Withdraw admissions application

[Anonymous]

How do you or should you withdraw an application that has been submitted to a school? We are really not interested in the school and got caught up in "applying to the top schools" process after receiving extremely high WPPSI scores. If by some miracle DC is accepted, I would prefer he not attend this school. So do I withdraw now or just go through the rest of the admissions process? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Why are you suddenly not interested in the school? If you truly do not think the school would be appropriate for DC then I would explain that to Admissions Staff and withdraw the application. What school is it????

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think it would be really fun to turn down one of these "top schools." You could talk about (here, at least) for years.

[Anonymous]

We turned a "big 3" down! And I know several others who did too. Our kids all got into MoCo magnet programs, also I should confess that it never would have been easy for any of us to pay for these schools. But still!

[Anonymous]

It's one of the "big 3". After visiting the school and knowing a couple of students that attend the lower school (from an after school class each week), I realized that the environment would not be a good fit for my DC. It may sound strange, but DC is too polite and well mannered for that caliber of students. I am afraid he would be trampled, physically and emotionally. Academically, he is already advanced. Are these worries justified?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's one of the "big 3". After visiting the school and knowing a couple of students that attend the lower school (from an after school class each week), I realized that the environment would not be a good fit for my DC. It may sound strange, but DC is too polite and well mannered for that caliber of students. I am afraid he would be trampled, physically and emotionally. Academically, he is already advanced. Are these worries justified?

Not to be mean, but your DC's chances of admission are pretty slim for K at the "big 3" even with a high WPPSI. There are less than 70 slots. I wouldn't worry too much about having to turn them down, but would probably caste a wider net (especially if you're planning to withdraw an application). On a side note, I doubt your child is too polite, well mannered or advanced for any of the learning environments provided by the "big 3". Kids are quite adaptable and resilient, and these schools admit and enroll all types of personalities and academic strenghths (there's no school among them that admit just one type...e.g., stepford children).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's one of the "big 3". After visiting the school and knowing a couple of students that attend the lower school (from an after school class each week), I realized that the environment would not be a good fit for my DC. It may sound strange, but DC is too polite and well mannered for that caliber of students. I am afraid he would be trampled, physically and emotionally. Academically, he is already advanced. Are these worries justified?

Not to be mean, but your DC's chances of admission are pretty slim for K at the "big 3" even with a high WPPSI. There are less than 70 slots. I wouldn't worry too much about having to turn them down, but would probably caste a wider net (especially if you're planning to withdraw an application). On a side note, I doubt your child is too polite, well mannered or advanced for any of the learning environments provided by the "big 3". Kids are quite adaptable and resilient, and these schools admit and enroll all types of personalities and academic strenghths (there's no school among them that admit just one type...e.g., stepford children).

PP again. I noticed you didn't specify a grade. I assumed K. But I still think chances of admission are low for Pre-K as well.

[Anonymous]

I would keep the application in to at least increase your options. Pulling the application out now might be considered negative. If you are rejected which is most likely as from the previous posts, then none would be the wiser. Your DC has a good a chance as any nonpriority applicant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's one of the "big 3". After visiting the school and knowing a couple of students that attend the lower school (from an after school class each week), I realized that the environment would not be a good fit for my DC. It may sound strange, but DC is too polite and well mannered for that caliber of students. I am afraid he would be trampled, physically and emotionally. Academically, he is already advanced. Are these worries justified?

Not strange. We moved DC out of a private school for this very reason. Rampant bullying unchecked by teachers and administration and lack of differentiated instruction for those at the ends of the spectrum (no support for those who needed it and no advanced work for those who were bored). It was an eye-opening experience. We are now in a good match school. Lots of differentiated instruction, not as much bullying (less privileged kids, less bullying???) and better support system for parents (not just looking for donations). Keep looking, you will find a good school that is a good match.

And, FWIW, during the application process (a few years ago now), we did pull an application from one of the Big Three schools. We did it over the phone and there was a a fair amount of stunned silence. That was fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's one of the "big 3". After visiting the school and knowing a couple of students that attend the lower school (from an after school class each week), I realized that the environment would not be a good fit for my DC. It may sound strange, but DC is too polite and well mannered for that caliber of students. I am afraid he would be trampled, physically and emotionally. Academically, he is already advanced. Are these worries justified?

Not strange. We moved DC out of a private school for this very reason. Rampant bullying unchecked by teachers and administration and lack of differentiated instruction for those at the ends of the spectrum (no support for those who needed it and no advanced work for those who were bored). It was an eye-opening experience. We are now in a good match school. Lots of differentiated instruction, not as much bullying (less privileged kids, less bullying???) and better support system for parents (not just looking for donations). Keep looking, you will find a good school that is a good match.

And, FWIW, during the application process (a few years ago now), we did pull an application from one of the Big Three schools. We did it over the phone and there was a a fair amount of stunned silence. That was fun.

Why do regular non-high profile families apply to Sidwell? It's a waste of money and time. There seems to be a lot more pandering to VIP parents at some schools than others so their children experience more success in all their school related endeavors.

[Anonymous]

Because if you actually look through a class list, the majority of kids are from non-rich, non-connected, regular families. The odds may be longer, but lots of those kids do get in.

[Anonymous]

OUt of 700 or 800 families at the school, there are like 20 "high profile" families. That ratio probably holds with just about any private school in this, or any other area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because if you actually look through a class list, the majority of kids are from non-rich, non-connected, regular families. The odds may be longer, but lots of those kids do get in.

You're sort of right, but I'd move the word "lots" around. The odds are "lots" longer, but some of those kids get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's one of the "big 3". After visiting the school and knowing a couple of students that attend the lower school (from an after school class each week), I realized that the environment would not be a good fit for my DC. It may sound strange, but DC is too polite and well mannered for that caliber of students. I am afraid he would be trampled, physically and emotionally. Academically, he is already advanced. Are these worries justified?

My son scored 99%ile and he is a minority, so likely to get into a biggie. He is also very polite and reserved. I am also concerned about the trampling, so we are looking at public or Oneness. I get the impression from my dd's school that the privates don't manage the bullies as well as publics do.

[Anonymous]

Don't go to Lafayette ES then.