Last year we applied two we really liked, one "good enough" and then panicked and added one more with a later deadline. It was also "good enough."

We got into one of the two we really liked and the original "good enough" school.

There is a reason you didn't apply to the other schools. It's going to be okay.

OP here - I feel reassured about the decision, but am still kicking myself a but for applying to schools we could easily be shut out from... You're all right though, $35,000 for 'good enough' is pretty ridiculous.

With DS1 we only applied to one. With DS2 we applied to two - the "best fit" and his brother's school as a backup. We had a good public option, so weren't interested in paying tuition for a "good enough" fit.

I totally understand freaking out. I'm stressed as well. We applied to three, but DD decided at the last minute to not do one, so it's just two now. :-/

I distracted myself by doing taxes this weekend. That was enough to drive me crazy.

We did not apply to a school that we would not have sent dc to. Applied to our favorite three. Got in. We didn't want private school so badly that we just wanted any private. That seemed not worth it for us. Go big or go home to the very good school around the corner that all our neighbors love. It's win, win that way, if you have a good public option, IMO.

If you have a favorite, let the Admission team know. But, my advice is to be honest!

Yes, I think PP is correct that more applications doesn't signal anything particularly positive.

OP, here's another idea to ponder: On the application, you typically are asked to tell where else you are applying. Maybe having a short list signals to the AD that you are fairly serious about that school. Last year we did not do too many applications, and both DCs had more than one option.

I agree with others that it is foolish to apply when you are just lukewarm about a school, especially if you have a highly regarded public as a fallback.

The wait is almost over. Best of luck!

We only applied to schools that seemed better than our local public. We needed financial aid, and got into 1 without any aid, and went to public. While I was disappointed, I don't think I would have been happier if we'd applied to more and ended up at a school I didn't like that much.

Thanks guys! Hope it works out well for us all!

We went public for elementary (Arlington), then private for MS. Will see what HS brings. It will be fine -- really. Hang in there...and good luck.

It's natural to get nervous before decision time. However, at least you have a decent back-up with your public.

My dc is currently in public in FCPS. We toured three schools and only applied to one. I know it was a bold move, but of the other two options, one would be a horrible commute and the other looked utopian but the academics were lacking. We only found one that was truly a better fit than our public...so now we just have to wait and see how the cards fall.

If you chose a school you were not nuts about, you likely would be kicking yourself for not at least trying your public school first.

Is anyone else freaking out now that decision time is near? The more I read on DCUM about great kids/families getting totally shut out, the more I think I was dumb not to apply to more schools for my rising kindergartner. My thought was that our public schools are quite good (fairfax) and that I don't want to pay $35,000 for a school I only sort of like. Now I'm second guessing myself.