Parent: I have twins. We want both twins to go to the same school. To better their chances to get in somewhere, we decided to not share a lottery number.
Me: Okay.
Parent: For Twin #1, we ranked School A #1 and School B #2. For Twin #2, we ranked School A #2 and School B #1.
Me: You were hoping to better your odds further by doing so?
Parent: Yes. However, Twin #1 was selected for School A and Twin #2 was selected for School B.
Me: Ranking defaults to the highest accept. The system definitely worked as advertised. Congrats for being selected to two great programs!
Parent: That does not solve my problem.
Me: Both twins attending the same school? No. It does not solve that problem. Unfortunately, unless one of them is the campus to which you are zoned, it looks like you will be sending your kids to different schools next year.
Parent: Can't we put one on the lottery list of the other's school, and, with sibling for entry grade levels, pop them up to the top of the waitlist?
Me: Unfortunately, no. You applied during Round 1 of applications. Each child had one opportunity to be accepted during the round. Neither school will accept students during Round 2, as they have extensive waitlists. ... I'm very sorry, but both students will be attending different campuses next year.
Parent: And there is no way around it?
Me: Well, they could both go to their zoned school.
Parent: That's not a solution.
Me: Then no, there is no way around it. I'm sorry.
Word to the wise: Do not try to game the application system without talking to a knowledgeable coordinator who can explain all the possible outcomes for each potential action.
Me: Okay.
Parent: For Twin #1, we ranked School A #1 and School B #2. For Twin #2, we ranked School A #2 and School B #1.
Me: You were hoping to better your odds further by doing so?
Parent: Yes. However, Twin #1 was selected for School A and Twin #2 was selected for School B.
Me: Ranking defaults to the highest accept. The system definitely worked as advertised. Congrats for being selected to two great programs!
Parent: That does not solve my problem.
Me: Both twins attending the same school? No. It does not solve that problem. Unfortunately, unless one of them is the campus to which you are zoned, it looks like you will be sending your kids to different schools next year.
Parent: Can't we put one on the lottery list of the other's school, and, with sibling for entry grade levels, pop them up to the top of the waitlist?
Me: Unfortunately, no. You applied during Round 1 of applications. Each child had one opportunity to be accepted during the round. Neither school will accept students during Round 2, as they have extensive waitlists. ... I'm very sorry, but both students will be attending different campuses next year.
Parent: And there is no way around it?
Me: Well, they could both go to their zoned school.
Parent: That's not a solution.
Me: Then no, there is no way around it. I'm sorry.
Word to the wise: Do not try to game the application system without talking to a knowledgeable coordinator who can explain all the possible outcomes for each potential action.
