Waitlist and Deposits - Do you really have to lose deposits?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>So, April 10th-11th will be like NFL draft day, waiting for that call from the schools to see if you are off the waitlist.</p>

<p>As I understand the process, I have to commit a check to the school he has been accepted in and then wait for the call from the wait-listed school which may come in on April 9th, or 10th, or 11th, or June 28th etc. </p>

<p>How does this work? Do I really have to lose the $4k deposit even if I back out on April 10th or 11th? (I know I do if I bail in June...) </p>

<p>Anyone have experience with this process?</p>

<p>thanks.</p>

2

<p>I would expect schools to be tougher this year than previously about keeping deposits/enforcing contracts.</p>

3

<p>yeah, you have to lose it.
but it might be worth it if the school is great</p>

4

<p>[Big</a> City - A School That Costs $20,000 Not to Go To](<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/nyregion/23bigcity.html?_r=1&scp=43&sq=private%20school%20tuition%20contract%20-“special%20education”&st=cse]Big”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/nyregion/23bigcity.html?_r=1&scp=43&sq=private%20school%20tuition%20contract%20-“special%20education”&st=cse)</p>

<p>This article was published in May, 2008. The economy has changed in the past 11 months, and a school may not be able to fill a space from the waitlist.</p>

5

<p>There is a deposit that you put down, that you will forfeit if you choose to go to a school that took you off the waitlist (or move out country, decide to stay in public school, etc). Then there is the first or second payment (I always get confused if its the June or Aug) after which you commit to the school for the full tuition, even though you are not going to attend. There is not one school that is on any cc list, that will allow a child to matriculate if a family has committed to such an extent to another school. So you will lose a deposit, and a chance at school.</p>

6

<p>mhmm, you are saying that, if a student has committed to another school, there is a point beyond which a school which goes to its waitlist will not allow the child to matriculate? And yet, last year, a student decided to attend SPS, although she was 8 days away from the start of the school year at Taft. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/559859-help-i-dont-know-what-do.html#post1060930110[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/559859-help-i-dont-know-what-do.html#post1060930110&lt;/a&gt; Would that be a special case, because she had deep family connections to the school?</p>

7

<p>As I mentioned, I dont remember when that drop dead date is. It may be in Aug. not June. It is in a contract though. Also, this is a truly special case since, having numerous legacies/hooks/uncle building something on campus, the girl was waitlisted at that school. You also dont know if the parents paid the two tuitions. (Not unusual in cases of students leaving a day school for boarding, but wanting to hedge bets , since schools usually will allow a student to come back the following year without having to go through admission process. That system was designed to help parents in cases of being sent overseas for jobs, etc.)</p>

8

<p>Yes, you will lose the deposit. Part of the reason for the deposit is to make very sure that families are making a real commitment.</p>