Post Acceptance Blues
In Toronto, many of the independent schools have common offer and acceptance dates. This year February 21st was offer day, and February 26 was acceptance day. I was happy to report to our Principal on the afternoon of the 26th that we are full!
Offers went out at 7 am on the 21st, so too did the waitlist and decline messages. I find it interesting, eight years into my current role/school, that we put as much attention and effort into the last two groups as we do those we admit. The number of phone calls and emails I have had since February 21…I have done virtually nothing else in that time but respond to families wondering “Why did you not choose my son?”, “What number is he on your waitlist?” “Can you reconsider?”, or “We plan to reapply in the future, what advice/feedback can you provide to help our chances in the future.”
Some may say I am crazy, but I do my best to respond individually to every one of the requests that come in. I provide feedback, as much as I can share, with each family. “There was some behavior on test day.”, “His test scores were below the average of test-takers.”, “There were comments on the report cards that concerned us.” I try to be honest. And, where appropriate, remind them that there are entry years in the future they can consider, boys mature and develop at different ages and stages and that we welcome re-applications in the future. I will even connect them with colleagues to provide some tips on areas of improvement (normally math or reading).
These are tough messages for families to hear – about something they care about more than anything else in the world – their children. I feel, as admission professionals, we need to be honest and take the time to provide some form of feedback. These families have paid application fees, have chosen our schools as somewhere they believe will help their children, and, increasingly, want to know what they should do to help their child succeed. If we are family/customer-centered, isn’t that the least we can do?
Am I crazy?