Got into number 5 but want my number 6 school... Anything I can do?

[Anonymous]

DH submitted the application and did not order the schools how we discussed. So now we are matched with our #5 school, but would prefer our #6. When I tried to do a round 2 lottery I was told I can't since I was matched with a school in round 1. While I don't want to turn down #5 because it was clearly an option, I would like a chance at number 6. Do you think calling Myschool will help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH submitted the application and did not order the schools how we discussed. So now we are matched with our #5 school, but would prefer our #6. When I tried to do a round 2 lottery I was told I can't since I was matched with a school in round 1. While I don't want to turn down #5 because it was clearly an option, I would like a chance at number 6. Do you think calling Myschool will help?

I understand your frustration. While I get the point of the common lottery and not being matched for schools you rank lower than one you match with, I still would like to be able to see where else DD was matched. It would be nice to be able to make a choice between your matched schools. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do. Is your #6 highly sought after? If yes, there probably is a long wait list. If the school didn't receive enough applications (I.e., they have 30 PK3 slots and only 20 people applied) then you may have a chance of enrolling AFTER around 2 is over (and there are still open slots left). But if people were wait listed, unless they go through their entire waitlist for Rounds 1 and 2 and STILL have spaces open, you're out of luck. Hope that makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Nope. You're out of luck.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth would you have your DH do the application?!?! Dear god, that's women's work!!

[Anonymous]

If it's DCPS call the school over the summer to see if they have space

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would you have your DH do the application?!?! Dear god, that's women's work!!

Yeah, I would never allow DH to do the application. They just don't pay enough attention to detail for me!

[Anonymous]

There can't be a big difference between 5 and 6 (and if there is its likely you wouldn't have gotten into #6 anyway. If I were you I'd just thank my lucky stars that you got into one of your top 7 and move on.

[Anonymous]

You can't do anything. Since you were matched, the schools you ranked lower are out of the question.

[Anonymous]

You can apply after round 2 is over but you get put on the bottom of the waitlist unless you have a sibling preference.

[Anonymous]

That's why they give you several opportunities to check your ranking before submitting and clearly ask you to confirm that's what you really want.

And what's with all the husband blaming? If you really cared that much, you should have checked yourself.

[Anonymous]

No, you can't do anything given your match--your only option would be to apply after round 2 of the lottery, but you will be behind everyone who applied in rounds 1 and 2, unless you have a preference (e.g., an inbounds school for PK3 and PK4).

[Anonymous]

We all make mistakes... your DH just made a sorta important one. Live and learn and move on, and maybe you were just meant to be at your #5 and it will turn out to be a great match.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH submitted the application and did not order the schools how we discussed. So now we are matched with our #5 school, but would prefer our #6. When I tried to do a round 2 lottery I was told I can't since I was matched with a school in round 1. While I don't want to turn down #5 because it was clearly an option, I would like a chance at number 6. Do you think calling Myschool will help?

I understand your frustration. While I get the point of the common lottery and not being matched for schools you rank lower than one you match with, I still would like to be able to see where else DD was matched. It would be nice to be able to make a choice between your matched schools. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do. Is your #6 highly sought after? If yes, there probably is a long wait list. If the school didn't receive enough applications (I.e., they have 30 PK3 slots and only 20 people applied) then you may have a chance of enrolling AFTER around 2 is over (and there are still open slots left). But if people were wait listed, unless they go through their entire waitlist for Rounds 1 and 2 and STILL have spaces open, you're out of luck. Hope that makes sense.

Your DD didn't match anywhere else. Once the algorithm finds you a place at a school, you are not assigned a number for any lower-ranked school.

And if you got to choose among all the schools you got into, there would be tons more kids who temporarily didn't have any match, until the people who got lots of spaces made their choice. What the combined lottery essentially does is force people to choose early on which school they'd go to if they got into all of them. That's what the ranking is.