Just curious if anyone has had experience/s where you have had communication from a school: admissions/faculty/coach etc and they have made comments that you wondered about the ulterior meaning? Good or bad. And, after notification did you say to yourself, “ah ha”? I ask because we have friends that have told us and shown us (emailed) comments that to me read as dont worry you are in…or there are no negatives etc
I would completely ignore this, it only sets up potential disappointment. I received very similar communications a few admit cycles ago and figured DS1 was in only to receive multiple wait lists. There is NO upside to thinking you are already in now and doing so risks amplifying disappointment when decisions come in.
The “no negatives” thing in particular probably means just that: there are no negatives. BUT - there is the still the issue of building a class within certain parameters, not to mention the issues of financial aid (or not). I would venture a guess that at the most popular schools there is a large contingent of applicants with “no negatives”. Please do not read into any statement from the school. Until, and unless, you receive a letter on the appropriate day, you can’t be sure. To second @RedSoxFan18, assuming you will be accepted is a recipe for huge disappointment when you don’t. Far better to assume you won’t get in anywhere. That way you will have a contingency plan all set and can be pleasantly surprised if you are wrong.
Good luck to you!
Agree with both of the above…and then some. Only an admit letter means admit. All else is pure speculation.
One director after our visit said she wouldn’t worry for the admittance of my daughter unless she is an international student. Another school’s director said mine will be an exemplary star to other students and they will make rare exceptions on the curriculum for her (we didn’t even ask). A director from another school called me at home to tell that he loved my daughter’s arts so much she is added into his “special list.”
The meaning was clear that we have a decent chance at those schools. But they hadn’t seen my FA application so I don’t assume anything. Only one school immediately sent me a signed offer instead of giving any hints. Even that school is unclear because we don’t know how much FA we will get until after March 10th.
We might get rejected/waitlisted/unfunded by all those schools. Perhaps I could then share it as a warning not to read into their real or perceived hints.
Yes. Possible that FA can create a 180 pivot.
There are two piles: admissible + nonadmissible
Then the applications of admissible candidates who need FA are routed to the FA office for number crunching.
FA gives their calculations to the committee and then final decisions are made.
I have no doubt that those messages mean SculptorKid has an excellent chance at those schools. I received some similar feedback from a coach early in the process that DS1 was his top sophomore recruit, invitations to current team functions etc. But the coach was very clear that decisions are not final until the package ships - literally. He said he jumped the gun years ago and told a recruit that he was admitted, only to have to call back when the admit was changed to a waitlist at the last minute. Schools are looking to round out a class and suddenly a star violinist may be more desirable than a star soccer player.
Yes. star violinist rounding out the class or a major donor steps in the door at the last minute…
p.s. @SculptorDad … I completely agree with @RedSoxFan18 … that you received those messages is great and could mean good things on M10. That said, we know (from personal experience) that the reality of the FA piece can bring disappointment even to the most talented and deserving of candidates. Wishing good things for your daughter come M10.
Thanks and don’t worry people. We are not delusional here. 
And can’t complain for the major donor. It can contribute so much more for the school.
THERE IS NO SECRET ADMIT CODE.
It was tongue in cheek but based on some things we heard from families with recruited athletes…
And on the other hand a local day school’s parent interview was largely consumed with its wait list process with very explicit instructions about what to do if waitlisted and a reasonable explanation about why they can’t predict openings even unrelated to FA. While admittance does not have a secret code, rejection or WL code seems easier to crack.