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[-]If you're choosing private and think you will be stretched financially, please list HHI
59 replies [ Reply | Watch | MoreSo funny that people feel stretched who make $650. We did it for years on less than $100K.
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at 40k? and with the ability to save for emergencies. retirement, your own life? I doubt that much
[ Reply | More ]yeah, whatever, people like this always live in apartment their parents gave them or assumed their grandma's rent control apt on west end ave for $400 a month
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NP but how so ? it's not feasible to pay 40k on 100k income unless you have special circumstances (as mentioned above).
[ Reply | More ]its not. OR is FOS. after taxes that's maybe 60-70k. that would leave 30k for everything else including food, rent/mortgage, savings (retirement and college). OR either got FA or lives in a rent control apartment or is getting help.
[ Reply | More ]living on $30K-$50K (food and rent/mortgage) is possible. Obviously, no savings for retirement. Also the college is just a four year extension to HS tuition. It's even less than the HS tuition. So, it is perfectly doable. You can call this financial stretch or suicide. But if you are making $650k and you feel stretched, it's called greed.
[ Reply | More ]crazy lady, i don't feel stretched at all and someone who feels stretched at 650k is not greedy. you are a judgmental bitch and quite the liar. you are just mad because you got called out as a liar.
[ Reply | More ]it must sound quite shocking to you to pull private tuition with $100K? impossible is nothing my dear.
[ Reply | More ]No, i think if you are really doing that, you are the dumbest person on the face of the earth. why? because you could easily get aid at that income level and are needlessly living only for today without thinking about the future. you are just like my SIL. and now they are struggling to keep their house. GL to you.
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not at all, I can afford it and I'm happy to pay. The sanctimonius trust fund babies are the ones who annoy me. I'm planning to leave my kids a bunch of money, but I hope they're not douches about it.
[ Reply | More ]NP. not if you are paying for private on only 100k you are not. aint nothing going to be left over for your DC. you are a liar and just trying to stir the pot. my DF makes 500k/year and they can not swing private for 2 DC and make too much for FA. they live in a modest 2 BR but still it is not rent controlled so it costs enough. they both work so have to pay for childcare. as another example, my BIL and SIL make 100k/year, have DC in public and are living paycheck to paycheck. sorry, but i just don't believe you.
[ Reply | More ]i'm the responder right above you and I'm the one calling BS on the $100k person; sorry should have clarified that I was responding to the "you sound bitter" retort
[ Reply | More ]Don't believe it either. But also don't see how someone could make 500K, live in a modest apartment, and not be able to afford private. Choosing to spend/save/invest money elsewhere, sure, but that's very different from not being able to afford it. Does your friend have substantial debt?
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Breakdown of expenses, please? Sorry, but I find it pretty hard to believe you paid full-freight at a $40K private school on an HHI of $100K, unless you have some really unusual situation like no housing costs or a trust fund.
[ Reply | More ]$120K salary. Apt. paid off, small maintenance, no lease, no debt. Expecting to make better tough. So, couple of years of hardship is no problem.
[ Reply | More ]One, there's why you can do it. your apt is paid off. not everyone (in fact i would bet most of us) are not in that position. you were either wealthier earlier in your life or are very old you had sufficient time to pay it off. also, what about your school loans, or was that paid for too by someone else? you are not really making it on 100k either. if you had to pay rent or a mortgage like the rest of us, you would be singing a different tune. next time, get a reality check before you preach BS.
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Anyone who makes 100k and has no other source of income and (somehow) doesn't qualify for all or substantially all FA is an idiot or a liar.
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[-]Ok completely real post. Chapin vs Dalton. Faced with these accepts. How opposite could one get , right? As soon as I decide , one family will be benefitting, so ease off on the dragon breath :) I love both (BTDT) SS and Co-ed, so that's not a major factor.
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NP: We thought we might be in the same position due to really positive Chapin feedback even a week ago, but ended up WL but in at Dalton. Love both schools so debating whether to try for Chapin WL. Agree that they are very, very different schools. Dalton is clearly more diverse. I think it boils down to SS vs. co-ed, because 13yrs from now, DD will be mature, articulate, and well-versed regardless of which school.
[ Reply | More ]you do sound more dalton like in tone alone. the schools are both academically great: reading, math, science, history, etc. what it will boil down to for you is school culture that you find is most appropriate for your family and what you would like to instill in your daughter. gl with your choice.
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[-]How does economically diverse, geographically diverse child get to Brearley? Any Brearley parents who can talk about yellow bus service or public transportation? This could be the deciding factor.
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Starting K in the fall. Coming from West Harlem. B's location seems harder than other UES schools.
[ Reply | More ]I hope you send dd anyway. The yellow bus service -- and I need to qualify this comment b/c I 'm not 100% positive it's ideal for k, as hours are different -- is great way to socialize with other girls. We loved dd's bus driver, who has rows reserved for each grade. But public trans will work if you can get yourself on 1,2, or 3 to 79th or 86th and take crosstown bus. Other B families in W. Harlem too.
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Thanks so much for the info. Does anybody know anything about current routes and schedules into Northern Manhattan? This would make such a difference.
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[-]Any HM moms on of older dcs? We are seriously contemplating sending our bright, very sweet dd there for 6th grade next year (currently in public) but we are a little intimidated by the reputed extremes of HM, the competition, the money etc. Can you share your experiences at the school?
5 replies [ Reply | Watch | MoreWe are in the exact same position as you (just got accepted.) I talked to two separate families from my workplace who have had a combined 3 children who were "lifers" at HM. All are now graduated. They all had only positive things to say. I think it is hard to get advice from UB. There is just no credibility/accountability here. You need to talk to people IRL.
[ Reply | More ]OP: Congrats! Are you going to the event this week? I am hoping the parents there will put me at ease. I have spoken to some people but thought I might find some other perspectives here. We are lucky to have options, and the other one is gentler and closer to home but it doesn't offer all the possibilities, facilities as HM. Hopefully, the right school will emerge after the re-visits.
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Congrats! It's a great school. My bright, sweet and not an alpha-dog type dc who found other bright, very sweet, very charming friends at HM is very happy there. You will not regret it one bit.
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[-]Avenues. Can anyone who isn't in PR and doesn't have an axe to grind tell me your candid thoughts? Especially if you are sending your kids there...
3 replies [ Reply | Watch | MoreMom of 5th grade dc about to transition from G&T to private here: I can tell you that I went to an information session and the faculty and facility they are building is impressive. Still, we felt that $40K is a lot to pay fror a start-up school with no track record. We ultimately decided not to apply b/c we live in D2 and figured that our dc would get into a good private or a selective public. That said, my gut tells me that when my 2nd grader is ready for HS, it may be THE coveted school.
[ Reply | More ]My dc is at G&T and plans to attend next year. We wanted coed and felt there were far too few seats at our favorite TT, and would be begging for an off year seat at another well regarded school. We like the possibilities presented by Avenues, and we are on board for the adventure ahead. Also liked securing the seat months ago, though we continued to look around to be sure and now we are. I can't say I'm not worried, but I was equally or more worried about all other options so that is life.
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[-]My theory is Collegiate mailed accepts and rejects first so if you haven't heard yet, it is a wl. Anyone agree?
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[-]UWS Moms- Would you consider Upper West Side Success Academy over your Gen-Ed Public? We are hoping to get in to G&T, but am thinking about registering for UWSSA's lottery. Anyone BTDT?
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we are zoned for PS 9, which I know is a good school, but I wonder if UWSSA is better.
[ Reply | More ]OR: I would go with 9. I value education and unfortunately feel that school sucks away a lot of dcs time that could be put to better use. I would consider WS if you are sure you will be doing afterschool at the school but 9 is a good school so I would go with 9. My dc is at local g&t
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yes. and I don't feel it is taking dollars away. I feel the money is being managed better not by cronyism and Randi W. so she can sleep on silk sheets. My friend's child started UWSSA and he loves the school and is doing really, really well. She was originally a her zoned school on around 62nd and WEA - not ps199 - and while she felt it important to support her zoned school, she left because her child learned how to swear and wanted a diet coke at pick up. She felt really bad for the mothers and fathers who were really trying to give their kids a good education but the majority of the parents could have cared less. She put in for the lottery and got a spot and the change in his behaviour and motivation is the proof in the pudding. He...
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[-]I'm looking forward to the preschool exmissions posts that will most likely appear all week.
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[-]Any Delta moms on? Do your DC feel safe going to and from school? Another mother with a DC applying was telling me that on their way to the test, she and her DC walked by the beginnings of what looked to be a pretty serious, violent fight on the street. Lots of yelling, cursing and posturing. It's making me a little nervous.
10 replies [ Reply | Watch | MoreNP- I was waiting for the bus on Columbus at 96th St this week and the M11 bus pulled up and it was entirely full of Delta students. She only let on a couple of people because the bus was so full. The driver said these were "her kids". Apparently the MTA sends the same drivers every day with an empty bus to pick up the Delta students and drive them downtown. She knew them, she kept them in line and they listened to her and were respectful. I was very impressed with the kids and the arrangement.
[ Reply | More ]I tutored for a year in the school that Delta is in, working with the mainstream students. It is not a good school, but the Delta kids seemed to stick together and the neighborhood is pretty normal.
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[-]Current preschool contract and deposit due next week. Waiting to hear from other schools after current school due date. What to do?
9 replies [ Reply | Watch | MoreWe were in the same position, and the best we could figure out was to talk to the head of the current school about options. I think this comes up every year, and they deal with this on a case by case basis. Their initial position is probably to not make an exception or extend your response date. However, depending on your relationship with the school (how much they want to keep your family), they may make an exception. You have to make sure they know you would keep this confidential as they don't want others to know. A compromise may be that you put down a deposit at your current school (but don't sign the contract) and are prepared to lose the deposit. Remember, you can't sign contracts with 2 ISAAGNY schools. GL.
[ Reply | More ]So it's not just an issue of being wiling to lose the deposit? If we sign the contract with the intent of possibly breaking it we won't be able to sign a contract at another school?
[ Reply | More ]This is such a delicate issue, and I don't want to give wrong advice. ISAAGNY website says: "A school should not knowingly offer a contract to a student from the waiting list without determining that the family has no contractual obligation to another school for the year in question to protect a school from financial loss. " Maybe call them on Monday to ask about school policies and how best to handle? And ask if you can sign 2 contracts as long as you honor the conditions of both (ie pay for both tuitions). I guess if the schools don't talk you could end up with the new school sending you a contract as well.
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We received 2 acceptances. Have heard of a couple of families with multiple acceptances, so I don't think that much brokering went into place.
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Most of the families we have heard from are very unhappy mainly because she didn't broker. Now there are a ton of kids with multiple accepts and even more with no accepts anyplace. Terrible year.
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[-]What would you do if you got an accept at your first choice, but they want dc to enter in pre k not kindergarten (essentially repeating a year)?
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Nobody ever got hurt by being the oldest in their class. Doing pre-k and then K is a gift for your kid if you can afford the extra year of tuition.
[ Reply | More ]this post made me laugh. YOU didn't get into your first choice, your dc did. This shouldn't be about you (even though you're the one shelling out the bucks.
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Wow! This is our situation, too. And we may have another option for k. Trying to weigh what's best for dc -- another year in prek or k. The prek has a bigger class than the k, which worries us as dc will be more distracted. Anyone have a sugg for that? Love to hijack and hear thoughts...op, good luck, I'll be rooting for you as we make our decision. It's really tough.
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[-]DD told me that inside the Brearley playdate there was a clothing rack full of fancy dress up clothes, prominently on display. The girls were not allowed to touch them or try them on. Can anyone verify this? Think it was part of the "test" to see how the girls reacted?
12 replies [ Reply | Watch | MorePlaydates take place inside the school in the classrooms that are currently being used by the students there. There are always going to be things inside those classrooms that are not going to be made available to the interviewing students during the playdate. I think you are reading way too much into this.
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