Georgetown Prep?

[Anonymous]

Having grown up in the area, I am shocked by the comments on Prep. (I do not have any kids there, but my brother went to Gonzaga.) I always thought the guys from Prep were nicer, classier and smarter than the other boy schools. Yes, there are some with money, but they were still nice. Gonzaga was the school with some bullies, a few of which went to a Catholic school in Chevy Chase. That said, I would be careful about making generalizations about these schools. There were plenty of nice smart boys at all of the schools. Sometimes, it is just a matter of a particular class which seems to have more cliques.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are coming from public schools for example, can you apply to just 2 of these schools as well?

No, there is no such restriction. If you're not in a parish school (and hence not taking the Archdiocese's High School Placement Test in school), I imagine you'd simply take the test at each school you apply to, as if it were the school's own unique test. Your child may end up taking the same test more than once if you apply to multiple schools that use the HSPT. I do not believe the schools share information among each other about who has applied (at least not officially), so there's no way for them to even know how many Catholic schools you apply to.

If you are in parish school and want to apply to a high school that you didn't designate as one of your two, it may be worth contacting that school's admissions office to see if they'll let your child take the test separately, as if he were an applicant from a non-parish school. Not sure if this might constitute a breach of ADW's "rules" or not, but could be worth asking. It's possible ADW could refuse to send transcripts or some such, but again, worth a shot.

[Anonymous]

21:24 poster
Well said. The few often times ruin it for the many. There ARE plenty of nice, smart, athletic and happy kids at GP (and Gonzaga too). I would caution anyone from making generalizations of a school. Each class is different and sometimes you just get a bad mix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are coming from public schools for example, can you apply to just 2 of these schools as well?

No, there is no such restriction. If you're not in a parish school (and hence not taking the Archdiocese's High School Placement Test in school), I imagine you'd simply take the test at each school you apply to, as if it were the school's own unique test. Your child may end up taking the same test more than once if you apply to multiple schools that use the HSPT. I do not believe the schools share information among each other about who has applied (at least not officially), so there's no way for them to even know how many Catholic schools you apply to.

If you are in parish school and want to apply to a high school that you didn't designate as one of your two, it may be worth contacting that school's admissions office to see if they'll let your child take the test separately, as if he were an applicant from a non-parish school. Not sure if this might constitute a breach of ADW's "rules" or not, but could be worth asking. It's possible ADW could refuse to send transcripts or some such, but again, worth a shot.

The schools that fall under the ADW rules won't permit this. If you don't get into either of your 2 you first selected and there are spaces at the others, you could be considered for one of those spaces. This is NOT the case with the list a PP made, schools that are independent of the ADW rules and test, that can be applied to in addition to the 2. St. Anselm's is an example of such a school -- administers its own test and can be applied to in addition to the 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are coming from public schools for example, can you apply to just 2 of these schools as well?

No, there is no such restriction. If you're not in a parish school (and hence not taking the Archdiocese's High School Placement Test in school), I imagine you'd simply take the test at each school you apply to, as if it were the school's own unique test. Your child may end up taking the same test more than once if you apply to multiple schools that use the HSPT. quote]

A student can only take the HSPT once and there is only room to bubble in codes for 2 schools. A kid can't re-take it at another site and designate other schools. So no matter what, if you are applying to those on that list of ADW schools - whether you are coming from public or parochial school - you can only apply to 2.

[Anonymous]

For the PPs about the bullying of Prep-- first, you are completely misinformed about your classification of "rich kids" at Prep. It's one of the most diverse communities of any of the schools in the area due to their residential boarding program that has students from all over the world. One of the notable things about Prep is their hospitality to other religions and other cultures. MANY of the atheletes are in arts and music programs as well and that is because it is encouraged by the school. The school wants the students to participate in multiple activities, NOT just athletics as PP states. Transitioning to a high school is always difficult and it typically takes a year for kids to feel like they fit in, regardless of their background and upbringing. Stating Prep is a "mean girls version of a boys school" is an unfair accusation and one that is COMPLETELY untrue. Over 100 of their students VOLUNTEER every summer and travel to New Orleans to rebuild communities and have since Katrina. My son attends this school and two have graduated from Prep. This is a great school and your accusations are insulting.

[Anonymous]

PP: We can agree to disagree. I have a brother in law who has attended only jesuit schools all his life. He fits the profile described here and the poor thing has no understanding about anything but irish catholic culture. Prep puts off people because of its arrogance. It does not matter how much money you have or how much you do for others, the question is how humble are you? EVERYONE in high school today does extensive volunteer work. Everyone. Even kids in public schools must log hours volunteering (and show proof). And, there are churces other than catholic that have various trips to provide help to others. High schools and colleges (even public) have alternative spring breaks and summer trips for wonderful volunteer trips. As a matter of fact, it is very competitive (difficult) to get an opportunity to serve with Teach for America or Peace Corp. Your just not that big a deal. And, Jesuits are not humble. If they took a vow of poverty, their vow is a joke. Walk the walk and learn how to be humble. And teach your boys that they are no better than anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are coming from public schools for example, can you apply to just 2 of these schools as well?

No, there is no such restriction. If you're not in a parish school (and hence not taking the Archdiocese's High School Placement Test in school), I imagine you'd simply take the test at each school you apply to, as if it were the school's own unique test. Your child may end up taking the same test more than once if you apply to multiple schools that use the HSPT. I do not believe the schools share information among each other about who has applied (at least not officially), so there's no way for them to even know how many Catholic schools you apply to.

If you are in parish school and want to apply to a high school that you didn't designate as one of your two, it may be worth contacting that school's admissions office to see if they'll let your child take the test separately, as if he were an applicant from a non-parish school. Not sure if this might constitute a breach of ADW's "rules" or not, but could be worth asking. It's possible ADW could refuse to send transcripts or some such, but again, worth a shot.

So following up on this what kind of preference is given to parochial school students over other applicants? I've heard stories of parents moving their kids into parish schools for middle school so as to get them into a catholic high school (driven somewhat by economics as catholic HS are significantly cheaper than private HS) so i'm assuming there is some preference. Also since there is some restrictions on # to apply i assume there is a system here to get the kids into at least one acceptable school.

[Anonymous]

[So following up on this what kind of preference is given to parochial school students over other applicants? I've heard stories of parents moving their kids into parish schools for middle school so as to get them into a catholic high school (driven somewhat by economics as catholic HS are significantly cheaper than private HS) so i'm assuming there is some preference. Also since there is some restrictions on # to apply i assume there is a system here to get the kids into at least one acceptable school.

Preference is given to parochial school students at some of the Catholic high schools (Georgetown Visi, for ex.), but not at others (such as St. Anselm's which has no such preference for either parochial school or Catholics).

[Anonymous]

Preference is given to parochial school students at some of the Catholic high schools (Georgetown Visi, for ex.), but not at others (such as St. Anselm's which has no such preference for either parochial school or Catholics).

Oh, and I realized that's unclear -- by "Catholics" I mean kids who are of Catholic faith, which some Catholic schools favor, vs. non-Catholics.

[Anonymous]

The broad brush views against Jesuits needed an alternative perspective- whether these are Jesuit priests, in Jesuit school administrations, in Jesuit organizations in this world, or students from Jesuit schools, I am sorry that you have such experiences and I'm this often happens in any population. One could counter with a long list of names - those publically recognized for their contributions to society, and noted for their good works across the globe, their ethics, and other values that would be seen as strong and admirable by people of all beliefs. Of course, the silent who work for the better of people, are not recognized publically and many of us know them as well. Hope the new year brings you encounters with these types of people. You probably won't know it at the time they are associated with Jesuits.

[Anonymous]

"One could counter with a long list of names - those publically recognized for their contributions to society, and noted for their good works across the globe, their ethics, and other values that would be seen as strong and admirable by people of all beliefs. Of course, the silent who work for the better of people, are not recognized publically and many of us know them as well"

Um, NO. Many of us don't know them as well. That is an assumption that comes accross as arrogant. Again, you're not that big a deal. As a person who has grown up catholic, I find this pius attitude a turn off.

[Anonymous]

yikes -- people are being really harsh here. Surely, G'town Prep isn't as bad as some of these posters say it is. I am Catholic, but don't have any boys. It seems that even some Catholics here really resent the Jesuits.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand the anger against the jesuits either. wow.

[Anonymous]

I agree... if the Jesuits wanted a life of wealth, don't you think they would have put ALL that education towards something that else? Prep is a great, Jesuit-run school. Sorry if you had a bad experience but your generalizations are pitiful and untrue.