Getting accepted to Holton-Arms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD currently in 8th. Scored in the mid 80% on WISC but ISEE scores were lower. Decent grades but not great. Came from public, very outgoing, kind and engaging girl.

Your DD's profile sounds strong and I would think she's have a very strong shot of getting in. Per your description of your DD, she sounds great. An active, engaged, outgoing kid will do well anywhere. It's not all about test scores.

Thanks PP: And to clarify, my DD is already a student at Holton. Sorry if that was not clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interested to hear what you all say are "bad" ERB scores so I can have some type of measurement.

yes, sorry, a 4 in math out of 10 and a 6 in reading out of 10 also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interested to hear what you all say are "bad" ERB scores so I can have some type of measurement.

yes, sorry, a 4 in math out of 10 and a 6 in reading out of 10 also.

Ugh. Thanks.

[saguaro]

Anonymous wrote:So I keep hearing recently that it is pretty much impossible to get admitted to Holton for 3rd grade if your DD doesn't do test prep for the ERB test. It sounds so ridiculous to do that to a 7- or 8- year old girl, but I know that Holton puts a lot of stock in this test (their AD said as much during our interview). But all that means is that instead of screening the girls based on their ability, they are really just screening them based on the parents' ability (and willingness) to make their girls go through a couple of weeks of test prep. Sorry, but we don't have that kind of time on our hands. Needless to say, I don't hold out much hope, even though our DD is pretty bright and has a good WISC result and good grades.

My daughter got in for third a few years ago and we did not prep her for the test at all.

She has been waitlisted right now for 6th there.

[Anonymous]

We were told that they did not place a lot of weight on test scores for the lower grades, because many girls had not yet taken a test. We did no prep at all. Nothing. She's never had a test before. I think she did well, but I don't have a basis of comparison b/c it seems like everyone on this board gets high scores. She was in the 8th and 9th stanine, I guess it was 92ish percent reading and 99th for math. She got in.

[Anonymous]

I know this is an old thread but DD is applying to Holton for next year and this thread came up in my search.

It makes me hopeful to read that Holton doesn't look at test scores alone. DD is an extremely hard worker and gives her all but doesn't test too well (not horrible just usually average).

Does anyone have an idea about how many spots will be open for current 6th graders applying to 7th for the 2018-2019 school year?

Any tips you can give to help with the application/interview process will be greatly appreciated!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an old thread but DD is applying to Holton for next year and this thread came up in my search.

It makes me hopeful to read that Holton doesn't look at test scores alone. DD is an extremely hard worker and gives her all but doesn't test too well (not horrible just usually average).

Does anyone have an idea about how many spots will be open for current 6th graders applying to 7th for the 2018-2019 school year?

Any tips you can give to help with the application/interview process will be greatly appreciated!!

My understanding is 15 spots.

My experience with Holton in 6th/7th is that they do care about the scores.

[Anonymous]

We are applying for 6th grade but completely dependent on financial aid. HHI is 175 combined.

I wonder if they meet financial need the way other schools do.

[Anonymous]

Got into Holton and NCS with mediocre scores but good grades, personality, and athletics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Got into Holton and NCS with mediocre scores but good grades, personality, and athletics.

This was my DD last year as well. Decent, but not the best, grades, slightly above average SSAT and horrible ERBs. Just a great, great personality is honestly what wins everybody over--she got into all three schools (HA, NCS, Potomac) that she applied to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are applying for 6th grade but completely dependent on financial aid. HHI is 175 combined.

I wonder if they meet financial need the way other schools do.

I attended the FA workshop for prospective parents a couple of years ago. They said that if they accept a child they'll make sure (based on the FA app) that it's affordable. Several parents with whom I've spoken have said this is true. But also what I've heard is that they won't subsidize a fancy lifestyle. They'll give it if your truly need it but not if still have extra money for several vacations per year and multiple homes.

[Anonymous]

^^Ugh- just reread this. Please pardon my typos!

[Anonymous]

No ERB test prep here and accepted for 3rd grade. For those of you interested in the school's performing arts program, the Upper School is performing The Wiz this weekend. I highly recommend you go see it tomorrow or Saturday night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm skeptical about "friends" applying for admission for their own children. Maybe she means friends of the family or something, but if she graduated in "the 2000s" then she can be what, 29, tops? A same age friend with a daughter applying would have been mid-college and giving birth to said daughter. And PP said friends plural. It seems unlikely that multiple alums from one class would be giving birth at 21.

I would imagine that she's an early 2000s graduate like my my peer group. I graduated in 2001 from a well known DCPS. My closest friends from HS and I have kids in 2nd-4th grade. We're 34-35. Older millenials. While highly unusual, we have a few classmates with HS kids even.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Got into Holton and NCS with mediocre scores but good grades, personality, and athletics.

what do you consider to be mediocre?