Please tell me I am not the only one who think these questsions are silly

[Anonymous]

Ok, I am waaay behind and I am finishing up the apps for K and the questions are just ridiculous. My fave happens to be the "what is your child's special skill?" Um, she's four, really she needs to have a "special skill". I am have tempted to write "In between performing open heart surgery, my 4 year old is currently pursuing her pilots license."

[Anonymous]

At 4 DS was working hard on really loud, long burps. Would that count?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I am waaay behind and I am finishing up the apps for K and the questions are just ridiculous. My fave happens to be the "what is your child's special skill?" Um, she's four, really she needs to have a "special skill". I am have tempted to write "In between performing open heart surgery, my 4 year old is currently pursuing her pilots license."

Keep in mind that these questions, particularly at the K level, are used to assess you as much as your child. Finding an appropriate, straigtht-faced, response is part of the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At 4 DS was working hard on really loud, long burps. Would that count?

I like that one! Can I steal it and use it as my kid's special skill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Keep in mind that these questions, particularly at the K level, are used to assess you as much as your child. Finding an appropriate, straigtht-faced, response is part of the game.

I know, I know but that just kind of makes it worse. I can write an nice well thought out response and will but I still laugh while I am typing the BS answers.

[Anonymous]

I told the truth..obsessed with hair and makeup, Dancing with the Stars, and loves to listen to hip hop, esp. the new TI songs.

Seriously.

[Anonymous]

My fav one was "What extra curricular activities does your child participate in?" Um, he is 4 yrs old and goes to preschool 3 mornings a week. Extra curriculars? Well, he takes a nap. I seriously didn't know what to write. He doesn't take any classes b/c they cost an arm and a leg and I can barely afford preschool. What would you write? None probably looks bad, right?

[Anonymous]

I actually said that my dd had no special talents or skills, and that she was age appropriate in mimicking and emulating me in every way.
We got in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My fav one was "What extra curricular activities does your child participate in?" Um, he is 4 yrs old and goes to preschool 3 mornings a week. Extra curriculars? Well, he takes a nap. I seriously didn't know what to write. He doesn't take any classes b/c they cost an arm and a leg and I can barely afford preschool. What would you write? None probably looks bad, right?

You sound very nice. And very grounded. Two things I once was before I got caught up in this whole private school thing. So, with that said, I'll say what a number of other folks are thinking. If you're just filling out your essays now, well, even though the deadline hasn't passed, you're really late. The schools will take your "late" application as a sign of disorganization or lack of eagerness. The fact that your 4 year old doesn't have any extra curriculars might be not surprising, and even normal, if you lived in say, Duluth. But living here in hyper-competitive D.C., with aspirations for a private school education, well frankly, dear girl, you're way in over your head.

Save the application fee and the headaches of trying to write answers to these, yes I admit, seemingly ridiculous essay questions and just resign yourself to a non Big Three education for your DC. You'll all be better off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My fav one was "What extra curricular activities does your child participate in?" Um, he is 4 yrs old and goes to preschool 3 mornings a week. Extra curriculars? Well, he takes a nap. I seriously didn't know what to write. He doesn't take any classes b/c they cost an arm and a leg and I can barely afford preschool. What would you write? None probably looks bad, right?

You sound very nice. And very grounded. Two things I once was before I got caught up in this whole private school thing. So, with that said, I'll say what a number of other folks are thinking. If you're just filling out your essays now, well, even though the deadline hasn't passed, you're really late. The schools will take your "late" application as a sign of disorganization or lack of eagerness. The fact that your 4 year old doesn't have any extra curriculars might be not surprising, and even normal, if you lived in say, Duluth. But living here in hyper-competitive D.C., with aspirations for a private school education, well frankly, dear girl, you're way in over your head.

Save the application fee and the headaches of trying to write answers to these, yes I admit, seemingly ridiculous essay questions and just resign yourself to a non Big Three education for your DC. You'll all be better off.

Ouch! So subtlety is not your "thing." While your assessment is probably pretty accurate (OP has no extracurriculars, very late application and probably has not "greased the skids") do you think you could give it to her gently? The whole "well frankly, dear girl" is a bit OTT, no?

[Anonymous]

This is FUUUnny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My fav one was "What extra curricular activities does your child participate in?" Um, he is 4 yrs old and goes to preschool 3 mornings a week. Extra curriculars? Well, he takes a nap. I seriously didn't know what to write. He doesn't take any classes b/c they cost an arm and a leg and I can barely afford preschool. What would you write? None probably looks bad, right?

You sound very nice. And very grounded. Two things I once was before I got caught up in this whole private school thing. So, with that said, I'll say what a number of other folks are thinking. If you're just filling out your essays now, well, even though the deadline hasn't passed, you're really late. The schools will take your "late" application as a sign of disorganization or lack of eagerness. The fact that your 4 year old doesn't have any extra curriculars might be not surprising, and even normal, if you lived in say, Duluth. But living here in hyper-competitive D.C., with aspirations for a private school education, well frankly, dear girl, you're way in over your head.

Save the application fee and the headaches of trying to write answers to these, yes I admit, seemingly ridiculous essay questions and just resign yourself to a non Big Three education for your DC. You'll all be better off.

Ouch! So subtlety is not your "thing." While your assessment is probably pretty accurate (OP has no extracurriculars, very late application and probably has not "greased the skids") do you think you could give it to her gently? The whole "well frankly, dear girl" is a bit OTT, no?

Interventions are not supposed to be subtle.

[Anonymous]

ITA--this is gonna Janet Jackson nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My fav one was "What extra curricular activities does your child participate in?" Um, he is 4 yrs old and goes to preschool 3 mornings a week. Extra curriculars? Well, he takes a nap. I seriously didn't know what to write. He doesn't take any classes b/c they cost an arm and a leg and I can barely afford preschool. What would you write? None probably looks bad, right?

You sound very nice. And very grounded. Two things I once was before I got caught up in this whole private school thing. So, with that said, I'll say what a number of other folks are thinking. If you're just filling out your essays now, well, even though the deadline hasn't passed, you're really late. The schools will take your "late" application as a sign of disorganization or lack of eagerness. The fact that your 4 year old doesn't have any extra curriculars might be not surprising, and even normal, if you lived in say, Duluth. But living here in hyper-competitive D.C., with aspirations for a private school education, well frankly, dear girl, you're way in over your head.

Save the application fee and the headaches of trying to write answers to these, yes I admit, seemingly ridiculous essay questions and just resign yourself to a non Big Three education for your DC. You'll all be better off.

This person is full of shit. We realized our initial selections were not the best fit and we applied in January to other schools. We were accepted in the first group -- not off the wait list and my DC was subsequently accepted at another top school which he will graduate from. Ignore these nasty people and just be yourself.

[Anonymous]

ITA- this is gonna "get" Janet Jackson nasty.