:

Accepted:
Stone Ridge
Sidwell
Field
Burke

WL:
GDS
Maret

DD is grateful for choices but had her heart set on GDS. I also think it is the right place for her but counseling her that she’s lucky to have choices. In the unlikely event she’s pulled off GDS’s WL however we’d love to give some waiting kids her other spots.

Very interesting list. All progressive, diverse schools and then SR. What made her want to apply to SR? Seems like just the uniform piece alone is the opposite of every other school on her list.

Right. DD intentionally wanted to explore a range of schools on her list and wanted to include a same sex school. We have friends at most of the girls’ schools in the area and I’ve heard positive things from our friends at SRSH, versus NCS, which has been a tougher environment.

The problem that we have now is that she said she felt so much “happier“ during her visit to SR, where she feels that the environment at Sidwell will be too intense and pressured. And she’s not wrong, I think that that is an accurate assessment of Sidwell. Culturally, however, we are a progressive family, and I think that environment is more consistent with our thinking than the traditional Catholic environment of SRSH. Sidwell is also 1 mile up the road from where we live, as opposed to a 25 minute drive into Rockville.

I am trying hard to listen to my daughter and make the right choice. But we are down to the wire and she has not decided yet. I can’t figure out if she just wants me to choose for her or if she’s looking for my support and permission to decline Sidwell. I’ve asked her directly and it’s hard for her to say.

It’s been stressful.

Any parents of kids at these schools or those that faced a similar choice, please weigh in.

[Anonymous]

We were in a similar situation. Child having a very difficult time deciding between an academically excellent but more balanced school that is very "fun" and a single gender school known to be more intense. Ultimately, we said that as parents we are making the choice and we think that you will grow and develop more in a structured environment. All of DC's observations were valid and thoughtful, just missing the perspective of time that we parents have.

[Anonymous]

Location and commute a huge factor especially as high school ramps up and time management becomes very important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beauvoir and Maret. Chose Beauvoir.

Oof. Good luck…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea when waitlist will start to move. I understand the whole acceptance to yielding numbers thing. But every year kids get off the waitlist, so just curious when to expect movement if there is any??

It’s usually after deposits are due because then the school has a clear sense of its yield. When my DS was offered a spot from the waitlist a few years ago, they let us know within hours of when deposits were due.

We were in the same camp. It was brutal though. DS was accepted at Sidwell but waitlisted at GDS. Put a deposit down at Sidwell. Got a call the day after with an offer to move off the WL at GDS. GDS was our first choice and we took the spot but had to forfeit the Sidwell deposit. It was a tough call.

Why GDS over Sidwell?

Better personalities and attitudes at GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were in a similar situation. Child having a very difficult time deciding between an academically excellent but more balanced school that is very "fun" and a single gender school known to be more intense. Ultimately, we said that as parents we are making the choice and we think that you will grow and develop more in a structured environment. All of DC's observations were valid and thoughtful, just missing the perspective of time that we parents have.

I would always respect the child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Location and commute a huge factor especially as high school ramps up and time management becomes very important.

Worried about this now. We're going from a 7 minute commute to 30+ minutes. DS is going to have to learn to roll out of bed earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Location and commute a huge factor especially as high school ramps up and time management becomes very important.

Worried about this now. We're going from a 7 minute commute to 30+ minutes. DS is going to have to learn to roll out of bed earlier.

Oof. That’s going to be a rough transition. We had a 30-45 min commute for DC from PK through 4th, before much homework or afterschool activities, and it was bad. Plus if there was a crash or anything major on one of the highways, it could take a hour. Commute became an important factor for the next two school decisions. Now at 15-20 min for HS and it’s very nice.