Waitlist...how much time to respond?

[Anonymous]

Earlier today, I received an email from My School DC with an offer off the wait list for a school I am very interested in. The email said that I have until next week to accept or decline. About an hour later, I received a call from the school asking me to decide by tomorrow. We have been attending a school where we are happy, but obviously have a few concerns, for 3 years now, so disrupting my child's world and way of learning isn't something I take lightly and I want to make the right choice.

Any suggestions or experience with extending a deadline from a school? It may very well be within my right to wait to decide next week, but if the school isn't open to me coming in for a visit once school is in session, it won't really help me with my decision and will just upset the administration. I completely understand wanting to have the spot filled by the first day of school, but having to decide so quickly really just means we have to decline since we won't be able to make a truly informed choice. Help!

[Anonymous]

You should decline the spot. Waiting so you can observe a day during the first week of school won't be that helpful anyway.

[Anonymous]

If it's a popular school they will (and can) push up the normal time to decide. Seeing a class in action will do nothing the first few days anyway.

[Anonymous]

You need to decide now. You've been on the waitlisted for months. You should have had a good idea already if you'd take the spot if offered. The school will move on if you don't decide and I understand that. Frankly if you're on the fence at this point you should decline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Earlier today, I received an email from My School DC with an offer off the wait list for a school I am very interested in. The email said that I have until next week to accept or decline. About an hour later, I received a call from the school asking me to decide by tomorrow. We have been attending a school where we are happy, but obviously have a few concerns, for 3 years now, so disrupting my child's world and way of learning isn't something I take lightly and I want to make the right choice.

Any suggestions or experience with extending a deadline from a school? It may very well be within my right to wait to decide next week, but if the school isn't open to me coming in for a visit once school is in session, it won't really help me with my decision and will just upset the administration. I completely understand wanting to have the spot filled by the first day of school, but having to decide so quickly really just means we have to decline since we won't be able to make a truly informed choice. Help!

The concerns were significant enough that you put your child in the lottery. I see if the school can connect you with parents for your child's grade (or through the PTA) to answer questions you have.

[Anonymous]

At this point in the game you should know if you would jump on a spot of offered or not. You've entered the lottery for a reason and listed the school. I don't know if a school will really make much of an exception. If it's a popular school, I'm sure they have other families waiting for a spot.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the school will let you wait. It's the week before the start of school, and they want someone in there before it begins. Typically they give 24 hours at this point.

[Anonymous]

Yep. There is no way they will (or should) let you wait.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. I am waiting to hear back from myschoolDC as to timeframe but it's unfortunate that we have to make a decision so quickly. The fact that our number came up right before the start of school should't mean that we don't have the chance to make an informed decision.

As for my not knowing at this point, we have been to 2 open houses but these are largely geared toward kids entering PS, and the school has a new location this year. The open houses showed us very little of the old school building and classrooms, and were held while students were not there. So for me, going to get a feel for the school while it was in session would be immensely helpful. Without it I can't give the green light and that's unfortunate for both of my children.

[Anonymous]

Grabs popcorn....

[Anonymous]

You've had months to make the decision if you would move if called or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. I am waiting to hear back from myschoolDC as to timeframe but it's unfortunate that we have to make a decision so quickly. The fact that our number came up right before the start of school should't mean that we don't have the chance to make an informed decision.

As for my not knowing at this point, we have been to 2 open houses but these are largely geared toward kids entering PS, and the school has a new location this year. The open houses showed us very little of the old school building and classrooms, and were held while students were not there. So for me, going to get a feel for the school while it was in session would be immensely helpful. Without it I can't give the green light and that's unfortunate for both of my children.

I am sorry - but why during the open houses did you not ask the questions that were important for you?

What would you have done if you number came up 2 weeks ago?

[Anonymous]

High pressure sales is a great marketing technique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You've had months to make the decision if you would move if called or not.

+1. Not only did you put this school on your list, you've also obviously had a low waitlist number and should have anticipated a possible call. Why would you want to wait a week and forego the option of having your children start in the first day of school with everyone else. And I'm guessing it's too much to ask you to think about others, but why would you selfishly hold a spot you might not use and prevent another child from starting school on the first day? Drive to that school today, look around, talk to an administrator, email some parents, search on this website and make your decision today. Come on, lady.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. I am waiting to hear back from myschoolDC as to timeframe but it's unfortunate that we have to make a decision so quickly. The fact that our number came up right before the start of school should't mean that we don't have the chance to make an informed decision.

As for my not knowing at this point, we have been to 2 open houses but these are largely geared toward kids entering PS, and the school has a new location this year. The open houses showed us very little of the old school building and classrooms, and were held while students were not there. So for me, going to get a feel for the school while it was in session would be immensely helpful. Without it I can't give the green light and that's unfortunate for both of my children.

Then don't give the green light and decline your spot now so another family who is better prepared can benefit. I don't understand what you would have done if you had been offered the spot on July 1.