Anonymous wrote:

SAM2 wrote:On another thread, someone suggested a survey tool aimed at counting who might turn down spots from various schools, so that people on the waitlists will have some sense of whether or not their WL might move. I thought that seemed like a good idea. I was thinking of a very simple list of schools, and people could tick off any schools where they are admitted but plan to decline the spot.

What do you think? Good idea, or waste of time?

Great idea...thank you!

My comment above was from March 2011. I incorporated a waitlist question in the 2012 survey form. http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/217240.page People can post there with spots they are turning down, or else they can just post them on this thread. Or I guess they can post wherever they want. Free to be you and me.

any clue how many on 9th wait list? Daughter on. Also, if you accept at another school, can you buy insurance and then be ok if you get in?

SAM2 wrote:On another thread, someone suggested a survey tool aimed at counting who might turn down spots from various schools, so that people on the waitlists will have some sense of whether or not their WL might move. I thought that seemed like a good idea. I was thinking of a very simple list of schools, and people could tick off any schools where they are admitted but plan to decline the spot.

What do you think? Good idea, or waste of time?

Great idea...thank you!

I'm not one who believes that connections matter as much as others do. Aside from siblings and legacy, I'm not sure anyone really cares about who you are. That said, I think if you are on the waitlist and are a legacy, or sibling, you should pull out the stops. Call board members, the head of school, etc. It's your final shot. It worked for us. This is a touchy issue for me because I think all of these schools talk a lot about community and they should live up to it.

I know 3 families whose kids got in off the Sidwell WL for middle or high school within the last 3 years. In all 3 cases, parents called AD within a few days after decision letters arrived. In 2 of 3 cases, the kids got in off the WL within weeks; in the 3rd case, it took several months.

So is the WL strategy to start calling the AD immediately or wait until April when they're are likely to know about spaces? (I realize you have to tell them if you are interested immediately but when do you start following up?)