Anonymous wrote:I’m waiting patiently for a transparent lottery system.

That’s what public schools are for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is horrible. It puts you in a position for your kid to be rejected because some admissions jerk sees him/her as “a perfect fit for The Heights” (just an example) without regard to the fact The Heights very well might not see it that way and your kid would fit in perfectly at a Cathedral school.

Huh?
You’re saying that school A might reject a qualified student based on their perception that the student is better suited for school B? I doubt that.

No. They all have phone lines. It’s not that difficult to pick up the phone and ask point blank.

I’m waiting patiently for a transparent lottery system.

Anonymous wrote:Schools want to know the likelihood that if they extend an offer that you will take it, or is it likely that they are just a back up school. For example, pretend you are applying to St. Albans, GDS, Sidwell, and Field. If your child is an extremely strong candidate, Field may assume that they are your safety school, and because your child will likely get into the other schools, they will likely go there and not to Field.

My advice is if your child has a number one school, let the admissions office know that they are your number one choice. Knowing that goes a long way in schools' admissions process.

Of course. Good example.

The people asking this question don’t want the school Admissions people to do this kind of handicapping. They imagine that not supplying any information will somehow advantage their application.

The problem is non-responses or dodges like “undecided” aren’t credible and suggest a parent mindset the school could well do without.

The first choice approach is a good one. The problem is the school actually has to be your first choice.

Schools want to know the likelihood that if they extend an offer that you will take it, or is it likely that they are just a back up school. For example, pretend you are applying to St. Albans, GDS, Sidwell, and Field. If your child is an extremely strong candidate, Field may assume that they are your safety school, and because your child will likely get into the other schools, they will likely go there and not to Field.

My advice is if your child has a number one school, let the admissions office know that they are your number one choice. Knowing that goes a long way in schools' admissions process.

I work for the Police and we ask this too.
It doesn’t go against the application, we ask to share note’s primarily. If you say you’re applying then when we start the bs kgroynd check we check with other agencies too. If they disqualified you for some reason we want to know what that was.
I’m assuming it’s a similar situation with schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is horrible. It puts you in a position for your kid to be rejected because some admissions jerk sees him/her as “a perfect fit for The Heights” (just an example) without regard to the fact The Heights very well might not see it that way and your kid would fit in perfectly at a Cathedral school.

Huh?
You’re saying that school A might reject a qualified student based on their perception that the student is better suited for school B? I doubt that.

You doubt that because you are unaware of or indifferent to the concept of “yield” from the group of students they accept. The Admissions people are not. They would very much like to exactly hit their yield percentage estimate and avoid have to go to the Waitlist, which is difficult to administer and filled with marginal applicants (from their perspective).

The so-called “jerks” are trying to manage a complicated process that has a significant impact on the school.

They also try to weed out parents who they think will be four-year problems for the rest of the staff on campus. Your trying to game the Admissions process could easily put you in that category.

Honesty really is the best policy. Even though your instinct is to try and keep your cards close to your vest as a way of not giving up advantage.

Anonymous wrote:You could duck the question by writing “undecided.”

Then they’ll just assume where else you are applying.

The answer to this question lets them gauge where else the DC will be accepted and what the odds are you will choose their school if they offer you acceptance.

They do this for a living and, in most cases, they have years of experience dealing with people just like you.

You could duck the question by writing “undecided.”

Anonymous wrote:This is horrible. It puts you in a position for your kid to be rejected because some admissions jerk sees him/her as “a perfect fit for The Heights” (just an example) without regard to the fact The Heights very well might not see it that way and your kid would fit in perfectly at a Cathedral school.

Huh?
You’re saying that school A might reject a qualified student based on their perception that the student is better suited for school B? I doubt that.

This is horrible. It puts you in a position for your kid to be rejected because some admissions jerk sees him/her as “a perfect fit for The Heights” (just an example) without regard to the fact The Heights very well might not see it that way and your kid would fit in perfectly at a Cathedral school.

So your student doesn’t get an offer of admission from everywhere.

I think you can be honest-it doesn't matter but I dont know why they ask, it's a bit much

Be honest. Don’t sweat it.

Do you disclose everywhere? Why do I feel like the heads of school or admissions counselors are comparing notes?