Getting into St. Albans

[Anonymous]

OP here (I can't believe the thread is still active!)

I don't think non-Beauvoir kids are required to take the ERBs. I think they can offer it, but only the St. Albans test is required (but the St. Albans test is quite similar). The admissions process differs for Beauvoir only in the timing (but as I mentioned earlier, the admissions DECISIONS are clearly impacted. Beauvoir kids, plain and simple, have an advantage going it). St. Albans judges the Beauvoir kids based on the STA testing, the children's visit, etc, the the process differs in that they are making the decision earlier. It is remarkably like early decision in college. They either accept your child or they do not. They do not waitlist Beauvoir children. At the same time, once they accept your child, you have to put down money for them to hold that slot for your child. So if St. Albans is a second choice school, then you will need to either forgo the St. Albans offer and have a high degree of confidence your child is getting into the other school, or more likely you put down money to hold your child's slot at STA which you then forfeit if your child ends up getting into your first choice school).

With regard to the numbers, only about 22-28 kids will come from Beauvoir (out of 39 in 4th grade). So a good two fifths come from other schools. Even though Beauvoir has an advantage, (1) not all Beauvoir boys apply, (2) of those that apply, not ALL get in, and (3) of those that get in, not all choose to go. So the 4th grade class will have a good supply of non-Beauvoir boys.

The non-Beauvoir kids come from many schools. I have seen them come from public schools, other private schools, other states. I honestly don't see a pattern at all. But they are always bright.

Good luck in the process.

[Anonymous]

Thank OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here (I can't believe the thread is still active!)

I
With regard to the numbers, only about 22-28 kids will come from Beauvoir (out of 39 in 4th grade). So a good two fifths come from other schools. Even though Beauvoir has an advantage, (1) not all Beauvoir boys apply, (2) of those that apply, not ALL get in, and (3) of those that get in, not all choose to go. So the 4th grade class will have a good supply of non-Beauvoir boys.

The non-Beauvoir kids come from many schools. I have seen them come from public schools, other private schools, other states. I honestly don't see a pattern at all. But they are always bright.

Good luck in the process.

Dear OP: You're a godsend. Thank you. Does anyone with any knowledge (insider preferred, but I'll take parent gossip too!) about this year's yield know what: 1) the number of Beauvoir applications/acceptances look like; 2) what other schools are well represented (2 or more acceptees); 3) whether anyone came from public school.

DCP

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by the "number of Beauvoir applications/acceptances look like"?

I know about 24-26 kids from Beauvoir kids are going to St. Albans this year (I'm a current parent). They look like boys.

[Anonymous]

i think the poster meant the number of applicants v. the number accepted (what that number 'looks like')

[Anonymous]

I don't know exactly, but I think about 34-35 applied and about 27-28 got in.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]I don't know exactly, but I think about 34-35 applied and about 27-28 got in.

[/quote]


That seems to be consistent with what I have heard both here and during the parental gossip sessions. So is it behavioral issues or the test scores that sealed the fate of those who received the thin letter from STA?

[Anonymous]

Four boys did not get into STA. If I remember right, the exact numbers were 28 accepted out of 32 applying. Six didn't apply to STA, and at least two did not accept STA's offer of admission.

[Anonymous]

That is pretty high acceptance rate.

[Anonymous]

Off topic is that about the same as NCS?

[Anonymous]

The girls tend to fair as well (if not actually slightly better) at NCS than the boys do at STA.

[Anonymous]

So then the question becomes, how does a kid NOT get in? Does anyone have any insight into past years?

[Anonymous]

Maybe this is not an appropriate question for a public forum, especially since the number who didn't get in is so small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe this is not an appropriate question for a public forum, especially since the number who didn't get in is so small.

I think a response balancing the need to protect the small number with the forum's right to know (ok, it's admittedly not a "right," but such info. sharing is why we are all here, right?) is not hard to achieve, particularly for what seems to be an amazingly articulate, compassionate, and reasonable bunch . . . so please, spill the beans, at least in general terms -- what are some of the reasons that a Beauvoir kid in years past probably did NOT get into STA?!

[Anonymous]

I can speak only to the year I know for STA. I think one had some testing issues and I think one had a behaviorial issue on the visit with the kids (calling some kid a name or yelling at a kid or something). But to be honest, for the year in question I know many children who went out for learning support and I can't imagine that this one (rejected) boy's scores were far off anyone elses. On the behavior issue, I also can't believe a kid can't make it through 3 hours without having a behavioral slip like that (but it may have also been that this was noted on the report card). But I also know of 1 boy who didn't get in and I have no idea why.