153 preschools you don't have to call on Sept. 4

9/4/07 - By Anna Fader

It's pretty much generally accepted knowledge that to get your toddler into preschool in NYC one has to sit on the phone with her fingers hovering over the redial button on the day after Labor Day in order to be one of the lucky few who will receive an application - forget about getting accepted. While it's true that there are a handful of schools that really do seem to put their prospective parents through this absurd torture, for the most part this whole story is a big myth. I'm not saying that getting into preschool in NYC is easy (actually it can be), but there is absolutely no reason why schools should make parents do this and very few still do.

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If you are set on applying to one of the few New York schools that will get hundreds of applications for the half dozen spots they have (after legacies and siblings), then you may, in fact, have to call them on D Day, but even most of these schools have switched to a lottery system which, while not making the system any less random or aggravating, at least makes it a little less time consuming. Preschools that use a lottery to give out a limited number of applications will accept phone calls for applications throughout the week. Also be sure to check school web sites because some schools now allow you to download applications or even apply online. As for the rest of them, the 153 other preschools in NYC, call them later in the week, there are even plenty of schools you can call in October and not have a problem. Of course there are also the schools that like to perpetuate the myth because it makes them seem more desirable. While I guess I can't blame them for working a little marketing mojo, it does seem kind of mean and not, like, what we want our children to be learning in Preschool. So how do you go about sanely applying for preschools in New York City? First, take a look at my overview of the preschool application process. Then seriously consider not talking to any other parents for the next ten months so that you can avoid being sucked in to the hype - or perhaps make a pact with your friends to keep each other sane and not get hysterical. Or you can opt out of the whole thing and only apply to schools that take kids on a first-come first-served basis. You may find that the blocks are just as nice at even a non top-tier preschool and the application process couldn't be easier.