Personally, I read everything in a file. The successful outcome is invaluable and preferable compared to the prospect of their child being waitlisted again and again and again. Prep School Admissions - College Confidential Forums Prep School Parents. That means, you can secure your spot at your backup school but still have time to wait it out and see if you get accepted at your first choice school. Be content with the fact that your first choice thought highly enough of you that it waitlisted you. They may notget off of the waitlist, but with these letters, they have demonstrated themselves to be interested students with additional information to help their cases. The Private School Waitlist: What to Do Now. SOUTHBOROUGH Sending a third-grader to Fay School costs $31,780 per year, according to the small private school's website. Most students apply to more than one school, and if they are accepted at more than one school, they must choose which school to attend. When you develop your shortlist of schools this way, you won't be disappointed when one of the very competitive schools on your list rejects your child outright or possibly waitlists her. It has 838 students in grades 5-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1. Drop them a handwritten note and thank them for their consideration. For example, if you send in a deposit and accept a place at one of the schools which has offered you a place, you will forfeit your deposit if the waitlisting school finally offers you a place and you accept it. Tips for Appealing a College Rejection Decision, Sample Appeal Letter for a College Rejection. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sample-letters-of-continued-interest-4040198. Do Your Child's SSAT or ISEE Scores Really Matter? Having specific reasons for being interested in a school can show the Admissions Office that you have done your research and that your interest in their school is informed and sincere. What should you do as a family?, As soon as you get the waitlist decision, its important to help your child understand what the waitlist means. Thank the admissions folks for their efforts. How to Get Admitted Off a College Waitlist: 7 Steps for Success - US News Remind the admission office of why you might be a great fit for the school, and why that school, in particular, is your first choice. Spaces open up all the time. You can stop reading here. Which schools waitlist everybody? Kinkaid Waitlist (private schools, kids, admissions) - Houston - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum 03-10-2019, 06:29 AM worriedmoma 11 posts, read times Reputation: 11 Advertisements We are waitlisted at Kinkaid. (b) weekly by email or mail. Lakeside School in Seattle, WA - Niche It is also a good time to chat with an adviser, like a physician expert at . "To Whom It May Concern" sounds generic and impersonal, something you want to avoid. For example, let's say the school has places for 100 students. Put another way, look beyond the competitive schools as you explore all your options and develop your shortlist of schools to visit. If you find yourself waitlisted or deferred at one of your top college choices, the following samples can help guide you as youwrite a letter of continued interest. Liz Wager wrote and edited college admissions articles on ThoughtCo for three years. If your child is interested in a specific sport or music program, it might help to look into private lessons. "Our son had applied but was rejected in applications to Loomis, Andover,Exeter, Kent, Lawrenceville, St. Paul's, Choate, Taft, Milton and Deerfield. Full classrooms, waitlists common for fall enrollment at private After all, colleges want to admit students who know how to follow directions. Congrats. Waitlisted? What Next? - PrivateSchoolReview.com Learn About Waitlists. You and I can prevent it. Waitlisted at Your First Choice Similar to colleges, many private schools have a part of the admission decision process called the waitlist. Private schools like The Hun School of Princeton receive hundreds or even thousands of applications for each upcoming school year. Instead, drop them a handwritten note and thank them for their consideration. While Lana is generally polite in her letter, and her spelling/grammar/syntax is all fine, her tone and approach are what make this letter a bad one. Is Primrose School Worth It? (Review) - Dad Fixes Everything Waitlist Versus Wait PoolWhich Term Makes Sense for Your School It just doesn't seem fair. How To Improve Your SSAT Quantitative Score, Admissions Test Preparation: 2 Strategies, https://www.privateschoolreview.com/blog/admissions-to-private-school-a-z, http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/f/waitlist_faq.htm, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/after-youve-applied/what-to-do-if-youre-waitlisted. I hope that explains how waitlisting works. In the final paragraph, she expresses her interest in the schoolwith specific information aboutwhyshe wants to attend. "The Private School Waitlist: What to Do Now." Waitlists may be active for just the notification period that a school is enrolling students, or it may continue to be active through the spring and sometimes into the summer. Your child will be confused because she thought the school liked her and liked it. So what should you do when you're waitlisted at private school? Fees can range anywhere between $20,000 - $50,000. It just doesn't seem fair. More importantly, you will be able to teach her that life is full of disappointments and failures. You can reach me at sandy@LAschoolscout.com or 310 926 0050; or submit an inquiry form on my website at www.LAschoolscout.com. Do College Waitlists Favor the Wealthy? | BestColleges Some schools automatically invite waitlisted students to accepted students events, but not always. If you've been waitlisted or deferred, this generally indicates a few things about you as an applicant. Say they only receive 90 acceptances? Alex's letter is fairly short. The schools decision could have come down to multiple external factors, such as gender balance or interest in specific programs., What happens when your child is waitlisted? In closing, there are two things to keep in mind. This is a good ideabecause going on at length about your interest, your improved test scores, or your passion for education may come off as sounding desperate or vain, and it wastes the time of the admissions staff. Please complete the wait list application below and submit it today. Sample Letters of Continued Interest. As a result, after the waitlist, they reapply again only to be waitlisted AGAIN. The second point is that although most waitlisted students are not ultimately admitted, some are, and for that reason there is cause to be hopeful. The other two schools to which you applied have offered you places. They believe that you might be a strong candidate. Not the news you want! From how to apply to the 10 things you must not forget, our tips and resources can be a huge benefit to successfully navigating boarding school applications. To ensure that a class is completely filled, the official waitlist is typically 2-3x the capacity of a class depending on the class size and the history of how deeply into the waitlist ranks a program has gone in the past, though the list could include everyone who wasn't outright rejected. The admissions staff know that historically they will receive 90-100 acceptances when they send out 125 acceptance letters. As Brown noted, it is often difficult for a school to foresee if and when they will turn to their waitlist. We are the only firm (because of our knowledge, experience, expertise and long-term relationships) that has this type of specialized, More about Dr Lowe and visits to private schools. She knows which ones will be a good fit for your child. How Covid-19 Boosted Private School Enrollment Forever - Forbes Bear in mind that each school has its own unique way of deciding who gets an acceptance letter and who gets waitlisted. Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students get into their top choice private school and colleges after they have been waitlisted, deferred or rejected. A letter of continued interest does not guarantee your eventual acceptance to the school, and it may not improve your chances at all. Instead, she focuses on the positive and shows her improvement by sending the scores to the school. Wager, Liz. Institutional Need Drives Need-Aware Waitlists From colleges' perspectives, need-aware admissions makes sense. Please share it with your child who has been waitlisted by one or more of the boarding schools she applied to. Should you have more questions about the waitlists and how to navigate admissions decisions for independent and private schools, please contact the Parents League office by email at info@parentsleague.org or call 212-737-7385 to speak to a school advisor. Now What? They know our reputation and want the best! . First, it lets the school know that you are serious about having your child enroll. Demand for private schools leads to waitlist pool and expansion So far it's been unprecedented demand for many of their schools, which means there are already waitlists for this fall.. The "Don't call us. Within weeks, parents will receive acceptance, rejection, and waitlist letters that deliver admissions decisions about their child's applications to independent preschools as well as private elementary, middle, and high schools.Rejections and acceptances are self-explanatory; your child either got in, or she didn't. Being on a waitlist means your child does not have an offer to that program, and not all students on waitlists will receive a waitlist offer. Remember, they have waitlists, too, and those students are hoping to hear the same good news you just did. That list should include three categories of schools: + schools which are very competitive or a reach, + schools which your child stands a good chance of getting into, + schools which are almost certain to admit your child (safe schools). New York, NY 10028 Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, Sr. is the co-founder and CEO of Pinnacle Educational Center; and is one of the world's leading independent educational consultants and expert admissions advisors. It'll help demonstrate your child's continued interest in their institution. You'll find that Primrose is definitely one of the more expensive childcare options around, which goes hand in hand with their sterling reputation and long waitlists. Here's a roadmap to finding the school you want. Enroll and Deposit at Your Back Up School. Fax: 212-737-7389 Be realistic as you develop your list of schools. It's one thing to let the school know they are your top choice, for this is a small but helpful piece of information. You risk annoying them which could jeopardize your chance to come off the waitlist. That said, it can't hurt, and your display of interest in the program and your dedication and outreach may help. Should you call the admissions office and bug them? - Admission offices may take a student off a wait list as late as August. It will make up any shortfall from the pool of applicants who are on the waitlist. Some schools may waive application fees if it is a financial burden on the family. You can decide to have your child not attend a private school and attend public school. Campus Tour |Careers |Privacy Policy | Sitemap What to Do When You Get Waitlisted for Medical School - US News Top Strategies Once You Receive Your Child's Private School Admission prep-school-parents. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/private-school-waitlist-tips-4135599. American Heritage Schools was recently named the #1 Private School for academic success with the highest number of National Merit Scholars of all private schools in the nation. Parents League of New York While it's not a major issue, she starts the letter with "To Whom It May Concern," even though she is writing it to the Director of Admissions. Interviews are held at various times in between. ThoughtCo. https://www.privateschoolreview.com/blog/5-tips-for-a-successful-admissions-interview, https://www.privateschoolreview.com/blog/choosing-schools-look-beyond-the-competitive-schools. View all posts by drpaulloweadmissionsexpert. As soon as you know that youre off the waitlist at your top school, notify any schools that are waiting to hear your final decision immediately. Schools typically offer places to more applicants than they have places for on the theory and experience that they will receive enough acceptances to fill all their seats. WAIT-LISTED means that we love your child, but we dont have spot available today, tomorrow or perhaps never. Hope Scholarship Program. I'm trying to figure out if we have any chances of getting in. But you want to go to the school which waitlisted you. Second, it gives you a chance to get to know the faculty better if your child does get accepted. https://www.thoughtco.com/sample-letters-of-continued-interest-4040198 (accessed March 4, 2023). Hannah's letter is another good example of what to include in a letter of continued interest. That doesnt mean hound them daily, but rather, gently remind the admission office of your interest in attending and ask about the potential for getting off the waiting list every few weeks. Located in Plantation, Florida; a beautiful, family-oriented suburb just West of Fort Lauderdale and North of Miami. We encourage families who are interested in enrolling in our school to visit our campus for a. A Few Tips If Your Child Is Wait-Listed (updated) The admissions officers know that if they offer a certain number of applicants over the actual number of places that they have available, that they will receive the necessary yield of acceptances. You can find out if they foresee any future openings, or how close they might be to tapping into the waitlist. What Do They Mean By Waitlist? by Sandy Eiges of LA School Scout Don't give it another thought. Express. Since 1996, the number of charter schools in Florida has grown to over 703 in 2021-22. We also don't know what to expect in regards to it moving enough to be offered a spot. Located in Delray Beach, Florida; a beautiful, family-oriented city just North of Boca Raton and South Palm Beach. 41: 2537: February 26, 2023 Having 25 empty seats will wreak havoc with any private school's finances. For over 55 years, our mission of knowledge, integrity, and compassion through developing the full potential of each child to be an active, intelligent, creative, and contributing member of society. Whatever anger and frustration Alex is feeling does not appear in the letter, and he shows a pleasing level of maturity and professionalism. Parents make a lot of mistakes on their child's application. The safest course of action is to hire a professional educational consultant. Our classes are currently full for 2021-22 school year. Just as with deferrals, your school counselor can be a powerful advocate. rather than accepting the benefits of a consultants professional skills and years of experience in private admissions diplomacy. Many of the inquiries are from parents whose children have been wait-listed from ALL schools to which they applied! Depending on the college, your chances of admission could be. Find answers to the most common questions, learn when its too late to apply and get familiar with the Boarding School Admission Application, Admissions Checklist For Boarding School Applicants, Marketing Your School: Filling Your Seats, Using the Boarding Schools Admission Application Form, 10 Things You Must Not Forget When Applying, A Roadmap For The Boarding School Admissions Process, Accommodated Testing as Part of the Private School Admission Process, International Students: Offsite And Virtual Visits, Understanding the Post-Graduate (PG) Year. Make sure you enroll and put down a deposit at a school where your child did get an acceptance. You can settle for less and have your child attend a third-tier private school. The questions are never-ending. -- A. Mehta (Clifton, NJ). This video offers advice on how to deal with a waitlist. You may want to ask them how they would like you to stay in touch with them as the process unfolds. Youve made your way through the private school admission process. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. 3. If your child is accepted at another great-fit school, you may choose to enroll there. However, bear in mind that each school has its unique way of deciding who gets an acceptance letter and who gets waitlisted. Keep your letter short. Be content with the fact that your first choice thought highly enough of you that it waitlisted you. The answer, as in most cases, depends on a number of different factors. Private schools, like colleges, can only admit so many students. It makes more sense to accept a place at one of the schools which has accepted you. The admissions officers know that if they offer a certain number of applicants over the actual number of places they have available, they will receive the necessary yield of acceptances. A friend who used Dr. Lowe told us about his company. So you've decided to send your teen to a private high school. Alcohol and Drugs at Private Schools. And the fact that few students take the time to write a nice handwritten note can actually make you stand out. Not Accepted at the Private Schools We Applied To Your spot might be the ticket to another students dream of attending private school. And why do schools waitlist applicants? But, more importantly, you will be able to teach her that life is full of disappointments and failures. wait list candidate. Questions? Your child has been waitlisted or rejected from his or her top-choice schools. A lot is going on behind the scenes that you never see. Plus, now you've been through the process once and you know what to expect for the application and interview. Dr. Paul Reginald Loweis the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors GroupsPrivate School Admissions Advisors. View their 2023 rankings, tuition cost, acceptance rates, reviews and more. What To Do If You've Been Waitlisted - Private Prep Despite that . Most everyone knows that you have to apply to private school and get accepted, but did you also know that you could get waitlisted? Assuming that you hope to be offered admission to the private school that waitlisted you, its important to make sure the admission office knows you are indeed serious about wanting to attend. This season is very busy for schools as they try to determine which students plan to enroll. Private School Admissions Advisors - Waitlisted or Rejected You dont want to be a pest but you do want to indicate your strong interest. It's another thing to act as though this is your only option, your last resort. If you decide to write a letter of continued interest, make sure to be respectful, honest, and humble. What to do: Call the school (s) where your child was wait-listed and let them know of your continued interest and that you would be very pleased to have your child accepted to their school. What this designation means is that typically the applicant is qualified to attend the school, but the school doesn't have enough spaces available. Do be aware, however, if you put a deposit down to a school that has accepted you, you will forfeit that deposit should you decide to choose another school. Isn't there anything you can do? For more information, please call 202-577-2000, email admissions@lowellschool.org, or follow Lowell on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. If you have friends or other parents who have a relationship with the admissions director, it is okay to ask them to put in a good word, too. Basically, a waitlist means that you may not have received an acceptance to the school yet, but you might still be offered an opportunity to enroll after the first round of enrollments are processed. And, what are the next steps you should take as a family?, First, dont panic: being placed on the waitlist at your private school of choice is not the end of your journey., At most private schools, there are three different responses an applicant can receive: accepted, waitlisted (sometimes called the wait pool), or denied., When your child is accepted, they have a saved spot for the next school year if you choose to accept it. Just as you were at your first-choice school, there may be a student who has been waitlisted at your second-choice school hoping another spot will open up and, if you're sitting on a financial award at your second choice school, that money can be reallocated to another student. The admission office doesnt want you calling and emailing daily or even weekly to profess your love for the school and desire to attend. Alex briefly mentions that this school is his top choice. Students have to be realistic and remember that theres always the chance that theymay not make it off the waiting list at their first choice school. Call or email the, Mention the programs that are important to you. Hiring Dr. Lowe at Private School Admissions Advisors was the best money I have ever spent. If she did, in fact, plan her application process poorly, fair enough many students do. If you decide that school isnt right for you or that you dont want to wait to see if you receive an offer, you can tell the school youve decided to pursue another opportunity. And then, after weeks of waiting for a response, you find out . Even though our daughter had top SSAT and TOEFL scores and wasfirst in her class she was not accepted to top boarding schools. It follows that schools with the longest waiting lists have higher waiting list fees than other schools, charging an average $154. Mention the importance of. Treat that waitlisting as the equivalent of a rejection because, for all practical purposes, that is what it is. Say they only receive 90 acceptances? Acknowledge their feelings and any conflicting emotions. However, the waitlist doesn't have to be a mystery. It means your student meets the criteria for admission but the class has been filled. College Waitlist Chances: What Your Odds Look Like - InGenius Prep Policies for each school vary and you can ask the admissions office about the specifics when you communicate with them. You applied to several schools. (2021, February 10). She writes well, and she keeps the letter short and respectful. The first is that if you have been offered a spot on a waitlist and you want to remain there, you must promptly communicate that to the school. Generally, if you're on the waitlist, the admissions committee is just . She doesn't come across as angry or presumptuous, and she states her case well while remembering her letter does not guarantee she will be accepted.