@flywithwind, my kids might see your daughter in the fall. Congrats to your daughter !
@mama Paradox thanks a lot! See your kid there. It is very unexpected, now she has to take the placement test and choose courses which she has done with our public school
So happy for you and your child.
Just heard that Wlbraham and Monson still has a few openings for the fall, including 7th and 8th grade. (I did not even realize they took middle school boarders, @buuzn03 , in case you are interested.)
Just wonderingâŠhas anyone received waitlist closing emails?
@Totorocinnamon03 I have not yet
Did anyone get a waitlist closing email from Choate? I read on their website that they usually send out that email by the end of JuneâŠ
@flywithwind, make sure you check The Hive website at your daughters school. It has so much information.
Thanks a lot for the tip, I will look into it.
@flywithwind,are you going to A/E football game? Probably our daughters already know each other even though there are in different grades.
Since I probably wonât be here on M10⊠itâs never too early to get battle ready, so letâs get all those possible and very unpleasant M10 scenarios out of the way now! Yay!! Ready?
What to do if you get waitlisted at your first choice school :
Hereâs the drill :
If you receive a WL decision from your first choice school and an acceptance from another school- the steps are pretty simple:
-
Accept a place on the WL via email with Delivery and Read Receipts.
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Schedule a Revisit Day and put the WL school OUT OF YOUR MIND for now. Go to Revisit Day and have a great time.
Youâll have one month for the WL to shakeout and to make a decision about the other school . If you want to go the distance with the WL school ( WITHOUT jeopardizing the other school ) youâll have until A9. On A8 have your PARENT call the WL school and ask to speak to the DOA. Tell WL school that you have to act on an acceptance from another school before the deadline but youâd like to check WL status ( one last time ) before you do. If they tell you that theyâre NOT going to the WL or they donât expect much movement- thank them and have them remove your name from the WL.
Itâs time to MOVE ON unless you choose to stay on the WL. If WL school miraculously does come through ( after A10 ) youâll have to break your commitment with the other school and forfeit your deposit (which is NOT a mere bag of shells, by the way ) . Personally, I could never take this route because Iâm waaay too frugal and I like closure .
Iâm also big on keeping commitments- but thatâs just me. So- now weâre one or two days away from the deadlineâŠ
- Now that youâve given the WL time to play out ( and you can walkaway and never wonder because youâve seen it through to the end⊠) : Have your parent call the school ( youâll be attending ) and tell them the deposit check is on itâs way via FedEx.
THE END. LOVE THE SCHOOL THAT LOVES YOU. PERIOD.
Now, If youâre handed all Waitlists without any acceptances ⊠Hereâs basically what you need to know :
Unfortunately, all you can do is remain calm. Out of the gate, I highly recommend that a WL student sends an email to all the school (s) just as I outlined in Step One above. Then the waiting truly begins because the AOs are completely focused on accepted students and Revisit Days until A10.
Yes, a waitlist parent can call an AO M10-A10 to echo what was said in their childâs WL email, or to get a WL status update, but just remember where the AO focus is ( as cruel as that sounds- Iâm so sorry! ), and please remember that all interaction between you and the AO truly matters. IMHO- itâs better to remain cool, upbeat and patient at all times . Persistence ( aka stalking ) has worked out well according for some persistent parents⊠but it has also backfired miserably on numerous parents , too. Everyone operates differently and Iâm not here to tell anyone what to do⊠just do what feels best and works well for your family.
If I had to pick two days for a WL parent to call ( after the M10 student email accepting a place on the WL ) , I would pick the day after their last scheduled revisit day ( see school website ) and A11- the day after contracts/ deposits are due⊠but thatâs just me. I think itâs perfectly fine to call anytime before or on A9, too. Just NOT on A10⊠because itâs absolutely nuts in every BS AO office that day.
*** THIS IS IMPORTANT *** Before and after A10, youâll hear about some WL movement here on CC. Youâll also see discouraging posts saying that your school has closed their WL. Please DISREGARD these posts unless youâve received the SAME letter, email, or you were told the same information over the phone by the AO. You may not be receiving the same information for a good reason.
Most schools send out a blanket notification to all families when they officially close their WL⊠While some ( forgive me ) will leave you languishing in the desert forever.
FWIW- even though itâs rare, some Waitlist movement can happen before school begins in late August / early September. Movement can also occur in July, too ⊠because thatâs when the big money is due, but please donât hang your hat on it. Life intervenes, plans change and spots at BSs do open up, but sadly itâs still very rare to be offered a spot .
The best WL advice that Iâve heard during M10-A10 ( and beyond ) is to keep an open heart, keep doing all the things you love , and keep moving forward . If you need to pause and vent- there are plenty of veterans ( parents and students ) that are here for you⊠many who have experienced exactly what youâre going though and could give much better WL advice than I can. So definitely reach out if you need to - even if itâs for a lousy cyber hug.
Also important: You may need a Plan BâŠ
If you get completely shutout on M10 and BS enrollment for next fall is an absolute must either because you donât have a viable school option at home, or your child just really, really, really, really wants to go ( which happens more often than most people think ⊠) ⊠I recommend researching schools with forgiving admission rates and compiling a list with DOA phone numbers attached NOW. Also- maybe look at some single sex schools so youâll be ready to act quickly ( if you need to ) just before or soon after A10.
Tip: You wonât be alone. I know many families who were unsuccessful with their Hail Mary placement efforts post A10 - mainly because they clung to a stupid Waitlist too long instead of contacting other schools- so donât delay! Just do it and donât look back. You never know- the Post A10 Hail Mary school might just be where you were meant to be all along. File it under: Sometimes things happen for a reason. 
Regardless of what your BS dreams are today - families ( who truly want or need BS placement for next year ) should have at least one " Plan B- What If⊠WL- Rejection- BS Zombie Apocalypse " conversation prior to M10 . Perhaps take some time to explore and discuss other possible- future BS options/ alternatives together⊠just in case the apocalypse comes . I know itâs very unpleasant , and you certainly donât want to dampen spirits right now, raise your blood pressure, or throw a wet blanket on good vibes leading up to M10, but IMHO, you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain by having a âwhat ifâ talk now ( while everything is calm ), and a Plan B ready to go just in case.
Wow- that was really unpleasant and long, but I hope it helps. All the best and good luck M10!! And Iâll definitely have my fingers crossed that you wonât need any of this!
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I look for this wonderful phrase every year, @PhotographerMom. Itâs one of the best and most memorable on CC. Thanks for resurrecting, and thanks for the definitive post which should be a one-comment permanently pinned replacement thread for these 127 pages as there is nothing more to add or say. 
Thanks, @ChoatieMom. I tryâŠ
Donât kill me, but I just want to add something to what I said above, and I promise it WILL be very long and exhausting like all my other posts. Seriously - at this point, it feels like Iâm leaving my Final Instructions in a Will⊠So hang in there with me, if you can!
For FA Families ( and FP families, too ) - I feel the need to pound this a little more because Iâve known families over the years ( both FA and FP ) who did implement a Plan B and were successful.
So- back to PLAN B for a very long-winded second :
Having a Plan B prior to M10 doesnât only apply to full pay students/ families. If you require ANY amount of aid ( including a full ride ), it would behoove you to have a Plan B in place, too!! FWIW- Many BSs donât always award all their FA just to award it on M10. Sometimes theyâd rather reserve some of it for when the right candidate or candidates come along. Sometimes a post A10- Hail Mary applicant can be âThe Oneâ theyâve been looking for all along and boom- that student is accepted post A10 with FA.
Maybe you cold call a BS ( not on your original list ) after A10, and they encourage you to apply because someone that very morning gave up their spot and FA, and there isnât a viable candidate/ app next in line⊠( not that they would EVER disclose that information to you ), but Iâm sure you can see how luck, determination, and timing ( see BS Gods ) can sometimes play a major role with late placement .
Post FA scenarios- especially the "Where have you been all my life - Youâre a perfect fit for us " admissions scenario is always considered fairly rare, but it can- and it does happen- sometimes more often than people think! Without getting anyoneâs hopes up too much- you just canât possibly know if this could be your ultimate outcome unless you try- Hence - Plan B!
First, everyone ( FP and FA ) needs a new and improved mindset: Regardless of your stellar mind-blowing stats and Carnegie Hall appearances ( I know⊠I know⊠) - I strongly suggest compiling a Plan B list of schools taken from the Top 25-50 - which should include some amazing iconic single sex schools. Heck- theyâre all pretty amazing and iconic! But be forewarned- these schools are also the top choice for many discerning top students and their families. Just know that before going in⊠theyâre quite popular and have a cult like following like Top Ten schools have , tooâŠ
Just not here on CC for whatever bizarre reason.
If you get unpleasant results on M10 just remember this : YOU chose schools that have the most unforgiving acceptance rates in the universe, but that fact doesnât make other schools in the Top 25-50 " less than" or somehow beneath you. Make sense? Trust me- you wonât be stooping or gracing schools that fall outside the Top Ten with your presence. If you want to move forward- you will need to change the failed mindset that led you to this very unholy place in the first place, and shop all these other wonderful schools outside the Top Ten with renewed spirit, confidence and ( just say it ) intelligence.
Okay- onward. Now that I got that out of my system one last time âŠ
If you do have an unfortunate outcome M10 and do call around to schools post A10, please do not talk to some random receptionist or AO who picks up the phone. A PARENT should always call and ask to speak directly to the Director of Admissions because only he or she will have the info you need . Simply ask them if theyâre open to receive a late application and if they are, get it off to them ASAP and follow up. As Iâve mentioned above- you wonât be the only family doing this. If youâre lucky and they invite you for an interview and tour after theyâve read your late app - MOVE MOUNTAINS and GO!! Like my caps? AOs usually donât extend invitations for an interview and tour Post A10 to anyone unless they like what they see on an app, so go and seal the deal!
SCHOOLS WITH ROLLING ADMISSIONS:
BSs with Rolling Admissions tend to change year to year, but you can find a list of schools on the SSAT website. Last year, there were some top notch schools on the list that I wouldâve sent my kids to in a heartbeat. Seriously- I almost fell off my chair when I saw some of the names on the list!! So definitely check it out now and continue to check the list as it gets updated throughout Spring.
Remember- this list changes year to year ( for a myriad of reasons which has NOTHING to do with quality, desirability, or the number of apps theyâve received prior to M10 ) and a school being on the RA list shouldnât negatively impact anyoneâs opinion of the school in any way, shape or form - unless youâre a total snob for whatever reason. Some schools on last yearâs list had ( and still have ) a 35% acceptance rate! IDK about you, but Iâve never sneezed at a 35% acceptance rate ⊠but Iâd still like to meet anyone who does- just so I know what that sounds like⊠. 
The Good News: Some amazing BSs also put themselves on Rolling Admissions because they know there are always quality latecomers ( like you! ) who missed the deadline for the last round and theyâre encouraging people to apply. They also know that some really great students and their families will get shutout on M10- and thereâs absolutely no shame associated with that because it happens all the time. If you see a school or two that you like on the RA list- apply and see what happens!! Even better- if youâre concerned about M10 today , and want to have an edge on other late applicants- call and see if theyâll accept an app now or before or after A9!! What do you have to lose?
More Good News : Whether you go down your own list and cold call schools in the Top 25-50, or take on schools from the SSAT RA List, it is possible to still find placement Post A10 and the school of your new dreams for next year- FA or FP. These schools are in the position to offer ANY student ( FP or FA ) a world class education. It may be more boutique than big box cattle call school, but you will never have to compromise on academic excellence, athletics, campus beauty and college placement. Itâs worth a shot.
So- please donât hesitate to put together a Plan B- especially if you NEED a school for next year. Based on my experience on CC during M10-A10 over waaay too many years , it could arguably be the best use of your time right now leading up to decisions. Do it now while everything is calm, because I can assure you that it wonât be calm later on if you receive all waitlists and rejections.
Well, I think thatâs finally it! My work here is done!
All the best to everyone and good luck on M10 !!
I want to see @PhotographerMom do her hilarious BS advice schtick on Comedy Central, donât you? Priceless, PMom.
For some reason, when I saw A10, I kept thinking of August not April 
@PhotographerMom, all I have been thinking today was âI wish, I knew a psychic!â ;)) After reading your post, that changed to, âwill I be like her when I grow up?!â (Read: after going through with this process and beyond)
Great points. Please, may I know of the rest of the holy grail list? 25-50 and the RA schools that are your favorites?(PM, possibly?)
??
I only read a few recent posts in this thread. If waitlisted, do not remove yourself from the waitlist unless you are certain that you have a better option & do not want to attend the school which waitlisted you.
Iâm already ready to dive into this thread
So, do I run every computer in the house checking decisons? Just kidding. Nerve wrecking.
WLs are part of the process. Donât get put off by them. Just hope for 1 good acceptance. Good Luck all!