<p>We are in a similiar situation. My son got into some great schools but not with aid (or enough aid to attend). I was very surprised about a couple schools because we thought his academic stats combined with athletics would be enough to get him some money. We are focusing on trying to get money from the top choice. Not sure how it will play out… Also, not sure whether attend revisit day! It seems as if it would be cruel to go and then not be able to attend.</p>
<p>@tigerdad I could have written your post. Same story here, except DD#2 was denied. DD#1 went in as an upper, so we weren’t/aren’t as emotionally invested in the school since we’re so new. Realistically, the HADES school would not have been a good fit for DD#2. Happily she got an acceptance to a school that we think could be a good fit.</p>
<p>I’m saying this on the Parent’s board where, one assumes, there’s some more sanity among viewing eyes than one might encounter elsewhere…but, if college admissions are a sign, the boarding schools might be relying heavily on wait-lists this year – as many colleges have signaled they plan to do.</p>
<p>The thing about wait-lists is that they are NOT need-blind decisions.</p>
<p>But the reason colleges are doing this is ultimately because of the economy. Their algorithms for yield were completely out of whack last year (in quite a few places). Most had assumed that record numbers of applicants in a (theoretically) declining student population meant that applicants were applying to more colleges and, therefore, the yield would decrease. What they’re finding out is that, in this economy, their algorithms aren’t valid. So, even among colleges that didn’t get stung last year, there’s a sense that they will err on the side of caution – intentionally underadmit – and then get up to their target, one-by-one, via the wait list. It’s possible <– emphasis here that the boarding schools with larger endowments and more generous aid and/or need-blind admissions will take a similar approach.</p>
<p>I’m not a big fan of keeping a high school kid on a boarding school wait list. I’m sure in the past I’ve equated it to a form of cruelty. I think this year I might play their wait-list game if I had a child in that situation, since I think it’s very possible the wait-list will be relied on to fill out an intentionally underadmitted class. In the case of tigerdad, for instance, I think it’s worth going along with it and not be reckless in doing so.</p>
<p>My son applied to his sibling’s school as well as 2 others. One school (not the sibling’s school) waitlisted us, and called to tell us that it was because they were certain we would choose the sibling’s school but if by some chance we did not, they would offer him a spot. If Tiger Dad’s son reapplies, make it clear to new schools that the sibling school is not an absolute.</p>
<p>Or don’t apply to sib’s school at all.</p>
<p>I had always thought that FA offers were given out like admissions offers - more than they really had with an eye on yeild. Therefore, an FA WL was really a shot in the dark.
I specifically asked one school this question and was told that some schools do it that way and some give out the exact amount they have and when offers are turned down, they then are able to offer the money to another student.</p>
<p>Interesting D’yer Maker. I heard of one bs where the head (relatively new) asked the admission office to take a more ‘conservative approach’ this year in admissions. </p>
<p>It seems to me that a Full Pay applicant would stand the most to gain from this.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if I see how a student might get off FA WL - unless they hold back on some funds? Would that be part of the underadmitting strategy? </p>
<p>Your post is also very relevant to the *** Is This a New Trend?*** thread…</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-parents/1109035-new-trend.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-parents/1109035-new-trend.html</a></p>
<p>Just like Tinkerbell said…
A school awards only the EXACT dollars they have available.<br>
One or more of those students declines the award(s) thus freeing up that money for another student(s).</p>
<p>What is the difference between FA WL and insufficient aid grant?</p>
<p>The FA grants from two schools differ so much that I was wondering if the lesser school was looking at the same thing as the other. As the amount may decide where I end up, my parents are going to contact the school. Is my chance to get more aid grant just as slim?</p>
<p>FA WL means the applicant got nothing in the first round of financial aid grants, but is waiting in the wings in case other students who are offered grants say “thanks, but no thanks!” and money becomes available again.</p>
<p>In the case of an inadequate FA grant, it is absolutely appropriate for your parents to contact the school and try to figure it out. First, it is always possible the school made a mistake. Alternatively, it is possible the school knows you need “X”, but all they have to give you is “1/2 X” - in which case you can try to negotiate with the school. Some parents have reported success with such negotiations. As money comes available from offers that were rejected by other students, the school may be willing to redirect some of those funds your way. It can’t hurt to ask!</p>
<p>Thanks dodgersmom, again!</p>