Applying to a private school in LA can be one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking experiences for a family. The admission process is often filled with questions and uncertainty that can be difficult and incredibly stressful. After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll need to wait until a specific day before you receive any word from the school. You may think the decision is the easiest part of the process, but actually, it can be the most challenging. When you get an admission decision, you will find that it contains three potential responses—accept, deny, or waitpool.
Here’s what these school responses mean when applying to a private school in LA and how they impact your child's future education:
Acceptance
If your child has been accepted into a private school, then congratulations! This means that the admissions committee believes your child will be a great addition to their student body and community. The acceptance package should include all necessary information about the terms of enrollment at the school as well as any additional requirements such as immunization records. Make sure to read through all documents carefully before signing and returning them to the school. Submit your contract by the due date. If you get multiple offers of admission, it is considered good “admission etiquette” to release spaces at schools you are not going to attend as soon as you can so that those spaces can be offered to students in the waitpool. BE SURE TO LOCK IN YOUR SPACE AT THE SCHOOL YOU DESIRE BY SIGNING THE CONTRACT AND SUBMITTING THE PAYMENT BEFORE YOU TELL OTHER SCHOOLS THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO ATTEND.
Denial
A denial letter means that unfortunately, your child was not accepted into the private school of their choice this year. This does not have to be seen as a failure; there are many factors beyond academics that go into an admissions decision at private schools such as space availability. It is important to remember that this is just one step in your child’s educational journey and there are many other opportunities out there for them to explore.
Wait Pool
If you receive a wait pool notification it means that while your child has not been officially accepted yet, they are still being considered by the admissions committee for entry into their program in case seats become available. If you receive notice that you can be in the waitpool and you are interested in the school, you should let them know immediately that you want to be considered when spaces become available. Typically wait pools have a lot of activity in the first week when families are deciding which offers to take. If you do receive an offer of admission from a wait pool make sure to act quickly as those offers tend to expire soon after they are issued due to high demand for those available spots. You will have the option to remain in the waitpool until school begins in the Fall or until you decide you no longer want to be there. If/when you make other plans for your child’s education, you should let the school know.
The three possible outcomes of any admission decision when applying to a private school in LA - acceptance, denial or waitpool can leave you feeling anxious and stressed. But remember, you are not alone in this process. Lisa Marfisi is here to help you make the best decision for your future. Whether you need help deciding between acceptance offers or how to manage a waitpool decision, Lisa is experienced in all of these situations and can provide guidance. Contact her today for more information about how she can help you get into the school of your dreams.
Comments