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In New York City, the private school market is as competitive as ever. The quality of education is stellar. But to say admissions are limited would be an understatement. Moreover, all too many students tend to fall into the dreadful limbo-like state that is the wait list. And when that happens, all bets are off. There’s no easy fix to this type of scenario. But there are a few basic steps you can take to optimize your child’s chances. So if you are hoping to send your child to an NYC private school, but the school has waitlisted him or her, consider these facts and follow these tips for better results.
Apply To Multiple Schools
The grade school admissions process differs from that of universities in a fundamental way. Colleges tend to admit more people than they can take, under an assumption, based on past analytics, that a certain percentage of admitted students will end up going elsewhere. Grade schools on the other hand, from kindergarten through 12th grade, usually tend to accept only the number of students that they can take. So that means the acceptance pool is a lot smaller, which inherently makes it more competitive. That’s why your child should broaden his or her options as much as possible. There are plenty of great schools in New York. Make sure every one of them at least considers admitting your child. This way, if your child’s top pick ends up rejecting him or her, there’s always option two, three, or even fifteen.
Don’t Get Offended
It’s important to maintain a positive attitude. The fact that your child was waitlisted is the school’s way of saying that they would like to accept your child, but they simply were not able probably due to logistical reasons. There are certain variables in the admissions process that go beyond academic performance. For example, applicants with siblings who have already attended a school tend to take seniority over those who don’t. Additionally, applicants with parents who work as staff at the school take priority even over those with siblings attending the school. As you can see, between academic performance and family ties, your child likely has the deck stacked against him or her. But in all likelihood, it was nothing personal if they don’t take your kid.
Make Yourself Known
Keep in mind that your child is not the only person who has been waitlisted. A lot of parents will consider this a rejection and move on to the next school. That’s not necessarily a bad decision, but it all depends on how important this school is to you and your child. It never hurts to express your continued interest after having found out that the school has placed your child on the waitlist. Believe it or not, there’s something to be said for actually wanting more than the others. It also just plants a seed that has a higher likelihood of growing than you think. Simply making a few phone calls, or even making some physical appearances will put most people at the front of the line.
Want to maximize your child’s chances of getting into one of the best private schools in the city? Big Apple Tutoring’s private tutoring NYC services can help. Give our office a call to learn more about what we can do for your child by calling 212-479-0830.
