Under priority one but no intervew at ESF

[wegetable]

I am totally shocked, we applied QBS P1 for the Fall, my kid is under priority 1, don't speak any Chinese, and we just received a letter saying no interview can be offered to us in Jan 2011. I thought QBS is the easiest ESF to get in but category 1 still can't get an intervew, I don't even know what to think now.

 

[MommyTo3]

I got 2 interviews at QBS but they have sibling priority. Most of my friends (Cat 1) didn't get interviews either, or got non-guaranteed interviews at the end of January, in case not all 120 make the first cut (which is quite likely), and they're the next ones on the list. I was very surprised to hear, it must be a super super busy year this year.

 

[Seb's Dad]

When do you move to Hong Kong wegetable?

For some reason I think you are moving in Jan?

I know it seems discouraging, but the letter did say that there will be no interview in January. There are MANY families who apply to three or four schools, and then don't take the ESF place offered to them. Even in June, it is common for schools to have interviews and be offering places to upcoming P1 students.

Good luck. Securing schools will be the toughest part of your move.

 

[wegetable]

Thanks for everyone's kind advice. I am slowly digesting the reality of how competitive it is entering an international school in H.K., it is definitely no joke.

I just never would guess QBS can have that many Cat 1 candidates which is hard to believe. I am going to call the school tomorrow and see if they will tell me more.

Yes, we are moving to Hong Kong in Jan., I probably sign my boys up at Woodland for few months to finish the school year. I do agree securing school is the most challenge part of the move but like everything else, I think it will all work out at the end. The worst that can happen is to go to Starters/Woodland for P1 and start applying again next year.

So what do other people do when they apply for multiple schools, they don't get in the first choice school they want, but have to put down deposit in a second choice school just to secure a space. Then later on maybe their first choice school has space available and which means giving up the deposit with the second choice school. With interviews happening at all different time through out the year and schools requiring deposit right away to secure a space, all these expensive deposit can really add up.

 

[MommyTo3]

http://www.esf.edu.hk/node/1345

 

[TheQuasimother]

OMG! I can't believe how over-subscribed ESF is this year. Wegetable, I'm sorry you didn't get an interview despite being in Cat. 1.

All the kids in my son's school (an ESF kindie) - Cat 1 and 2 got an interview for all the schools they applied to (including an extremely popular island school). He got an interview for all 3 schools we applied to.

Good Luck! I hope your child gets in the second round!

 

[wegetable]

Hi Quasimother,

I thought ESF is based on catchment area depending where the applicant lives, then how does your son's friend get an interview for all 3 schools. So the school actually will accept kids from outside the catchment area first before even giving an interview to kids actually living in the catchment area? Now I am wondering how they really pick the kids, maybe there is a grey area that they just pick the kids they want regardless.

 

[MommyTo3]

I think she means 3 international schools, not 3 ESF schools ...

 

[TheQuasimother]

Sorry... I should have been more clear. Its 1 ESF and 2PIS(under the ESF umbrella). We did get accepted into 2 IS of our nationalities but decided against it as we preferred ESF simply from a financial point of view.

Did u try for an IS of your nationality?

 

[wegetable]

HKIS gives priority to American, should try that. It is expensive to go there but at his point it is more like we are being picked rather than us doing the picking.