Gonzaga

[Anonymous]

How competitive is Gonzaga? Coming from Arlington diocese k-8, excellent grades, got a 99 percentile on the practice HSPT, zero behavior issues, but won’t be a recruited athlete or have any other hooks.

Is this school likely, unlikely, 50/50? I just have no idea. Thanks so much for any info!

[Anonymous]

Very good chance if they can pull off a high HSPT score. Just make sure the essays are thorough and show why your child is a good fit.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure how you’d know he got a 99th percentile on a practice. If you mean 99%, then he’ll absolutely be in the 99th percentile.

Your principal might be able to give you some reassurance. Assuming you’re Catholic, your hooks are Catholic and a feeder school, which definitely “count.” Make sure there’s enthusiasm in the essay. They love families who love Gonzaga (and I mean that sincerely, people are happy partly because so many people are just really into the place. Including my family).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure how you’d know he got a 99th percentile on a practice. If you mean 99%, then he’ll absolutely be in the 99th percentile.

Your principal might be able to give you some reassurance. Assuming you’re Catholic, your hooks are Catholic and a feeder school, which definitely “count.” Make sure there’s enthusiasm in the essay. They love families who love Gonzaga (and I mean that sincerely, people are happy partly because so many people are just really into the place. Including my family).

One of the diocesan high schools offered a practice HSPT this past summer and we got the scores. It gives a lot of info including percentile overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure how you’d know he got a 99th percentile on a practice. If you mean 99%, then he’ll absolutely be in the 99th percentile.

Your principal might be able to give you some reassurance. Assuming you’re Catholic, your hooks are Catholic and a feeder school, which definitely “count.” Make sure there’s enthusiasm in the essay. They love families who love Gonzaga (and I mean that sincerely, people are happy partly because so many people are just really into the place. Including my family).

Yes, we are Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Sounds exactly like a huge proportion of the student body. Coming from a Catholic K8 that’s a known quantity. Highly likely he would be admitted.

Of course, it’s sometimes a numbers game. So, I’d have a back-up just in case.

Also, make it absolutely crystal clear that Gonzaga is your son’s #1 choice and that if he is accepted he will 100% attend. A high level of enthusiasm for the school is the coin of the realm in the Gonzaga Admissions process and in the four years you attend.

Not only should you tell that to the Gonzaga staff, you should tell the people at your K8 who will be communicating with Gonzaga. There are both formal and informal communications that go back and forth between the two and long term relationships based on trust and mutual interest.

If they sense you are “shopping around” and will compare their offer to others, that’ll hurt your son’s chances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds exactly like a huge proportion of the student body. Coming from a Catholic K8 that’s a known quantity. Highly likely he would be admitted.

Of course, it’s sometimes a numbers game. So, I’d have a back-up just in case.

Also, make it absolutely crystal clear that Gonzaga is your son’s #1 choice and that if he is accepted he will 100% attend. A high level of enthusiasm for the school is the coin of the realm in the Gonzaga Admissions process and in the four years you attend.

Not only should you tell that to the Gonzaga staff, you should tell the people at your K8 who will be communicating with Gonzaga. There are both formal and informal communications that go back and forth between the two and long term relationships based on trust and mutual interest.

If they sense you are “shopping around” and will compare their offer to others, that’ll hurt your son’s chances.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

DS is at Gonzaga and we love the school. Admissions definitely is competitive; however, coming from a Catholic k-8 with excellent grades and 99% HSPT, I think your DS’s chances of being admitted are very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is at Gonzaga and we love the school. Admissions definitely is competitive; however, coming from a Catholic k-8 with excellent grades and 99% HSPT, I think your DS’s chances of being admitted are very good.

Thank you. Hopefully he does well on the real HSPT.

[Anonymous]

Very strong candidate for Gonzaga. Got the right combination:

Strong grades
Catholic
Catholic K-8
Potentially 99% on HSPT

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP- service is a strong component. He should have volunteer hours and talk to that aspect of his life.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Likely

[Anonymous]

My DS had similar grades and HSPT, and he was offered admission as a Presidential Scholar, so maybe your son will also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS had similar grades and HSPT, and he was offered admission as a Presidential Scholar, so maybe your son will also.

Mine, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS had similar grades and HSPT, and he was offered admission as a Presidential Scholar, so maybe your son will also.

Mine did as well but he was not offered. Other students with his stats were, but the only difference is that my kid came from a public middle school. I think the combination of strong stats and Catholic K-8 makes Presidential Scholar more likely.