St. Albans acceptance rate = 25 to 30%?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is definitely a "look". I don't think my husband and I share it but my son has it.
Most parents do although less in the upper school. By then everyone is either haggard or has the alien/plastic surgery look.

My kid is clean cut and denied. He’s already at a boys school. I don’t know what else they want but it must be necessary to have a connection or be a minority.

I posted earlier that they wanted a certain " look". That does not mean "clean cut". It means an air of unstriving affluence. So it does have to do with the parents + students. It is like summing up horses for a race. Your breeding is being summed up.

I know during Covid interviews with candidates were done via zoom and I know some parents were not given a zoom opportunity or meeting so very communication. I do not know what you mean by breeding, that comes across to me as having a connection which is an undeniable factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is definitely a "look". I don't think my husband and I share it but my son has it.
Most parents do although less in the upper school. By then everyone is either haggard or has the alien/plastic surgery look.

My kid is clean cut and denied. He’s already at a boys school. I don’t know what else they want but it must be necessary to have a connection or be a minority.

I posted earlier that they wanted a certain " look". That does not mean "clean cut". It means an air of unstriving affluence. So it does have to do with the parents + students. It is like summing up horses for a race. Your breeding is being summed up.

I know during Covid interviews with candidates were done via zoom and I know some parents were not given a zoom opportunity or meeting so very communication. I do not know what you mean by breeding, that comes across to me as having a connection which is an undeniable factor.

* very little communication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has a point.

Most boys admitted to STA are hooked. Unhooked boys have to be better to overcome the hooks most other boys have. That’s the way it works and everyone, including you, knows it.

So some of the boys in your “everyone” got in on merit but most did not. How that worked for the PP’s son? I don’t know.

I make no apologies for that PP but you and by extension STA aren’t coming off very well in this little spat.

Who says I have kids that go to STA? I’ve never commented on what does or doesn’t happen at STA. It was a comment on her assumption that because her kid didn’t get in that decisions couldn’t have been based on merit. And my point was simply that she’s going to be whining in 6 years when she discovers college admissions works the same way.

If you don’t have a kid who attends makes your hot-headed comments even more bizarre. To be that unhinged and that invested when you don’t know or have a relationship with the school. You have no credibility and it doesn’t concern you.

well, I suppose PP doesn't have a relationship with the school now, either, does she? So she has no credibility either.

and I didn't say whether I did or did not have kids that go to STA. Whether I do or not isn't relevant to the point I was making.

PP did attempt to get in the school so they know that process. You are reactive and your posts are dramatic and low level with your snarky insults. On top of that, you reduced merit to a joke.
You could never get in that school with your behavior and you admitted that you do not have children who attend in is not in line with your bizarre reactions.

PP only knows the result of the process - a rejection. That doesn't mean she knows the process or the decision-making criteria. And she's the one, who in a fit of entitled pique, proclaimed that if her kid didn't get in, it couldn't possibly be based on merit.

I am being reactive, though, so you've got me there. I'll accept snarky, too, because that and derision is all the PP deserves at this point. Accept that your kid didn't get in, don't try to explain why and certainly don't have your explanation belittle the kids who did get in.

if you're a parent at STA, you do realize, I hope, that when PP says admissions isn't based on merit (thereby implying admits don't have it), she's talking about YOUR kid.

[Anonymous]

This thread has really devolved. Please don’t spend more time trying ascertain whether someone is sort of St Albans, been rejected etc. Doesn't really matter. But, trying to get it back to the OP, I think the admission rates varies widely by entry year, with non-entry years being the hardest to join, followed by 9th grade.

Also, if you are a minority applicant or feel like you don’t fit the STA stereotype (to paraphrase other posters) inquire about the Skip Grant program, which provides extra advising to help boys succeed at STA. These kids are incredibly talented and often trying a NW private school for the first time. Not hyperbole to say that Mr. Grant is an icon within the community and the program has really opened doors for a lot of kids over the years (he is still around campus some and the boys love to talk with him.) And it goes without saying, program adds important viewpoints and experiences to community as a whole.

Good luck to all interested boys - STA has provided a great education to my son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is definitely a "look". I don't think my husband and I share it but my son has it.
Most parents do although less in the upper school. By then everyone is either haggard or has the alien/plastic surgery look.

My kid is clean cut and denied. He’s already at a boys school. I don’t know what else they want but it must be necessary to have a connection or be a minority.

I posted earlier that they wanted a certain " look". That does not mean "clean cut". It means an air of unstriving affluence. So it does have to do with the parents + students. It is like summing up horses for a race. Your breeding is being summed up.

There is some truth to this; there is a certain "look" that speaks of affluence and it's found in spades at STA. You could put these kids in Walmart clothing and they'd still have it.
Also, regardless of looks there is a large number of boys who have charisma/leadership traits. I definitely think STA admissions prioritizes leaders over scholars or even athletes. They want the total package but they are generally looking for more than book-smarts.
They want the "it factor". They know that these kids will do very well post-graduation, whether they go to Yale or SMU.

My son is at STA and I wouldn't say he has any of these qualities. He fits in fine but he's a bit of an anomaly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think St Albans prioritizes boys from private elementary schools - I think STA is looking for boys who will stay through graduation and families who are committed to private school early demonstrate they value paying all that money for the private school experience. Further, STA knows the curriculum, teachers and culture of these places. Wouldn’t you listen to the opinion of someone you know first-hand than someone you don’t know? Same with coming from Beauvoir. They really know those kids because they came from the Close.

But don’t take that to mean that these boys are not deserving. They often are great students who achieve a lot of success at STA. Another poster mentioned that they like certain public schools more than others and this is in the same vein. They have seen students succeed and add to the community from these schools so they too seem like a known quantities.

Bottom line, there are many more qualified boys than slots. There are deserving boys who are not offered admission, certainly. I am glad there are so many private schools in the area and hopefully one of those other phenomenal choices worked out for your kid.

The boys who get in from private elementary also tend to be connected in some way. Legacy, sibling, board members, social circles. It's not a secret, the k-8 parents talk openly about this. Every school has its admissions preferences, just know that with STA (and others) straight A's and perfect recs and ECs don't mean everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has a point.

Most boys admitted to STA are hooked. Unhooked boys have to be better to overcome the hooks most other boys have. That’s the way it works and everyone, including you, knows it.

So some of the boys in your “everyone” got in on merit but most did not. How that worked for the PP’s son? I don’t know.

I make no apologies for that PP but you and by extension STA aren’t coming off very well in this little spat.

Who says I have kids that go to STA? I’ve never commented on what does or doesn’t happen at STA. It was a comment on her assumption that because her kid didn’t get in that decisions couldn’t have been based on merit. And my point was simply that she’s going to be whining in 6 years when she discovers college admissions works the same way.

If you don’t have a kid who attends makes your hot-headed comments even more bizarre. To be that unhinged and that invested when you don’t know or have a relationship with the school. You have no credibility and it doesn’t concern you.

well, I suppose PP doesn't have a relationship with the school now, either, does she? So she has no credibility either.

and I didn't say whether I did or did not have kids that go to STA. Whether I do or not isn't relevant to the point I was making.

PP did attempt to get in the school so they know that process. You are reactive and your posts are dramatic and low level with your snarky insults. On top of that, you reduced merit to a joke.
You could never get in that school with your behavior and you admitted that you do not have children who attend in is not in line with your bizarre reactions.

PP only knows the result of the process - a rejection. That doesn't mean she knows the process or the decision-making criteria. And she's the one, who in a fit of entitled pique, proclaimed that if her kid didn't get in, it couldn't possibly be based on merit.

I am being reactive, though, so you've got me there. I'll accept snarky, too, because that and derision is all the PP deserves at this point. Accept that your kid didn't get in, don't try to explain why and certainly don't have your explanation belittle the kids who did get in.

if you're a parent at STA, you do realize, I hope, that when PP says admissions isn't based on merit (thereby implying admits don't have it), she's talking about YOUR kid.

I applaud your consistency in being unhinged and bizarrely invested in something that does not involve you. Working on getting some emotional intelligence would serve you well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think St Albans prioritizes boys from private elementary schools - I think STA is looking for boys who will stay through graduation and families who are committed to private school early demonstrate they value paying all that money for the private school experience. Further, STA knows the curriculum, teachers and culture of these places. Wouldn’t you listen to the opinion of someone you know first-hand than someone you don’t know? Same with coming from Beauvoir. They really know those kids because they came from the Close.

But don’t take that to mean that these boys are not deserving. They often are great students who achieve a lot of success at STA. Another poster mentioned that they like certain public schools more than others and this is in the same vein. They have seen students succeed and add to the community from these schools so they too seem like a known quantities.

Bottom line, there are many more qualified boys than slots. There are deserving boys who are not offered admission, certainly. I am glad there are so many private schools in the area and hopefully one of those other phenomenal choices worked out for your kid.

The boys who get in from private elementary also tend to be connected in some way. Legacy, sibling, board members, social circles. It's not a secret, the k-8 parents talk openly about this. Every school has its admissions preferences, just know that with STA (and others) straight A's and perfect recs and ECs don't mean everything.

It’s all about connections, connections, connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is definitely a "look". I don't think my husband and I share it but my son has it.
Most parents do although less in the upper school. By then everyone is either haggard or has the alien/plastic surgery look.

My kid is clean cut and denied. He’s already at a boys school. I don’t know what else they want but it must be necessary to have a connection or be a minority.

I posted earlier that they wanted a certain " look". That does not mean "clean cut". It means an air of unstriving affluence. So it does have to do with the parents + students. It is like summing up horses for a race. Your breeding is being summed up.

There is some truth to this; there is a certain "look" that speaks of affluence and it's found in spades at STA. You could put these kids in Walmart clothing and they'd still have it.
Also, regardless of looks there is a large number of boys who have charisma/leadership traits. I definitely think STA admissions prioritizes leaders over scholars or even athletes. They want the total package but they are generally looking for more than book-smarts.
They want the "it factor". They know that these kids will do very well post-graduation, whether they go to Yale or SMU.

My son is at STA and I wouldn't say he has any of these qualities. He fits in fine but he's a bit of an anomaly.

This made me gag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has a point.

Most boys admitted to STA are hooked. Unhooked boys have to be better to overcome the hooks most other boys have. That’s the way it works and everyone, including you, knows it.

So some of the boys in your “everyone” got in on merit but most did not. How that worked for the PP’s son? I don’t know.

I make no apologies for that PP but you and by extension STA aren’t coming off very well in this little spat.

Who says I have kids that go to STA? I’ve never commented on what does or doesn’t happen at STA. It was a comment on her assumption that because her kid didn’t get in that decisions couldn’t have been based on merit. And my point was simply that she’s going to be whining in 6 years when she discovers college admissions works the same way.

If you don’t have a kid who attends makes your hot-headed comments even more bizarre. To be that unhinged and that invested when you don’t know or have a relationship with the school. You have no credibility and it doesn’t concern you.

well, I suppose PP doesn't have a relationship with the school now, either, does she? So she has no credibility either.

and I didn't say whether I did or did not have kids that go to STA. Whether I do or not isn't relevant to the point I was making.

PP did attempt to get in the school so they know that process. You are reactive and your posts are dramatic and low level with your snarky insults. On top of that, you reduced merit to a joke.
You could never get in that school with your behavior and you admitted that you do not have children who attend in is not in line with your bizarre reactions.

PP only knows the result of the process - a rejection. That doesn't mean she knows the process or the decision-making criteria. And she's the one, who in a fit of entitled pique, proclaimed that if her kid didn't get in, it couldn't possibly be based on merit.

I am being reactive, though, so you've got me there. I'll accept snarky, too, because that and derision is all the PP deserves at this point. Accept that your kid didn't get in, don't try to explain why and certainly don't have your explanation belittle the kids who did get in.

if you're a parent at STA, you do realize, I hope, that when PP says admissions isn't based on merit (thereby implying admits don't have it), she's talking about YOUR kid.

Plenty of Albans parents readily admitted on this thread that the school doesn’t fully base decisions on merit. They’ve included other reasons such as a “look.”
You yourself dismissed merit anyway and then rage about one saying it’s not solely based on that. You are also not at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has a point.

Most boys admitted to STA are hooked. Unhooked boys have to be better to overcome the hooks most other boys have. That’s the way it works and everyone, including you, knows it.

So some of the boys in your “everyone” got in on merit but most did not. How that worked for the PP’s son? I don’t know.

I make no apologies for that PP but you and by extension STA aren’t coming off very well in this little spat.

Who says I have kids that go to STA? I’ve never commented on what does or doesn’t happen at STA. It was a comment on her assumption that because her kid didn’t get in that decisions couldn’t have been based on merit. And my point was simply that she’s going to be whining in 6 years when she discovers college admissions works the same way.

If you don’t have a kid who attends makes your hot-headed comments even more bizarre. To be that unhinged and that invested when you don’t know or have a relationship with the school. You have no credibility and it doesn’t concern you.

well, I suppose PP doesn't have a relationship with the school now, either, does she? So she has no credibility either.

and I didn't say whether I did or did not have kids that go to STA. Whether I do or not isn't relevant to the point I was making.

PP did attempt to get in the school so they know that process. You are reactive and your posts are dramatic and low level with your snarky insults. On top of that, you reduced merit to a joke.
You could never get in that school with your behavior and you admitted that you do not have children who attend in is not in line with your bizarre reactions.

PP only knows the result of the process - a rejection. That doesn't mean she knows the process or the decision-making criteria. And she's the one, who in a fit of entitled pique, proclaimed that if her kid didn't get in, it couldn't possibly be based on merit.

I am being reactive, though, so you've got me there. I'll accept snarky, too, because that and derision is all the PP deserves at this point. Accept that your kid didn't get in, don't try to explain why and certainly don't have your explanation belittle the kids who did get in.

if you're a parent at STA, you do realize, I hope, that when PP says admissions isn't based on merit (thereby implying admits don't have it), she's talking about YOUR kid.

Do you inject yourself into every situation that you have no involvement in or understanding of? Such as children whining at parents in public or airlplane seat
disputes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has a point.

Most boys admitted to STA are hooked. Unhooked boys have to be better to overcome the hooks most other boys have. That’s the way it works and everyone, including you, knows it.

So some of the boys in your “everyone” got in on merit but most did not. How that worked for the PP’s son? I don’t know.

I make no apologies for that PP but you and by extension STA aren’t coming off very well in this little spat.

Who says I have kids that go to STA? I’ve never commented on what does or doesn’t happen at STA. It was a comment on her assumption that because her kid didn’t get in that decisions couldn’t have been based on merit. And my point was simply that she’s going to be whining in 6 years when she discovers college admissions works the same way.

Reminder: these posters are only speculating. No matter how insistent they may be. I wouldn’t put any stock into it.


If you don’t have a kid who attends makes your hot-headed comments even more bizarre. To be that unhinged and that invested when you don’t know or have a relationship with the school. You have no credibility and it doesn’t concern you.

well, I suppose PP doesn't have a relationship with the school now, either, does she? So she has no credibility either.

and I didn't say whether I did or did not have kids that go to STA. Whether I do or not isn't relevant to the point I was making.

PP did attempt to get in the school so they know that process. You are reactive and your posts are dramatic and low level with your snarky insults. On top of that, you reduced merit to a joke.
You could never get in that school with your behavior and you admitted that you do not have children who attend in is not in line with your bizarre reactions.

PP only knows the result of the process - a rejection. That doesn't mean she knows the process or the decision-making criteria. And she's the one, who in a fit of entitled pique, proclaimed that if her kid didn't get in, it couldn't possibly be based on merit.

I am being reactive, though, so you've got me there. I'll accept snarky, too, because that and derision is all the PP deserves at this point. Accept that your kid didn't get in, don't try to explain why and certainly don't have your explanation belittle the kids who did get in.

if you're a parent at STA, you do realize, I hope, that when PP says admissions isn't based on merit (thereby implying admits don't have it), she's talking about YOUR kid.

Plenty of Albans parents readily admitted on this thread that the school doesn’t fully base decisions on merit. They’ve included other reasons such as a “look.”
You yourself dismissed merit anyway and then rage about one saying it’s not solely based on that. You are also not at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think St Albans prioritizes boys from private elementary schools - I think STA is looking for boys who will stay through graduation and families who are committed to private school early demonstrate they value paying all that money for the private school experience. Further, STA knows the curriculum, teachers and culture of these places. Wouldn’t you listen to the opinion of someone you know first-hand than someone you don’t know? Same with coming from Beauvoir. They really know those kids because they came from the Close.

But don’t take that to mean that these boys are not deserving. They often are great students who achieve a lot of success at STA. Another poster mentioned that they like certain public schools more than others and this is in the same vein. They have seen students succeed and add to the community from these schools so they too seem like a known quantities.

Bottom line, there are many more qualified boys than slots. There are deserving boys who are not offered admission, certainly. I am glad there are so many private schools in the area and hopefully one of those other phenomenal choices worked out for your kid.

The boys who get in from private elementary also tend to be connected in some way. Legacy, sibling, board members, social circles. It's not a secret, the k-8 parents talk openly about this. Every school has its admissions preferences, just know that with STA (and others) straight A's and perfect recs and ECs don't mean everything.

It’s all about connections, connections, connections.

Yeah, that’s kind of why the school is associated with country clubs all the time.

[Anonymous]

Best advice is don’t waste you time and money with applying unless you have a strong connection. And save your child from the rejection when there never is a chance without that connection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best advice is don’t waste you time and money with applying unless you have a strong connection. And save your child from the rejection when there never is a chance without that connection.

+1