The Annual Waitlist / Waiting Pool Reality Check Thread

[Anonymous]

Realism and pessimism are not the same. It’s intended as a service so that parents make plans based on reality, not misguided hope. Again, the schools are to blame because they are too soft and weak to actually directly reject those that don’t have a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we keep actual students' names off this thread (and generally off DCUM threads)? Even if it's for a good reason, it's not OK sharing names.

Was there an actual student name on here somewhere?

Yes gonzaga and sidwell students though the gonzaga one is now in the NFL along with many others from there and good counsel. Never heard of the Sidwell guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realism and pessimism are not the same. It’s intended as a service so that parents make plans based on reality, not misguided hope. Again, the schools are to blame because they are too soft and weak to actually directly reject those that don’t have a chance.

Yes.

And also because it costs the schools nothing to do it.

They end up with a large pool of candidates they haven't actually rejected and that they can tap for special attributes if the students with these attributes they accepted don't enroll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Realism and pessimism are not the same. It’s intended as a service so that parents make plans based on reality, not misguided hope. Again, the schools are to blame because they are too soft and weak to actually directly reject those that don’t have a chance.

Yes.

And also because it costs the schools nothing to do it.

They end up with a large pool of candidates they haven't actually rejected and that they can tap for special attributes if the students with these attributes they accepted don't enroll

And, they somehow think they’ve helped preserve your perception of them by not actually rejecting your kid, even though that’s what they did.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Super fun group here. I got two kids off the waitlist so there.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on your success and excellence in life.

[Anonymous]

So today is the day for some of us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So today is the day for some of us!

Good luck!!! So jealous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does a 5 star athlete need to do to get off the waiting list?

Has there ever been a true 5 star athlete on the waiting list?

By definition a 5 star is an athlete who is clearly one of the best at their sport and would have a tremendous impact on their sport. Sort of like Caleb Williams at Gonzaga or Saddiq Bey at Sidwell.

If they are really a 5 Star, they are going to have multiple offers and won't have to worry about being on a Waitlist.

Those guys weren’t even 5 stars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school where I coach has waitlisted at least two kids I would call five star athletes during my tenure. And there have been plenty of others who were above average athletes but below average students. The school won’t bend on academic standards and while it’s frustrating from a recruiting perspective, it makes a lot of sense.

Waitlisting an outstanding athlete (5 Star) wouldn’t seem to make a lot of sense at a school like Potomac.

Wouldn’t there be other privates who would accept them on the first pass? So waitlisting them would be the same thing as rejecting them.

They would be in great demand at schools with lower academic requirements and maybe even lower price tags. They could easily see this as a better situation for them. Starting with them not being the least academically talented in each of their classes.

The WCAC schools are at the top of the pyramid athletically. They have the best athletes, play against the stiffest competition and have the most visibility to the public and to the coaching staffs at colleges.

What magic words could a coach at a smaller, academically more select school be able to say to a 5 Star athlete that would convince them to not commit to ST Johns or Paul VI and instead wait to see if they got off the waitlist?

The magic words are that they would be better prepared for college in many situations.

[Anonymous]

If a child is waitlisted what is the rationale for pushing? My gut feel is if they don’t want my child but another place does, I should send my child to where they are wanted and valued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a child is waitlisted what is the rationale for pushing? My gut feel is if they don’t want my child but another place does, I should send my child to where they are wanted and valued.

Amen.

[Anonymous]

And if you need aid, your chances are even slimmer of getting off a waitlist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we keep actual students' names off this thread (and generally off DCUM threads)? Even if it's for a good reason, it's not OK sharing names.

Both players mentioned are grown adults in the NFL or NBA. Think it’s okay to mention them by name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a child is waitlisted what is the rationale for pushing? My gut feel is if they don’t want my child but another place does, I should send my child to where they are wanted and valued.

What if you are waitlisted everywhere?