<p>The final tally is in and my dear sweet girl has been waitlisted at nine (NINE) schools. Denied at SPS, Westminster and Andover, waitlisted EVERYWHERE else.</p>
<p>The Loomis letter says that they place less than 10 for each category (boarding, grade, gender, etc) so I guess we should move on that?</p>
<p>But how realistic is it to expect movement from the WL for a FA candidate?</p>
<p>Are there any schools that would consider her at this date given her inability to pay?</p>
<p>PMs are welcomed, but I'd prefer the "send email" since my CC box fills up quickly. Just be aware that I would see your real email address if you do that.</p>
<p>Thank you, everyone, for your support through this. I have received many phone calls and messages and I appreciate every one of them, even if I don't respond right away. I suppose the real fight is just beginning...and I will fight for this girl. If anyone would take full advantage of BS, it's my girl.</p>
<p>Neato, I’m sure you will get a lot of responses & suggestions. Since we are new to this & not applying this year, I am not much of a resource, but I know there are those that are. Good luck to you & your daughter. I’m thinking of you.</p>
<p>Not sure I can be useful, but wanted to say I know how your mom-heart must be aching for your sweetie. She’s obviously a strong candidate, with awesome family support. I’m sure you’ve already seen the link posted (Thursday or Friday?) to BSs with rolling admissions. Would you/she consider an all girls school? I’ve heard wonderful things (including FA) about Westtover, I think it’s in CT. </p>
<p>I’ll keep thinking, I’m wishing you and yours the best.</p>
<p>Neato, maybe you could take a look at some of the schools with rolling admissions too. Exie started the thread and NMH and Governor’s (both, I think are great) have rolling admissions policies. This isn’t the end, and if this is your daughter’s dream then keep trying. I am thinking of you and you daughter. My prayers are with you also. :)</p>
<p>@Neato,You all clearly did your homework w/9 schools on your list. Many of your posts have been most helpful to me and I’m sure many other CCers. I hope a spot opens up for burrito child.
You have lots of friends rooting for you. Good luck</p>
<p>(((Neato))) I am not sure what one can do to move on a WL, but I’d definitely recommend that you pursue as many leads as you can. Your dc is a terrific candidate.</p>
<p>Well this sucks. I was hoping for great news from you. Do you mind letting us know which schools waitlisted her? I don’t want to suggest schools that you have already applied to. But I know of others, in past years, who have called after 3/10 and found schools that would embrace their child. I mean, a school might have a waitlist, but if your daughter inquired, and they were interested, why couldn’t they bump her to the top of their waitlist. Not every kid accepted with lots of FA is going to attend. Yes, they over extend FA, knowing that everyone won’t accept, but at the end of the day, there will be money NOT spent.<br>
What about Mercersburg? Or Emma Willard?</p>
<p>neato, I was WL from some of my top choices as well but accepted at one of the HADES schools… It’s all just odds, as my dad puts it. Your daughter is most likely just as qualified to be going to any of these schools as the people accepted. As I said, I was waitlisted from my top choices, and I need almost full financial aid, but do NOT let that discourage you. Continue staying in touch with coaches if your daughter is an athlete (I did so during the application process, and its not like im amazing at any sport, it’s just a door in) and also send a written letter expressing how the school remains your number one choice. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Sorry this happened to your very qualified daughter.<br>
Since there are so many waitlists, I hope at least one will still come through. She should stay in touch with the schools, updating them with any prizes, awards, etc. If she has a #1 choice, she should let that school know that she will attend if offered admission.
If you decide to do this next year, you might consider going south again. Applications from your state are not as common in the Mid-Atlantic. I realize that you want something closer to home and to your son, but she needs some additional things that will make her application stand out.
In the meantime, start calling schools that have rolling admissions and in which your daughter’s application would be at the top 10% or less of matriculated students. There are many schools that still take late applicants but do not advertise that they do. Usually I suggest to fa candidates that they should be in the top 25% or less, but it is late in game, so she really needs to stand out.
Of course, I hope one of the waitlists will open for her.
When we were going through the college process, someone I know who is friendly with a very well regarded educational consultant told me that there was a best time to send these letters and updates. Perhaps someone on this board more familiar with the admission process might know what the best timing is.
I wish your daughter some good luck!</p>
<p>Someone else on this board suggested Jr. boarding schools to another applicant without any firm options. We never looked at these, but my impression is that they don’t fill up right away. They also do a great job counseling their 9th graders about boarding schools. These schools are feeder schools, so I think many boarding schools pay attention to their recommendations. They send applicants in good times and in bad. You might also consider more girls’ schools that can offer a fine education, but just aren’t popular right now.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the many suggestions, either on here or via email. Tomorrow, I just plan on recuperating from the time change and starting to pull together a plan of action.</p>
<p>So sorry to hear this Neato, I second the advice to look at all girls schools- there are some great ones out there who still seem to always have openings in the spring.</p>
<p>Please keep in mind that most of the people who remain on this board have had successful placements. As a result, you don’t have full access to war stories. </p>
<p>I’m glad that you are bouncing back, and I hope that something will come through for your daughter.</p>
<p>When I was reading the college boards, I learned that, to be conservative, colleges use endowment income on a rolling 3-year or 5-year average. I assume that boarding schools use the same formula. This means that schools using the 3-year average are using income from 2008-2010, a difficult time. Also, it is not unusual for schools to borrow from endowment. You have to dig into their financial statement to find debt servicing.</p>
<p>I am sending good thoughts your daughter’s way, and I hope something will open up for her!</p>
<p>Don’t give up on the WLs. DC has a friend who was admitted to PA, PEA and Choate and waitlisted at two schools which admitted my DC, who didn’t even bother applying to any of the three schools to which the friend was admitted. We’re sure it was because of the Tufts effect- the WL schools knew our DC child would seriously consider them but friend would not attend unless turned down elsewhere. A WLing allows the school to snap up a great student in the second round. Let the schools know you’re still very much interested and you may get good news.</p>
<p>May I also suggest you have your head of school, principal or whoever does secondary school placement call the schools that denied your DC to find out the reason? It may be something that can be fixed with the WL schools in order to make your DC more attractive to them. IOW, if there was one bad letter of rec. or a perceived hole in the resume the head of school may be able to offer information that would smooth over that rough patch in the application.</p>
<p>What about an arts boarding school, like Interlochen or Walnut Hill or Idyllwild? They have writing programs and arts programs and comparative arts programs, as well as good academic. Plus, I am pretty sure all three have rolling admission. Not sure how much FA will be available, but it is worth a try.</p>
<p>Remember the parent who said that Westtown was down this year for apps? Might be worth pursuing, especially if you like the Quaker education philosophy.</p>
and starting to pull together a plan of action.</p>