Do waitlists ever move before deposits are due?

[Anonymous]

We're waitlisted at a school that is likely to accept some off its waitlist (i.e., will lose kids to 'better schools'). I'm wondering if we should wait til the last possible moment to accept at another school in case we get in, or if there's no chance and we should just pay the deposit and be willing to lose it if we get in to the other.

[Anonymous]

The waitlist is not an actual list on which applicants are taken first come first serve. When there is an opening, admissions look for a student who will some sort of niche in the class. They can't possibly know what this is until all deposits are in, so they won't take students off the waitlist beforehand.

Your odds of getting off the waitlist at all are probably low but they're zero before the deposits are in. You certainly can't gamble on it.

[Anonymous]

Also, the schools send out more acceptances than they have spaces. No school has a 100 percent enrollment rate, and they have a pretty good idea from past history what their "yield" will be. It is possible that they'll get turned down by quite a few folks and still never go to the wait list.

[Anonymous]

We got off a WL a few years ago before deposits were due. Most people call the school and notify them that they're not attending before deposits are due. Call the school you're interested in and ask if they anticipate any movement this year. Most likely, they'll be honest with you either way. If they don't return your call, then you'll also have your answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The waitlist is not an actual list on which applicants are taken first come first serve. When there is an opening, admissions look for a student who will some sort of niche in the class. They can't possibly know what this is until all deposits are in, so they won't take students off the waitlist beforehand.

Your odds of getting off the waitlist at all are probably low but they're zero before the deposits are in. You certainly can't gamble on it.

+1 this is the most likely scenario in the majority of schools. If it is a school that is not all that demand, then yes there might be wait list movement before deposits are due. But most schools are looking to balance their class and they don't know what they need till all the deposits are in.


Take your spot and if you they call after from the waitlist be prepared to lose your deposit.

[Anonymous]

There is no firm answer that applies to all schools or even to the same school OP. It depends on the year, the class, etc. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My DC was accepted to 3 top school and had to turn down 2. I e-mailed admission early this week specifically with the hope that they could offer the spot to another student. I'm sure I'm not alone in my thinking. With the "new family" receptions happening next week for many school I would think school will try to offer those spots. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

do you mind sharing the schools you called and declined

[Anonymous]

Wait for the last day before contracts are due to formally accept at your school and hand in the deposit check. We did this and the same evening we got the call to get in to our first choice from the waitlist. The school where we had just submitted the check was indeed gracious and tore up our check and wished us well, but that is strictly discretionary for each school. Our feeling was that if we had to pay so much to be a part of private school anyway, we would pretty much mentally assume that losing that initial deposit was just the cost of doing business that first year.

[Anonymous]

My super smart (and very lovely) friend at work wondered aloud today if you could claim the non returned deposit as a tax deduction if you end up not going there. Essentially it becomes a donation to the school, right? Tax lawyers, we know you are on this board. Let us know.

[Anonymous]

18:06 - I did this a couple of years ago. I asked the school to repurpose it as a donation and they kindly did. You just need a letter from their development office saying that you didn't receive goods or services in exchange for the gift.

[Anonymous]

18:06 - very kind, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:18:06 - I did this a couple of years ago. I asked the school to repurpose it as a donation and they kindly did. You just need a letter from their development office saying that you didn't receive goods or services in exchange for the gift.

Tax attorney confirming this is the way to have a "non-returned" deposit be deductible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:18:06 - very kind, thank you.

whatever, cupcake. I know you are still uncomfortable with me calling you a friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:18:06 - I did this a couple of years ago. I asked the school to repurpose it as a donation and they kindly did. You just need a letter from their development office saying that you didn't receive goods or services in exchange for the gift.

Tax attorney confirming this is the way to have a "non-returned" deposit be deductible

Yes, but it's not a donation. You're paying the school to hold a spot for your child. It's a payment in exchange for a service. That doesn't meet the IRS definition for a charitable contribution and the school should not be issuing a letter to that effect. I think it would be foolish for any school to risk doing so.