There is nothing "fair" about the process of applying to private schools.

[Anonymous]

I wonder how much of what I am reading is tied into this American phenom of us rewarding everyone just for showing up. Case in point, kids who are given trophies regardless of how they finish. I think this then turns into all of us feeling that we should be rewarded for a lot of things.

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm not sure why the process is unfair. While it's true that certain kids get preferences (siblings, teacher's kids, alumni kids, big donor kids), there are also"normal" kids who don't fit into these categories who get into competitive private schools. So with respect to those "normal" kids who get in, and those "normal" kids who do not, where's the unfairness? Maybe the ones that got in were simply better candidates.

[Anonymous]

A similar comment to families of students already enrolled would just be a "truth." But to put that out there, not once but twice, during a tour for prospective families seems to be suggesting that big donation potential has an admissions impact. I don't doubt that it's true, but it's tacky to broadcast it before the scores of hopeful families there with their 8 and 9 year old boys, hoping they'll get in because their kids are deserving. Sorry.

Sounds like the definition of entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can complain..I am sick of paying for everyone and hearing how it is my duty to pay for everyone. I am tired of it. I have looked at the amount of FA some of these schools give out and it just angers me. Far too many people are applying. I have no problem if someone is really poor and in a bad way but middle class..no I am not interested in financing Tommy's education and I don't want to hear that you work hard. You are supposed to work hard but you should not be out with the tin cup unless you really need one. There are a ton of people who could actually pay for a private school if the tuituion bill actually reflected true cost.

Wow, wow, wow. Perhaps you should pick a school where this is no financial aid, where you could be amongst similarly like-minded individuals. Oh, that's right, few independents are like that because most folks are not as bitter as you.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm...just one thought comes to mind...our feelings about private vs. public are susceptible to mind-boggling changes from pre-k through, as for me, around 7th or 8th grade. While we feel privileged our kid could get into a competitive private of his choice, after 8 years of DCPS we feel we've given all we can to public ed, which Rhee hadn't spent her entire tenure on a national PR campaign when instead we thought she'd focus on the local schools...the MS options that could be saving us $30 G or so a year were effectively nixed by Rhee's madness. So into the private sector...to date we find families that are welcoming, committed, and more importantly, our child has everything the DC tax dollars should have been providing all along (and certainly since mayoral control in 2008) in public. But transfer to private worth every penny, and if we didn't have them I'd get another job. So there! To the poster who hates the idea of financial aide, I hope your child doesn't bring your home-grown message to school. Without economic diversity their is little to gain socially in their academic school, especially when you live in Washington, DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can complain..I am sick of paying for everyone and hearing how it is my duty to pay for everyone. I am tired of it. I have looked at the amount of FA some of these schools give out and it just angers me. Far too many people are applying. I have no problem if someone is really poor and in a bad way but middle class..no I am not interested in financing Tommy's education and I don't want to hear that you work hard. You are supposed to work hard but you should not be out with the tin cup unless you really need one. There are a ton of people who could actually pay for a private school if the tuituion bill actually reflected true cost.

Wow, wow, wow. Perhaps you should pick a school where this is no financial aid, where you could be amongst similarly like-minded individuals. Oh, that's right, few independents are like that because most folks are not as bitter as you.

so you are trying to tell us you have never received a "hand out" of any sort in your hard-working life...you are a joke! Or are you bitter because your child is not that bright, but only getting in because of your pails of money...In case you haven't heard, there are really bright, and talented kids out there that unfortunately did not hit the "birth lottery".. Just a note--keep on working hard so you can continue to finance some of these kids with real talent, and please, stay bitter and entitled!

[Anonymous]

I think many people jump on people who are just trying to be honest on these threads. I agree that if someone really needs FA that's one thing. But it's another when the people cheat to get it by hiding their income, their real estate holdings, etc. and they flagrantly take and brag about trips to exotic places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think many people jump on people who are just trying to be honest on these threads. I agree that if someone really needs FA that's one thing. But it's another when the people cheat to get it by hiding their income, their real estate holdings, etc. and they flagrantly take and brag about trips to exotic places.

Maybe the families who are able to take these extravagant trips work in the hospitality industry as a baggage handler or housekeeping employee. Hardly lucrative but includes free travel as a perk. Or maybe they have family or friends to stay with. The point is that you don't know and you should stop trying to size up everyones financial situations. It is really in poor taste.

[Anonymous]

Right on, 12:29! What is it with folks thinking that there are all these families out there trying to scam the system? I just don't get it. Whenever someone goes there at our independent, I just walk away. Am so not interested in having that conversation with people.

Signed, Mom paying full freight for two and thrilled to be able to contribute to school's financial aid program

[Anonymous]

11:23 here--yes, I am a parent who paid full freight for 4 years, and then had to apply for financial aid for a year due to temporary unemployment. So, there is no way you can know anyone's financial situation. So if you despise financial aid, I suggest home-schooling so you wont have to waste your time trying to figure who deserves financial aid, and your tuition costs would no way be impacted by the financial needs of others...

[Anonymous]

uhmmm no..never had a hand out in my life. Took a pass on unemployment at one point because I felt it was weak..but that is me. No I don't want to be paying probably twice as much in tuition as need be to fund people who should not be applying in the first place. Yes..if you are making 100K you should not be applying. As for bitter..maybe I am because I find I continually have to pay for other people and usually those same people give me some sob story about how they can't make money how they have a career that makes no money--sorry if you are going into a career that you know only makes a certain amount, you shouldn't ask your neighbor to pay for your life expenses. Schools today are expensive because of the amount of money the full freight people have to pay to pay for the ones who say they can't pay. I would be pretty mad if I made say 200K..and I could do a private school at mabye 15 k but can't because I have to pay 30. There are a lot of people who think this by the way but might not say say so in public because we have to be so politically correct today. So I will say it..if you are poor and that means you are making almost no money and have no shot at school...yes I think you should get some aid..or hey a voucher..I believe in them. But..if you are middle class, you should not be asking other families to pay for you..because that is what you are doing.

[Anonymous]

@17:50: The schools want to give financial aid, bottom line. They believe in it. EVERY reputable US independent school gives FA. Some other cultures don't believe in financial aid, so theoretically you could send your kid to an international school in, say, Shanghai and you might get the good education and not have to know that your tuition is going to financial aid. But otherwise your choices are (a) home school; (b) public school; or (c) keep your kid in private school and vent your anger at an immutable school philosophical tenet on the Internet.

[Anonymous]

all hand-outs are not monetary, and if you are one of the few people in America whereas no one assisted you in landing a job, or helped you in any kind of way---kudos to you!! FYI--I did not receive unemployment while I was unemployed either...hopefully, you will continue to never need help in any way from anybody! Just say you do not want any socio-economic diversity in your school, because whether or not the less fortunate (middle class or lower class) receive financial aid, tuition for your child is going up!

[Anonymous]

@17:50, please pick home school!

[Anonymous]

Why would I want to home school..I would argue that if you can't pay for school and don't like your public option then YOU should homeschool. I just do not want to pay for other people's kids..ones that clearly are not poor. Schools are pushed to do FA and of course many people on this thread are missing the most important point. There are a great deal of people who WOULD like to send their kids to private school but can't because they cannot afford 30K but COULD afford say 15K because a large group of people has their tin cup out. If you are truly poor..then fine, I would help you out and also am very supportive of vouchers but middle class when you can pay, no you should not be screwing up the system by asking your kids classmates to pay for you. Which is what you are doing. I don't think this makes me mean-I am just being real and there are a lot of people who are starting to scratch their heads and say..darn I am paying for everything..more school and more taxes and then I get ridiculed for bringing this up. I am tried of carrying everyone. And no..I never got any special favor that I didn't work for i.e. a job that I wasn't qualified for but got put in because I have minority status, any student loans..yes..imagaine that..I worked through school without debt..can be done..I just grew up with a family that insisted I not cut corners..either we could pay for things or we waited until we could or we went another route. Getting angry at someone else's success was not something I grew up with..thank god because I think it's the reason I have been and will always be self sufficient.