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Education

Eton waiting list

82 replies

Hueyjun · 09/12/2013 23:03

Hi, my boy is just being offered waiting list for entry Eton 2016 recently , he has been told is very high up on the list, ,may I know what does it mean please ? Anyone been in this experience before ? Can anyone advise and explain further ? Thank you .

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ZeroSomeFestiveGameThingy · 10/12/2013 10:29

Hueyjun If your son is on the waiting list it means he does not have an offer (conditional on CE or KS exams) but has done sufficiently well for the school to think they may accept him if a place becomes available later.

It may be that he did well in the computerised test but his inteviewer felt he needed to mature a little more before they could be certain.

Are you in the UK? (In which case his current school might be able to advise you.) Is your son boarding at the moment? Does he have a broad range of extra-curricular activities? Does he take on any leadership roles in school?

The main point about being on the waiting list is that you must continue the application process for any other schools he is applying to. (He will need a firm offer from one before Common Entrance - if that is the route you are following.)

It would be sensible to contact Eton to ask them about anything you are not sure of. They will also be able to indicate in which areas your son might need to improve.

But he has done very well even to get onto the waiting list.

IndridCold · 10/12/2013 13:57

Eton make Conditional offers of 250 places for each year (125 now and another 125 next summer). Of these 250 boys there are always some who eventually decide that Eton is not right for them, and their places are then offered to boys on the Waiting List.

If your son is high up the list he will have a very good chance of being offered a place - it would be quite unusual for nobody to drop out I think - but you may have to wait until early 2016 until this happens, as people often leave it until as late as possible before deciding.

Zero is right about keeping in touch with the Admissions office, they are very helpful.

waitingforthepost · 10/12/2013 16:31

Hueyjun

Are you overseas? Wondering how long your son has been on the wait list for 2016? Did he sit the pre-test in the UK this Autumn as I didn't think those results were out yet but perhaps you got them early if overseas?

If they already told you he is high on the list I agree that's very encouraging but your headmaster should be able to tell you more.

Perhaps they also gave you an indication of how he did in the test vs. the interview which may also give you an insight on areas to update them on vis a vis achievements?

ZeroSomeFestiveGameThingy · 10/12/2013 16:49

waiting I have no idea about this year but last year the Autumn pre-test results came out almost exactly now (give or take a few days....)

waitingforthepost · 10/12/2013 17:06

aah perhaps it is the "give or take a few days" then Zero...

waitingforthepost · 10/12/2013 17:11

I can't imagine having to wait til Spring of 2016 for entry that same year but I guess that coincides with entrance exams and payment of massive final deposit which may result on some movement.

ZeroSomeFestiveGameThingy · 10/12/2013 17:26

Thinking back.... Letters arrived on the 12th. So probably sent out a couple of days earlier? And I imagine Prep school HTs would have the results at the same time.

waiting Haven't you read the possibly apocryphal story on another thread here of a boy unpacking his stuff on the first day at his Plan B school (place accepted, term's fees paid, uniform etc bought...) and getting the call from Admissions?

IndridCold · 10/12/2013 17:47

It is true. Admissions Tutor told us the story after our tour (in response to a query from another parent). I was telling some of the other mums at DS's school , and one of them said 'Yes, that was my cousin!'

The other school was Harrow IIRC...

waitingforthepost · 10/12/2013 18:45

even funnier now you mention other school was Harrow ...I thought that story was an urban myth...well never mind how you catch the train if you are on it, you are on it!

Michaelahpurple · 11/12/2013 09:36

I didn't know the results were out - wasn't expecting them until next week. Did the letter arrive today ?

Michaelahpurple · 11/12/2013 09:37

Just saw that you posted on the 9th - no one at out school has heard yet - did you get a letter or hear from your school?

onebananatwobanana · 11/12/2013 10:22

Michaela - check with your Head - I think they hear before you will.

Gunznroses · 11/12/2013 10:44

re: Myth about Eton call at last minute, in the version i heard of on MN the other school was 'Sherborne'

Michaelahpurple · 11/12/2013 11:47

Aha! Well, as I don't think he did very well, I think I will leave our head unpestered and wait for the mail

onebananatwobanana · 11/12/2013 11:55

Everyone finds the test tough as it adapts to the responses given so each DC has a slightly different experience. Heads report and interview are very important. You don't know what they are looking for - my observation from boys who have gone there in the past is self confidence, able to hit the ground running ( it is like a university for kids - no set prep time, they have to manage their own time from the start) and a strong desire to participate in all the school has to offer. Another Mum with a DC there told me only to send a DS if HE really wanted to go otherwise it can be very overwhelming. Good luck!

waitingforthepost · 11/12/2013 15:02

"university for kids"....I have heard it called that but a lot more rules than at uni...if mine was anything to go by! Difficult to know how a boy would know what it was really like unless they had siblings there, surely, enough I mean to know that they really wanted to go there?

grovel · 11/12/2013 15:27

My DS only really wanted to go there once he got an offer of a place. If they wanted him he wanted them.

Hueyjun · 13/12/2013 00:37

Thanks for your reply, we are in UK ,we know the result from ours school headmaster , thanks for all advice!

OP posts:

waitingforthepost · 13/12/2013 08:44

you seem to have heard before everyone else Hueyjun ...but anyway, waiting list and indication sounds hopeful for you.

ZeroSomeFestiveGameThingy · 13/12/2013 14:32

waiting Are you still?

waitingforthepost · 13/12/2013 18:46

yes still!!!

Michaelahpurple · 14/12/2013 11:53

Still waiting - any one else had their letter?

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TRL · 14/12/2013 12:18

Yes, we got an offer in the post this morning . One of the mums from school rang Eton admissions this week and the office said letters would go out yesterday (Fri) so you should hear on Mon if it didn't come today.

Michaelahpurple · 14/12/2013 15:33

Oh well done to your boy TRL . One of my ds'w classmates got their letter today (wait listed ) but ours is clearly buried under Christmas cards somewhere.

waitingforthepost · 14/12/2013 22:15

Ours buried too Michaelahpurple....good to know to expect it on Monday though we don't get our post til late afternoon- glad we didn't wait around for it today. Have no idea which way this one is going to go, tbh...

Well done TRL:)

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