Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 09:13     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

Anonymous wrote:How are Spence and Chapin re Jewish population?


From what I know the Jewish population is small at Chapin and a bit bigger at Spence, but that may have changed.

We are Jewish but our daughter got in to Brearley, so going there.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 08:44     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

How are Spence and Chapin re Jewish population?
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2025 12:32     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How do schools know they’re your first choice school if you’re not from a preschool that knows nothing about the private school scene?

“Love letters”? When do you write them



Our preschool has connections and got feedback, so we got clear signals when and where to send the first choice letter. Our friend was working with a consultant and also got clear signals. I can't really advise on what to do if your preschool doesn't have that information.
We got clear feedback soon after the child interview and then again after the parent interview. We were pushed to make a decision. We sent the letter in December.
I do hope to add that we also got an offer from a TT single-sex school without sending any love letter or getting any feedback (or maybe our preschool director just didn't share the feedback with us), so I think the practice varies among schools.

To another comment's question on whether you can send the first choice letter to more than one school: what I heard is that the school admission offices talk with each other, so it's not advisable to send multiple first choice letter. Instead, you could just send love letters.


Do you mind sharing which school shared the feedback so early?


I am not the poster you’re responding to, but I think most of the connected preschools get feedback pretty early. We were at PCDS on the UWS and got feedback via our director from many TT schools.


Did you end up at co-ed or SS? Do you think the main decision is based on the child playgroup?


I think the child playgroup is the most important factor for unconnected families. Then, the school chooses who they want to have in their community: how well the family's education philosophy aligns with the school, whether the parents are reasonable and easy to work with.
Some schools like flashy parents, many schools might be less so.
For us, the decisions were made before the school report was due, but I also heard that schools use the school report to confirm what they observed in the playgroup and heard from the parents during the interview.


For this part: how well the family's education philosophy aligns with the school, whether the parents are reasonable and easy to work with. ---> is this something they get in the school report, or is it just gleaned from the parent interview and parent statement.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2025 08:52     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How do schools know they’re your first choice school if you’re not from a preschool that knows nothing about the private school scene?

“Love letters”? When do you write them



Our preschool has connections and got feedback, so we got clear signals when and where to send the first choice letter. Our friend was working with a consultant and also got clear signals. I can't really advise on what to do if your preschool doesn't have that information.
We got clear feedback soon after the child interview and then again after the parent interview. We were pushed to make a decision. We sent the letter in December.
I do hope to add that we also got an offer from a TT single-sex school without sending any love letter or getting any feedback (or maybe our preschool director just didn't share the feedback with us), so I think the practice varies among schools.

To another comment's question on whether you can send the first choice letter to more than one school: what I heard is that the school admission offices talk with each other, so it's not advisable to send multiple first choice letter. Instead, you could just send love letters.


Do you mind sharing which school shared the feedback so early?


I am not the poster you’re responding to, but I think most of the connected preschools get feedback pretty early. We were at PCDS on the UWS and got feedback via our director from many TT schools.


Did you end up at co-ed or SS? Do you think the main decision is based on the child playgroup?


I think the child playgroup is the most important factor for unconnected families. Then, the school chooses who they want to have in their community: how well the family's education philosophy aligns with the school, whether the parents are reasonable and easy to work with.
Some schools like flashy parents, many schools might be less so.
For us, the decisions were made before the school report was due, but I also heard that schools use the school report to confirm what they observed in the playgroup and heard from the parents during the interview.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 20:51     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How do schools know they’re your first choice school if you’re not from a preschool that knows nothing about the private school scene?

“Love letters”? When do you write them



Our preschool has connections and got feedback, so we got clear signals when and where to send the first choice letter. Our friend was working with a consultant and also got clear signals. I can't really advise on what to do if your preschool doesn't have that information.
We got clear feedback soon after the child interview and then again after the parent interview. We were pushed to make a decision. We sent the letter in December.
I do hope to add that we also got an offer from a TT single-sex school without sending any love letter or getting any feedback (or maybe our preschool director just didn't share the feedback with us), so I think the practice varies among schools.

To another comment's question on whether you can send the first choice letter to more than one school: what I heard is that the school admission offices talk with each other, so it's not advisable to send multiple first choice letter. Instead, you could just send love letters.


Do you mind sharing which school shared the feedback so early?


I am not the poster you’re responding to, but I think most of the connected preschools get feedback pretty early. We were at PCDS on the UWS and got feedback via our director from many TT schools.


Did you end up at co-ed or SS? Do you think the main decision is based on the child playgroup?
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 14:47     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How do schools know they’re your first choice school if you’re not from a preschool that knows nothing about the private school scene?

“Love letters”? When do you write them



Our preschool has connections and got feedback, so we got clear signals when and where to send the first choice letter. Our friend was working with a consultant and also got clear signals. I can't really advise on what to do if your preschool doesn't have that information.
We got clear feedback soon after the child interview and then again after the parent interview. We were pushed to make a decision. We sent the letter in December.
I do hope to add that we also got an offer from a TT single-sex school without sending any love letter or getting any feedback (or maybe our preschool director just didn't share the feedback with us), so I think the practice varies among schools.

To another comment's question on whether you can send the first choice letter to more than one school: what I heard is that the school admission offices talk with each other, so it's not advisable to send multiple first choice letter. Instead, you could just send love letters.


Do you mind sharing which school shared the feedback so early?


I am not the poster you’re responding to, but I think most of the connected preschools get feedback pretty early. We were at PCDS on the UWS and got feedback via our director from many TT schools.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 11:04     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How do schools know they’re your first choice school if you’re not from a preschool that knows nothing about the private school scene?

“Love letters”? When do you write them



Our preschool has connections and got feedback, so we got clear signals when and where to send the first choice letter. Our friend was working with a consultant and also got clear signals. I can't really advise on what to do if your preschool doesn't have that information.
We got clear feedback soon after the child interview and then again after the parent interview. We were pushed to make a decision. We sent the letter in December.
I do hope to add that we also got an offer from a TT single-sex school without sending any love letter or getting any feedback (or maybe our preschool director just didn't share the feedback with us), so I think the practice varies among schools.

To another comment's question on whether you can send the first choice letter to more than one school: what I heard is that the school admission offices talk with each other, so it's not advisable to send multiple first choice letter. Instead, you could just send love letters.


Do you know which consultant your friend worked with?


Unfortunately I actually wouldn't recommend the consultant that family worked with for some other reasons. Hope you find a good one. There are many discussions about consultants in the local Facebook mom groups.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 10:32     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

OP may be asking about high school, which is another thing entirely.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 10:31     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How do schools know they’re your first choice school if you’re not from a preschool that knows nothing about the private school scene?

“Love letters”? When do you write them



Our preschool has connections and got feedback, so we got clear signals when and where to send the first choice letter. Our friend was working with a consultant and also got clear signals. I can't really advise on what to do if your preschool doesn't have that information.
We got clear feedback soon after the child interview and then again after the parent interview. We were pushed to make a decision. We sent the letter in December.
I do hope to add that we also got an offer from a TT single-sex school without sending any love letter or getting any feedback (or maybe our preschool director just didn't share the feedback with us), so I think the practice varies among schools.

To another comment's question on whether you can send the first choice letter to more than one school: what I heard is that the school admission offices talk with each other, so it's not advisable to send multiple first choice letter. Instead, you could just send love letters.


Do you mind sharing which school shared the feedback so early?
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 00:50     Subject: Re:Spence v Chapin?

The Venn Diagram is practically a circle. It's not likely that someone will be offered admission at both schools, so they go where they get in. Plenty of smart, happy girls at both.

There's also plenty of overlap with Brearley, though a girl who wants the pressure at the highest notch may prefer B. Some kids really thrive in those environments!
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2025 21:41     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

Thank you!
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2025 12:09     Subject: Spence v Chapin?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How do schools know they’re your first choice school if you’re not from a preschool that knows nothing about the private school scene?

“Love letters”? When do you write them



Our preschool has connections and got feedback, so we got clear signals when and where to send the first choice letter. Our friend was working with a consultant and also got clear signals. I can't really advise on what to do if your preschool doesn't have that information.
We got clear feedback soon after the child interview and then again after the parent interview. We were pushed to make a decision. We sent the letter in December.
I do hope to add that we also got an offer from a TT single-sex school without sending any love letter or getting any feedback (or maybe our preschool director just didn't share the feedback with us), so I think the practice varies among schools.

To another comment's question on whether you can send the first choice letter to more than one school: what I heard is that the school admission offices talk with each other, so it's not advisable to send multiple first choice letter. Instead, you could just send love letters.


Do you know which consultant your friend worked with?