Is St. John's Becoming an IMG?

[Anonymous]

Everyone should report back later this week after the accepted students night. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of an applying Scholar considering SJC for next year, I can't say I'm pleased to hear this. I mean, for one sports team to have more recruits than the Scholars program seems wrong for a school. Fine for a sports club, of course, but wrong for an academic institution.

My child is also an 8th grader applying as a scholar. DC is also a recruited athlete by SJC in their sport. Of course the Scholars program is small - that is what it is for, and it would not be the program it has become if it were the size of even 1 football team.

I will keep my fingers crossed that the other Scholars’ families are more welcoming of athletes and what they bring to the school by way of culture, achievement, and awareness.

My DC is a Scholar and has told me that most of the students in the Scholars Program are also athletes. The Program wants students who show that they are not just smart but well-rounded and can juggle academics, service and other activities. Showing you can work as a team and push yourself is huge. The idea that athletes are less smart is outdated. So many honors students also play sports.

My child, too, is a Scolar and an athlete. Nonetheless, I'm skeptical that students being recruited for a national-level football program are Scholar-level students. I hope I'm wrong.

I don’t expect the “football is life” students to be in Scholars, but there are plenty of other students (swim, lacrosse, track, hockey, soccer, arts, music etc.) who will be.

Sorry, help me understand why you think a Scholar could be an athlete in one of those other sports but not football?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on the last few posts, it feels like there isn't a place at SJC for the non-athlete, non-artsy, mainly an academic focus kid. I think based on the direction this school is moving, we will pass. Academics seems to be taking a back seat to other interests.

Did you attend the open house? Did you talk to the Robotics teacher leads? Computer Science? Entrepreneurship Program? The leads of the numerous STEM based clubs? E-sports? There are tons of places for purely academic focused kids. And just because an academic focused student wants to also try crew or join the sound/lighting crew for the spring musical, doesn’t mean they don’t care about academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of an applying Scholar considering SJC for next year, I can't say I'm pleased to hear this. I mean, for one sports team to have more recruits than the Scholars program seems wrong for a school. Fine for a sports club, of course, but wrong for an academic institution.

My child is also an 8th grader applying as a scholar. DC is also a recruited athlete by SJC in their sport. Of course the Scholars program is small - that is what it is for, and it would not be the program it has become if it were the size of even 1 football team.

I will keep my fingers crossed that the other Scholars’ families are more welcoming of athletes and what they bring to the school by way of culture, achievement, and awareness.

My DC is a Scholar and has told me that most of the students in the Scholars Program are also athletes. The Program wants students who show that they are not just smart but well-rounded and can juggle academics, service and other activities. Showing you can work as a team and push yourself is huge. The idea that athletes are less smart is outdated. So many honors students also play sports.

My child, too, is a Scolar and an athlete. Nonetheless, I'm skeptical that students being recruited for a national-level football program are Scholar-level students. I hope I'm wrong.

I don’t expect the “football is life” students to be in Scholars, but there are plenty of other students (swim, lacrosse, track, hockey, soccer, arts, music etc.) who will be.

Sorry, help me understand why you think a Scholar could be an athlete in one of those other sports but not football?

They can be!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of an applying Scholar considering SJC for next year, I can't say I'm pleased to hear this. I mean, for one sports team to have more recruits than the Scholars program seems wrong for a school. Fine for a sports club, of course, but wrong for an academic institution.

My child is also an 8th grader applying as a scholar. DC is also a recruited athlete by SJC in their sport. Of course the Scholars program is small - that is what it is for, and it would not be the program it has become if it were the size of even 1 football team.

I will keep my fingers crossed that the other Scholars’ families are more welcoming of athletes and what they bring to the school by way of culture, achievement, and awareness.

My DC is a Scholar and has told me that most of the students in the Scholars Program are also athletes. The Program wants students who show that they are not just smart but well-rounded and can juggle academics, service and other activities. Showing you can work as a team and push yourself is huge. The idea that athletes are less smart is outdated. So many honors students also play sports.

My child, too, is a Scolar and an athlete. Nonetheless, I'm skeptical that students being recruited for a national-level football program are Scholar-level students. I hope I'm wrong.

I don’t expect the “football is life” students to be in Scholars, but there are plenty of other students (swim, lacrosse, track, hockey, soccer, arts, music etc.) who will be.

Sorry, help me understand why you think a Scholar could be an athlete in one of those other sports but not football?

They can be!

Do many football players apply for Scholars though? It isn’t an automatic designation. Scholars are required to take certain AP and honors classes every year, including out of the classroom “field study,” maintain all As and Bs, go on trips, do a project senior year. The requirements are rigid and do not offer a lot of flexibility, which is why not every smart kid applies for the Program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

So explain how the recruitment works? I’m genuinely curious how the application process differs from regular admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of an applying Scholar considering SJC for next year, I can't say I'm pleased to hear this. I mean, for one sports team to have more recruits than the Scholars program seems wrong for a school. Fine for a sports club, of course, but wrong for an academic institution.

My child is also an 8th grader applying as a scholar. DC is also a recruited athlete by SJC in their sport. Of course the Scholars program is small - that is what it is for, and it would not be the program it has become if it were the size of even 1 football team.

I will keep my fingers crossed that the other Scholars’ families are more welcoming of athletes and what they bring to the school by way of culture, achievement, and awareness.

My DC is a Scholar and has told me that most of the students in the Scholars Program are also athletes. The Program wants students who show that they are not just smart but well-rounded and can juggle academics, service and other activities. Showing you can work as a team and push yourself is huge. The idea that athletes are less smart is outdated. So many honors students also play sports.

My child, too, is a Scolar and an athlete. Nonetheless, I'm skeptical that students being recruited for a national-level football program are Scholar-level students. I hope I'm wrong.

I don’t expect the “football is life” students to be in Scholars, but there are plenty of other students (swim, lacrosse, track, hockey, soccer, arts, music etc.) who will be.

Sorry, help me understand why you think a Scholar could be an athlete in one of those other sports but not football?

They can be!

Do many football players apply for Scholars though? It isn’t an automatic designation. Scholars are required to take certain AP and honors classes every year, including out of the classroom “field study,” maintain all As and Bs, go on trips, do a project senior year. The requirements are rigid and do not offer a lot of flexibility, which is why not every smart kid applies for the Program.

As someone has already said, there are many Scholars who are also athletes. They can handle the rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

The aid is obviously for star athletes whether they need it or not.

Note: a star athlete is actively recruited by multiple schools, so the aid (read: full ride) is offered as a carrot.

And it gets better:

Does your school have a star athlete from another country or out of state?

If so, those kids sometimes live with a host family whose own kid gets a tuition discount or full ride. I know two area privates that have done this/are currently doing this.

And your full tuition covers this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

The aid is obviously for star athletes whether they need it or not.

Note: a star athlete is actively recruited by multiple schools, so the aid (read: full ride) is offered as a carrot.

And it gets better:

Does your school have a star athlete from another country or out of state?

If so, those kids sometimes live with a host family whose own kid gets a tuition discount or full ride. I know two area privates that have done this/are currently doing this.

And your full tuition covers this.

(Not that you’ll answer this, but) which two schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on the last few posts, it feels like there isn't a place at SJC for the non-athlete, non-artsy, mainly an academic focus kid. I think based on the direction this school is moving, we will pass. Academics seems to be taking a back seat to other interests.

What school do you plan to attend instead?

A school can be good at many things at the same time. It is also not new that SJC is a sporty school culture, so I am not certain this reflects a change at all.

There are many much stronger schools that are more balanced. Gonzaga comes to mind. Very strong athletics while supporting a strong Jesuit academic culture. Able to provide students at all levels academic options. Very strong athletics while the high level. Many strong college outcomes without the athletic recruit hook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on the last few posts, it feels like there isn't a place at SJC for the non-athlete, non-artsy, mainly an academic focus kid. I think based on the direction this school is moving, we will pass. Academics seems to be taking a back seat to other interests.

Ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on the last few posts, it feels like there isn't a place at SJC for the non-athlete, non-artsy, mainly an academic focus kid. I think based on the direction this school is moving, we will pass. Academics seems to be taking a back seat to other interests.

What school do you plan to attend instead?

A school can be good at many things at the same time. It is also not new that SJC is a sporty school culture, so I am not certain this reflects a change at all.

There are many much stronger schools that are more balanced. Gonzaga comes to mind. Very strong athletics while supporting a strong Jesuit academic culture. Able to provide students at all levels academic options. Very strong athletics while the high level. Many strong college outcomes without the athletic recruit hook.

Ah, ok. This weird thread makes sense now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on the last few posts, it feels like there isn't a place at SJC for the non-athlete, non-artsy, mainly an academic focus kid. I think based on the direction this school is moving, we will pass. Academics seems to be taking a back seat to other interests.

What school do you plan to attend instead?

A school can be good at many things at the same time. It is also not new that SJC is a sporty school culture, so I am not certain this reflects a change at all.

There are many much stronger schools that are more balanced. Gonzaga comes to mind. Very strong athletics while supporting a strong Jesuit academic culture. Able to provide students at all levels academic options. Very strong athletics while the high level. Many strong college outcomes without the athletic recruit hook.

Ah, ok. This weird thread makes sense now.

Admissions season brings out the oddballs!