Personally, I read everything in a file. One of the effects of COVID-19 on private school admissions is that more families are choosing private school for their children; thus, the competition has increased. Job Layoffs and Its Effect on BS/MDPrograms, Boarding School Admissions Trends in2023, Dr. Paul Lowe discusses Fairfax County Public High Schools-Virginia, Happy New Year from BS/MD Admissions Advisor Dr. PaulLowe, Congratulations to Our Clients Who Were Accepted ED Brown and Brown PLME2027. Located in Plantation, Florida; a beautiful, family-oriented suburb just West of Fort Lauderdale and North of Miami. But what happens if only 75 of those families accept the places which have been offered? What Does Waitlisted Mean Being waitlisted is unlike being deferred and means the college has finished reviewing your file and made a decision to put you on a waiting list for admission. 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. Private schools like The Hun School of Princeton receive hundreds or even thousands of applications for each upcoming school year. Tuition is $32,000 for the highest grade offered. "Sample Letters of Continued Interest." Put another way, look beyond the competitive schools as you explore all your options and develop your shortlist of schools to visit. That's where the waitlisting comes in. Located in Delray Beach, Florida; a beautiful, family-oriented city just North of Boca Raton and South Palm Beach. Once you have decided whether you'll stay on the waitlist, talk to your school counselor as soon as possible to discuss the situation and gain your counselor's insights. During our brief discussion, I sensed his positive energy and passion in helping families and his confidence that he could help us. I read one of Dr. Lowe's blogs on Party with Moms and called him immediately. Whatever anger and frustration Alex is feeling does not appear in the letter, and he shows a pleasing level of maturity and professionalism. New Worlds Reading Scholarship Accounts. Still, you do need to be patient. Being on a waitlist is not necessarily a bad thing, but it may be worth checking with the school to see if its gone to the waitlist in the past to admit students or if waitlisted students are ever admitted. Just makesure youre aware of deadlines for the grace period (if it is even offered) and when your contract is legally binding for the full amount of tuition for the year. Treat that waitlisting as the equivalent of a rejection because, for all practical purposes, that is what it is. Life on a PhD Waitlist: Is There Anything You Can Do? She knows her schools. 115 East 82nd Street Finally, Lana writes that she is desperate; she's been rejected at other schools, and accepted to a school she doesn't want to attend. Each application represents a promising young student eager to grow as a part of our family. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sample-letters-of-continued-interest-4040198. ThoughtCo, Feb. 10, 2021, thoughtco.com/sample-letters-of-continued-interest-4040198. Jagodowski, Stacy. Dr. Paul Lowe provides comprehensive counseling advice: exclusivelyfor admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities, BS/MD programs, graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs. As students make their decisions and decline admission at certain schools, in turn, those schools may have spots available at a later date, which are then offered to students on the waitlist. More here. This is a good move; it shows that she has specific reasonswhy she wants to attend this college in particular. Our son was accepted to Hackley." Be specific: mention the programs that matter most to you, sports or activities you want to get involved in, and even teachers whose classes youre excited to take. Just talk to parents at schools and you'll find this to be true. In closing, there are two things to keep in mind. Can You Appeal A College Rejection Decision? (St Kevin's charges $500, and has more than 5000 children on its . Be content with the fact that your first choice thought highly enough of you that it waitlisted you. You can shop around, hire the cheapest consultant, pay peanuts and have your child be rejected again..and again! With two 40 acre campuses, one in Broward County and the other in Palm Beach County, Florida, we serve 4,600 students grades Pre-K 3 through 12. "To Whom It May Concern" sounds generic and impersonal, something you want to avoid. She knows which ones will be a good fit for your child. She doesn't make excuses for herpoor scores. Being waitlisted means they have thoroughly reviewed your file, but the admissions officers have decided to put you on the waitlist. These are students who we really thought would make a great impact on our school, and [if we had] unlimited spaces, we would have taken them immediately., Families should understand that being waitlisted is not the same as being denied. Learn more about when and how to apply, why the deadlines are important and what to do when your child is accepted. Here are some tips if you've been waitlisted: Pre-register at the school where your child won a seat it won't affect your standing on waitlists elsewhere. We also don't know what to expect in regards to it moving enough to be offered a spot. Wager, Liz. Communicate your interest immediately to the admissions office, either by phone or email, should you be placed on a waitlist to a school and want to remain on it. MBA Waitlist Strategies for Business School Applicants. First, you will feel frustrated having spent all that time and effort visiting schools and applying to them. The adage applies: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. of April 2, but chances are not until . Your last sentence of the first paragraph should be a clear statement of commitment (if you feel so strongly): "If you admit me off the waitlist, I will proudly enroll." This last sentence is really important because colleges want signs that if they admit you off the waitlist, there's a good chance you will come. If you decide that you are still invested and want to wait for an offer of acceptance, you can have another chance to speak to the admission office to reiterate your desire to attend if you wish to remain on the waitlist. What do you do now? Don't give it another thought. Don't give it another thought. In this hypercompetitive environment, in many cases, wait-listed may be forever. They believe that you might be a strong candidate. Boarding Schools Welcome International Students. 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. The measure of one's character is how one deals with setbacks and adversities. If possible, address your letter to a person, being sure to spell his or her name and title correctly. 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. Dealing With College Wait Lists, Deferrals, and Rejections. Dr. Lowe and his team reviewed the situation, continuously discussed what we needed to do on Skype and helpedour sonin reapplying. For more information, please call 202-577-2000, email admissions@lowellschool.org, or follow Lowell on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Jagodowski, Stacy. Most students apply to multiple schools, so evaluating your choices is common. Make sure you enroll and put down a deposit at a school where your child did get an acceptance. Here are several free boarding schools as well as several schools that offer tuition-free educations for students from qualified families. It could send acceptance letters to 100 applicants. Honestly, in the end, that is all that matters. prep-school-parents. Just remember, however, that these deposit payments are usually not refundable, so you risk losing that money. Pinnacle Educational Center which has expanded into a network of admissions advisory services: Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group. They meet your requirements. Keep your letter short. . If you decide to write a letter of continued interest, make sure to be respectful, honest, and humble. 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. Instead, it waitlisted you. But what if circumstances conspire to produce the number on the low end of the yield scale? The following two tables feature the waitlist data at the top 20 national universities and liberal arts schools from the 2018-19 admissions cycle. So, if your first-choice school waitlists you, what do you do? Again, it is okay to check in with the school periodically, especially if you are nearing deadlines at other schools, but try not to be a pest. What exactly does this mean? As a global admissions expert, Dr. Lowe and his team help students gain admissions to top private schools, Ivy league and highly selective colleges, medical schools and BS/MD programs. Believe it or not, it's actually ok to communicate with your second choice school and let them know youre still making decisions. Remember, it's important to communicate with both your first-choice school where youve been waitlisted, and your second-choice school where youve been accepted, so that you know where you stand in the admission process with each school, and what each school needs from you. 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. When parents call our firm to inquire about our services, they engage us because they understand the importance of investing in their childs educational future. 5 Tips for Moving from the Waitlist to Acceptance at a Private School. Mention the importance of. It makes more sense to accept a place at one of the schools which has accepted you. For example, let's say the school has places for 100 students. You can remain sad, anxious and/or angry. You can hire a tutor to increase his or her test scores or grades. 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. As a father whose two daughters both went to boarding schools, I remember well all the second-guessing. 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. Dr. Lowe provides parents with the knowledge they need to decide where there children should attend and the admissions strategies they need to be admitted into their top-choice school. Log in. If you are fortunate enough to get an acceptance in the end, please notify other schools about your final decision right away. Being waitlisted is not the end of the world. 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. The admission office doesnt want you calling and emailing daily or even weekly to profess your love for the school and desire to attend. At many schools, demonstrated interest plays a role in admissions decisions. Having 25 empty seats will wreak havoc with any private school's finances. The fake. Unless the school youve applied to has given you specific instructions to follow in terms of communicating with them during this limbo period (some schools adhere to a strict, dont call us, well call you policy and breaking that could affect your chances at acceptance), check in with the admission office periodically. By that time you will understand the process of choosing a school so much better. So, knowing that not everyone they originally accept will come to their school, they put you on the list to acce. The safest course of action is to hire a professional educational consultant. She received acceptance letters at two very fine schools which she really likes and which you know will be a great fit with her needs and requirements. You want to create a personal connection with the admissions office. 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. Finally, respect boundaries once you've been waitlisted at your dream school. Your student's current school will be notified that their space may be awarded to another family. It has 838 students in grades 5-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1. Make sure, however, that your child puts some thought into that decision. Most schools typically offer more applicants places than they have for the theory and experience that they will receive enough acceptances to fill all their seats. Questions? Alex briefly mentions that this school is his top choice. Credits | Privacy Policy and Terms, Financial Aid: Making Independent School Affordable, what-age-should-my-child-start-preschool.jpg. The first thing to do is respond to the notification as soon as you get it. See the glass as half full. Tips for Appealing a College Rejection Decision, Sample Appeal Letter for a College Rejection. If youre backed up against deadlines at other schools, call to ask the likelihood that you might be offered a spot. Questions? Since 1996, the number of charter schools in Florida has grown to over 703 in 2021-22. Prep School Parents. As a result, after the waitlist, they reapply again only to be waitlisted AGAIN. You can find out if they foresee any future openings, or how close they might be to tapping into the waitlist. When this happens, schools have the ability to go back to a waitlist to find another qualified candidate and offer that student an enrollment agreement. In her first paragraph, Lana makes the mistake of sounding both frustrated and presumptuous. Should you take a place at another school or decide you do not want to remain on the waitlist, communicate this immediately as well. The admissions folks are extremely busy. Dr. Lowe and his team of admissions advisors alsovisit prestigious and elite private schools, where they have the unique opportunity of interacting one-on-one with heads of schools, directors of admissions and senior admissions personnel. The most competitive schools are least likely to offer places to applicants on their waitlists. We understand that waiting to hear back can be a special kind of torture. Isn't there anything you can do? https://www.privateschoolreview.com/blog/5-tips-for-a-successful-admissions-interview, https://www.privateschoolreview.com/blog/choosing-schools-look-beyond-the-competitive-schools. Once you are on the wait list though, don't be shy. Wager, Liz. Youve made your way through the private school admission process. In most cases less than 50% and at many schools a very small percentage (think 10% or less) are admitted off of the waitlist. Your fit is as perfect as that of a cozy glove on a cold hand. Most likely, it's been a long few months. They may not always tell you where you need to improve, but chances are it won't hurt to work on improving your academic grades, SSAT test scores, or get involved in a new activity. View their 2023 rankings, tuition cost, acceptance rates, reviews and more. waitlist. 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. This is good information to include, but more importantly, Alex goes intowhyit is his top choice. It makes more sense to accept a place at one of the schools which has accepted you. The waitlist is used to keep qualified candidates on hold until they know if those students who were admitted will enroll. Once the application is complete, you can upload your childs academic records right to your account and proceed to schedule their test. Do not make repeated calls and pester the admissions people. After all, you have already determined that all the schools you applied to were great fits. 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. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/private-school-waitlist-tips-4135599. 2023 What Is "Yield" in the College Admissions Process? So, it's important to make sure that you dont jeopardize your chances of attending another great private school where youve been accepted. . I hope that explains how waitlisting works. Relax. Check out the Charter School Program Statistics (PDF) for more details. But what if circumstances conspire to produce the number on the low end of the yield scale? Lakeside School is a top rated, private school located in SEATTLE, WA. (2021, February 10). This season is very busy for schools as they try to determine which students plan to enroll. 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. 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. If you accept a waitlist offer by enrolling at a school, two things will happen: You will give up your student's space for the 2023-24 school year at any school where they were previously enrolled. It means they have offered admission to all the students they originally planned to accept. The "Don't call us. She writes well, and she keeps the letter short and respectful. Sample Supplemental Essay for College Admissions: Why This College? We'll call you" policy applies. Honestly, in the end, that is all that matters. Attending orientation events serves more than one purpose. This year, waiting lists are expected to be the worst ever (meaning the longest ever). In the meantime, write letters to schools, keep them up to date with any contact changes and check your email frequently. While many people think that a handwritten note is an outdated practice, the truth is, many people appreciate the gesture. The other two schools to which you applied have offered you places. An understanding of real-time changes, as well as nuances particular to each school at a particular point in time are important for successful outcomes in private school admissions to top schools. Tours, interviews, essays, and more: applying to private schools is an involved process. Please complete the wait list application below and submit it today. You may want to ask them how they would like you to stay in touch with them as the process unfolds. What Age Does Independent Kindergarten Start in NYC. Were your scores not good enough? Calculating the actual yield from the acceptances which they have sent out is something that experienced admissions officers know how to do almost instinctively. Finding the right school for your child is a major project. I can tell you from my first-hand experience that you wonder what you did wrong. Your child will be confused because she thought the school liked her and liked it. Taking the initiative to show youre invested in the school cant hurt. Forum Index Private/Independent Schools : Author Message; 03/03/2023 16:15 Subject: Which schools waitlist . Thinking about sending your child to boarding school but are concerned that you can't afford it? It means your student meets the criteria for admission but the class has been filled. -- A. Mehta (Clifton, NJ). 2023 The Enrollment Management Association. Talk to the admission office at your second-choice school, and confirm deadlines to deposit to lock in your space, as some schools will automatically rescind their offer of admission as of a specific date. Guessing it'll only move enough if dozens of applicants get into their actual preferred school after other admissions decisions are released next week and/or . We are specialists in helping students off the waitlist and students who have been rejected gain acceptance to their top choice schools. Schools that maintain lists tend to be smaller, have a smaller number of applicants and may use the sign-up date as a basis for entry. 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. Contact us on Facebook. While being waitlisted is not a positive experience, you shouldn't let that disappointment come through in your LOCI. It's always good to be realistic about your chances when writing a letter of continued interest and to know that it probably won't end up making a difference. Say they only receive 90 acceptances? Sample Recommendation Letter for Graduate School, Dealing With Wait Lists, Deferrals, and Rejections, What to Do If Your College Application Is Deferred, A Sample Response to a College Deferral Letter, How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest. For example, using our hypothetical 100 places available, the admissions office sends out 125 acceptance letters. Private schools have a finite amount of open spaces each year, which means there will inevitably be more good-fit students than seats. You and I can prevent it. Dr. Paul Reginald Loweis the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors GroupsPrivate School Admissions Advisors. But it never hurts to try, and new information that strengthens your application can make a difference. Learn how you can save 14 hours or more with the SAO. Thank the admissions folks for their efforts. You wont always get an answer, but it doesnt hurt to try. Top schools rarely reject students outright. Contact an admissions director for more information or sign up for a campus tour. After trying on our own without success, my wife recommend that we see an expert. You can reach me at sandy@LAschoolscout.com or 310 926 0050; or submit an inquiry form on my website at www.LAschoolscout.com. The school will send out 125 acceptances. However, you shouldn't share this fact with colleges. You applied to several boarding schools. By Carol Lippert Gray Published: February 13, 2012. Many schools offer a grace period before you have to pay the full tuition, at which time your child is legally obliged to attend. The waitlist isnt a race and there really isn't anything you can do to speed up the process. If she is waitlisted at a very selective school, probably not. Whenever possible, use the name of the person who sent you the letter or email telling you of your admissions status. You dont want to be a pest but you do want to indicate your strong interest. Parents League of New York If she did, in fact, plan her application process poorly, fair enough many students do. Private School Admissions Advisors is a division of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group. While many families will celebrate their childs acceptance into the. 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. Florida Tax Credit Scholarship. Then keep the idea of waitlisting out front as you begin to define the list of schools you would like to consider. By using the phrase "when I'm enrolled" she is presuming that her letter will be enough to take her off the waitlist; this makes her come off as arrogant and less likely to succeed in her attempt. Alex's letter is fairly short. The admissions staff know that historically they will receive 90-100 acceptances when they send out 125 acceptance letters. Private School, College, BS/MD Program, Graduate and Medical School Admissions Advisor & Educational Consultant. What Is "Yield" in the College Admissions Process? Maybe get something in writing that your spot is ready for you. The admission waitlist is usually common knowledge when it comes to college applications, but is often not as well-known when it comes to private school admission processes. Absolutely but its always up to the school. : Which schools waitlist everybody? Family Empowerment Scholarship. But if it's like Newark Academy in Livingston, which receives 500 applications a year for 110 spaces, or Morristown-Beard in Morristown, which receives 200 applications . It's another thing to act as though this is your only option, your last resort. Enroll and Deposit at Your Back Up School. But your first choice didn't accept you. This video offers advice on how to deal with a waitlist. Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Check out the following tips and best practices for handling your waitlist situation. 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. But, for many families, this fee is a good investment to ensure that the student doesn't lose their offer of admission from the second-choiceschool. At most private schools, there are three different responses an applicant can receive: accepted, waitlisted (sometimes called the wait pool), or denied. Please share it with your child who has been waitlisted by one or more of the boarding schools she applied to. How should you feel? All in all, Hannah and Alex have written strong letters. Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022-2023], Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive List and Overview of STEM-OPT Eligible B-Schools. With two 40 acre campuses, one in Broward County and the other in Palm Beach County, Florida, we serve 4,600 students grades Pre-K 3 through 12. A waitlist means that for each grade prospective students are ranked so that when a spot opens up the first on the list gets an offer. Email Us, Parents League of New York is a 501(c)(3) charity. 41: 2537: February 26, 2023 The "Don't call us. What does being on the waitlist really mean? Drop them a handwritten note and thank them for their consideration. 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. This will give you a chance to connect with the admissions director, administrators, and teachers. 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. Teen suicide is the 3rd largest killer of young adults between the ages of 15-24. Don't fret about the school's decision. If your second-choice school gave your child a financial award or scholarship, that money could be reallocated to another student. After your child has completed the test, you will hear from one of our Admissions Directors about any next steps. It offers a rigorous and hands-on curriculum that nurtures each child's natural curiosity and desire to learn, and supports the development of individual voice and self-reliance. 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.. When we saw the numbers jump from 400 to 600 recently, we decided we just couldn't . It just doesn't seem fair. What's the Next Step? They lack large endowments and other resources necessary to meet every student's financial need. There are different types of private schools: private independent schools and parochial schools. Students arent waitlisted as a courtesy or to soften a no. Waitlisted students have met all of the admission criteria and would be a right fit if there were enough spaces. 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. Two factors are important to consider: SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT in your child's application process. In addition, you will have the ability to select the college that best fits your needs and requirements because of your experiences selecting the right private K-12 school. A good first step is to make sure you write them a note specifically saying that youre still interested and why. There is always the possibility this scenario could change and result in an offer. It may not be enough to impact her status, but it shows the Admissions Office she cares about the school and really does want to be there. In the second paragraph, Hannah presents new information: her updated and higherSAT scores. Most private schools hold special events for newly accepted students.