Getting into St. Albans

[Anonymous]

None of the NMSF semi-finalists entered after 9th grade, and a number came in 4th grade ("C Form") via Beauvoir or at another Lower School entry point. I still don't know why ninth grade entries at a school where 9th grade is an entry year would be "ringers."

[Anonymous]

What percentage, ratio or proportion of these finalists came in Grade C? A "number" much to vague given the propensity for hyperbole on these boards.

[Anonymous]

Let me go back to the C Form class list from 2002 to check, so that I can satisfy DCUM skeptics . . . NOT. If you care that much, call STA Admissions and see if they'll tell you. They get smart kids at every entry year, including ninth grade, and rarely have ANY admits after 9th grade. Why is this controversial in any way shape or form?

[Anonymous]

I'll prefer to wait for you to get back to us.

[Anonymous]

What percentage, ratio or proportion of these finalists came in Grade C? A "number" much to vague given the propensity for hyperbole on these boards.

The poster is spot on.

[Anonymous]

Let me go back to the C Form class list from 2002 to check, so that I can satisfy DCUM skeptics . . . NOT. If you care that much, call STA Admissions and see if they'll tell you. They get smart kids at every entry year, including ninth grade, and rarely have ANY admits after 9th grade. Why is this controversial in any way shape or form?

I don't think the poster cares that much, certainly not as much as you, since you are the one spewing out information about NMSF that came from Form C. The question posed is reasonable but tail between your legs like a hare in the wind you are asking the poster to call the admission office? You're not making a credible case for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What percentage, ratio or proportion of these finalists came in Grade C? A "number" much to vague given the propensity for hyperbole on these boards.

The poster is spot on.

Okay, you convinced us! Ringers one and all. I hear the STA Admissions Director goes to middle school math meets and offers iPads to top scorers to get them to apply to STA. (I think he's also been seen at "It's Academic" trying to pick off the good public school teams.) Every one of those kids is probably receiving under the table payments, sports cars, and the like--Reggie Bush, eat your heart out!

[Anonymous]

Tomorrow I will try to find an old class list--I'm curious now as to the answer. I won't have any way of knowing how many went to Beauvoir, though, if that's what is driving the debate, but if I have an old list I can tell what 2011 seniors came to Upper School via the STA lower school.

[Anonymous]

Okay, you convinced us! Ringers one and all. I hear the STA Admissions Director goes to middle school math meets and offers iPads to top scorers to get them to apply to STA. (I think he's also been seen at "It's Academic" trying to pick off the good public school teams.) Every one of those kids is probably receiving under the table payments, sports cars, and the like--Reggie Bush, eat your heart out!

Don't be surprised I have certainly met STA coaches at several of our large Maryland club athletic events (and it wasn't because they had kids competing in these events)!!!!
You bet the STA Admissions Director keeps the eyes and ears on potential intellectual talent in the area. If this was not the case he would not be doing his job. The inducements you enumerate probably border on hyperbole. You are not given the Admission Director any credit for native smarts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Let me go back to the C Form class list from 2002 to check, so that I can satisfy DCUM skeptics . . . NOT. If you care that much, call STA Admissions and see if they'll tell you. They get smart kids at every entry year, including ninth grade, and rarely have ANY admits after 9th grade. Why is this controversial in any way shape or form?

I don't think the poster cares that much, certainly not as much as you, since you are the one spewing out information about NMSF that came from Form C. The question posed is reasonable but tail between your legs like a hare in the wind you are asking the poster to call the admission office? You're not making a credible case for yourself.

Are the tails of hares long enough to go between their legs?

[Anonymous]

Okay! The debate made me curious, so I dug out some old class lists. Here we go:
There were 12 total NMSF Semifinalists out of a senior class of 82: that is 14.6%
There were an additional 24 NMSF Commended students: 29.2% of senior class
thus, 43.9% ((12+24)/82) of the senior class had some NMS recognition

Of the 12 Semifinalists:
33% started at STA in grade 4 (C Form); size of C Form was 39 kids
66% came to STA upper school from lower school and were there by 7th grade; size of 7th grade 63 kids
100% were at STA by start of 9th grade

For the 36 total students with NMS recognition:
30.5% began in C Form/4th grade
69.4% came to STA upper school from lower school and were there by 7th grade
100% were at STA by start of 9th grade

[Anonymous]

I think the "ringers" referred to students brought in at grade nine. It appears applicants were very strong in the middle school years as well. Here is another way to look at these numbers.

For the 36 total students with NMS recognition:
30.5% began in C Form/4th grade
11 students out of a total of 39 28%

38.9% were admitted between 4th and 7th grade
14 students out of a total of 24 58%

30.5% came to the school as freshman

11 students out of a total of 19 58%




I know that I do not have the real hard numbers here but the trend seems to be consistent as the class expands from 4th grade through upper school.

[Anonymous]

Good post, 08:32. Maybe I have a different definition of "ringer," but ninth grade entry in a school where ninth grade is a major entry point would not connote "ringer" status (with its overtones of illegitimacy) to me. But I'm willing to admit that I'm debating a peripheral issue. Good results, and good luck to these young men of the class of 2011 as they go through the rite of passage of college applications!

[Anonymous]

Completely agree. Great results. Any news from NCS regarding their NMSF?

[Anonymous]

Sometimes NCS as a matter of policy does not publicize award/prize winner type things to the same degree as STA. I can't remember if or how they've announced NMSFs in the past, although I've seen data on one of SAM2's excellent spreadsheets so it must come out eventually.