Anonymous wrote:Np -- this isn't hard folks. If you're on wait lists, do what you can to best position yourself for a spot should one open. If you are satisfied with public if you don't get a spot, do no more. If you are not satisfied with your public option, start calling other privates that might be more likely to have a slot. As a practical matter, that probably means schools in Md and Va more than DC, because so many DC families still think they have to go private while in the burbs families usually feel their public option is reasonable. You want to get this settled in your own minds before the summer and as soon as practical -- for your own and you child's piece of mind.

THIS!!!!!!!! I really like you PP.

Our DC was w/l for K several years ago - we agonized during this time period trying to figure out why we didn't receive the call (which came for some friends right after spring break). They declined the spot and we regained hope that it would work out for us. It didn't - THAT year. DC went to K in public and we re-applied the following year - non-entry year. Again, w/l happened and we (finally) received a call in May that year. DC has thrived in what we knew was the right fit school. There are too many qualified kids for too few spaces and no way to predict what will happen.

The w/l scenario is horrible and I understand what you are feeling right now. Some people who receive multiple acceptances hang on to them like a badge of honor until the very last moment. We had acquaintances who labored over their decision between two particular "Big 3" schools and received an extension to their initial depsoit due date.

Move forward with Plan B, but leave your options open as much as you can until 5/31. There IS movement on w/l during the early April timeframe. I know several families (other than our's) over the years who received calls from schools (all "Big 3") in April, May and one was in June. The contract binding date is the true cut-off - schools make that very clear! After that point it is highly unlikely any calls will come.

Np -- this isn't hard folks. If you're on wait lists, do what you can to best position yourself for a spot should one open. If you are satisfied with public if you don't get a spot, do no more. If you are not satisfied with your public option, start calling other privates that might be more likely to have a slot. As a practical matter, that probably means schools in Md and Va more than DC, because so many DC families still think they have to go private while in the burbs families usually feel their public option is reasonable. You want to get this settled in your own minds before the summer and as soon as practical -- for your own and you child's piece of mind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not poring over anything. I'm sorry it comes off as smug to you. While I'm glad that you know people who have gotten off the WL at top schools, for most people, that is rare. Any cursory reading on this site would cofnfirm that top schools go to the wait list very very rarely.

While I'm glad for you that you think that the AD is your friend, I have some news for you. You have been told the public message. Likely because "your friend" the AD knows you pretty well, and could just see you going out and spreading the subtle word on how exclusive your school is. Why do you think that you were "chosen" to help informally with admimissions, PP ?

(1) I posted at 19:10 and am a different poster than 17:18, who, you are claiming, is "poring" over the issue of how few people getting off WL.

(2) Using your logic, the "public" image of our school would be that we have such high yield numbers, nobody accepted turns us down. That's not what I was told. I was told that a certain percentage of families accepted to our school don't enroll, so we accept more applicants than we have actual space for.

I am not claiming to know what goes on with all schools. People do get of the waitlists. But I think it's very disingenuous to encourage people to hold out hope when the overwhelming odds are that the waitlists won't move much, if at all. Admissions is an exhausting, emotional and often somewhat unfair process. It's wonderful when it works out. However, when it doesn't, it's best to move on to Plan B instead of holding on to the small chance of being one of the lucky few who gets a call off the WL. Best of luck to everyone!

PP, I learned long ago, that no one has the right to try to crush and another person's hope. To try to do that, while simultaneously claiming that you are "only trying to spare them" is , well, what was your word: disingenuous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an eternal optimist but even I know the chances of getting off a W/L are very slim. But a part of me is still hopeful. March 21st seems forever away and then followed by spring break. I guess I should have been more proactive but I honestly believed that MY DC would be accepted somewhere! We got W/L everywhere!! Our back up is public! we were planning on moving but it seems now is as good a time as ever to switch over to MD. Just needed to vent!

PP, where did you apply? If you just applied to Beauvoir, Sidwell, WIS and GDS ( does GDS have Pre-K?), then maybe try schools like : Lowell, Sheridan, St Pats, Norwood, CHDS, and Aidan Montessori.

And you can add Maret for K and reapply to Beauvoir.

My god, when will this myth die?! the deadline for your list of supposed also-rans has passed too. They, too, had several apps for each slot, and they too have put kids on wait lists..

Instead of 15 applicants for each seat, maybe they had 4-7. That is not the same thing as "ADs are sitting around, twiddling thumbs and hoping that now their stated deadline has passed, NOW they'll finally get some quality kids."

Geesh. Are we a little sensitive. I was suggesting for next year.

This whole thing is a puzzle to me. I don't understand living in an area where the publics are dreadful, and relying on the fact that your kid has to get into specific privates.

What happens if they don't? Will their lives be forever ruined?

I live in an area that's got a top-rated public schools. The high school SUCKED for my kids - just wasn't a match, so I found good privates. Yep, I have to drive 45 minutes each way, but that's part of having kids.

My son didn't go to a top DC private and still got into a top-notch engineering program. My other DC is in her sophomore year at another not top DC private and is on high-honor roll. She should get into a great program as well.

What are people chasing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm feeling damn frustrated. DC was waitlisted everywhere and now we are faced with the prospect of returning for another year of sucky DCPS.

I feel your pain....in the same boat. Good Luck!

What schools did you both apply to?

Anonymous wrote:I'm feeling damn frustrated. DC was waitlisted everywhere and now we are faced with the prospect of returning for another year of sucky DCPS.

I feel your pain....in the same boat. Good Luck!

Thanks 21:49. I'm the "pouring over" poster and you summarized what I was trying to say. Thanks, and good luck to everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not poring over anything. I'm sorry it comes off as smug to you. While I'm glad that you know people who have gotten off the WL at top schools, for most people, that is rare. Any cursory reading on this site would cofnfirm that top schools go to the wait list very very rarely.

While I'm glad for you that you think that the AD is your friend, I have some news for you. You have been told the public message. Likely because "your friend" the AD knows you pretty well, and could just see you going out and spreading the subtle word on how exclusive your school is. Why do you think that you were "chosen" to help informally with admimissions, PP ?

(1) I posted at 19:10 and am a different poster than 17:18, who, you are claiming, is "poring" over the issue of how few people getting off WL.

(2) Using your logic, the "public" image of our school would be that we have such high yield numbers, nobody accepted turns us down. That's not what I was told. I was told that a certain percentage of families accepted to our school don't enroll, so we accept more applicants than we have actual space for.

I am not claiming to know what goes on with all schools. People do get of the waitlists. But I think it's very disingenuous to encourage people to hold out hope when the overwhelming odds are that the waitlists won't move much, if at all. Admissions is an exhausting, emotional and often somewhat unfair process. It's wonderful when it works out. However, when it doesn't, it's best to move on to Plan B instead of holding on to the small chance of being one of the lucky few who gets a call off the WL. Best of luck to everyone!

Anonymous wrote:I'm not poring over anything. I'm sorry it comes off as smug to you. While I'm glad that you know people who have gotten off the WL at top schools, for most people, that is rare. Any cursory reading on this site would cofnfirm that top schools go to the wait list very very rarely.

Ugh, not the PP, but you speak with such authority and you really have no idea what you are talking about. I know people that have gotten into a big 3 and big 5 etc. off the waitlist and in multiple years. Yes, you are correct that it may be very difficult, but you are simply wrong to say that it "rarely" happens. I'm making this statement based on MY own personal experience getting off the WL at a Big 3, the personal experience of several people I know well who have also gotten in a Big 3 off the waitlist, and discussions Ive personally had with more than one head of school and ADs. What are you basing your "yield" theory on anyway? Based on your response sounds like you have formed your expert opinion from the super-accurate authority know as "DCUM."

I'm feeling damn frustrated. DC was waitlisted everywhere and now we are faced with the prospect of returning for another year of sucky DCPS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an eternal optimist but even I know the chances of getting off a W/L are very slim. But a part of me is still hopeful. March 21st seems forever away and then followed by spring break. I guess I should have been more proactive but I honestly believed that MY DC would be accepted somewhere! We got W/L everywhere!! Our back up is public! we were planning on moving but it seems now is as good a time as ever to switch over to MD. Just needed to vent!

PP, where did you apply? If you just applied to Beauvoir, Sidwell, WIS and GDS ( does GDS have Pre-K?), then maybe try schools like : Lowell, Sheridan, St Pats, Norwood, CHDS, and Aidan Montessori.

And you can add Maret for K and reapply to Beauvoir.

My god, when will this myth die?! the deadline for your list of supposed also-rans has passed too. They, too, had several apps for each slot, and they too have put kids on wait lists..

Instead of 15 applicants for each seat, maybe they had 4-7. That is not the same thing as "ADs are sitting around, twiddling thumbs and hoping that now their stated deadline has passed, NOW they'll finally get some quality kids."

Anonymous wrote:I'm not poring over anything. I'm sorry it comes off as smug to you. While I'm glad that you know people who have gotten off the WL at top schools, for most people, that is rare. Any cursory reading on this site would cofnfirm that top schools go to the wait list very very rarely.

While I'm glad for you that you think that the AD is your friend, I have some news for you. You have been told the public message. Likely because "your friend" the AD knows you pretty well, and could just see you going out and spreading the subtle word on how exclusive your school is. Why do you think that you were "chosen" to help informally with admimissions, PP ?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've volunteered with admissions in the past and am pretty close with our AD. Schools have a pretty good idea what their average yield is so they over-admit in an effort to try to not have to go to their WL. Yes, it can and does happen, but it's definitely the exception rather than the rule. If you call and ask, most ADs are willing to be honest about how likely their WL is to move for any given grade. Rather than hold your breath until the end of the month, talk to the ADs. They will usually let you know if it's hopeless so you can move on.

Well, I have heard of schools taking kids off WL in the summer. Say, when a family gets tranfered in July, or realizes taht they cannot affort the tuition on May 31st. Meanwhile, all of the accpets have settled else where.....time to get out the WL.

Yep, I said going to the WL does happen, but it's not frequent enough that I would hold out hope.