< Return to Talk
07.11.08, 14:31 PM Preschool/Kids
32 replies
Please tell me if I am totally crazy here: December DD is already at an ongoing preK-8 but we are less than thrilled. Applying out for K. My list is probably unrealistic. Here it is: Brearly, Spence, Chapin, Dalton, HM. Am I dumb? 99 verbal, 98 performance so 98 overall ERB with great write up. Also had 99s on SB and OLSAT….I realize this info is not relevant to the private process but it tells me she is probably bright and a good test taker and should be in a better school. Non-connected. Caucasian family. Interesting jobs (so not typical lawyer/banker types) but certainly not diversity. Am I nuts? Just can’t see taking her out of current school for anything I’m not overwhelmingly in love with. Even though we’re not wild about current school. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
Preschool/Kids 07.11.08, 02:31 PM Flag
 

Dear UrbanBaby community,

Thank you so much for being a valued member of the UrbanBaby community. We wanted to inform you that we are shutting down the site on July 6th. We are grateful for your participation and support that has helped make UrbanBaby such an important resource to parents for many years.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can email us at urbanbaby-support@cbsinteractive.com.

Thanks so much,

UrbanBaby Support

»
[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.11.08, 02:37 PM Flag
»
Since your DD already has a spot, I don't see why you should apply to schools that aren't significantly better than DD's current school. That said, are there schools on your list that are 2nd tier but still better than DD's current school? [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.11.08, 02:38 PM Flag
»
not really enought to put DD (and us) through the trauma/hassle of moving schools. Yes I like Riverdale, Nightingale, A few others...but the idea of pulling her for those schools doesn't feel right. The only reason to pull as I see it would be a major TT or free ride at Hunter. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.11.08, 03:58 PM Flag
»
np: is she on waitist at Hunter? or is she not old enough to have applied yet? [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.11.08, 05:22 PM Flag
»
Neither...dinged at round 2. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.11.08, 06:49 PM Flag
»
Then I think your approach is correct [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.14.08, 09:20 AM Flag
»
With all that you said, I would go for it. We were in very similar situation (same test scores, interesting careers, not diverse, although coming from a PS to ongoing), did all the schools you said and got into 3. Chose SS because of this particular dd and we are thrilled beyond. The school's rep scared me, but being there is completely the opposite of the rep. You should apply, imo...:) [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.11.08, 02:45 PM Flag
»
Wow, really? You got into three from my list? Wow. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.11.08, 03:58 PM Flag
»
No, sorry, we got into B, NBS, & S, I thought you had NBS on your list. Took S. Fit dd perfectly. Not sure if it's right for my second dd though- it's a intense school- [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.14.08, 10:11 AM Flag
»
You have a good chance as long as you don't need FA. For those schools you need a 95+, good school report, good play date, good interview to be in the running. The only thing I see as a potential problem is that your ongoing may not be so helpful. I'd add a few like NBS, MM & maybe CGPS or ECFS if you are that unhappy with dc's current school. GL [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.11.08, 02:49 PM Flag
»
Why do you want to change schools? You seem more concerned with status of school than education provided (e.g. Nightingale is not worth changing schools for, but Brearley, Spence and Chapin are?) Has your child tested for this year? If you're not finding the school academic enough in preK, then you really don't understand the educational approach of many independent schools. I doubt you will be happy with K in any school either. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.11.08, 06:24 PM Flag
»
np: I think you are silly. People want TT because they are more prestigious and are just fancier. I am not sure that the education is better, but it is often more rigorous at some point. when we applied, I was most impressed by the process and treatment at the TT schools. they have it down pat. they seem higher quality and fancier. people with very smart kids feel disappointed by the lower tier schools because there is less push for a rigorous curriculum, and that is related to a higher number of more intellectually average students. if you have a smart one, you feel your dc could have done better, and that you are letting him down. hard to explain, really, but it is a common feeling among parents of very smart dcs who ended up at a lower tier school. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.11.08, 07:33 PM Flag
»
OP: I can assure you that "prestige" has nothing to do with this, especially since our whole social circle pretty much revolves around DD's current school. However, the 2nd part of your comment is valid (and I don't know why you said it's hard to explain). DD is doing 1st grade Math workbooks at home, she is reading books on her own for enjoyment and she is a mature and verbal child. They are putting her into a preK class this year that is full of lovely children who do not understand any mathmatical concepts, cannot read, speak like babies and have not yet developed out of the self-centered state...in other words, half the kids in her class don't even understand that human beings have experiences outside of their own. They are still in the primal state of believing that their experience is singular (if a tree falls in the woods,etc.) Perhaps I would feel differently if the school had moved my DD into kindergarten, but that also makes me uncomfortable because then she'd be the youngest. I think what we might really need is to have her in a school w/ other really smart kids. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 05:19 AM Flag
»
np: Why do you need tt? What about other great schools like NBS, CSH, ECFS, etc. Have you toured any of the schools? My dd attends Chapin, but I couldn't have known this school would've been a good fit for her without the tour. Brearley and Spence are totally different to me. I saw more similarities in NBS. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 05:37 AM Flag
»
Well we're currently in a school like those. It's not like the school is abusing her or ignoring her. I just feel she should be somewhere different. I don't know that a lateral move makes sense. She'll be fine if we stay where we are. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 06:00 AM Flag
»
I'm sorry, but what you're saying is absurd. Their isn't a difference in the education received at Chapin, NBS, and CSH. One is considered tt and the other two aren't. If you feel that NBS is a lateral move, then why do you need a school like Chapin? [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 06:07 AM Flag
»
^^^Like I said, my dd attends Chapin, btw. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 06:08 AM Flag
»
^^There. For all the grammar moms. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 06:25 AM Flag
»
OP: Well I coudn't say for sure right now since it's only July, but once I've toured and interviewed and asked all my questions I'll have a clearer picture of which schools are really worth moving my DD out of her current school for. I'll tell you one thing: I'm not moving her unless it is very clear to me that she will be better off. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 06:30 AM Flag
»
What is CSH? [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 06:33 AM Flag
»
Convent of the Sacred Heart [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 06:36 AM Flag
»
OP: We're Jewish and would not consider CSH. I applied for DD to ECFS and pulled the application because I decided it was not right for her. Will look into NBS. Thanks for the suggestion. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 06:44 AM Flag
»
np--NBS is Nightingale Bamford School--the same school you dismissed above. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 07:02 AM Flag
»
OP: Yes I understand. Where did I dismiss it? I was just saying that I won't pull DD for anything that is not clearly better than what she has now. And then I said I'd look into NBS while looking into the others. But if it's moderately better there's no reason for the uphieval. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 07:05 AM Flag
»
You wrote: "Yes I like Riverdale, Nightingale, A few others...but the idea of pulling her for those schools doesn't feel right. The only reason to pull as I see it would be a major TT or free ride at Hunter." [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 07:55 AM Flag
»
Ok you're right. I'll turn in my child at the desk first thing in the morning. I don't know what I was thinking trying to be a parent. :) [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 08:31 AM Flag
»
I'm the responder who doesn't see any difference between NBS, B,S,C,CSH,etc. I think the problem some of us are having with your posts, is that it seems like you search for schools as one would search for a hand bag. You seem to be interested in big names and whatever status that would confer. You haven't seen these schools, yet you've already decided it's tt or bust. When in reality there are schools not considered tt that are equal in the education they provide, and may be a better fit for your dd. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 08:39 AM Flag
»
OP: But don't you see? If you weren't hung up on designer names yourself you never would have had that response! I did already see a lot of schools when we were applying to preK. Horace Mann I liked. DD was waitlisted. ECFS I liked but later changed my mind and we pulled her application. I'm open to anything but it has to be better than what we have now, which is fine but not great. I explored Riverdale, pulled the application. Bank street and Calhoun...not interested. NBS I never looked at but will now. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.12.08, 09:03 AM Flag
»
I'm not following your point. How did my response show my affinity for designer names? [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.13.08, 10:27 AM Flag
»
If you are going to be switching schools, you should see the ones that your are interested! You will know where she fits once you go- I saw 11 schools and had to choose the school that was right for my dd, not for me- it was not easy to take my 'wish' for her out of the equation, but I'm glad we did- she's thriving. But I have 2 dd, and I'm not sure the school my 1st dd attends is right for her. So, follow your instincts and go look- it couldn't hurt! [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.14.08, 10:19 AM Flag
»
You already have experience at the current school. I'm afraid TTs are TTs for a reason - better peer group (probably matches OP's dd's traits). Scores are good enough. Do apply to TTs, absolutely. At least dd won't be rejected on account of scores. If behaves well, socialized, normal parents, dd will get into one of those. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.13.08, 09:15 AM Flag
»
I don't understand why everyone is picking on you. This seems like a sound strategy to me. If you are at, say, Town - I think there is little point in applying to schools that would be a lateral move. (I agree with other posters that NBS is probably not a lateral move - it is a wonderful school if you like structure. I loved it for DD - she is going elsewhere but we would have been very happy with NBS.) [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.14.08, 08:49 AM Flag
Refresh » New Post »
Select Category
close [X]

close [X]

Select a Category (only 1)

category
Stages
Regions