No, Choatie, there is no way to ensure anything at all!
My point is that not all “Tiger Moms” are trying to get their kids into HYP; some of the overparenting reflects anxiety about new trends in downward mobility.
By the way, I am not advocating over-parenting (who would?), I just think people neglect to discuss the elephant in the room when the topic comes up.
@CLNMOM, I can relate to your sentiments about the wait list. It isn’t easy receiving rejection of any kind; but this type of rejection can be especially jarring. I recommend the following book, Don’t Take It Personally!: The Art of Dealing with Rejection.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0595255752?ie=UTF8&tag=rrulecom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0595255752
I wish you the best.
ClinMom, Sounds like a satisfactory outcome.
@CLNMOM Hugs from me. My daughter was also wait-listed at her dream day school (the only place she applied that year) and we were definitely expecting an acceptance. She applied to boarding schools the following year as a sophomore, and was wait-listed everywhere. Luckily, her dream school found a spot for her right before revisits, but the process was brutal for all involved. However, like so many kids, she ended up at the perfect school for her, and she has had an amazing 3 years there. I am sure most of her teachers would be shocked to know she was wait listed at first. Now her college decisions are rolling in - the first 2 were deferrals! What can you do? I just told her that seems to be how she rolls and we had a small laugh about it, although she is also still pining for her ED school. She has had some acceptances too since then which took the pressure off. So if nothing else, this deferral is good practice for March 10 and all the “March 10s” to follow - the first one stings the most. The best way to acquire grit regardless of your age, is to forge through somewhat crappy experiences like these. By the time college applications come around, your son will be an old pro and much more capable of forging on than the students who are going through the process for the very first time. Fingers crossed for everyone on March 10, and for the class of 2016 parents as well.
Thank you chemmchimney! Love your words of wisdom. Thanks for sharing your post. Good luck to your daughter’s college admissions!
DS school has an 8th grade breakfast in February - kind of to celebrate that applications are done. Small private school where almost all kids apply to private HS. Several end up attending LPS, but most go through the process.