Getting into St. Albans

[Anonymous]

In recent years through 2009-2010, Form VI had been about 78 boys, so the class has indeed grown by a few boys. In a parents' meeting I attended, the school cited financial considerations as the reason for the larger class sizes.

[Anonymous]

Wow...this thread is outrageously unreal and enlightening. I'm so glad my kid goes to a little known Catholic school on the other side of the tracks where we live. With parents who are overeducated (well at least DC's mom as dad merely has a law degree) who are engaged in DC's life I am sure we will see all the STA's, Beauvoir's, Cathedral's at Harvard and DC will still be well rounded, grounded, well disciplined, travelled, blah, blah, blah. More importantly she will still be a great kid and a productive adult.

[Anonymous]

Why are you writing on an STA thread then if you have a girl pp? Get a life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow...this thread is outrageously unreal and enlightening. I'm so glad my kid goes to a little known Catholic school on the other side of the tracks where we live. With parents who are overeducated (well at least DC's mom as dad merely has a law degree) who are engaged in DC's life I am sure we will see all the STA's, Beauvoir's, Cathedral's at Harvard and DC will still be well rounded, grounded, well disciplined, travelled, blah, blah, blah. More importantly she will still be a great kid and a productive adult.

Feel better. Rejection Hurts.

[Anonymous]

Because I feel like reading it and writing on it. And, sweetie, we've never been rejected and I certainly am happy that I don't live my life on the measuring stick you live on. But based on these comments, I shouldn't be happy unless I'm measured properly and accepted and agree with every comment on the thread. Oh...and I do have a son and when he's old enough for school I'll post here again..oooh I can't wait.

[Anonymous]

And sweetie pp -- you sound really crazy and envious

[Anonymous]

I do find it interesting that there is such interest (venom) about a school (parents, children, acceptance criteria, exmissions, etc).

It's a school. It's not going to amount to a hill of beans in the end. So it does seem like the thread should have died off after page 2-3 (after the relevant details of "getting in" were established). All this other stuff is just so much blather.

[Anonymous]

Exactly my point 15:51. Well said. I might be crazy but I'm certainly not envious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because I feel like reading it and writing on it. And, sweetie, we've never been rejected and I certainly am happy that I don't live my life on the measuring stick you live on. But based on these comments, I shouldn't be happy unless I'm measured properly and accepted and agree with every comment on the thread. Oh...and I do have a son and when he's old enough for school I'll post here again..oooh I can't wait.

The original post referencing your daughter and intoducing yourself via a blanket put-down did sound a little odd, honestly. Not that there isn't a lot of crazy stuff in the 75 pages of posts . . .

[Anonymous]

You are right and I know my post was odd. This thread is full of crazy stuff and it's also full of blanket put downs and full in your face slam downs. Your post certainly hit the nail on the head. While the discussion started on a particular point, it ended up all over the place and could have been about any kid, parent, etc. I just applied the thinking to my own situation.

[Anonymous]

Fair enough, PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do find it interesting that there is such interest (venom) about a school (parents, children, acceptance criteria, exmissions, etc).

It's a school. It's not going to amount to a hill of beans in the end. So it does seem like the thread should have died off after page 2-3 (after the relevant details of "getting in" were established). All this other stuff is just so much blather.

If you think STA is just "a school," it's not wonder that you think this thread should have died off. STA is an institution, writ large. It is the last (perceived at least) bastion of the WASP Establishment in the D.C. area. It is the magic escalator to the future success of the scions of Washington society. No, it's not just "a school." I'm frankly surprised DCUM hasn't yet opened up a separate forum for all things STA.

[Anonymous]

I'm an STA fan but that kind of rhetoric is dated. It's not particularly WASPy; doesn't have a lock on Establishment kids; and NO SECONDARY SCHOOL in the country is a "magic escalator" anymore--college admissions has changed irrevocably. STA has a great physical location (the view of the Cathedral is spectacular), has some neat traditions, gives boys an excellent education, and its alums generally emerge with life-long friendships, but . . . Many of those things can also be said about other excellent independent schools in this area. Nothing wrong with being excited about it or wanting to go there, though--it's a great place. But though it looks like Hogwarts it's not actually magical!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do find it interesting that there is such interest (venom) about a school (parents, children, acceptance criteria, exmissions, etc).

It's a school. It's not going to amount to a hill of beans in the end. So it does seem like the thread should have died off after page 2-3 (after the relevant details of "getting in" were established). All this other stuff is just so much blather.

If you think STA is just "a school," it's not wonder that you think this thread should have died off. STA is an institution, writ large. It is the last (perceived at least) bastion of the WASP Establishment in the D.C. area. It is the magic escalator to the future success of the scions of Washington society. No, it's not just "a school." I'm frankly surprised DCUM hasn't yet opened up a separate forum for all things STA.

I sense irony.
Listen, whatever you feel, I'm going to make a plea here. Could you please post your sentiments without rolling out the same tired vocabulary? There is only so much one can take of these words "bastion", "vitriol", "establishment","Washington Cave Dwellers", and these other odd terms you cling to whenever you see a Cathedral thread pop up.

[Anonymous]

It is extremely interesting that you say that STA is the last of the WASP establishments in the DC area. STA and many other schools are equally diverse. I beleive that STA is leading in that category. I have read other threads that suggest that other races are quite welcomed there. It is classy and knowledgeable to embrace differences in people. This is simply where our elite society is going now. It is still however a launching pad for the those destined for greatness however, it doesn't belong to the WASP anymore. My research tells me that anyone with leadership capabilities has a decent chance of getting in. STA is attainable for everyone. I am not quite sure about several other independent schools but STA has open doors. If one can do the work then he can reap the benefits of such an institution. Indeed STA is the great institution everyone thinks it is but not exlusive by any stretch of the imagination. What is the deal with that mentality, imean in regards to STA?.