Reply to How to position DCPS kids for private admission?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We applied to private schools from DCPS for 6th grade with good outcomes. We are full pay and sadly, I think that matters to a certain degree, and not another social "category." My one takeaway is to be yourself which includes allowing your child to pursue activities that they are passionate about.

I believe admission officers/schools already have an idea what "type" of kid/spot they want or need to fill any given admissions cycle. That means instead of competing for 1 of 10-15 spots you are really in the running for 1 of 2-3 spots in a "selective private". What a school wants on their student roster that year may have nothing to do with your child and family. Be optimistic and realistic.

In my opinion, I think test scores and required school specific assessments are given a strong look especially coming from DCPS where teaching quality/instruction can vary (is the student generally on par with grade level). Do what you can to support your child academically as they grow.

When the time comes, encourage your child to be themself in the essays, interviews, and shadow days--don't micromanage what they want to write about or say. Admissions officers are pros at gauging authenticity. [/quote]

This feels very similar to my DC's experience as well. We actually were waitlisted and taken off very shortly after at their top choice school. I think that being full pay definitely made a difference in them taking us off the waitlist since financial aid didn't have to be a consideration and we could accept the admissions offer immediately. One thing I did hear the admissions offer said to me after the fact (we had a conversation after we got the call that DC was off the waitlist) is that they are really looking for kids who are going to add to the community; are genuinely nice kids that will fit very well into the existing cohort. In addition to that they wanted to see kids who had something in their life they were personally really excited and passionate about, whether it's a sport, instrument or just a particular interest. Another thing; I do think the recommendation makes a difference too - so definitely get someone who knows your child really well to write a nice recommendation (besides the current teacher who hopefully knows your child well). The recommendation is one of the only ways the admissions team will get a sense of how your kid is in a classroom setting and how they interact with their peers, etc. Good luck![/quote]

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