Getting into St. Albans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me about what happens during the student/parent visit, please.

The boys go off in a small group of about six, with a faculty member, and the parents go off in a small group wiht one of the admissions staff for a tour of the school. I recall some parents' being obviously competitive and trying to say impressive things, other parents' asking very nitpicky questions. Afterwards, I asked my son what they had done in their group, and he said they had just sat around and talked. Did you say anything, I asked. No, he said, not a word, the whole time! Oh, no, I thought. But he did get accepted after all.

Better manners.

It also becomes clear during these interviews which boys were prompted by their parents to volunteer to say things to try to appear engaged and bright. Such a tactic tends to backfire, as those doing the evaluating figure either the parents or the boys or both are insufferable.

It's still mostly (as in overwhelmingly) about grades, recommendations, test scores and essays. The admissions staff and faculty know that parents and kids can be awkward when over eager and plenty of allowances are made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me about what happens during the student/parent visit, please.

The boys go off in a small group of about six, with a faculty member, and the parents go off in a small group wiht one of the admissions staff for a tour of the school. I recall some parents' being obviously competitive and trying to say impressive things, other parents' asking very nitpicky questions. Afterwards, I asked my son what they had done in their group, and he said they had just sat around and talked. Did you say anything, I asked. No, he said, not a word, the whole time! Oh, no, I thought. But he did get accepted after all.

Better manners.

It also becomes clear during these interviews which boys were prompted by their parents to volunteer to say things to try to appear engaged and bright. Such a tactic tends to backfire, as those doing the evaluating figure either the parents or the boys or both are insufferable.

It's still mostly (as in overwhelmingly) about grades, recommendations, test scores and essays. The admissions staff and faculty know that parents and kids can be awkward when over eager and plenty of allowances are made.

It's tempting as a parent to think that the parent who is an idiot on the tour or in a Q&A session is hurting their child's chances -- 'after all, my spouse and I came across great, so won't that help some?' but it generally just doesn't work that way. STA more than most keeps parents at a polite arms' length during their child's school career, and they just don't seem to worry too much about the off-the-wall parent in the interview process. And they also seem comfortable admitting boys of all personality types -- outgoing; reserved; quirky as all get out.

Good luck everyone, the wait will be over soon!

[Anonymous]

Did anyone get into 8th grade for next year?

[Anonymous]

To add to the previous comment; hardly anyone knows who is actually on financial aid. One home address is not the sole factor in overall wealth, and not all full pay families live in large homes in upscale neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:22 I did not write the post I agreed with it. It was thoughtful and honest.

You need to read it again and this time less defensively. The message was that some believe STA is a magic carpet ride to the Ivies. There are some harsh realities about a school with quite a few talented and ambitious students. And yes not all of the teachers are superb. Teacher quality varies everywhere, less so at STA but that is not a criticism it is an observation. Your defensiveness is silly.

Not 11:22 but I was curious and re-read the original post. It seemed quite harsh, with lines like "your son will be squeezed like a sponge" and "Good teaching is just not guaranteed at STA. In fact, if your son gets the wrong teachers, it can undermine his transcript and his college options."

You may think that sort of language is "not critical but observational" but it seems pretty critical to me. (And whenever people blame specific teachers for a college outcome, as that poster seemed to be doing, it's a red flag to me.)

No doubt everyone is bored by this parsing of the original post, by now, but fwiw I disagree with your interpretation of it.

When I look back on my HS, it was one or two great teachers that defined me. Sure, there are tough teachers at STA, but many truly great teachers. Its the great ones that define the school. With respect to college, there are many colleges which don't drill down past the STA lack of grade inflation. But enough do, a talented boy, even in mid class, will have outstanding choices. Just my experience as a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To add to the previous comment; hardly anyone knows who is actually on financial aid. One home address is not the sole factor in overall wealth, and not all full pay families live in large homes in upscale neighborhoods.

Agreed but sad when one assumes based on being a minority then openly judges it.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe someone reactivated a 2008 thread . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe someone reactivated a 2008 thread . . .

This thread has been very active since its inception.

[Anonymous]

Oh. I thought that was just the Sidwell thread. Glad I've "aged out" of this madness.

[Anonymous]

Are single parents a rarity at STA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are single parents a rarity at STA?

I definitely know of a number of single parents, right off the top of my head, who are single either because of a divorce, separation, a spouse that passed away, or a long-term decision to raise a child as a single parent. So I would definitely say "not a rarity."

[Anonymous]

If this is true . . . don't freak out.

Trite as it is, St. Albans does not accept a "family," they accept a boy. The school is very inclusive and he'll learn that. STA as an institution has a strong commitment to socio-economic diversity (they have one of the highest percentages of financial aid students/highest FA awards per student in this area). STA is also fairly clear to parents that they should stay at a reasonable distance to give their boys room to breathe/grow/learn, and it works well.

[Anonymous]

Still, the apple dont fall far...Hope this family gets it together or leaves.

[Anonymous]

Well i guess the STA parents will have to take her down a notch if they care about a toxic person like this infecting their community.

[Anonymous]

Please tell me what grade her son is entering next year. There are 4 going in to 4th and 7 in to 7th and one or two in to 9th (from St Pats). If it is a rising 4th grade parent then I know of whom you speak. If it is a rising 7th grade parent, I have no idea. Doesn't sound like anyone from that very nice class. Rising 9th I wouldn't know.