Wait List for Pre-First (Buckhead: private schools, stats, moving)

[NNS1978]

I was curious if anyone has started hearing from any of the private schools regarding children moving off the wait lists for Pre-First. Our child was admitted to two private schools and wait listed at another two. We feel fortunate to have a good option for next year but really love one of the schools where our child was wait listed. Does anyone have any experience with the timing for moving off of the wait list? Will there typically be any movement before the registration deadline? Anyone know how many children tend to move off of the wait lists at schools other than Westminster (I saw those stats on another recent post)?

[AtlJan]

In my experience most of the movement happens at the very end of the response period--and yes there is movement. It's very important to tell your first choice school that you very much want to attend. Then read the contract carefully for your plan B school and accept there and pay the deposit on the last day of the response. You can stay on the wait list at the first choice school but you may be liable for the tuition at the one you'be already accepted at if you get in off the wait list for the #1. Some people think that's worth it, a lot of people just drop off the wait list and start making friends at the school they got in first go-round. Glad you have some good options. It is hard to go wrong. We have so many great schools.

[NNS1978]

Thanks for your input! It is encouraging to hear that there is often movement from the wait list. As soon as we learned that our child was wait listed at our first school choice, we reached out and let the school know that they remained our first choice, and we would be willing to commit immediately if we were able to move off the wait list. We think we could be happy at either of the schools were our child was admitted and but are still crossing our fingers that we could have a shot to move off of the wait list. I think we will touch base with our first choice of schools this week to see if they can tell us anything further, but my guess is that they know much until the deadline passes, and I have to lose my deposit in order to make a change in schools.

[snsh5713]

The deposits are pretty substantial, almost 3-5000 dollars and it seems that not only would you lose the deposit but would also be liable for the full year tuition amount. You may want to double check very carefully. The enrollment contracts can be a little confusing

[LovelySummer]

More than that. I know firsthand that one of the Buckhead privates has a deposit of 6k. Not an exaggeration.

Originally Posted by snsh5713

The deposits are pretty substantial, almost 3-5000 dollars and it seems that not only would you lose the deposit but would also be liable for the full year tuition amount. You may want to double check very carefully. The enrollment contracts can be a little confusing

[NNS1978]

Thanks for the input! We have reviewed the school contracts where our child was accepted and are willing to forfeit the deposit if it means getting in our first choice of schools. We are fortunate to be able to have these options and are just hoping that we will hear something from the wait list later this week or early next week. The whole process can't be over soon enough!