Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 09:17     Subject: Does Brearley and Spense Waitlist Everyone?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.


I actually like that Brearley changed the way they are doing acceptances. I feel it’s more holistic and equitable compared to how Winfred was running the ship. I also feel like Brearley accepted more kids this year who were not connected (not sibling or legacy) from years prior.

I don’t know too much about the new head, but I’ll be curious how the school changes.


Agreed. Winifred was amazing but they took three very smart girls from our preschool so cheers to them for that. And to the disaffected Brearley mom, please take a break. We get it. We appreciate your perspective. Please take a break from this for yourself. From one anxious mom to another, you need to find a way to reset.


What I meant to say here is that they still seem to have taken the same kind of kid, but possibly with wider variety of parents.

definitely not same kind of kids this year.


I agree. My daughter got in to Brearley this year and I don’t think she would have gotten in last year. Traditionally Brearley only took siblings and legacies from our school, and very rarely a non-connected family (usually they were financially connected or fit a minority they were looking for).
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 20:43     Subject: Does Brearley and Spense Waitlist Everyone?

Anonymous wrote:Applying from a non-connected preschool has been extremely challenging, particularly when there is little meaningful communication during the process(this year I mean). It definitely makes me think that stronger preschool connections can make a real difference.

Some preschools, yes, some are not. Totally depends on the PSD.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 20:40     Subject: Does Brearley and Spense Waitlist Everyone?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.


I actually like that Brearley changed the way they are doing acceptances. I feel it’s more holistic and equitable compared to how Winfred was running the ship. I also feel like Brearley accepted more kids this year who were not connected (not sibling or legacy) from years prior.

I don’t know too much about the new head, but I’ll be curious how the school changes.


Agreed. Winifred was amazing but they took three very smart girls from our preschool so cheers to them for that. And to the disaffected Brearley mom, please take a break. We get it. We appreciate your perspective. Please take a break from this for yourself. From one anxious mom to another, you need to find a way to reset.


What I meant to say here is that they still seem to have taken the same kind of kid, but possibly with wider variety of parents.

definitely not same kind of kids this year.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 20:39     Subject: Does Brearley and Spense Waitlist Everyone?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

Thank you. It is pretty rude. from positive feedback to a rejection without notifying PSD. PSD is also terrible, hiding strong feedbacks from other top choices. If we apply from non connected preschool, should be much better.


There was very clear direction from B to not send a FC letter. If you did not follow those explicit instructions that might be what happened. If you’re talking about Spence then the turnaround is weird but the direction from Brearley was very clear.

so sending a FC with positive feedback leads to a rejection?
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 16:35     Subject: Does Brearley and Spense Waitlist Everyone?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.


I actually like that Brearley changed the way they are doing acceptances. I feel it’s more holistic and equitable compared to how Winfred was running the ship. I also feel like Brearley accepted more kids this year who were not connected (not sibling or legacy) from years prior.

I don’t know too much about the new head, but I’ll be curious how the school changes.


Agreed. Winifred was amazing but they took three very smart girls from our preschool so cheers to them for that. And to the disaffected Brearley mom, please take a break. We get it. We appreciate your perspective. Please take a break from this for yourself. From one anxious mom to another, you need to find a way to reset.


What I meant to say here is that they still seem to have taken the same kind of kid, but possibly with wider variety of parents.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 15:13     Subject: Does Brearley and Spense Waitlist Everyone?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.


I actually like that Brearley changed the way they are doing acceptances. I feel it’s more holistic and equitable compared to how Winfred was running the ship. I also feel like Brearley accepted more kids this year who were not connected (not sibling or legacy) from years prior.

I don’t know too much about the new head, but I’ll be curious how the school changes.


Agreed. Winifred was amazing but they took three very smart girls from our preschool so cheers to them for that. And to the disaffected Brearley mom, please take a break. We get it. We appreciate your perspective. Please take a break from this for yourself. From one anxious mom to another, you need to find a way to reset.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 15:09     Subject: Does Brearley and Spense Waitlist Everyone?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Brearley pushed out its longtime 20+ admissions director and put someone in the role who wasn’t ready under their new head. They used to have a very smooth process and let you know almost immediately. I’m
so sorry they had you first choice it only to reject you, but the new head is found scorched earth and gutting the school despite never having worked Manhattan independent schools before. It’s a mess. You dodged a bullet.

Thank you. It is pretty rude. from positive feedback to a rejection without notifying PSD. PSD is also terrible, hiding strong feedbacks from other top choices. If we apply from non connected preschool, should be much better.


There was very clear direction from B to not send a FC letter. If you did not follow those explicit instructions that might be what happened. If you’re talking about Spence then the turnaround is weird but the direction from Brearley was very clear.