What are your top choices heading into private K decision day?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:DC got accepted at collegiate

Congrats!! This is one of my top choices for DS next year. Would you mind sharing anything that you think helped or set him/your family apart?

Curious about this too. Anything you could share much appreciated.

Parent statement is 5000 characters so you can actually write a thoughtful statement. Some schools wanted less than half that in length which made it more challenging.

They allow you to submit a child's work sample too which also allowed for some additional flavorful storytelling.

In the end -- there's no surefire way if you're not sibling/legacy (which generally fills up 50%+ of these classes at most schools is my understanding). I'm sure these schools have way more interested families than they can accept so part of it is down to having your child have a good playdate (bright, curious, etc.) and coming across as interested and devoted parents who will be good partners along the way (no administration wants drama and misaligned expectations). The admissions team no doubt tries to assemble a class with varied characteristics so that adds a lot of unknowns as well.

But this can all be applied towards almost any of the private schools that continue to see lots of enrollment interest post-pandemic. I encourage you to visit and decide it's actually the right choice for you -- the school (like any other) wants to see genuine enthusiasm in the parents who choose to enroll their kids there as it's ideally a 13-year journey partnering with a school.

Do you mind sharing how you showed interest? Are there some non obvious ways you show interest besides attending all the events and writing a first choice letter?

Collegiate holds several virtual events as well covering various topics in depth (administrators and faculty will join).

It was clear from the questions asked during the Q&A that some parents were touching on very basic topics, while other parents clearly knew how to ask more insightful questions. We encountered similar dynamics watching other parent couples at other independent school events, some of which were live.

My own belief on why the admissions system can feel so incestuous (past alumni and siblings get enormous legs up, as well as alumni in general of the independent school system) -- per what the PP whose kids got into trinity/dalton hinted at -- is because people who have attended NYC independent schools leave with a sense of "getting it" -- they know how the system works, what to expect, what advantages it can accrue, and what it can't deliver too (e.g. guaranteed top college placement). And as a result schools find these parents easier to partner with -- they give off microsignals here just in the conversations they have. Given the income level of your typical parent couple applying, you're liable to have very type-A and demanding personalities (dual working income partner couples in law or finance are common) who will bring that same level of rigor in their professional lives and demands to their schools. For many administrators and teachers I can imagine this is a nightmare. Even the top schools are imperfect and organic in many ways and do not want to be treated as a service vendor or a means to an end.

This article probably summarizes the zeitgeist well: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/04/private-schools-are-indefensible/618078/

My spouse and I seriously considered public school as an alternative FWIW as a result of concerns around this. We did our applications fairly late and close to deadline and felt much more comfortable after talking to existing parents in the system, various heads of admissions, and gaining a lot more context.

Can you give an example of an insightful question? I assume basic questions are just ones which could be answered by perusal of the school website.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Congratulations to everyone who got accepted! Are early notifications only for siblings/legacy applicants?

Yes, decisions are sent out in early December instead of February. You are usually given a week to commit and send in your deposit.

Thanks for sharing. Congrats. Curious after you signed your offer did you need to withdraw applications to other schools?

That’s the expectation, yes.

[Anonymous]

what time do offers come out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what time do offers come out?

Generally between 9am-noon I think

[Anonymous]

Hunter comes out at 10 am

[Anonymous]

Any news? Rooting for you all. Doing the process next year.

[Anonymous]

Wishing everyone good news today!

[Anonymous]

All the results should be out by now?

[Anonymous]

Help… deciding between Horace Mann & Dalton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Help… deciding between Horace Mann & Dalton

Are you more of an academic/traditional family/kid or progressive (inquiry based, follow the child)?
I would probably pick Dalton, but I don't like HM pressure cooker in high school.
I think Dalton probably gives your kid the soft skills needed for the future

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Help… deciding between Horace Mann & Dalton

Both great schools, go to the accepted parent events and have some conversations.

Also consider the commute factor + campus factor!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Help… deciding between Horace Mann & Dalton

Yeesh, think that’s one you’re going to have to make on your own…

(Also, Dalton, ftw ! Do it for ivan !)

[Anonymous]

Congratulations! Both of them are great!!

IMO - I feel that one of the most important things we undervalue in our life today is how important the spacious campuses with their extensive facilities matter to our kids.

Horace Mann is also more rigorous in academics than more traditional. It depends on how you feel about your kid. I know one of the families switched from Dalton to another TT after just one year because they didn't feel it's a great fit.

[Anonymous]

Did you first choice either of those?

[Anonymous]

Does your kid have siblings? I think Dalton is allegedly less sibling friendly if that matters to you