Getting into St. Albans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA is not all that it's cracked up to be. We are a current family, and while we are generally happy, the school has disappointed in multiple respects.

What grade is your son? Or can you say just upper or lower school? Roughly how long have you been there? And please specify the "multiple respects" in which you have been disappointed.

Different poster but with similar sentiment. Rather than a brotherhood, St Albans can be like a frat, where the sporty kids rule. And do not get me started on the parents...let me just say that it is like high school all over again where if you are not attractive,you might as well be invisible.

I disagree. STA is an amazing school and it does all it can do to encourage community among the boys. The boys seem ..to get along and all be friends on some level at school. STA can't control what happens outside of school, although it would be nice if they gave parents the same lecture on kindness and creating a community that the boys receive because while most are nice, a few could be reminded. Regarding the parents, it really depends on the grade. We have two children and one grade the parents are nice and inclusive and the other has a few gossipy cliquey moms that are creating a very divided class with their actions. So, this is not a STA problem but rather a parent problem.

NP. We are seriously looking at STA for our son and, as much as I hate to ask this, I'm wondering if someone would be brave enough to comment on this further. We're at another independent school now and know exactly how this works -- some grades just click better than others with the parents and the kids too. Would anyone offer an opinion as to the "nicest" classes of parents and/or boys in STA lower division?

Ha. You sound almost believable, rather than trollish, so I will bite. If you really want the skinny, you have to be more specific about the grade you are eyeing. As a general matter, of course, it will depend on a lot of things. I have found that Beauvor aside, classes just seem "nicer" or at least more interesting when they are made up of families from a wide range of schools, including publics. Otherwise, some classes start up already with built in cliques. It also helps when the most involved moms (class moms, activity coordinating moms, and sports booster moms) are nice. They can set the tone for everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA is not all that it's cracked up to be. We are a current family, and while we are generally happy, the school has disappointed in multiple respects.

What grade is your son? Or can you say just upper or lower school? Roughly how long have you been there? And please specify the "multiple respects" in which you have been disappointed.

Different poster but with similar sentiment. Rather than a brotherhood, St Albans can be like a frat, where the sporty kids rule. And do not get me started on the parents...let me just say that it is like high school all over again where if you are not attractive,you might as well be invisible.

I disagree. STA is an amazing school and it does all it can do to encourage community among the boys. The boys seem to get along and all be friends on some level at school. STA can't control what happens outside of school, although it would be nice if they gave parents the same lecture on kindness and creating a community that the boys receive because while most are nice, a few could be reminded. Regarding the parents, it really depends on the grade. We have two children and one grade the parents are nice and inclusive and the other has a few gossipy cliquey moms that are creating a very divided class with their actions. So, this is not a STA problem but rather a parent problem.

NP. We are seriously looking at STA for our son and, as much as I hate to ask this, I'm wondering if someone would be brave enough to comment on this further. We're at another independent school now and know exactly how this works -- some grades just click better than others with the parents and the kids too. Would anyone offer an opinion as to the "nicest" classes of parents and/or boys in STA lower division?

Stir pot, much ?

Really, you " just want to know which STA class is nice and which not so nice" and want that posted on a public forum because, heaven help your DC, if you don't pre-sceen his potential friends ( all of them ) he might not have a perfect childhood. Oops, STA is a MS/HS. Correction, you wish to steam roll the path for his adolescence....

Good grief !

Thank you, but comments from people who have obviously never set foot on STA's campus are really not helpful.

[Anonymous]

3rd grade DS had a very strong WISC score. I am concerned about the testing done for candidates at STA. What kind of performance is needed on that day? Would he need 80 or even 90% right? What if he totally bombs, but all other parts of the application are very strong? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3rd grade DS had a very strong WISC score. I am concerned about the testing done for candidates at STA. What kind of performance is needed on that day? Would he need 80 or even 90% right? What if he totally bombs, but all other parts of the application are very strong? Thanks.

My DS had pretty high WISC and other intelligence tests (99th%), but he was slower than some of the other boys on the STA test. He was waitlisted, which I'm told is a real waitlist. He could have been flat out rejected. Anyway, we're not applying this year (5th grade), because it's not an entrance year. Zero attrition is what I understand. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA is not all that it's cracked up to be. We are a current family, and while we are generally happy, the school has disappointed in multiple respects.

What grade is your son? Or can you say just upper or lower school? Roughly how long have you been there? And please specify the "multiple respects" in which you have been disappointed.

Different poster but with similar sentiment. Rather than a brotherhood, St Albans can be like a frat, where the sporty kids rule. And do not get me started on the parents...let me just say that it is like high school all over again where if you are not attractive,you might as well be invisible.

I disagree. STA is an amazing school and it does all it can do to encourage community among the boys. The boys seem to get along and all be friends on some level at school. STA can't control what happens outside of school, although it would be nice if they gave parents the same lecture on kindness and creating a community that the boys receive because while most are nice, a few could be reminded. Regarding the parents, it really depends on the grade. We have two children and one grade the parents are nice and inclusive and the other has a few gossipy cliquey moms that are creating a very divided class with their actions. So, this is not a STA problem but rather a parent problem.

NP. We are seriously looking at STA for our son and, as much as I hate to ask this, I'm wondering if someone would be brave enough to comment on this further. We're at another independent school now and know exactly how this works -- some grades just click better than others with the parents and the kids too. Would anyone offer an opinion as to the "nicest" classes of parents and/or boys in STA lower division?

Stir pot, much ?

Really, you " just want to know which STA class is nice and which not so nice" and want that posted on a public forum because, heaven help your DC, if you don't pre-sceen his potential friends ( all of them ) he might not have a perfect childhood. Oops, STA is a MS/HS. Correction, you wish to steam roll the path for his adolescence....

Good grief !

Thank you, but comments from people who have obviously never set foot on STA's campus are really not helpful.

All the stone bulldogs lined up at Senior Circle last Friday with ties on them were really cute.

[Anonymous]

Any expected openings for 10th grade next year?

[Anonymous]

Don't send your son to Beauvior instead pay for singing lessons (include sight reading) and apply for 4th grade along with entry into the Washington Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys. Your DS stands a better chance of being admitted with this method. The bonus is the stipend paid directly to STA by the Cathedral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any expected openings for 10th grade next year?

Only if your son has a good play date during the admissions process. Bad play dates are really bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't send your son to Beauvior instead pay for singing lessons (include sight reading) and apply for 4th grade along with entry into the Washington Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys. Your DS stands a better chance of being admitted with this method. The bonus is the stipend paid directly to STA by the Cathedral.

This actually made me laugh out loud.

Beauvoir mom here who can clarify this. Yes, there is an opportunity for all applicants for fourth grade to apply for the choristers program. However, the boy must apply to the school as well and two separate admissions decisions are made. It is possible and often happens that a boy gets a yes from the choristers but a no from the school. He could also get a yes from the school but a no from choristers.

Good luck to all who are applying!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any expected openings for 10th grade next year?

Only if your son has a good play date during the admissions process. Bad play dates are really bad.

Too perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I gather STA does its own testing. The 120 number, however, looks like a WISC number. I am not really interested in the STA number since our son has not taked that test and we have no ability to compare it with anything. But my son just took the WISC test, and we are thinking of possibly applying to STA. What does STA expect in terms of WISC? What range? How about the ERBs? My son scored 118 on WISC and mostly 7 to 8s one the ERBs. Otherwise, an above average kid in all areas, of course.

It's not a WISC score, it's from the Otis Lemon Intelligence Test. STA uses the OLIT as their admission test.

From Beauvoir apps they expect to see at least a 120, but will accept a lower score depending on other criteria.

Question for St. Albans parents out there with an average or above average child (strictly meaning less than 120 WISC) - does your child struggle with the work required by St. Albans? I know motivation factors into what kids (and people in general) are capable of accomplishing. But I'm wondering (if DS is fortunate to get accepted) if we're setting him up for failure or creating a situation where he may be stressed out or lacking in confidence. Any thoughts?

1) Smart

2) Athletic

3) Good looking

4) From money

5) Powerful/connected parent(s).

These are the ingredients for success at STA. If your DS only has one of the above, he will likely find it hard to succeed at STA. Two or more, and DS will be just fine.

This sounds like a recipe for creating a douche bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I gather STA does its own testing. The 120 number, however, looks like a WISC number. I am not really interested in the STA number since our son has not taked that test and we have no ability to compare it with anything. But my son just took the WISC test, and we are thinking of possibly applying to STA. What does STA expect in terms of WISC? What range? How about the ERBs? My son scored 118 on WISC and mostly 7 to 8s one the ERBs. Otherwise, an above average kid in all areas, of course.

It's not a WISC score, it's from the Otis Lemon Intelligence Test. STA uses the OLIT as their admission test.

From Beauvoir apps they expect to see at least a 120, but will accept a lower score depending on other criteria.

Question for St. Albans parents out there with an average or above average child (strictly meaning less than 120 WISC) - does your child struggle with the work required by St. Albans? I know motivation factors into what kids (and people in general) are capable of accomplishing. But I'm wondering (if DS is fortunate to get accepted) if we're setting him up for failure or creating a situation where he may be stressed out or lacking in confidence. Any thoughts?

1) Smart

2) Athletic

3) Good looking

4) From money

5) Powerful/connected parent(s).

These are the ingredients for success at STA. If your DS only has one of the above, he will likely find it hard to succeed at STA. Two or more, and DS will be just fine.

This sounds like a recipe for creating a douche bag.

just wondering, why are you on this thread? please go away

[Anonymous]

So other than Beauvoir, which schools do entering fourth graders often come from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: So other than Beauvoir, which schools do entering fourth graders often come from?

St Pats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: So other than Beauvoir, which schools do entering fourth graders often come from?

St Pats.

No, not a single St. Pats boy was admitted into fourth at STA in the rising C Form grade or in the rising A form grade.