Getting into St. Albans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the easiest route to Holton-Arms or Landon if you are not a current student of those schools?

Primary Day sends quite a few kids to Holton and Landon.

[Anonymous]

Over 60 percent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Over 60 percent?

Oh, I wouldn't say that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi.

We are applying for 7th grade and just got his SSAT scores. He had taken practice tests which indicated he was around 93% of the national percentile, so we thought we were in good shape. He scored similarly on the actual test, but while his national percentile is around 93%, his SSAT percentile was 70%. I've read that STA's average SSAT is about 80%, so we are pretty bummed.

He is a very good athlete who attends a good school. Does he even have a chance with this kind of SSAT? Thanks.

Well, this thread is pretty interesting. I am the person who posted the post above. Does anybody else have any insight? Are we necessarily sunk because his score was below 80%? Again, the Princeton Review book showed that he was testing around 93% national percentile, so we thought we were in good shape. Had no idea that would translate into a 70% percentile for test takers.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi.

We are applying for 7th grade and just got his SSAT scores. He had taken practice tests which indicated he was around 93% of the national percentile, so we thought we were in good shape. He scored similarly on the actual test, but while his national percentile is around 93%, his SSAT percentile was 70%. I've read that STA's average SSAT is about 80%, so we are pretty bummed.

He is a very good athlete who attends a good school. Does he even have a chance with this kind of SSAT? Thanks.

Well, this thread is pretty interesting. I am the person who posted the post above. Does anybody else have any insight? Are we necessarily sunk because his score was below 80%? Again, the Princeton Review book showed that he was testing around 93% national percentile, so we thought we were in good shape. Had no idea that would translate into a 70% percentile for test takers.

Thanks.

You are not necessarily sunk. I have posted a thread which may sound flippant and tongue in cheek - but it does provide insight. To answer you're question, it depends on what else your son has to offer. Se attached:



quote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I gather STA does its own testing. The 120 number, however, looks like a WISC number. I am not really interested in the STA number since our son has not taked that test and we have no ability to compare it with anything. But my son just took the WISC test, and we are thinking of possibly applying to STA. What does STA expect in terms of WISC? What range? How about the ERBs? My son scored 118 on WISC and mostly 7 to 8s one the ERBs. Otherwise, an above average kid in all areas, of course.

It's not a WISC score, it's from the Otis Lemon Intelligence Test. STA uses the OLIT as their admission test.

From Beauvoir apps they expect to see at least a 120, but will accept a lower score depending on other criteria.

Question for St. Albans parents out there with an average or above average child (strictly meaning less than 120 WISC) - does your child struggle with the work required by St. Albans? I know motivation factors into what kids (and people in general) are capable of accomplishing. But I'm wondering (if DS is fortunate to get accepted) if we're setting him up for failure or creating a situation where he may be stressed out or lacking in confidence. Any thoughts?

1) Smart

2) Athletic

3) Good looking

4) From money

5) Powerful/connected parent(s).

These are the ingredients for success at STA. If your DS only has one of the above, he will likely find it hard to succeed at STA. Two or more, and DS will be just fine.

You are so spot-on! The PP asking about the 118 WISC score, I wouldn't dwell too much on that. If your son's a combo 2 & 3, he's as good as in. Tutoring will help with any academic gaps.

[Anonymous]

Well, this thread is pretty interesting. I am the person who posted the post above. Does anybody else have any insight? Are we necessarily sunk because his score was below 80%? Again, the Princeton Review book showed that he was testing around 93% national percentile, so we thought we were in good shape. Had no idea that would translate into a 70% percentile for test takers.

Thanks.

I would not waste any time worrying about the Princeton Review normative stnadard for the SSAT. It is irrelevant. The only standard that matters is the contemporary standard of peers that are currently taking the SSAT. That is the reality.

[Anonymous]

'Best post ever' author here A couple of items to note...

It's indisputable that the Beauvoir boys get an advantage entering in 4th grade. That said, several of the absolute top students in our grade -- very, very gifted kids -- are from Beauvoir. On the other hand, we have a few laggards from that original Beauvoir group. My son is very mid-pack in classroom and sports...academics are demanding for all the boys and there is a lot of work.

I think the school is successful in the big picture, and maintains its elite status, through a more multi-faceted group of factors driven by its very strong culture. I think it would be difficult to find a school in the area with STA's tradition, heritage and bone-deep commitment to transmitting a certain kind of culture. It's the mix of factors -- smart boys + strong teachers, sports, arts, religion and 'Cathedral effect' -- all steeped in the school's unique culture and tradition that produces the 'end result' of impressive graduates. They aren't fixated on admitting only Mensa-level intellects: there's more to the recipe.

And re: overrated... The elite college criteria is all-consuming on these boards, and I think it reflects accurately the zeitgeist among upper-middle class Washingtonians; we're all about getting kids in fancy colleges. Using that criteria, STA's matriculation really speaks for itself -- more than 1/2 (probably more like 2/3) of the '09 class went to Ivies, fancy LACs, UVA or other 'name' institutions you'd be happy to stick onto your car's back window. Is that a shallow, reductionist way of viewing your child's education, absolutely. But that's how we all seem to be keeping score...we're not shelling out $35k a year to wear a JMU sweatshirt in five years...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:'Best post ever' author here A couple of items to note...

It's indisputable that the Beauvoir boys get an advantage entering in 4th grade. That said, several of the absolute top students in our grade -- very, very gifted kids -- are from Beauvoir. On the other hand, we have a few laggards from that original Beauvoir group. My son is very mid-pack in classroom and sports...academics are demanding for all the boys and there is a lot of work.

I think the school is successful in the big picture, and maintains its elite status, through a more multi-faceted group of factors driven by its very strong culture. I think it would be difficult to find a school in the area with STA's tradition, heritage and bone-deep commitment to transmitting a certain kind of culture. It's the mix of factors -- smart boys + strong teachers, sports, arts, religion and 'Cathedral effect' -- all steeped in the school's unique culture and tradition that produces the 'end result' of impressive graduates. They aren't fixated on admitting only Mensa-level intellects: there's more to the recipe.

And re: overrated... The elite college criteria is all-consuming on these boards, and I think it reflects accurately the zeitgeist among upper-middle class Washingtonians; we're all about getting kids in fancy colleges. Using that criteria, STA's matriculation really speaks for itself -- more than 1/2 (probably more like 2/3) of the '09 class went to Ivies, fancy LACs, UVA or other 'name' institutions you'd be happy to stick onto your car's back window. Is that a shallow, reductionist way of viewing your child's education, absolutely. But that's how we all seem to be keeping score...we're not shelling out $35k a year to wear a JMU sweatshirt in five years...

LOL, very, very gifted boys from Beauvoir. What a big, fat liar you are. Be honest, very, very bright boys from Beauvoir.

[Anonymous]

'

Best post ever' author here A couple of items
to note...

It's indisputable that the Beauvoir boys get an advantage entering in 4th grade. That said, several of the absolute top students in our grade -- very, very gifted kids -- are from Beauvoir. On the other hand, we have a few laggards from that original Beauvoir group. My son is very mid-pack in classroom and sports...academics are demanding for all the boys and there is a lot of work.

I think the school is successful in the big picture, and maintains its elite status, through a more multi-faceted group of factors driven by its very strong culture. I think it would be difficult to find a school in the area with STA's tradition, heritage and bone-deep commitment to transmitting a certain kind of culture. It's the mix of factors -- smart boys + strong teachers, sports, arts, religion and 'Cathedral effect' -- all steeped in the school's unique culture and tradition that produces the 'end result' of impressive graduates. They aren't fixated on admitting only Mensa-level intellects: there's more to the recipe.

And re: overrated... The elite college criteria is all-consuming on these boards, and I think it reflects accurately the zeitgeist among upper-middle class Washingtonians; we're all about getting kids in fancy colleges. Using that criteria, STA's matriculation really speaks for itself -- more than 1/2 (probably more like 2/3) of the '09 class went to Ivies, fancy LACs, UVA or other 'name' institutions you'd be happy to stick onto your car's back window. Is that a shallow, reductionist way of viewing your child's education, absolutely. But that's how we all seem to be keeping score...we're not shelling out $35k a year to wear a JMU sweatshirt in five years...

Seems a huge paradox. If entry to Beauvoir is largely predicated on sibship, legacy, bucks, socioeconomic status (big donors) how can this be the most gifted group (gifted refers to intellect). Bright, perhaps but not necessarily gifted.

[Anonymous]

Obviously, the talent/intellect of the Beauvoir boys varies from year to year (and boy to boy). STA admissions tries to take "all qualified" boys from Beauvoir, so if a boy is below the admissions criteria, they will not get in, even if they go to Beauvoir. I think it's a well accepted fact that there is a big disconnect between the homework and overall difficulty between BV and STA. Most Beauvoir boys have a tough time transitioning between 5-10 minutes of homework at Beauvoir to one/one and a half hours of homework and remembering which books/pages etc to bring home. Honestly, I think the more "gifted" boys come in 5th or 6th grade, when they only accept a few.

[Anonymous]

Roughly 40 from '09 are attending top 25 US News and World Report schools, how many are Beauvoir boys? The real brain power enter in at 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how many Beauvoir boys will be entering next year's C Form?

[Anonymous]

'Best post' author again...

I think it's also fair to assume there's a significant legacy factor in STA's college matriculation, and that's going to inflate the 'fancy college' numbers. Re: gifted/bright Beauvoir boys...my observation just pertains to my son's STA class (he entered in 6th and is a NOVA public school kid), where several of the tip-top students are Beauvoir 'lifers'...several other top students aren't, including a couple of the boys who entered with my son.

Also, hasten to add two items: (1) the extreme wealth/good-looking/connected/super-jock stereotype is simply untrue in our first-hand experience. Of course there are a handful of boys who fit one or more of these categories, but as a generalization it's simply inaccurate. (2) Our family is not entirely in the tank for STA...it is not a perfect place. Not all teachers are great (or even good, in rare cases). Homework is a mega-grind, with seemingly little coordination between teachers. I believe it's a great place for a very specific kind of boy who meshes well with the STA culture. Believe many of the schools discussed on this forum -- and many publics in MD and VA -- offer equally effective experiences and outcomes for kids who fit their discrete strengths and cultures. I strongly believe that it is tough to beat the top public HS's in Arlington/Fairfax/Mont Co. if you have a kid who is strongly academically motivated and self-directed...the top publics are really structured to optimize the achievements of such kids.

[Anonymous]

"Best post" author: We are considering applying our son to STA next year. I was wondering what kind of a kid would do well at STA given their culture. Do you have to be ultra-competitive to survive there? What is the culture like between the boys? Is is very friendly and supporive, or more competitive and hierarchical? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

What is the big chip on everyone's shoulder about the notion there might actually be "very gifted" boys coming from Beauvoir? Of course bright boys from other schools matriculate in at later grades but this constant slam on the abilities of the Beauvoir boys is a load of crap. The majority of the boys are extremely bright with smart motivated parents.