<p>ay ay ay. I just don't know what move to make. My daughter applied to only 2 schools - although she really only wanted to apply to Andover. I told her to go thru the process of applying for Exeter as well. (As you can tell by my few posts, we are not savvy boarding school applicants.) But, my husband's family lived on campus when he was a child, and we've passed thru several times so he could reminisce. So, over the years, she decided that she wanted to attend Andover. She did get on their waiting list, but was rejected by Exeter. She has been accepted at a private day school in our area, and will be going unless she is accepted by Andover.<br>
I also confirmed with the Andover admissions officer that no one was taken off the list last year, but there were a few taken off the year before. Prospects, as I see it, are not that great.
So, getting back to D'yer Maker's post --I have told the Admissions Officer that my daughter remains excited, honored and wants to attend. BUT, I wonder what I should say after April 11 when I've been told to call? It seems like a Vegas game! I realize the final decision of how to proceed rests with my judgment, but I have so little experience with this...I'm afraid if I give the impression that she can't/won't wait thru the summer, they'll say - OK - bye - there are others who will!!!
Has anyone out there taken themselves or their child off of the Andover wait list? What was the response by Admissions? Is it too early to ask this question?</p>
<p>odonos,</p>
<p>I would ask them what the chances (past history) of a girl going off the wait list. Also, apparently from reading these posts, Andover has two waiting lists: a top 25 and a regular.</p>
<p>odonos....</p>
<p>If I was doing this, I would tell them that the school is your daughter's first choice, and tell them that it's yours too. That takes care of the dedication part. But I would also tell them that your first priority has to be to make sure she is situated for next year (and beyond) and you're coming up to the point where you'll have to commit. Don't tell them you're leaving the WL or give them a date certain; just let them know that you have other considerations to weigh and that you're remaining on the wait list. For the time being.</p>
<p>The idea is NOT that this IMPROVES her chances. The idea is to not step on a land mine (promising to be the student that they can call in early September if it comes down to that) that could prejudice her chances.</p>
<p>My warning is given to help parents here understand that in the quest to show that they are the most dedicated, they don't go too far and make it clear that they're also the biggest doormats.</p>
<p>Depends on your scenario.</p>
<p>Accepted everywhere: you have no worries.</p>
<p>Accepted somewhere that makes you happy, waitlisted at a school you prefer: let them know you really want them to decide by 4/10 so you can get on with your life.</p>
<p>Accepted somewhere that wouldn't make you thrilled but would be ok, waitlisted at a school you prefer: you need to decide how much risk you're willing to take on. If you decline from ok school and hope to get offer off waitlist, you may end up back in your same HS. Or, if you accept the ok school and then get off the waitlist, you have to decide if you are willing to forfeit the deposit (or worse, breach the contract). </p>
<p>Accepted nowhere, only waitlists: might as well see what happens. </p>
<p>We are very fortunate to be in the second category, so we told the (slightly) preferred school that it's 4/10 or nothing. We're thankful to have that option.</p>
<p>All true.</p>
<p>I'm warning against those who are thinking of letting a school know that they'll remain on the WL for as long as it takes. I'm presuming that those people fall into #3 or #4. And my advice is not about what they should do. It's about whether they should communicate their intentions so freely. Let them think you're a #2 or a very risk-averse #3. Telling them that you're a #4 tells them that they can keep picking off others from the WL and you won't drop off of it (i.e., you're more valuable to them if you remain on their WL).</p>
<p>I don't agree, D'yer Maker, about your strategy. If you really want to go to that school tell them so, but don't play games. I find it hard to believe the schools are that conniving and, typically, I am a very cynical person. When kids are pulled off the waiting list, I think it is because they were considered the next best fit - not just in terms of how strong an applicant they are and whether they are male/female but also in terms of what unique things they bring to the table - do we need a tuba player, lax player, theater person, etc. The school is trying to build a community not just fill beds. I really can't see them jotting down a note your kid's folder "oh, little Susie is desperate. Let's just let her hang out until August because we know she'll come no matter what!" </p>
<p>Honestly, the reality is that most of the top tier schools where people are trying to get off the waitlist will, based on last year's experience, take few to zero kids off the waitlist.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your comments and advice. I see value in all of them. I think I will communicate that Andover IS the first choice, but, too, my daughter must move on. I also confirmed that there is only 1 wait list for Andover. (I thought there were 2 as well.) So, she is on the one and only wait list - which is 25 deep. It will fluctuate, though as people get off of it, and it becomes inflated with late applicants who may be placed on this list.</p>
<p>I recall reading a post from a mom who mentioned that Andover called her to see if her son wanted to remain on the wait list. I never got such a call! So, I wonder if the chances for a girl are more slim than for a boy (I think Princess'Dad questioned this in an earlier post).</p>
<p>thanks again all!</p>
<p>SGS said they're taking kids off on April 7th.
I'm nervous in a good way :)</p>
<p>I sent a letter to andover said we will remain on the wl and also attached a letter from district superintendent about my son's achievement at an competition. Letter sent on 4/2 and andover e-mail me 4/4 said they got the letter and will update son's profile. Hope this is a good sign.</p>