Sign of acceptance?

[Anonymous]

AD told us DS was top on their list. also asked if we applied for other schools. He then got in. not sure if that's the sign. we thought they must have said that to a lot of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AD told us DS was top on their list. also asked if we applied for other schools. He then got in. not sure if that's the sign. we thought they must have said that to a lot of kids.

“At the top of “their list is definitely a sign, so that was definitely a sign for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s school did a bunch of games with the kids that were a well thought out combo of listening skills, athletics and problem solving. The games involved kids “falling out” in a Simon says kind of way if they failed in some aspect. My kid won each round and at pick up one of the admissions folks noted they were very happy with the visit. When I asked my kid about the day on the way home they explained what they had done and I asked when they went out in the games. They said they won each time. At that point the admissions person’s comments made me think things would go well. They did. Ironically, a parent from a “feeder” school saw us at drop off and, with some snark, said kids from your school don’t get in here. Hers didn’t but ours did.

Wow. That definitely was not a friendly comment. I don’t know what I would say to that if someone said that to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The head of DD's school said "Sidwell wants to know where they stand with your DD." She also told us GDS did not like DD and Holton did. This was mid February.

Incredible. So in essence you were being told Sidwell would offer a spot if your child would accept and let them know in advance?

Yes that was my understanding, and when I said GDS was her first choice the HOS said that she might want to rethink her order. She was happy at Holton. She probably would have been just as happy at Sidwell. I don't think she would have been happy at GDS.

Just FYI, our school principal asked us the same when we applied. They wanted us to rate the schools and declare our first choice. I think it’s very possible that Sidwell would have rejected/waitlisted her. They asked my DD the same thing and she was waitlisted. We applied to Sidwell beauvoir and Maret

Where did she end up?

BVR. We are so happy about it now and Sidwell would have been a worse choice, but at the time BVR was our second choice (after Sidwell).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AD told us DS was top on their list. also asked if we applied for other schools. He then got in. not sure if that's the sign. we thought they must have said that to a lot of kids.

At what point do ADs drop this hint? During the interview?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AD told us DS was top on their list. also asked if we applied for other schools. He then got in. not sure if that's the sign. we thought they must have said that to a lot of kids.

At what point do ADs drop this hint? During the interview?

When they interviewed parents

[Anonymous]

Is there anyone working with an educational consultant? If so, are they able to give you advanced notice? If they are connected?

[Anonymous]

An Admissions Director who drops this kind of hint is taking a chance that it won’t come back and bite them.

The Admissions process at these schools is difficult to predict. There can always be unexpected twists and turns. A candidate who seemed to be a sure thing might be edged out at the end of the process by any number of unpredictable forces or events.

That would leave the Admissions Director with egg on their face and some very angry parents that feel they had been misled or lied to.

So, why should they take the chance? It’s all risk and no reward. Especially if the temporarily happy parents can’t restraint themselves from sharing the news with others. These people might want to get the same type of assurance from the AD.

It’s far, far better for them to keep their cards close to their vests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An Admissions Director who drops this kind of hint is taking a chance that it won’t come back and bite them.

The Admissions process at these schools is difficult to predict. There can always be unexpected twists and turns. A candidate who seemed to be a sure thing might be edged out at the end of the process by any number of unpredictable forces or events.

That would leave the Admissions Director with egg on their face and some very angry parents that feel they had been misled or lied to.

So, why should they take the chance? It’s all risk and no reward. Especially if the temporarily happy parents can’t restraint themselves from sharing the news with others. These people might want to get the same type of assurance from the AD.

It’s far, far better for them to keep their cards close to their vests.

Correct, because the admissions director does not make the decisions. He/ is mostly an administrator of the process. That's what people forget--he may sit on the committee but decisions are always made by committee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An Admissions Director who drops this kind of hint is taking a chance that it won’t come back and bite them.

The Admissions process at these schools is difficult to predict. There can always be unexpected twists and turns. A candidate who seemed to be a sure thing might be edged out at the end of the process by any number of unpredictable forces or events.

That would leave the Admissions Director with egg on their face and some very angry parents that feel they had been misled or lied to.

So, why should they take the chance? It’s all risk and no reward. Especially if the temporarily happy parents can’t restraint themselves from sharing the news with others. These people might want to get the same type of assurance from the AD.

It’s far, far better for them to keep their cards close to their vests.

Correct, because the admissions director does not make the decisions. He/ is mostly an administrator of the process. That's what people forget--he may sit on the committee but decisions are always made by committee.

What is the risk to the AD? They have a lovely conversation and everyone leaves with handshakes and smiles. Two months later emails go out and parents and applicants whose hopes they raised with their casual comments are disappointed and spend a few days venting to friends and DCUM. The AD doesn’t really care. Everyone moves on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An Admissions Director who drops this kind of hint is taking a chance that it won’t come back and bite them.

The Admissions process at these schools is difficult to predict. There can always be unexpected twists and turns. A candidate who seemed to be a sure thing might be edged out at the end of the process by any number of unpredictable forces or events.

That would leave the Admissions Director with egg on their face and some very angry parents that feel they had been misled or lied to.

So, why should they take the chance? It’s all risk and no reward. Especially if the temporarily happy parents can’t restraint themselves from sharing the news with others. These people might want to get the same type of assurance from the AD.

It’s far, far better for them to keep their cards close to their vests.

It's probably a balancing act for them. The AD or interviewer also can't act that neutral during the parent interview because it might come across as coldness. They have to be positive about any potential student, because no parent wants to send their kid to a school that seems lukewarm about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An Admissions Director who drops this kind of hint is taking a chance that it won’t come back and bite them.

The Admissions process at these schools is difficult to predict. There can always be unexpected twists and turns. A candidate who seemed to be a sure thing might be edged out at the end of the process by any number of unpredictable forces or events.

That would leave the Admissions Director with egg on their face and some very angry parents that feel they had been misled or lied to.

So, why should they take the chance? It’s all risk and no reward. Especially if the temporarily happy parents can’t restraint themselves from sharing the news with others. These people might want to get the same type of assurance from the AD.

It’s far, far better for them to keep their cards close to their vests.

Correct, because the admissions director does not make the decisions. He/ is mostly an administrator of the process. That's what people forget--he may sit on the committee but decisions are always made by committee.

Are you sure about that? Or is that your theory on how things ought to work?

Because I’ve seen it work the other way in which the AD is first among equals and really heavily influences or makes the final decision. After all, the negative feedback from all the various interests in campus once they actually see rage incoming class is going to flow to the AD not some amorphous committee.

It would be quite difficult for a committee to balance the class against all the competing interests on campus which have a stake in the Admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An Admissions Director who drops this kind of hint is taking a chance that it won’t come back and bite them.

The Admissions process at these schools is difficult to predict. There can always be unexpected twists and turns. A candidate who seemed to be a sure thing might be edged out at the end of the process by any number of unpredictable forces or events.

That would leave the Admissions Director with egg on their face and some very angry parents that feel they had been misled or lied to.

So, why should they take the chance? It’s all risk and no reward. Especially if the temporarily happy parents can’t restraint themselves from sharing the news with others. These people might want to get the same type of assurance from the AD.

It’s far, far better for them to keep their cards close to their vests.

Correct, because the admissions director does not make the decisions. He/ is mostly an administrator of the process. That's what people forget--he may sit on the committee but decisions are always made by committee.

What is the risk to the AD? They have a lovely conversation and everyone leaves with handshakes and smiles. Two months later emails go out and parents and applicants whose hopes they raised with their casual comments are disappointed and spend a few days venting to friends and DCUM. The AD doesn’t really care. Everyone moves on.

That few days of venting to friends are how the reputations of schools and administrators are forged. The private school world is small. Being accused of “telling lies to our faces” will have long legs.

Why take the chance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An Admissions Director who drops this kind of hint is taking a chance that it won’t come back and bite them.

The Admissions process at these schools is difficult to predict. There can always be unexpected twists and turns. A candidate who seemed to be a sure thing might be edged out at the end of the process by any number of unpredictable forces or events.

That would leave the Admissions Director with egg on their face and some very angry parents that feel they had been misled or lied to.

So, why should they take the chance? It’s all risk and no reward. Especially if the temporarily happy parents can’t restraint themselves from sharing the news with others. These people might want to get the same type of assurance from the AD.

It’s far, far better for them to keep their cards close to their vests.

It's probably a balancing act for them. The AD or interviewer also can't act that neutral during the parent interview because it might come across as coldness. They have to be positive about any potential student, because no parent wants to send their kid to a school that seems lukewarm about them.

What you say is true. But I think the subject here is relatively strong hints or even statements about kids being offered admittance.

There’s huge difference between “We think your son/daughter is a good candidate” and “Don’t worry, it’s in the bag”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An Admissions Director who drops this kind of hint is taking a chance that it won’t come back and bite them.

The Admissions process at these schools is difficult to predict. There can always be unexpected twists and turns. A candidate who seemed to be a sure thing might be edged out at the end of the process by any number of unpredictable forces or events.

That would leave the Admissions Director with egg on their face and some very angry parents that feel they had been misled or lied to.

So, why should they take the chance? It’s all risk and no reward. Especially if the temporarily happy parents can’t restraint themselves from sharing the news with others. These people might want to get the same type of assurance from the AD.

It’s far, far better for them to keep their cards close to their vests.

Correct, because the admissions director does not make the decisions. He/ is mostly an administrator of the process. That's what people forget--he may sit on the committee but decisions are always made by committee.

What is the risk to the AD? They have a lovely conversation and everyone leaves with handshakes and smiles. Two months later emails go out and parents and applicants whose hopes they raised with their casual comments are disappointed and spend a few days venting to friends and DCUM. The AD doesn’t really care. Everyone moves on.

That few days of venting to friends are how the reputations of schools and administrators are forged. The private school world is small. Being accused of “telling lies to our faces” will have long legs.

Why take the chance?

Doubtful. Do you think the stories on this thread will depress applications to the schools named? Sidwell? GDS?