Anonymous wrote:I was told by someone in the know that for PK and K, they admit only enough to fill the spaces, and then go to the waitlist only if someone turns them down. Makes sense because the PK and K admit pool is so small.

Yes, for private schools that advertise smaller class sizes, it would be a huge issue IMO if the historical yield rate was wrong one year and they ended up with class sizes of 25 kids or something. Especially Sidwell where I thought it was so odd that the classes still had over 22+ kids. It's not student:teacher ratio that matters- it's the absolute number in the class. And that's for 34K...

I was told by someone in the know that for PK and K, they admit only enough to fill the spaces, and then go to the waitlist only if someone turns them down. Makes sense because the PK and K admit pool is so small.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know about the overbooking for upper school. Assuming they want to admit 25 in 9th, I think there were two post-admission shadow days with about 10 kids at the one DC attended.

Waaaaaaay more than 20 kids shadowed.

Well, in our tour last fall we were told 37 openings for 9th grade. Having worked in college admissions, I would guess that Sidwell regularly exchanges data with GDS/STA/NCS/etc and so everyone pretty much knows where else your DC was admitted (after all, they all asked you where else you applied) and they plan for a certain number of kids with multiple offers, and they know who they are.

So I am also guessing they admitted 50 or 55; they know they are going to get some turndowns. Very few if any will move off the waitlist. But the waitlist itself is probably also very small, if that helps...

Anonymous wrote:I don't know about the overbooking for upper school. Assuming they want to admit 25 in 9th, I think there were two post-admission shadow days with about 10 kids at the one DC attended.

They had over 600 applicants. Not everyone shadows. Please don't get anyone's hopes up, it is very doubtful there will be movement.

I don't know about the overbooking for upper school. Assuming they want to admit 25 in 9th, I think there were two post-admission shadow days with about 10 kids at the one DC attended.

I believe that they overbooked for upper school, the wiatlist won't kick in until they burn through those...

Remember they use historic yield numbers that build in some people turning down offers.

Anonymous wrote:We turned down a spot.

What grade and sex, if you don't mind telling?

We turned down a spot.

They honestly won't call unless you call them and make yourself known as someone who really wants a spot...

Call the school and ask if the class is over-enrolled and if it is then you know they won't go to wait list.

The way to overcome the nervousness is to accept that it is unlikely your DC will get in. Very unlikely.

I'm not saying this in a mean way -- but generally the wait list chances are so low that it's not worth expending energy over in nervousness. Treat it now as a lottery ticket you bought that you'd be excited if you won some money, but don't worry about it or build it into any plans, as the chances of any given member of the waiting list getting a place (this year, at least) are very low.

Any movement for K? Has anyone called? I'm too nervous.