Getting back to “the freaking out has started in our house”: I am trying to NOT have that freaking out occur. So far, things are the normal level of craziness. DD is glad to know she has a great fall back school already and will be challenged and appreciated. Would it be obnoxious to tell her how most people(teachers/administrators, etc.) have told me how they really feel about her situation? That if she does not get into the BS of her dreams it would be the school’s loss? I want her to feel confident, but not big headed, disappointed, but not devastated. Advice?
As for now, we are so busy with our lives, the subject hardly comes up. But it will…soon!
I feel like I’m the only one that’s freaking out in my house. My sister just tells me to “Chill, you got a 99.” Every time I try to convince her that the SSAT is a very trivial part of the process, she just rolls her eyes and shoos me away. Ugh.
Personally I think remaining cautious is a good idea, keep both feet on the floor. But telling her how proud you are for pursuing this? Tell her that constantly! Regardless of the outcome, keep the pursuit. It’s the secret to greatness… you too Mathman. I’m impressed.
Thank you so much, jdewey!
Your are right, jdewey. Thanks for your input.
We are not freaking out just hopeful and in need of a solution. K1 and K2 have applied to 8 schools each.
We met with K2’s upper school academic dean on Thursday to plan for next year. It was clear we are at the end of the road with this school. There is no joy and we cannot imagine four years of pain into high school.
We were told that math and science are tracked and we asked to what extent they look at the racial and social make up of the students in each track. In a total non-answer we were told that the AP Calculus class has no Black students in it. If I were running the place I might want to figure out WHY that is the case. This isn’t just a concern for Black families but for all of us.
It is another data point that it is time for K2 to go.
S’94
Much to her dismay, we have managed to rope our house sitter into the process of freaking out. March 10th falls over spring break for beardlings (who happen to be twin boys to early thread points). We will be out of country, trying to restore some heat to our bodies. Beardlings only ended up applying to 4 schools, but all have various notification methods, including SAS, which I understand has no online or email notification system at all. Hence, house sitter is now sweating the mail retrieval during the week she will be staying to watch our dogs. I think she might be more nervous than we are!
Twin boys - are you concerned at the possibility of one beng accepted, but not the other? Do they perform very similarly academically? Do you think that affects their chances of admission - or would FA be more of a barrier? Also, Blackbeard - do you have other kids already at BS? (apologies for the barrage of questions)
@Britmom5 - We have communicated to the schools that the boys are a packaged deal. This is less of a parental choice, in large part driven by the fact that they are close to each other and do not want to separate yet. I have no expertise in the relative impact of making this part of the process, but we have been told by AOs and other folks who seem to have reasonable experience, that on balance admitting twins is a bit of a wash in terms of chances. On the one hand, you are demanding two slots instead of one, which is of course a bigger “ask.” On the other hand, schools tend to like the community effects of having some twins and siblings as part of their classes. I have no idea what to think, and am not over worrying the question. I do think needing substantial financial aid would compound the problem, as it is a further resource allocation issue.
We are fortunate that the boys have extraordinarily comparable credentials. I think their SSAT scores differed by 2% overall, and their GPAs are within a tenth of each other. Interestingly, they are very different little beasts, with different interests and personalities. However, they are largely flying at the same altitude overall.
We do not have other children, so obviously no other kids in BS. Both my wife and I went to BS ourselves, but this was in the Paleozoic era, so I am not sure of its relevance.
Are they applying to the schools you and mrs blackbeard attended?
Mrs Blackbeard - it’s funny even thinking about that as a reference. Anyway, they are applying to the school I attended, but not to the Mrs. Blackbeard school.
Hope the legacy helps! Good luck to both of them, and to you through the process!
@Blackbeard I have a friend with twins who applied to BS a few years back. It sounds like your situation is similar in terms of “comparable credentials” and the desire to have both attend the same school. They did quite well, and had 2 or 3 acceptances for both twins which overlapped. However, at revisit day, they decided to go their separate ways, which was a bit of a shock to my friend! I think that by the time Spring rolled around and they had a more concrete idea of what the next 4 years would bring, they felt comfortable splitting up. My sense is that this was a heartbreaker for the parents at first, but that it has worked out quite well for the kids (both are seniors now). So, prepare thyself! (say that with a pirate accent!)
@GMC2918 Interesting anecdote. I think I can honestly say that neither I nor Mrs. Blackbeard have as strong of abias for the kids staying together as they seem to themselves. However, anything is possible. When one of your children grows a foot in 18 months, a lot of other changes go with it, so I have gotten out of the business of certain predictions. I will be interested to see if, despite the communications to date, any schools admit one and not the other. I am told this is unlikely, but am curious to see if it turns out to be joint rejection and acceptance at all four.
Time will tell for all applicants. I feel like our kids have learned a lot about themselves in the process, and hope they end up having choices, but I would be lying if I didn’t confess that a big part of me would be happy to have them stay home for a few more years…
are they identical? you said one has grown a foot?
@Britmom5 They are fraternal, and have hit their teen growth strides at different times, which creates a funny dynamic. Two years ago, they were both about 4’9". Now one is 5’11" and the other one is 5’4". They are definitely a funny pair.
What fun, Blackbeard. Twins are indeed a blessing
We have been pretty calm throughout this process. Until today. Hubby traveling, kids are back to school after break and house is eerily quiet…just enough for me to start getting jumpy and nervous about M10.
My mom wanted twins until my (older) brother was born and she realized how “incompetent [she] was as a parent.” 
I find my incompetence can be applied to any number of children. 