Georgetown Prep?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

The idea that GP is one of the most diverse schools in the area is simply silly. GP may be a great school. But, for one who grew up in the area, GP was one of the last to integrate, etc. There are many stories of all white GP sports teams playing mixed teams at other schools. GP's location in the middle of MC no doubt makes it difficult to recruit from a broader geographical area. But the insular suburban Irish Catholic culture does not help.

[Anonymous]

I have had lots of experience with different Catholic schools in the area, and I must say, The Prep boys were some of the most obnoxious, disrespectful, and frankly, not that bright, boys I had run across.

I disliked them profoundly, and yes, they had mostly come from Mater Dei.

[Anonymous]

Is anyone else disturbed by the anti-irish catholic bias on this thread? I don't know anyone from Prep, didn't grown up in this area and attended public school, so I can't add anything to that part of the discussion, but I don't think anyone levelling a critique is advancing their position with this bias.

[Anonymous]

I agree PP. I'm Irish Catholic and I don't have anyone at Prep either. There seems to be some great resentment about the school.

[Anonymous]

Agree. With these comments - Fill in the blank with other ethnic groups. It would feel racist. There are ways to advance the views without slamming every member of a demographic group.

[Anonymous]

I love it when people use this forum to lash out and rage about schools their children don't even attend! if your child isn't in the school DON'T REPLY because you can't give accurate advice. And after reading postings in similar forums I can only assume their kids attend one of the Cathedral schools---same attitude.

[Anonymous]

I was raised Irish Catholic and I my bloodline includes some of the most narcisstic, self centered snobs. I went to all catholic schools. Not all Irish Catholics are jerks, but a lot are.

[Anonymous]

That sounds really hostile to talk about your own people like that pp.

[Anonymous]

This is turning into very silly stereotypes. Can we not agree that there are jerks of every nationality and religion? Or maybe we should move this to a thread that highlights which nationality/religion is the laziest, wealthiest, most attractive, etc.

[Anonymous]

I got a question. I am African American and GP is indeed our first pick. We visited the school and absolutely loved it. I noticed that most applicants will need to make 99 on the SSAT but we are willing to give it a shot. Now we are after a great education that will propel us towards a Holy Cross or a Georgetown. I'm just being honest with you. Now this is what I need to know. Do blacks stand out like a sore thumb? Will he not have a single friend there? Hey I might as well ask directly before we waste time, energy and money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a question. I am African American and GP is indeed our first pick. We visited the school and absolutely loved it. I noticed that most applicants will need to make 99 on the SSAT but we are willing to give it a shot. Now we are after a great education that will propel us towards a Holy Cross or a Georgetown. I'm just being honest with you. Now this is what I need to know. Do blacks stand out like a sore thumb? Will he not have a single friend there? Hey I might as well ask directly before we waste time, energy and money.

Why don't you ask to talk to some of the African American families there? The diversity stats aren't great but that doesn't mean your son couldn't have a great experience. Our tour guide when we went this fall was an AA boy and based on his interactions with the other boys he seemed to have lots of friends of multiple colors. Totally anecdotal I know. It may also be that sports makes a difference. Does your son play a sport (especially a mainstream sport for GP, which seem to be football, basketball and lacrosse). My impression (could be wrong) is that makes a difference there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That sounds really hostile to talk about your own people like that pp.

When you come from a Large Irish Catholic family there are lots of "your own people". As in, we multiply like flies. The one I come from is HIGHLY dysfunctional. My parents had lots of kids and dislike children. The result is ugly. Everyone finds their own way to survive. I find the ones that are competitive and value money and power people I choose to avoid. Count your lucky stars if you have decent siblings. I don't. It's not hostile, its fugly.

[Anonymous]

GP has a boarding school population and I think it can become a pack mentality when boys are left to their own discretion. It is also a competitive school to get into, so the boys are probably competitive by nature. The combination of the two could be a problem. It becomes an undercurrent that will potentially leave scars on some boys.

[Anonymous]

I live in a fairly well to do neighborhood that has a lot of Catholic families (I am not Catholic). Seems as though a lot of these families (a) belong to Congressional Country Club (b) send (or endeavor to send) their boys to Mater Dei and then Prep (c) spend a whole lot of time focused on athletics (d) stay here in MC to raise their own families. The community is close-knit -- or insular, depending on your perspective. I am sure they do not constitute all of Prep, but I do get the sense that they are a dominant group there and like it that way. So you can say 'I know a this or that (non-Catholic) at Prep and they seem happy,' but this doesn't change the dominant culture. Maybe not Lord of the Flies, but still pretty insular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree. With these comments - Fill in the blank with other ethnic groups. It would feel racist. There are ways to advance the views without slamming every member of a demographic group.

Irish Catholic isn't a race. Catholic is a religion. The Irish are Caucasian, so at best you're talking about an ethnicity.