St Albans vs St Anselm's

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One additional nuance is that SAAS emphasizes AP classes while I don't believe STA offers AP classes at all. My son finished SAAS with 13 or 14 AP exams which earned him college credits and allowed him to skip introductory level college classes. As a result, he graduated in 3.5 years in a STEM field from a Top-15 (and only needed to take 3 classes his last semester).

This is blatantly false.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, despite the apparent academic rigor of SAAS, the Instagram list of college acceptances in years past has been pretty meh. A lot of second tier Catholic schools. I realize that STA doesn't post and others are obviously not a complete list, but the schools have been solidly 50-200 with a few outliers. They wipe out the previous list every year, but the two so far for '25 are Davidson and Alabama (with the former as an athletic recruit).

These posts are so obnoxious. Please stop. If 40 percent of SAAS kids are on financial aid then they may opt to go to schools that are throwing merit aid at their kids and yes if you are a great applicant with high stats you will receive a ton of merit aid plus other benefits and for many kids that may be a deciding factor and I would not blame them. If you can graduate with zero debt while receiving a great education that would be the way to go. Please stop picking on this school. I say that as a STA family. It is really not nice and embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

Apply in both, admission will make the decision for you. St Albans has fewer slots. Both are good choices.

[Anonymous]

I went to NCS, and have a son at St. Anselm's, as we are raising our children Catholic. My son is in the sixth grade and I would feel comfortable saying that the academic rigor at both schools is equivalent. My son is taking Math, English, Liberal Arts (Greek), Geography, Life Sciences, Music, and Religion. This is a very hard school. While St. Anselm's is likely not turning a bunch of kids away, it is because there aren't many people who are interested in their kids doing this level of work at 10-11 years old.

That being said, he is getting a world class education from outstanding teachers (some of them STA grads) with advanced degrees. I am very happy with our decision. He may or may not stay for high school, as I might be looking for a more traditional experience. With that said, a PP mentioned mediocre college admits. That is valid, though a lot of these kids are getting full scholarships at schools in the top 75. HOWEVER, St. Albans college matriculation list is not stellar and has plenty of kids in schools with little to no wow factor.

[Anonymous]

I just think that the "it's an amazing school for the brightest and most rigorous students" narrative is dulled a bit by the outcomes. College admission is not the only reason or even a primary reason to select a school, but for many, it is a criteria. Even with scholarships and financial aid, Loyola of Maryland, Fordham and Xavier aren't poster children for the amazingness of an institution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to NCS, and have a son at St. Anselm's, as we are raising our children Catholic. My son is in the sixth grade and I would feel comfortable saying that the academic rigor at both schools is equivalent. My son is taking Math, English, Liberal Arts (Greek), Geography, Life Sciences, Music, and Religion. This is a very hard school. While St. Anselm's is likely not turning a bunch of kids away, it is because there aren't many people who are interested in their kids doing this level of work at 10-11 years old.

That being said, he is getting a world class education from outstanding teachers (some of them STA grads) with advanced degrees. I am very happy with our decision. He may or may not stay for high school, as I might be looking for a more traditional experience. With that said, a PP mentioned mediocre college admits. That is valid, though a lot of these kids are getting full scholarships at schools in the top 75. HOWEVER, St. Albans college matriculation list is not stellar and has plenty of kids in schools with little to no wow factor.

Based on what? Your decades old experience at NCS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just think that the "it's an amazing school for the brightest and most rigorous students" narrative is dulled a bit by the outcomes. College admission is not the only reason or even a primary reason to select a school, but for many, it is a criteria. Even with scholarships and financial aid, Loyola of Maryland, Fordham and Xavier aren't poster children for the amazingness of an institution.

At this point, responding to posts like these are pointless because nothing SAAS parents say would budge anyone off their assumptions and biases but I’ll give it one more shot.

Truly, many SAAS families don’t seek out perceived “elite” universities and colleges. They just aren’t fixated on schools that many on this board care about. I know it’s hard to believe, and it’s easy assumption to make, that these kids don’t matriculate to T20 or whatever universities because they can’t, but in reality, many don’t care to - whether because it’s financial or religious (note that the schools you mention are Catholic) or otherwise. I was mildly surprised by this myself but the school population march to its own beat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to NCS, and have a son at St. Anselm's, as we are raising our children Catholic. My son is in the sixth grade and I would feel comfortable saying that the academic rigor at both schools is equivalent. My son is taking Math, English, Liberal Arts (Greek), Geography, Life Sciences, Music, and Religion. This is a very hard school. While St. Anselm's is likely not turning a bunch of kids away, it is because there aren't many people who are interested in their kids doing this level of work at 10-11 years old.

That being said, he is getting a world class education from outstanding teachers (some of them STA grads) with advanced degrees. I am very happy with our decision. He may or may not stay for high school, as I might be looking for a more traditional experience. With that said, a PP mentioned mediocre college admits. That is valid, though a lot of these kids are getting full scholarships at schools in the top 75. HOWEVER, St. Albans college matriculation list is not stellar and has plenty of kids in schools with little to no wow factor.

Based on what? Your decades old experience at NCS?

Yes, smart ass. And the fact that I remain involved on the close and have close personal friends with sons at St. Albans. I know you’re insecure in your choice, but use your brain. If you’re actually associated with St. Albans, you’re aware of its diminished reputation as well as the fact that college matriculations for unhooked students are on par or worse than that of St. Anselms. Check yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to NCS, and have a son at St. Anselm's, as we are raising our children Catholic. My son is in the sixth grade and I would feel comfortable saying that the academic rigor at both schools is equivalent. My son is taking Math, English, Liberal Arts (Greek), Geography, Life Sciences, Music, and Religion. This is a very hard school. While St. Anselm's is likely not turning a bunch of kids away, it is because there aren't many people who are interested in their kids doing this level of work at 10-11 years old.

That being said, he is getting a world class education from outstanding teachers (some of them STA grads) with advanced degrees. I am very happy with our decision. He may or may not stay for high school, as I might be looking for a more traditional experience. With that said, a PP mentioned mediocre college admits. That is valid, though a lot of these kids are getting full scholarships at schools in the top 75. HOWEVER, St. Albans college matriculation list is not stellar and has plenty of kids in schools with little to no wow factor.

Based on what? Your decades old experience at NCS?

Yes, smart ass. And the fact that I remain involved on the close and have close personal friends with sons at St. Albans. I know you’re insecure in your choice, but use your brain. If you’re actually associated with St. Albans, you’re aware of its diminished reputation as well as the fact that college matriculations for unhooked students are on par or worse than that of St. Anselms. Check yourself.

You’re accusing others of insecurity in a screed like that? Sheesh. Take a page from your son’s Benedictine community and show some grace and humility

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, despite the apparent academic rigor of SAAS, the Instagram list of college acceptances in years past has been pretty meh. A lot of second tier Catholic schools. I realize that STA doesn't post and others are obviously not a complete list, but the schools have been solidly 50-200 with a few outliers. They wipe out the previous list every year, but the two so far for '25 are Davidson and Alabama (with the former as an athletic recruit).

This has more to do with income than intelligence.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/study-outlines-how-college-admissions-practices-benefit-richest-applicants

[Anonymous]

My kids chose colleges that were not the "highest ranked" colleges they were admitted to. They had very good, intelligent reason for this, and we supported their decisions 100%. They were also Ivy legacies who chose not to apply to the Ivy. If their personal choices make you think they didn't get a great high school education, or that St. Anselm's is not worthy of your child because of the allegedly "mediocre" colleges my kids picked, then I actually think your boys would benefit a whole lot from the non-academic things they would learn at this school.

[Anonymous]

Could posters please discuss the day to day differences rather than the college piece? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each school, for those who have the experience to say?

[Anonymous]

I have one kid at St. Anselm's and another at a different independent (not St. Albans). I really like the vibe at St. Anselm's. It's like how Sidwell was when we were kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to NCS, and have a son at St. Anselm's, as we are raising our children Catholic. My son is in the sixth grade and I would feel comfortable saying that the academic rigor at both schools is equivalent. My son is taking Math, English, Liberal Arts (Greek), Geography, Life Sciences, Music, and Religion. This is a very hard school. While St. Anselm's is likely not turning a bunch of kids away, it is because there aren't many people who are interested in their kids doing this level of work at 10-11 years old.

That being said, he is getting a world class education from outstanding teachers (some of them STA grads) with advanced degrees. I am very happy with our decision. He may or may not stay for high school, as I might be looking for a more traditional experience. With that said, a PP mentioned mediocre college admits. That is valid, though a lot of these kids are getting full scholarships at schools in the top 75. HOWEVER, St. Albans college matriculation list is not stellar and has plenty of kids in schools with little to no wow factor.

Based on what? Your decades old experience at NCS?

Yes, smart ass. And the fact that I remain involved on the close and have close personal friends with sons at St. Albans. I know you’re insecure in your choice, but use your brain. If you’re actually associated with St. Albans, you’re aware of its diminished reputation as well as the fact that college matriculations for unhooked students are on par or worse than that of St. Anselms. Check yourself.

So you're the NCS grad that comes on here all the time to trash STA. ou're very recognizable. I don't know what happened to you during your time at school but you should pursue some therapy. I say this gently. It's not healthy to have this much unprocessed negativity 20 years later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone really cross-shop these?

Yes. We have a few generations who have attended each in my extended family. Unfortunately, as I tease them, they all only ended up as high end lawyers!