Which schools to apply for? (need back ups?)

[Lisa1970]

Since my daughter is going in to 10th grade, this year is by attrition only at the private schools she is looking at. This means she will have about a 10% chance of getting in to any of them. 

There are 2 schools she is in love with that she will definitely apply for. My daughter has high grades and high test scores. Teachers tend to like her. I am trying to decide if we should keep looking and get more back up schools, or leave things alone at this for applying? I did put her on the list for a different charter school, but that one gets mixed reviews and I don't want to walk in to another bad situation. Also, we are not completely opposed to finishing out high school as home school. There is 1 school she is applying to as a back up, but while it was ok and fine and will work, it is not really a school she has fallen in love with like the other two. We figured we would just apply there as a back up. She could easily likely get in there (except that it is by attrition too so if no one leaves from 9th grade, there won't be openings).

There are 3 more schools others have told us to look at that we might like. But I am wondering, do you think we should keep looking? Or just apply to the places we love now and hope for the best? How many schools would you apply to? It costs money for each application plus we have to get teachers to write recommendations so there is a cost to applying to more schools.

[VisionaryMom]

Honestly, and I say this gently, you guys need to determine what the most important issues are for you. I wouldn't apply to 7 or 8 schools. You're right that teachers have to write those recommendations. That takes up their time, and it's a lot to ask for teachers to write that many applications for one student just because you guys want your options wide open. If you want to visit the other schools, you have pretty much next week, right? I know here, school's out for the holidays after that, and applications start coming in when January rolls around. You should make the decision tomorrow and then by the end of next week, take what you've seen and choose 2-3. I think you're looking for the perfect school, and while I get that need, I think you're extending the search and making it more angst-ridden.

[Lisa1970]

Actually, we love the 2 schools we have picked. Either would do well. But, since it is 10th grade, it is admission by attrition only and I am afraid if she does not get in to either, we will be stuck. I guess we won't be stuck, we can home school. The 3rd school was a back up school, but we were not thrilled with it, but it would do.  So it is not that we cannot decide on a school, it is that we love the 2 schools but know the chances of getting in to either one are low. In fact, I asked...about 10% at each school. The 3rd school is one we are not thrilled about, but I am sure it would be ok. DD has not shadowed there. But my daughter is a very strong applicant with way above average test schools, and high grades (lowest ever has been a middle A). So I was kind of thinking that maybe not many applicants are as strong as her so maybe I should not stress and feel we need more "back up" schools. 
 

Originally Posted by VisionaryMom 

Honestly, and I say this gently, you guys need to determine what the most important issues are for you. I wouldn't apply to 7 or 8 schools. You're right that teachers have to write those recommendations. That takes up their time, and it's a lot to ask for teachers to write that many applications for one student just because you guys want your options wide open. If you want to visit the other schools, you have pretty much next week, right? I know here, school's out for the holidays after that, and applications start coming in when January rolls around. You should make the decision tomorrow and then by the end of next week, take what you've seen and choose 2-3. I think you're looking for the perfect school, and while I get that need, I think you're extending the search and making it more angst-ridden.