Is St. John's Becoming an IMG?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s telling that most of the kids in the Benilde program (academic support) are athletes. In fact, many of the coaches are tutors in this program. My daughter is an athlete at the school and reports that those recruited for varsity scholarships as freshman had HSPT scores in the 30% range - way below the norm!

This is interesting. My non-athletic kid applied to Benilde and I was hoping it wasn’t a program with just athletes.

It's not just athletes. My sophmore dd is not an athlete and has several friends that aren't either.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The girls’ sports teams are just as strong - if not stronger- than the boys’. And honestly, the school really does have something for everyone. My DC isn’t sporty at all, but they love SJC and are involved in lots of academic and arts-focused activities. At the same time, they’ve made great friends with plenty of athletic kids too, including some star athletes. The idea that students are all boxed into separate groups doesn’t really hold true at a school like SJC.

I, too, have a DD applicant. She plays several sports but is not a star. My concern is that at SJC she won't be able to play because the teams are so intense. Is this a fair concern?

If your daughter wants to play her sport and she is, as you say, not a star, I would recommend a smaller school not as focused on sports. SJC is a destination for strong athletes, so you daughter will most likely ride the bench her entire four years.

Depends on the sport.

Any particular sports you can comment on?

Last I heard crew, swim and cross country/track were no cut. SJC has a fun equestrian team if your daughter rides horses.

Not accurate. Cross country/track is cut.

This is interesting because Coach D said the opposite at the open house this fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The girls’ sports teams are just as strong - if not stronger- than the boys’. And honestly, the school really does have something for everyone. My DC isn’t sporty at all, but they love SJC and are involved in lots of academic and arts-focused activities. At the same time, they’ve made great friends with plenty of athletic kids too, including some star athletes. The idea that students are all boxed into separate groups doesn’t really hold true at a school like SJC.

I, too, have a DD applicant. She plays several sports but is not a star. My concern is that at SJC she won't be able to play because the teams are so intense. Is this a fair concern?

This is not a concern. There are plenty of non intense teams for girls. Mine picked up hockey at SJC. I had another who did cadet corp and theater. She was on raiders too which she was terrible at but the team was a lot of fun.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The girls’ sports teams are just as strong - if not stronger- than the boys’. And honestly, the school really does have something for everyone. My DC isn’t sporty at all, but they love SJC and are involved in lots of academic and arts-focused activities. At the same time, they’ve made great friends with plenty of athletic kids too, including some star athletes. The idea that students are all boxed into separate groups doesn’t really hold true at a school like SJC.

I, too, have a DD applicant. She plays several sports but is not a star. My concern is that at SJC she won't be able to play because the teams are so intense. Is this a fair concern?

If your daughter wants to play her sport and she is, as you say, not a star, I would recommend a smaller school not as focused on sports. SJC is a destination for strong athletes, so you daughter will most likely ride the bench her entire four years.

Depends on the sport.

Any particular sports you can comment on?

Last I heard crew, swim and cross country/track were no cut. SJC has a fun equestrian team if your daughter rides horses.

Not accurate. Cross country/track is cut.

This is interesting because Coach D said the opposite at the open house this fall.

It isn't cut. Sure if they have a ton of kids they may have to limit for some meets for transportation. A lot of kids only do the practices.

[Anonymous]

This info about girls' sports is really helpful. Thank you all for posting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is absolutely happening. They started the process by reaching out to local kids who were the top players on their teams, in an effort to get them to transfer. They would even take a senior transfer, like Bullis and Prep do for football.
I will be curious to see who they end up getting to come over.

The word is that a number of Good Counsel players have already committed.

GC’s football coach got fired after the season and has been hired at SJC. GC players committing to move would not surprise me.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

The aid is obviously for star athletes whether they need it or not.

Note: a star athlete is actively recruited by multiple schools, so the aid (read: full ride) is offered as a carrot.

And it gets better:

Does your school have a star athlete from another country or out of state?

If so, those kids sometimes live with a host family whose own kid gets a tuition discount or full ride. I know two area privates that have done this/are currently doing this.

And your full tuition covers this.

(Not that you’ll answer this, but) which two schools?

I mean, everyone can probably guess the two—but the reality is most schools known for sports does this.

I know boys who were aggressively recruited. All the usual suspect schools threw money at them despite the fact that the families were objectively affluent.

I also know of an athlete from another state currently attending an area private. Full ride for the athlete, and free tuition for the family hosting him.

And I know another family at a different school that hosted an international student athlete. Same deal: free ride for the athlete and the host family’s student.

As a full-pay family, I cannot for the life of me understand why athletics are prioritized to the extent they are. They must bring in significant money for the schools, but I can’t understand how exactly.

Competition and school spirit. It’s the same way in college sports. If you field a team, you want to win. You want the student body to be proud of their athletes. Come together to support.

Nah. As was said upthread, football does not draw an especially large amount of spectators at SJC. Students have their own sports and other activities. Nobody is choosing SJC for the opportunity to watch a football game, even less so if the game is off in California or Texas.

The question is not whether SJC has a good sports program. The question is why it puts so much emphasis on a few sports like baseball - and now maybe football - that normally talented students can't play.

Part of the problem leading to lack of attendance at SJC football games is the Saturday afternoon games instead of Friday. My SJC grad child went to more games at the other area WCAC schools on Friday nights than SJC games. Part of it was because my child had sports commitments of their own on Saturdays.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

The aid is obviously for star athletes whether they need it or not.

Note: a star athlete is actively recruited by multiple schools, so the aid (read: full ride) is offered as a carrot.

And it gets better:

Does your school have a star athlete from another country or out of state?

If so, those kids sometimes live with a host family whose own kid gets a tuition discount or full ride. I know two area privates that have done this/are currently doing this.

And your full tuition covers this.

(Not that you’ll answer this, but) which two schools?

I mean, everyone can probably guess the two—but the reality is most schools known for sports does this.

I know boys who were aggressively recruited. All the usual suspect schools threw money at them despite the fact that the families were objectively affluent.

I also know of an athlete from another state currently attending an area private. Full ride for the athlete, and free tuition for the family hosting him.

And I know another family at a different school that hosted an international student athlete. Same deal: free ride for the athlete and the host family’s student.

As a full-pay family, I cannot for the life of me understand why athletics are prioritized to the extent they are. They must bring in significant money for the schools, but I can’t understand how exactly.

Maybe this will help you understand.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/under-armour-founder-gives-16m-to-dc-hs-alma-mater/109734/?amp=1

Kevin would have given SJC millions regardless of whether the football team was playing well. After all, SJC took him in when he was kicked out of Gtown Prep.

He similarly gave $ to HR (where he attended k-8), and HR has never been a sports powerhouse.

Lots of alums who get lucky and strike it rich make gifts to their former schools, but that doesn’t explain why schools over-emphasize certain athletic programs by giving free rides to athletes who otherwise wouldn’t set foot in the school.

Certain events with strong programs draw prospective families to campuses. Football games attract thousands every week during the fall. A strong theater program can also be simarly impactful. It helps showcase the beauty of your campus and might generate further curiosity into your academic and other programs.
It can also help with media attention- look at what PVI basketball is doing for a school that many hadn't heard of before.

Isn't SJC already attracting applicants?

Yes.

They had something ridiculous like 1,500 applicants for 350 seats.

They certainly don’t need a good football team to attract applicants.

To maintain it and shape the class the way that you want, yes you do.

Then how come Sidwell, GDS, etc. don’t need a good football team? Or even Prep or Gonzaga?

They have established a strong academic reputation.
Prep and Gonzaga kind of have both with a STRONG old boys network of alumni support that helps sustain their reputation.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

The aid is obviously for star athletes whether they need it or not.

Note: a star athlete is actively recruited by multiple schools, so the aid (read: full ride) is offered as a carrot.

And it gets better:

Does your school have a star athlete from another country or out of state?

If so, those kids sometimes live with a host family whose own kid gets a tuition discount or full ride. I know two area privates that have done this/are currently doing this.

And your full tuition covers this.

(Not that you’ll answer this, but) which two schools?

I mean, everyone can probably guess the two—but the reality is most schools known for sports does this.

I know boys who were aggressively recruited. All the usual suspect schools threw money at them despite the fact that the families were objectively affluent.

I also know of an athlete from another state currently attending an area private. Full ride for the athlete, and free tuition for the family hosting him.

And I know another family at a different school that hosted an international student athlete. Same deal: free ride for the athlete and the host family’s student.

As a full-pay family, I cannot for the life of me understand why athletics are prioritized to the extent they are. They must bring in significant money for the schools, but I can’t understand how exactly.

Maybe this will help you understand.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/under-armour-founder-gives-16m-to-dc-hs-alma-mater/109734/?amp=1

Kevin would have given SJC millions regardless of whether the football team was playing well. After all, SJC took him in when he was kicked out of Gtown Prep.

He similarly gave $ to HR (where he attended k-8), and HR has never been a sports powerhouse.

Lots of alums who get lucky and strike it rich make gifts to their former schools, but that doesn’t explain why schools over-emphasize certain athletic programs by giving free rides to athletes who otherwise wouldn’t set foot in the school.

Certain events with strong programs draw prospective families to campuses. Football games attract thousands every week during the fall. A strong theater program can also be simarly impactful. It helps showcase the beauty of your campus and might generate further curiosity into your academic and other programs.
It can also help with media attention- look at what PVI basketball is doing for a school that many hadn't heard of before.

Isn't SJC already attracting applicants?

Yes.

They had something ridiculous like 1,500 applicants for 350 seats.

They certainly don’t need a good football team to attract applicants.

To maintain it and shape the class the way that you want, yes you do.

Then how come Sidwell, GDS, etc. don’t need a good football team? Or even Prep or Gonzaga?

The prep and Gonzaga dads are about to come at you… AT YOU… for saying they don’t have a good football program.

Sidwell and GDS will never have a good football program… so why try

The reality is our area needs good football programs, it needs good basketball programs, it needs good science program programs, it needs good theater program programs… y’all mad because they have good programs?

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU!

Why "TF" are you equating sports and academics? It's a school, not the NFL.

Students who go to SJC can play football. Unless, of course, they recruit super hard for football such that only the new recruits can play.

Sigh.

When they aggressively recruit kids who aren’t catholic and aren’t equipped to handle the academics from far-flung public schools to play football or basketball and give them a full scholarship for sports then that begs the question “why”.

I assume the school somehow benefits financially despite subsidizing tuition. And I suppose that answers the OP’s question.

I mean, SJC imported a basketball player from another country a number of years ago. Why? It’s weird, right?

Bullis, GC, and even GP recruiter and subsidize star athletes.

Apparently sports matter, so maybe SJC will go national.

Why do you assume they are Catholic? That was a bold and unnecessary statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s telling that most of the kids in the Benilde program (academic support) are athletes. In fact, many of the coaches are tutors in this program. My daughter is an athlete at the school and reports that those recruited for varsity scholarships as freshman had HSPT scores in the 30% range - way below the norm!

Whoah! How does your daughter know their HSPT scores???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s telling that most of the kids in the Benilde program (academic support) are athletes. In fact, many of the coaches are tutors in this program. My daughter is an athlete at the school and reports that those recruited for varsity scholarships as freshman had HSPT scores in the 30% range - way below the norm!

Whoah! How does your daughter know their HSPT scores???

At orientation everyone gets in a circle and says their name, their HSPT score, and how fast they run the 40 yd dash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s telling that most of the kids in the Benilde program (academic support) are athletes. In fact, many of the coaches are tutors in this program. My daughter is an athlete at the school and reports that those recruited for varsity scholarships as freshman had HSPT scores in the 30% range - way below the norm!

Whoah! How does your daughter know their HSPT scores???

At orientation everyone gets in a circle and says their name, their HSPT score, and how fast they run the 40 yd dash.

Please tell me this is a joke right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s telling that most of the kids in the Benilde program (academic support) are athletes. In fact, many of the coaches are tutors in this program. My daughter is an athlete at the school and reports that those recruited for varsity scholarships as freshman had HSPT scores in the 30% range - way below the norm!

Whoah! How does your daughter know their HSPT scores???

At orientation everyone gets in a circle and says their name, their HSPT score, and how fast they run the 40 yd dash.

Please tell me this is a joke right?

Of course

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s telling that most of the kids in the Benilde program (academic support) are athletes. In fact, many of the coaches are tutors in this program. My daughter is an athlete at the school and reports that those recruited for varsity scholarships as freshman had HSPT scores in the 30% range - way below the norm!

Whoah! How does your daughter know their HSPT scores???

At orientation everyone gets in a circle and says their name, their HSPT score, and how fast they run the 40 yd dash.

I found this quite funny but I know a lot of us are on edge this week!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s telling that most of the kids in the Benilde program (academic support) are athletes. In fact, many of the coaches are tutors in this program. My daughter is an athlete at the school and reports that those recruited for varsity scholarships as freshman had HSPT scores in the 30% range - way below the norm!

Whoah! How does your daughter know their HSPT scores???

Lolz