Advice of experience needed: How many private schools to apply to?

[Anonymous]

We're new to this process, and so I'm wondering for those of you who've been down this path before can help: what's a reasonable/recommended amount of schools to apply to? We have an upcoming 6th grader with great references and past grades but a hard transition year in fifth grade in a DC charter school. College students these days submit so many applications (such that, in my older age and based on the history of my own application process years ago, it seems overwhelming). We're looking mainly in DC proper.

I've looked in the archives and FAQs, but I may not be using the right key words.

Don't want to throw money out into the air on applications or stress DC out, but also don't want her shit out because we weren't savvy enough.

Thanks for any advice on this count (even if it's steering me to a previous thread). javascript:void(0);

[Anonymous]

You can't apply to the 10-12 schools that people apply for college because there just aren't that many. Once you draw a reasonable geographic line and then make choices about what kind of academic setting you want for your child/would best fit her learning style, there can't be more than a half dozen that would be appropriate.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Oh dear: that should have said "shut out" versus an expletive. Time to go to bed.

[Anonymous]

We applied for 5 last year for my rising 6th. Accepted 2, waitlisted 3. Accepted at the 2 best to which we applied which really means that there is no rhyme or reason. I wanted to make sure we had some success but it was still really stressful and never would have guessed in a million years that it worked out the way it did!

[Anonymous]

Five seems to be the usual number. If you do more, I don't think they take you serious.

[Anonymous]

2 different kids in the last 2 years . First kid applied to 4: in at 3, waitlisted at 1. we were surprised about WL, expected rejection. School notorious for quantity of homework and dc talked in interview about how useless homework is.
Second child : applied 1- School that older kid is at. Second kids stats better than first kids. Rejected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 different kids in the last 2 years . First kid applied to 4: in at 3, waitlisted at 1. we were surprised about WL, expected rejection. School notorious for quantity of homework and dc talked in interview about how useless homework is.
Second child : applied 1- School that older kid is at. Second kids stats better than first kids. Rejected.

then what? what intake year/grade was this for?

[Anonymous]

I would apply to 5. Private schools are getting savvy as to what a mess BASIS is so don't worry too much about the less than ideal 5th grade year. If there's a 6th that works perfectly, add that. If there are only 4 really good fits, stick with 4.

[Anonymous]

4-5. We did five for older kids but current applicant is doing 4.

[Anonymous]

Cast a wide net and make sure the schools your student applies to are ones to which he or she can see him or herself going. Don't make any assumptions about getting in or not getting in. It gets more and more competitive every year and you would be wise to take that into account.

[Anonymous]

If you’re applying for financial aid, 7-9 schools. If not, between 3-5 schools.

[Anonymous]

We only applied to one for each kid but had a good public option.

[Anonymous]

We looked at a lot and applied to the ones DS liked and could see himself attending (3). The list is oddly diverse, and some DCUM folks would say, "you'd never apply to all of those schools if you had visited them; they are so different"), but it was his call, and he can articulate what draws him to each in spite of their differences. He can also say why he'd choose his public option over the ones he declined. So that's how we arrived at three.

[Anonymous]

From experience I would recommend 4 or 5 with one of those being an obvious back-up (e.g Bullis, St Johns, St Andrews, or Burke) dependent on what your child's primary extra-curricular focus is (sports or arts).

[Anonymous]

For grade 5, we applied to 3, WL at 2 and rejected at 1 (Bullis). Next year we applied to 2, accepted at 1 and WL at 1. Very happy where we are. It all worked out.