GDS admission survey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm assuming (don't really know) that the waitlist can be long because this area has an inordinate number of qualified candidates. So the schools waitlist the qualified candidates because they have no idea what the yield will be like (i.e., how many of those that were actually accepted will enroll).

I actually think that after so many years, most ADs have quite a good sense of what yield will be like, especially since so many slots are taken by siblings, who are very likely to accept. I can't see any leading school needing a wait list that's more than 50% of their desired intake. In many cases, that would be something like 5 girls and 5 boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educational consultant? Not to derail this thread, but people hire consultants to help get their kids into schools? Preschool?

We're not talking about preschool; we're talking mostly about schools that go through high school or middle school.

Ok. Preschool was an add-on. The question/befuddlement still applies to educational consultants. Do people need consultants to navigate admissions process for independent preparatory schools? I don't want to criticize, but it just strikes me as a bit excessive.

[Anonymous]

IMHO: Need? No. Can they help navigate the process? Yes. Do they get you in? No.

There are quite a number of threads about educational consultants in the archives; probably better to look there than to reopen the debate here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm assuming (don't really know) that the waitlist can be long because this area has an inordinate number of qualified candidates. So the schools waitlist the qualified candidates because they have no idea what the yield will be like (i.e., how many of those that were actually accepted will enroll).

I actually think that after so many years, most ADs have quite a good sense of what yield will be like, especially since so many slots are taken by siblings, who are very likely to accept. I can't see any leading school needing a wait list that's more than 50% of their desired intake. In many cases, that would be something like 5 girls and 5 boys.

But most siblings come in at Pre-K or K. What about the other grades (1st- 12th)? And believe it or not, not all siblings are accepted. I know of several cases. And I think I read recently on another thread that Norwood (for example) had lower than expected number of sibling applicants. So I'm not so sure that the schools know 100% where they stand from year to year.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't count Norwood as one of the schools that have not had to turn to their waitlist very often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IMHO: Need? No. Can they help navigate the process? Yes. Do they get you in? No.

There are quite a number of threads about educational consultants in the archives; probably better to look there than to reopen the debate here.

Duly noted. Thanks. The search feature is a wonderful tool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually think that after so many years, most ADs have quite a good sense of what yield will be like, especially since so many slots are taken by siblings, who are very likely to accept. I can't see any leading school needing a wait list that's more than 50% of their desired intake. In many cases, that would be something like 5 girls and 5 boys.

But most siblings come in at Pre-K or K. What about the other grades (1st- 12th)? And believe it or not, not all siblings are accepted. I know of several cases. And I think I read recently on another thread that Norwood (for example) had lower than expected number of sibling applicants. So I'm not so sure that the schools know 100% where they stand from year to year.

They don't know 100%, which is why it is sensible for them to have a wait list. But the established schools have a pretty good sense--they don't need to have a waitlist that is two or three times as large as the desired intake or even larger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educational consultant? Not to derail this thread, but people hire consultants to help get their kids into schools? Preschool?

We're not talking about preschool; we're talking mostly about schools that go through high school or middle school.

Ok. Preschool was an add-on. The question/befuddlement still applies to educational consultants. Do people need consultants to navigate admissions process for independent preparatory schools? I don't want to criticize, but it just strikes me as a bit excessive.

We used one for kindergarten and were very happy with results. We will do it all over again for the next stage of applications. Of course it is a matter of choice so if you think it excessive then by all means don't do it. We just did not want to find ourselves in the position of many on this board with no attractive options and we were prepared to pay for that assurance abd it did paty off - for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just did not want to find ourselves in the position of many on this board with no attractive options and we were prepared to pay for that assurance abd it did paty off - for us.

Are you saying that you think your child wouldn't have been admitted if you didn't use the consultant? And that paying for the consultant assures admission?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know for sure how many children are on the GDS waitlist, or that of other schools? Or are we speculating?

[Anonymous]

Not PP, but I can tell you from personal experience that paying for a consultant does not guarantee admission to the school of your choice. However, consultants can help you choose good back-up schools, which is a step that some parents seem to ignore or bungle (by picking a back-up that is in fact extremely competitive and has limited slots).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a great school, I liked Jenny Stein, and I enjoyed talking to her. I just wish they had a "real" wait list.

Does anyone know whether the Director of Admission for pre-k through 2nd grade at GDS is still the same this year? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Folks. I think you are all stressing way too much about admissions. Don't try to analyze every word from the admissions office. It is just not that difficult to be accepted to these schools. My two children have applied to a total of seven schools, and they've been accepted to six. We are not famous, diverse in any sense, or extremely weathly. Our kids are smart, to be sure, but not Einstein or anything. Just go through the process, and try not to stress.

Good luck to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Does anyone know whether the Director of Admission for pre-k through 2nd grade at GDS is still the same this year? Thanks!

No, there is a different AD for prek - 2nd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is just not that difficult to be accepted to these schools. My two children have applied to a total of seven schools, and they've been accepted to six.

How nice for you. But I think dozens of parents who read this forum would disagree.