<p>We found it a draining experience to be on waitlists. If your child has any acceptances, I would urge you to focus on those schools. </p>
<p>The most selective schools, particularly the schools which meet all need, have rarely needed to turn to their waitlists. I know that’s not a popular opinion, but I’ll stand by it. If they turn to the waitlist, it may be to fill an identified institutional need–the baseball pitcher decided to stay home, or the hockey goalie chose a rival school. Thus, there is no predicting who might get the call, even if they turn to the waitlist.</p>
<p>If your family does not need financial aid, there are still options. At the end of April or beginning of May, the SSAT will post the “SCCA” list (Schools Currently Considering Applications). It might be a good idea to hire an educational consultant who specializes in boarding schools, as she might know which schools would welcome an application from a well-matched, full-pay candidate, even if they aren’t willing to post a public notice.</p>
<p>If your family needs financial aid, it is much more difficult, as most financial aid is given out in the first round. A few schools might be able to meet need, but I assume those schools have long waitlists.</p>
<p>I am an applicant, but haven’t been able to find an answer to my question, so I thought I’d try here. Is it possible to be taken of the wait list before April 10th? Because I have been accepted to other schools and would need to make a decision.</p>
<p>It does happen - but the chance would be pretty small, especially depending on the school.</p>
<p>“Love The School That Loves You!” The schools that have accepted you are saying in effect: we value what you have to bring to our school, and we recognize that you would be a great addition to our community.</p>
<p>Look very carefully at the schools where you received acceptance. If the school that waitlisted you had instead given you a flat denial, how would you be proceeding?</p>
<p>Helloel, looking at your recent posts, congratulations!! </p>
<p>Sometimes schools go to wait lists before April 10th, but it’s unusual.</p>
<p>My advice? Take the acceptances you have in hand. Don’t look back.</p>
<p>My son was accepted at Lawrence but wait listed at Cambridge School of Weston (which is much lower in the rankings). Everyone from our private school always gets into CSW - and I know other people who got into this school with lower scores and not as much extra curriculars as my son. Our interview went great and the interviewer told me he thought my son would be a perfect fit for their school. So why the waitlist?? We wanted at least to consider more than one school as my son is not sure where he wanted to go. I called CSW and will talk with admissions if they ever get back to me. Any ideas? Advice?? I am just blown away, frankly…
He was waitlisted at Concord too, but that I expected…</p>
<p>As it’s been discussed on this forum, sometimes a waitlist has to do with “yield management.” If the school that waitlisted your son had a very strong impression that he would not attend there, then it was possible they did not offer him acceptance because they felt they weren’t a serious contender.</p>
<p>I know it’s hard not to take it personally - but don’t. It is not a reflection of your son’s abilities or accomplishments. If you really, truly want to consider attending the school, call them and let them know that - it’s possible that your son would have a good possibility to move off the waitlist. But if he’s really not interested in attending, and has already been accepted at a school that you consider a better option, then I would just let it go.</p>
<p>Thanks mountainhiker and Periwinkle!</p>
<p>I thought it unlikely that I would be taken of the wait list anyway. It seems to be the same as rejection at top schools.</p>
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<p>@Madge - it is awfully hard to judge why someone got in and someone else did not because their stats were perceived as lower. Admissions is about so much more than what is on paper. There is gut feel, family or student information not readily visible to outside observers, having the right person put in a good word, a nuance on an essay, etc. My husband has seen families angry that someone with lower stats might have been admitted to a college but don’t know that their child wrote something in the essay to “hint” they didn’t want to be at the school - all the while smiling and giving opposite impression to the parents. We’ve both read recommendations from teachers that expressed doubts about a student or included an insurmountable negative. It could just be that the one hobby student A had on his list resonated with the committee in a way the others did not. </p>
<p>I’ve also seen students load up on EC’s they don’t care about. One student recently told me he played an instrument then dropped it just to get it on his resume. I’ve seen fantastic enthusiastic students interview with a litany of activities they are passionate about -only the majority of other candidates had the same list and it didn’t stand out. </p>
<p>And sometimes - just sometimes - the kid did everything right and there just wasn’t enough space. Or they don’t want tons of kids from the same high school. You can never tell. But it is hurtful for students on this board who don’t share the same ubiquitous resumes but found a home to keep reading posts in which someone says “someone will less than (fill in the blanks)” got in and my kid didn’t. Those kids are just as deserving and go on to do amazing things.</p>