Recently, boarding school admission decisions came out to everyone’s pleasure or to some with displeasure. Decision time is always one filled with expectation and high anxiety. There is no getting around it – students have put in an inordinate amount of time, focus and energy completing applications, prepping for tests and interviews, visiting schools and all the other tasks associated in the process.
For many, the hard work paid off with admission to their favorite school(s). For others, they were not so lucky. Sometimes it is a hard decision to determine how to move forward. It is important to understand options and what needs to be done.
- Accepted – Fantastic and Congratulations, unless you have been admitted to several schools you love. If this is the case, then you need to go back to your research (hopefully it was thorough). Some schools offer Revisit Days that provide the opportunity to go spend a day or two on campus.
- Some schools are in town the next few weeks meeting accepted students and families. These are important events and even if you know which school you are going to and they are having an event – Go! It is a great chance to meet potential classmates and their families.
- It is really, really important that you reply to all of your schools. You can only attend one school, so let them know that you are coming and write them a nice Thank You note.
- It is also important to let other schools know you are NOT coming. Decline those offers immediately. This helps schools manage their enrollment and helps them sort out finalizing their class. It also helps them manage their WL – see below.
- Waitlisted (WL) – This is the most complicated and the one that takes the most thought. Basically and typically, this means that the school really liked you but they just don’t have space for you. So they put you on the WL until there is a space available. Now, it is important to note that a space may never become available. Usually, you will need to wait until after the official reply date to learn if you have been selected to come off and be offered a space. In this case, it is IMPORTANT that you deposit at your next favorite school by the deadline.
- Since this is complicated let’s consider a few scenarios:
- Accepted to a “good” school, but Wait Listed at your top school:
- Deposit and wait. If you come off the WL, then you will have a decision to make – go to the school you deposited with or lose the deposit and go to your favorite school!
- Accepted to a good school, but WL at several favorites:
- Basically the same response except that you can ask to stay on the WL at all or some of the schools. Since you have no idea if you will come off the WL, it is best to keep potential options. BUT there is a caveat – some schools may reach out to you or your consultant during the WL period to see about your intent to accept an offer. This you need to be very careful with. You want to be honest, because if this is the case, there is a good chance you will be admitted. They are looking at cleaning up the WL and filling the class. This is not a time to be playing games.
- WL at all your schools:
- Best procedure would be to stay on the WL at all the schools. Hopefully, you did all the right research and there aren’t any schools that you would not want to go to. That is a waste of everyone’s time and energy. So, if your list is good – stay on the WL.
- It is a good idea to go back to your research and prioritize your list. Reach out to your top choices and let them know you are still very much interested in applying. Update them on anything interesting since you applied.
- Denied – it is hard being rejected. It is important to remember this is not a personal attack. Most schools have more applicants than spaces. They cannot accept every student. It is just a fact of the admission process. It hurts especially if you placed too much expectation on being admitted.
- Denied at all your schools – this is the most unfortunate. Once the reply deadline is past, schools that still have spaces start reaching out to consultants about space available. What we don’t know is what space is available. Often they are looking for specific kinds of kids to fill spaces – one girl or one boy. Often, they have met their numbers for Chinese students and it is often the case that while there is space, it is not for a specific designation.
- One point – if you didn’t get into your top choice, there is no real point in complaining to the school. Sure, you’re mad but not much you can do about it. Get upset, look at what you do have and move forward. They have spent hours and hours in the decision-making process. While they may give a bland explanation as to why they didn’t admit you, there are many reasons why you weren’t admitted. It is important to note that you will be fine.
- Accepted to a “good” school, but Wait Listed at your top school:
- Since this is complicated let’s consider a few scenarios:
Yes, this is a lot of information and for the university-bound who read this blog, be aware that the same information applies to you as well. I am hoping everyone got what they wanted, but if you didn’t you now have a plan.
Photo: TeroVesalainen via Pixabay
