NCS contract this year--the deposit is now $5K?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It feels like just one poster who is dropping all of the “don’t sign a contract if you’re not going to honor it” crap. That logic is faulty in a system where schools have all of the power to set and move deadlines and try to jump ahead of other schools, forcing families to make early decisions and be stuck with them when they don’t yet know all of their options.

From my perspective, this makes it look like NCS was losing good candidates to other schools over the spring and is trying to use the money to force people to stay rather than just give them more to want to stay for. It seems pathetic.

February is pretty much the norm for deadlines at all schools.

[Anonymous]

If you are really applying out, you may be able to ask NCS to let you delay signing the contract. When our DC applied out of a different top private, we were granted that concession. I don't know how strict they are, but it's not as if they would get a huge volume of such requests each year.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP if your kid goes to a public school like Walls you will be out $5k but you will save $50k the first year and $55 plus for another 3 years.

That’s like $215k plus all the add ons. Think of all the money you will be saving!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are really applying out, you may be able to ask NCS to let you delay signing the contract. When our DC applied out of a different top private, we were granted that concession. I don't know how strict they are, but it's not as if they would get a huge volume of such requests each year.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I can tell, the $5K deposit is non-refundable if you sign by tomorrow but walk away by June?
This is new this year (?) Used to be $1k?
This is our first renewal.

I just looked. I think it is for 2025-2026 school year? Nonetheless it is a smart approach. There are many on the waitlist and people need to commit or not if they are not returning.

OP here. Yes, I think it's new for 2024-2025 (but applies to all students).
Once you sign the contract you are in for $5K (non-refundable).

It will be interesting to see how this plays out for them.
Anyone waiting to hear from Walls or Thomas Jefferson or Blair or boarding schools will be out the $5K.

I think it will play out just fine. We have no problem paying the deposit. My daughter is at NCS and plans on returning and staying.

Oh good for you.
Glad you are independently wealthy.

Now the rest of the community that is not dumb enough to leave $5000 on the table will think hard about their decisions.

There are people who pay consultants at least $5000 to help get their kids into schools like NCS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I can tell, the $5K deposit is non-refundable if you sign by tomorrow but walk away by June?
This is new this year (?) Used to be $1k?
This is our first renewal.

I just looked. I think it is for 2025-2026 school year? Nonetheless it is a smart approach. There are many on the waitlist and people need to commit or not if they are not returning.

OP here. Yes, I think it's new for 2024-2025 (but applies to all students).
Once you sign the contract you are in for $5K (non-refundable).

It will be interesting to see how this plays out for them.
Anyone waiting to hear from Walls or Thomas Jefferson or Blair or boarding schools will be out the $5K.

I think it will play out just fine. We have no problem paying the deposit. My daughter is at NCS and plans on returning and staying.

Oh good for you.
Glad you are independently wealthy.

Now the rest of the community that is not dumb enough to leave $5000 on the table will think hard about their decisions.

There are people who pay consultants at least $5000 to help get their kids into schools like NCS.

And there are people whose billable rate is $5000/hour. That doesn't mean this is a good policy and isn't harmful to the middle /upper middle class applicants,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It feels like just one poster who is dropping all of the “don’t sign a contract if you’re not going to honor it” crap. That logic is faulty in a system where schools have all of the power to set and move deadlines and try to jump ahead of other schools, forcing families to make early decisions and be stuck with them when they don’t yet know all of their options.

From my perspective, this makes it look like NCS was losing good candidates to other schools over the spring and is trying to use the money to force people to stay rather than just give them more to want to stay for. It seems pathetic.

February is pretty much the norm for deadlines at all schools.

This! Almost every school goes by the early February date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I can tell, the $5K deposit is non-refundable if you sign by tomorrow but walk away by June?
This is new this year (?) Used to be $1k?
This is our first renewal.

I just looked. I think it is for 2025-2026 school year? Nonetheless it is a smart approach. There are many on the waitlist and people need to commit or not if they are not returning.

OP here. Yes, I think it's new for 2024-2025 (but applies to all students).
Once you sign the contract you are in for $5K (non-refundable).

It will be interesting to see how this plays out for them.
Anyone waiting to hear from Walls or Thomas Jefferson or Blair or boarding schools will be out the $5K.

Op you started a thread with incorrect information all for nothing. It does not apply this year for current students so you wasted a thread for no reason as it does not apply to you if you are a current student until 2025-2026. You can still apply to Wells and pay the $1000.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP, but as a parent of and 8th grader waiting for decisions from independent school and also considering public selective schools, I’ve found the thread enlightening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I can tell, the $5K deposit is non-refundable if you sign by tomorrow but walk away by June?
This is new this year (?) Used to be $1k?
This is our first renewal.

I just looked. I think it is for 2025-2026 school year? Nonetheless it is a smart approach. There are many on the waitlist and people need to commit or not if they are not returning.

OP here. Yes, I think it's new for 2024-2025 (but applies to all students).
Once you sign the contract you are in for $5K (non-refundable).

It will be interesting to see how this plays out for them.
Anyone waiting to hear from Walls or Thomas Jefferson or Blair or boarding schools will be out the $5K.

I don’t think anyone is deciding between Walls/Thomas Jefferson and NCS.

Speak for yourself. Back in the day, my brother had an STA classmate leave after 8th for TJ. If the quality of education is your concern and you’re lucky enough to be given the choice, then TJ seems pretty sensible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are really applying out, you may be able to ask NCS to let you delay signing the contract. When our DC applied out of a different top private, we were granted that concession. I don't know how strict they are, but it's not as if they would get a huge volume of such requests each year.

+1

PP above who pointed this out - this is basic math and should override the psychology of the situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I can tell, the $5K deposit is non-refundable if you sign by tomorrow but walk away by June?
This is new this year (?) Used to be $1k?
This is our first renewal.

I just looked. I think it is for 2025-2026 school year? Nonetheless it is a smart approach. There are many on the waitlist and people need to commit or not if they are not returning.

OP here. Yes, I think it's new for 2024-2025 (but applies to all students).
Once you sign the contract you are in for $5K (non-refundable).

It will be interesting to see how this plays out for them.
Anyone waiting to hear from Walls or Thomas Jefferson or Blair or boarding schools will be out the $5K.

I think it will play out just fine. We have no problem paying the deposit. My daughter is at NCS and plans on returning and staying.

Oh good for you.
Glad you are independently wealthy.

Now the rest of the community that is not dumb enough to leave $5000 on the table will think hard about their decisions.

There are people who pay consultants at least $5000 to help get their kids into schools like NCS.

And there are people whose billable rate is $5000/hour. That doesn't mean this is a good policy and isn't harmful to the middle /upper middle class applicants,

agree. It's arrogant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I can tell, the $5K deposit is non-refundable if you sign by tomorrow but walk away by June?
This is new this year (?) Used to be $1k?
This is our first renewal.

You should reach out and ask. I don’t think it applies if you are a current student?

It does. They are keeping the $5K for every student (returning or new).

Not this year. This year, only new.

[Anonymous]

All these NCS folks in a tizzy when other privates have had $4000-$5000 deposits for new and returning students for ages. Many schools use 10% of tuition as the deposit amount. Welcome to the club, NCS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sure this is all tied into the college picture.

Outcomes are looking quite grim at NCS this year and I'm sure are predicted to be even worse for next year's class--many of whom have a high school worth of pretty crummy grades. So NCS can stem the tide of impulsive movement by locking people in. Hopefully they are also remediating the grading but this can't be done overnight.

You don’t know what you are talking about. This senior class is doing very well with college admissions.