<p>I figured we were out of the woods on the letdowns by this point, but I guess not…now I’M jumping everytime the phone rings.</p>
<p>I know! I feel that I am a reasonably intelligent person, but I keep re-reading that e-mail and wanting to believe that the parents of every Legacy applicant received a similar message, but I know in my heart of hearts that this is not good news.</p>
<p>Oh wait, the e-mail was not addressed to us by name, maybe it was a bulk e-mail and I shouldn’t worry? Oh no, it was probably a bulk e-mail to all rejected legacies, but wait, it says “likely to be disappointing”. Maybe it won’t be disappointing? Such a strange e-mail. Why don’t they just come out and say, we’re sorry but your child was not accepted?</p>
<p>I read the email a few times the line that stands out to me is that it says you are able to PREVIEW the decision.? And they are available tomorrow the 9 and again on the 10 and 11 to speak to you. So I took this to mean that your decision is already for you to read.</p>
<p>goodchoices, hope for the best, but I can’t even imagine your husband’s feelings if your child is not admitted. Can’t even imagine.</p>
<p>OH yes, and should I mention that my husband is an alumni interviewer for candidates in our local area…</p>
<p>If it makes you feel any better, we had a tour guide at SPS who was a multi-generation legacy and got in off the wait list.</p>
<p>goodchoices, are you applying for FA? Based on what you said, this “likely disappointing” decision is really a head scratcher to me.</p>
<p>That is a REALLY weird letter. If they’re going to the trouble to send an email, why not just email the news? And the impersonal nature of the the whole thing bugs me too, especially given that your husband does alumni interviews. How many parents could there be in this scenario? Why not just call in the first place?</p>
<p>We got a call on March 9 last year, by the way. So keep those phones disconnected! I feel for you all–here’s hoping there’s a school out there that loves each and every one of your children. :)</p>
<p>Agree with DAndrew, this is a tough one to fathom. I am thinking maybe it will be a waitlist - perhaps they are uncertain whether they are your child’s first choice. Waitlist is an effective tool to protect a list of students you might really want, but are unsure if they will accept.</p>
<p>HI Everyone,</p>
<p>thanks for all of your kind words and support.</p>
<p>We are a FP family, so FA would not enter into the equation of whether or not our child was accepted. </p>
<p>The waitlist scenario occurred to me last night as well. I suppose it’s the best we can hope for right now, and that at least will be less devastating to our child than an outright rejection. I do agree with all of you, it is a very strange e-mail and an impersonal way to notify a legacy family. I will know more later today and will let you know what we find out.</p>
<p>Good luck, goodchoices and child.</p>
<p>Goodchoices, maybe the email WAS sent to all legacies. It sounds very generic. Even if being a legacy increases the odds slightly, I’m sure they are still turning away more than half of the kids in that applicant pool. If they accept around 15% of the general pool, maybe they accept 25% of the legacy pool (making a random guess at the point boost), which means that 75% of legacies will get rejected. I wouldn’t cross this school off the list for your dc yet.</p>
<p>Rellie - See you what you are saying, but if that is the case that DOA’s head needs to be examined.</p>
<p>LOL! Madaket, I was looking for the loophole!</p>
<p>The glass is 1/4 full…?</p>
<p>Thanks, but I do think the news will not be good. I believe that the agreement the 10 schools adhere to prohibits early notification of acceptances to all applicants. I think there is an exception that allows early notification of rejections or wait listing to legacies. That would mean that any early notice by definition would be “disappointing”. UGH!!!</p>
<p>Having received the courtesy rejection phone calls a few years back with my older son, I feel your pain, goodchoices – and at least I knew for sure what was happening. Do you plan on calling them today? When this happened to us, the schools (both of us parents went to HADES schools – though we are not active alums and don’t give much money) were willing to talk at some length about why they did not accept our kid, and that information was really helpful in getting him off a waitlist at another school (and, happy ending, he had a great high school experience and is happy in college now – things do have a way of working out). We’re hoping that no news is good news this year, but still jumping every time phone rings.</p>
<p>I spoke with DOA this afternoon. Our child has been wait listed, but is sufficiently far down the wait list that admittance is not likely. According to DOA nothing glaring on application, just other kids stronger. </p>
<p>So, not only are legacies not automatically “in”, but strong legacy candidates (SSAT, GPA, ECs) can be passed over for candidates with no connection to the school. </p>
<p>I am trying not to be upset about this, but it does rub me the wrong way. I wonder if any of the kids my husband interviewed were admitted? Scratches head and walks away…</p>
<p>So sorry to hear that goodchoices. Feels like a kick in the teeth after all you’ve done for the school, doesn’t it? Hopefully tomorrow will bring good news from other places. It sounds like your child’s a strong student who deserves some fat envelopes.</p>
<p>Please let us know how things turn out tomorrow. What a frustrating and puzzling response from the school. One of those times where you just have to shake your head and think there must be a reason why your kid wasn’t meant to go down that particular path…sending lots of good wishes your way for tomorrow!</p>