OP here. I couldn't agree more with the commute issue. My list of 12 is based on academic preference but also on commute. If it takes more than 10-12 minutes... thanks-but-no-thanks.

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree about commute. If it's not on my way to work or right by my home, it's off my list. We are only applying to 4 schools this year (for PK4).

Same here. I'm currently trying to figure out a commute pattern now and it's not looking good. Crosses that school on my list.

My strategy is to be very, very realistic about my commute. I have seen waaay too many people get buyer's remorse after a long schlepp to a much-hyped charter turns out not to be worth it. I test-drove a few commutes last week in the rain and it was definitely an enlightening experience.

That left me with less than 12 schools, which I listed in order of preference.

Anonymous wrote:my strategy was to apply to schools I wanted to send my kid to and apply to a private preschool. I'm not sure what other strategy there is. We moved for the school we got into (renters), so didn't have to factor commute - just schools we wanted.

and we couldn't afford to live in the NW, so only looked at charters that went through 6th or 8th

my strategy was to apply to schools I wanted to send my kid to and apply to a private preschool. I'm not sure what other strategy there is. We moved for the school we got into (renters), so didn't have to factor commute - just schools we wanted.

Totally agree about commute. If it's not on my way to work or right by my home, it's off my list. We are only applying to 4 schools this year (for PK4).

My strategy is to not waste any slots on schools with really long waitlists that I don't love. They're probably great schools, but wouldn't be a good fit for us. Also, if I get stressed out thinking about how we would make the commute work, the school is off our list. Good luck, everyone!

Anonymous wrote:My lottery strategy for the last 2 years has been to freak out about it, have one night of drinks with a friend who is also freaking out about it, then submit lottery picks and forget about it until the end of March.

LOL. I think this is basically the entire DCUM population strategy, except for the forgetting about it.

My lottery strategy for the last 2 years has been to freak out about it, have one night of drinks with a friend who is also freaking out about it, then submit lottery picks and forget about it until the end of March.

The only "strategy" I had last year was to put down my in boundary school, which has traditionally accepted all applicants. Good thing I did, because that's where we are (had a terrible lottery draw), and we love it.

OP, if this is for PK3, I would apply to all the schools you really want if there are any slots (so not, e.g., Ross when it takes no OOB students, but yes to MV or whatever popular schools that may only accept a few students). Then I would add a few schools in that are likely to take you--Bridges (we had almost the last # and got an offer before school started), your IB school (assuming it has spaces for everyone), etc.

Also for those of you who are IB for a dual language school--now that the preferences are back to in boundary before out of boundary with sibling, you are more likely to be successful at schools like Bancroft and Powell, which in the past at least have waitlisted some IB people (at least in the initial lottery).

Anonymous wrote:The lottery involves zero strategy. It's a simple ranking in order of preference, since you'll get the first school that has space for you.

This

The lottery involves zero strategy. It's a simple ranking in order of preference, since you'll get the first school that has space for you.

Well, obviously, my top spots are all with a wait list of 400+ but if i ONLY list those schools, the likelihood of getting in ZERO schools is pretty high. So, my "strategy" or whatever you want to call it is to narrow down based first on my preference and then, in the wait list (likelihood of getting in).
And, yes, the info available i have is 2014-15... my bad.

Sorry, but that's not a strategy. As evidenced last year, there is no strategy.

Also, why would you base it on the waitlist for 2013-14 when you have 2014-15 information available? If you get lucky and get a great number, then you will win out in your top slots.

I'm only applying to 3 schools with a wait list longer than 400 students.
I'm only applying to 3 schools with a wait list longer than 250 students.
3 schools will have between 100 and 250 waitlisted and...
3 schools will have a list shorter than 100.

All based on the wait lists for 2013-14. So, obviously, I'm applying to only 3 of: mundo verde, creative minds, SwS, 2 Rivers, etc...
And so forth.

What is YOUR strategy? Do you have any?