“We’ve Applied” Is Not the Same as “We’ve Been Accepted”

For GM, HR and RMC consultants managing employee relocations, there are countless moving parts to coordinate: immigration, housing, payroll, shipping, destination services, and, of course, schooling. Amid all these competing priorities, it can be tempting to tick the education box once a family confirms that school applications have been submitted.

But when it comes to private and international school admissions, there is an important distinction worth remembering:

“We’ve applied” is not the same as “We’ve been accepted.”

As obvious as this sounds, it’s actually a point that has confused families we’ve worked with and who have come to us after an assumption led to disappointment.

When relocating, families are understandably eager for certainty, and they may unintentionally blur the line between completing an application and securing a place. Sometimes they genuinely do not understand how private school admissions work, particularly if they come from education systems where school access is largely determined by geography or automatic enrollment.

One common source of confusion can actually come from a positive interaction with a school. Perhaps the family toured the campus, met the admissions team, or attended a warm and welcoming online interview. The conversation was encouraging, the children connected with staff, and everyone left feeling optimistic. And maybe the school even said, “yes, we have space.”

Parents may interpret this as an indication that admission is guaranteed, but admissions decisions are not typically finalized during school visits, virtual meetings, or informal discussions. They are only finalized when the family receives an official phone call or written offer of admission from the school.

Until that official notification arrives, the outcome remains uncertain.

While an interview or meeting with the school can have a huge impact, an Admissions committee reviews a range of factors, including previous school reports, teacher references, attendance records, language support requirements, behavioral history, and learning support needs.

Occasionally, the factor that changes an admissions outcome is something parents never anticipated. Maybe a teacher comment on a report card, concerns raised in a confidential recommendation, or a historical issue that seemed minor to the family may prompt additional questions from the school or affect the final decision.

For mobility and RMC professionals, a simple follow-up question can help uncover potential misunderstandings:

“Have you received a written offer of admission, or is the application still under review?”

That small clarification can reveal whether schooling is truly finalized or whether parental assumptions are at play. The sooner parents realize that they may have been assuming or expecting something that is not yet confirmed, the more time they will have to follow up with schools in question and determine if they need a back-up plan!

Bennett works with global mobility teams, HR departments and relocation management companies on the education side of a move. If you’d like to talk through how school placement fits into an assignment, we’re glad to help.

Get in touch with a consultant who tracks admissions decisions, for an hour of clarity →

Elizabeth Sawyer is the CEO of Bennett International Education Consultancy. She acquired the company in 2009 and has grown it into a global practice of more than 70 consultants, expanding its reach with the acquisition of School Choice International in 2018. Elizabeth spent the first twelve years of her life overseas, moving through five different education systems between Ireland and New York, and went on to teach English, French and Spanish at private high schools in the US for fifteen years. That combination of firsthand experience as a relocating child and a career in the classroom shapes how Bennett works with families, and with the corporate and RMC teams supporting them.

Bennett International Education Consultancy works directly with hundreds of families each year across the globe. We support families by helping them make informed decisions about the best-fit schools for their children; with our guidance, they secure placement in preschools, private day schools, public/state schools, boarding schools, colleges and universities, including schools with particular programs, such as special needs support.