Admissions advice?

[Anonymous]

Parents lie to EACH OTHER about their child's scores, not to the schools. As for what score would be a "deal breaker" -- most schools probably couldn't tell you because they try to look at each child as a total package. Plus, siblings and alumni children face softer standards than new admits. So a school where admitted children generally have >90 percentile scores will almost always have a few kids with more average scores for the variety of reasons that have been discussed on this website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:when PPs are saying their kids are getting into "very good schools" with scores <90%, which schools are these? Not asking to be nosy, but trying to get a sense for which schools are looking for kids who maybe don't fall in the brilliant category but excel or stand out in other ways. Please share.

beauvoir

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Plus, siblings and alumni children face softer standards than new admits. So a school where admitted children generally have >90 percentile scores will almost always have a few kids with more average scores for the variety of reasons that have been discussed on this website.

I think this is BS. Schools do not want to place students in a situation where the kids will not be successful. Yes, it might be easier for siblings, etc. to be admitted because they are being drawn from a smaller pool, but on the other side, if a child will not be successful in the eyes of an Admissions Director, there will (or ought to) be a discussion with the family to that end

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how important the WPPSI scores are? (I assume that's what people mean by scoring in the 98th percentile. Or is there some other test some schools use?)

Repeat after me:

A 99th percentile does not guarantee admission. Please don't rest on your child's laurels if s/he scored well. The process isn't "unfair" if your child is waitlisted or rejected at your top choice schools, so please move away from the sense of entitlement. There are plenty of other factors that contribute to admission decisions (playdate, school recommendations, diversity, parents -- yes parents...YOU can screw this up for your child).

An 85th percentile does not doom admission (even at the "elite" schools). Again...plenty of other factors that determine admission.

Please stop obsessing over the WPPSI. It is but one data point.

[Anonymous]

Gee, she was just asking.

[Anonymous]

Don't WPPSIs stabilize after age 7 or 8? And once a kid is in a school from Kindergarten, do the schools ask that the tests be repeated?
My point is, that a WPPSI >90% in K, could end up at 85% in grade 6, and vice versa. Would we know?

[Anonymous]

My ds got only in the 80's and got into a very good school. We TRULY did not care if he did not get in. We were asked by some of the schools why we wanted him to go there and often said that we weren't sure. Our son is very funny, and has an interesting personality. Some say, that he acts like he's been here before... what ever that means.
My neighbor's ds got 98%, or so she said. He did not get in anywhere.
This is the kind of family that has been using Brain Quest in traffic jams (mom holds the cards up over her shoulder while driving) since the kid was 12 months. The child gets every type of lesson available. Extra vitamins, and so on. Now he is on flash cards and first grade math workbooks at the ripe old age of 4 1/2. Both parents were honor students in HS and college, lawyers/partners.
They are insane.
The kid is weird.
The schools saw it.
ps, we did get rejected from one good school and some soso schools.

[Anonymous]

So are you the family that got into Beauvoir? Just trying to keep these posts straight.

[Anonymous]

no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:when PPs are saying their kids are getting into "very good schools" with scores <90%, which schools are these? Not asking to be nosy, but trying to get a sense for which schools are looking for kids who maybe don't fall in the brilliant category but excel or stand out in other ways. Please share.

beauvoir

What is this supposed to mean?

[Anonymous]

I sounds as if PP was asking, which schools children that score less than 90% get in to. The poster replied to the question by stating Beauvoir.

[Anonymous]

I don't think there is any school that you should be discouraged from applying because of your child's score. At the same time, if you child scores in the 99th or 96%-ile you cannot think that increases your child's chances. The score might put your child in a particular pile.

I agree completely with the post above by 13:43. He or she is right on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sounds as if PP was asking, which schools children that score less than 90% get in to. The poster replied to the question by stating Beauvoir.

Is tha implying something about Beauvoir?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sounds as if PP was asking, which schools children that score less than 90% get in to. The poster replied to the question by stating Beauvoir.

Is that mplying something about Beauvoir?

[Anonymous]

We had very good results in our preschool applications and are excited about the school our dc will be attending this fall. We are not connected or wealthy. The advice I would give to candidates in upcoming years is:

1. Look at a variety of schools and at schools that you might not automatically think about (for instance, we were not originally interested in Montessori, but ended up selecting a Montessori due to dc's response to the Montessori environment/method).

2. Ask in a nice and non-pushy way for a playdate time that is not during dc's nap, if one is available.

3. Try your best not to communicate your own anxiety to your dc as pressure of any kind.

4. Be polite, interested, and positive during your visits/s and try not to brag too much about your dc (but be affirming of any positive feedback you receive from those evaluating during the playdates).

5. Follow up with a thank you note in which you make VERY clear and explicit your feelings about the schools in which you are interested and how much you are looking forward to being a contributing member of the school community.

Hope that is helpful to someone!