Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 14:01     Subject: private school decision day: Feb 27
Anonymous wrote:How are people feeling? What is your plan if your kid doesn't get in anywhere or doesn't get into an appealing or top choice? We only applied to 3 and our plan is the local public. I don't feel stressed about it bc I don't think public would be all that bad - though obviously a top private would be a more rigorous, well-resourced experience for my kid.


We applied to four, and we really want out of DCPS - I don't think saving $60k is worth staying in that system a year longer. I'm SO nervous/excited about Friday.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 13:56     Subject: Re:private school decision day: Feb 27
Anonymous wrote:And that’s when you have to put down a deposit? I thought deposit was May 1

There is a date by which you must accept or decline, and if you accept, that’s when the deposit is due. On May 1 (a change from June 1 in previous years as noted numerous times on various threads here), you are on the hook for the full tuition.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 13:54     Subject: private school decision day: Feb 27
Anonymous wrote:How are people feeling? What is your plan if your kid doesn't get in anywhere or doesn't get into an appealing or top choice? We only applied to 3 and our plan is the local public. I don't feel stressed about it bc I don't think public would be all that bad - though obviously a top private would be a more rigorous, well-resourced experience for my kid.


I think there is no bad news. You either get in with $60K and a slightly better education, or save more money for a lesser-good one and apply again next year. The only pain is swallowing your pride and going through this tiring process again next year or at the next juncture.

By the way, if we are again rejected by some Big 3 and apply again, do we still have to show up with all the tours next year to pretend that we are super excited about their art room or the gym?

Somebody got to do a comic strip for all of these.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 12:39     Subject: private school decision day: Feb 27
Does anyone know if you will receive a decision in the mail first or on the portal for SJ?
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 16:47     Subject: Re:private school decision day: Feb 27
Anonymous wrote:And that’s when you have to put down a deposit? I thought deposit was May 1

I thought May 1 is full tuition? Or June 1st?
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 16:02     Subject: private school decision day: Feb 27
Yes, typically you put down a deposit when you accept. May 1 is usually the deadline to withdraw and only lose your deposit rather than the full tuition amount.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 15:26     Subject: Re:private school decision day: Feb 27
And that’s when you have to put down a deposit? I thought deposit was May 1
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 14:36     Subject: private school decision day: Feb 27
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How are people feeling? What is your plan if your kid doesn't get in anywhere or doesn't get into an appealing or top choice? We only applied to 3 and our plan is the local public. I don't feel stressed about it bc I don't think public would be all that bad - though obviously a top private would be a more rigorous, well-resourced experience for my kid.


How long is the decision period before notification and commitment? Two weeks?

Usually 2 weeks
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 14:36     Subject: Re:private school decision day: Feb 27
Anonymous wrote:Yes. Do they call all applicants to tell them this?

Yes. It’s f’d up when they keep giving you all those reminders and you get rejected
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 14:28     Subject: Re:private school decision day: Feb 27
Anonymous wrote:Yes. Do they call all applicants to tell them this?

Maybe.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 14:16     Subject: Re:private school decision day: Feb 27
Yes. Do they call all applicants to tell them this?
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 14:08     Subject: Re:private school decision day: Feb 27
Anonymous wrote:We got a call from someone in admissions letting us know decisions would come out the 27th and to make sure we can access the admissions portal (not ravenna)

Holton?
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 14:08     Subject: private school decision day: Feb 27
Anonymous wrote:How are people feeling? What is your plan if your kid doesn't get in anywhere or doesn't get into an appealing or top choice? We only applied to 3 and our plan is the local public. I don't feel stressed about it bc I don't think public would be all that bad - though obviously a top private would be a more rigorous, well-resourced experience for my kid.


How long is the decision period before notification and commitment? Two weeks?
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 13:42     Subject: private school decision day: Feb 27
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Read some of the waitlist posts from previous years. You will hear anecdotal stories of people getting off of waitlists but the are very few and far between. Many schools (GDS, Potomac, Maret) will waitlist the vast majority of non-admitted applicants. It spares them having to deny a student and they seem not to care about the deceptive message that the kid still has a good chance. The colleges publish their waitlist data and the more competitive schools are often 1-5% off a waitlist. I would guess that they are the same around DC independents.

But don't worry, soon you'll get lots of threads about people who think that every kid who is admitted and chooses a different school triggers a kid off the waitlist. It's an annual DCUM tradition.


So Waitlist is really a No. Why bother wasting everyone's time.

Potomac definitely rejects. We’re at the school and have had a few friends flat out rejected. We also have 2 friends who got off the wl, so there is movement sometimes
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 13:28     Subject: Re:private school decision day: Feb 27
We got a call from someone in admissions letting us know decisions would come out the 27th and to make sure we can access the admissions portal (not ravenna)