Sign of acceptance?

[Anonymous]

Did anyone get accepted without any comment from the admissions team about their child being a good candidate? We had a family interview recently and while the interviewer was nice (not the admission director but a more junior member of the admissions team), she didn't give us any kind of hope!

[Anonymous]

We had no indications, and I really mean 0, last year from the 6 private schools our kid applied to for 9th. We just assumed all were long shots and set our expectations accordingly. Kid got into all but 1. I don’t think there is any way to know short of someone saying your kid is definitely in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

No. I can’t see why they would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had no indications, and I really mean 0, last year from the 6 private schools our kid applied to for 9th. We just assumed all were long shots and set our expectations accordingly. Kid got into all but 1. I don’t think there is any way to know short of someone saying your kid is definitely in.

PP, thank you so much for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone get accepted without any comment from the admissions team about their child being a good candidate? We had a family interview recently and while the interviewer was nice (not the admission director but a more junior member of the admissions team), she didn't give us any kind of hope!

And that is completely reasonable and smart behavior on her part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had no indications, and I really mean 0, last year from the 6 private schools our kid applied to for 9th. We just assumed all were long shots and set our expectations accordingly. Kid got into all but 1. I don’t think there is any way to know short of someone saying your kid is definitely in.

Similar experience a few years ago for DC. Never got asked what other schools DC is applying to, no encouraging words about DC's background, achievements, or anything to indicate interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which DC & DC Area privates truly send "rejections" alone with acceptances and waitlists instead of only sending acceptances and waitlisting everyone else??

Sidwell sends acceptance, rejection, and waitlist letters

This is happened at the kindergarten level? Pre-K?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone get accepted without any comment from the admissions team about their child being a good candidate? We had a family interview recently and while the interviewer was nice (not the admission director but a more junior member of the admissions team), she didn't give us any kind of hope!

She really can't give you any kind of hope without knowing what all the other applications look like. It's a numbers game. Many kids who would thrive at at a school are not admitted due to space constraints. Your kid could be amazing along with many others. Wish you the best on decision day. Your child could be on the acceptance list. Many receive positive comments from admissions officers and then get rejected. Don't base anything on lack of comments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone get accepted without any comment from the admissions team about their child being a good candidate? We had a family interview recently and while the interviewer was nice (not the admission director but a more junior member of the admissions team), she didn't give us any kind of hope!

She really can't give you any kind of hope without knowing what all the other applications look like. It's a numbers game. Many kids who would thrive at at a school are not admitted due to space constraints. Your kid could be amazing along with many others. Wish you the best on decision day. Your child could be on the acceptance list. Many receive positive comments from admissions officers and then get rejected. Don't base anything on lack of comments.

Also, do not base anything on positive comments.

[Anonymous]

or lack of positive comments?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone get accepted without any comment from the admissions team about their child being a good candidate? We had a family interview recently and while the interviewer was nice (not the admission director but a more junior member of the admissions team), she didn't give us any kind of hope!

She really can't give you any kind of hope without knowing what all the other applications look like. It's a numbers game. Many kids who would thrive at at a school are not admitted due to space constraints. Your kid could be amazing along with many others. Wish you the best on decision day. Your child could be on the acceptance list. Many receive positive comments from admissions officers and then get rejected. Don't base anything on lack of comments.

A junior member of the admissions team has zero impact on decisions. She is just a facilitator and paper collator.
Applications are reviewed by a committee that sits down and talks through candidates. It's not something that the admissions department (even the director) decides on their own.

[Anonymous]

We sent a "first choice" email and didn't get a response, even an acknowledgement that they had got it...so I'm not hopeful

[Anonymous]

Three acceptances: one where we got a soft indication "good candidate"; one with no clue; one with virtual guarantee. Its a crap shoot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three acceptances: one where we got a soft indication "good candidate"; one with no clue; one with virtual guarantee. Its a crap shoot.

Different kids and same school? Or same kid different schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We sent a "first choice" email and didn't get a response, even an acknowledgement that they had got it...so I'm not hopeful

I think admissions offices are maxed out at this point. If there wasn't a direct question, I wouldn't expect a response. I imagine they will print out the email and put in the file with the rest of your paperwork to consider when it's time to make decisions.