Anonymous wrote:It comes off as trying to grab at pseudo celebrity and a misplaced effort at that. It's a transparent effort and a turn off for most admissions officers.

Ok,

Story Lady

Anonymous wrote:An administrator at our Catholic school confirmed that GP recruits C students from our school for their athletic teams. My family is in the process of looking at all of these schools, so I appreciate everyone's input.

That in my opinion is a reliable source. I will say this. I have seen the GP folks at our basketball tournaments looking around. When I saw them there I asked them how do you feel about having a good player with straight A's. Not quite perfect in basketball, if that is your sport, they said it sounds good? Oh and another kid at my sons school is a kid who is being seriously followed by Landon. The child told me he was accepted then my son said I misunderstood and that he still needed to take the SSAT however he feels confident that he is going enough to meet any other admissions deadlines. I think when they recruit for sports there are different guidelines. That's why I try to find other ways to enhance his application to GP. He is a pretty good bball player like I said he is pretty good to me. I am probably his biggest fan so I gotta do everyting they say make him a competitive candidate. Sports is a little weak. He thinks he is the greatest but he really needs to stick with piano. Long story short the SSAT can carry the weight to deal with C's in sure.

Anonymous wrote:The idea that GP is as tough on academics as STA and St Anselms is silly. GP has been known as a jocks school for decades. St Anselms is not supposed to be a school for any kid. Very smart, academic oriented kids. Great to have that option in town. Gonzaga and GP are no doubt better sports schools than STA. Both are larger and focus on that. I do point out that STA generally has a better baseball team than Gonzaga at least. STA is a much smaller school than the large Catholic boys schools. It has no desire to be DeMatha, etc. Nothing wrong with that either.

Also where did anyone say that ST. Anselm's is for anything less than the totally academic?. I think I mentioned previously that it is ALL academics. If STA has a good sports team of any kind then I am very happy for them. It would be great if it could come off as comprehensive as the others. Make sense? So far your statement about baseball is actually refreshing.

Signed Story Lady

Anonymous wrote:The idea that GP is as tough on academics as STA and St Anselms is silly. GP has been known as a jocks school for decades. St Anselms is not supposed to be a school for any kid. Very smart, academic oriented kids. Great to have that option in town. Gonzaga and GP are no doubt better sports schools than STA. Both are larger and focus on that. I do point out that STA generally has a better baseball tam than Gonzaga at least. STA is a much smaller school than the large Catholic boys schools. It has no desire to be DeMatha, etc. Nothing wrong with that either.

When did DeMatha entire into the the posts.? We were directly coparing STA,Gonzaga,ST. Anselms and GP. St. Anselms is ALL academics. It is an all boys school that has one thing thing that matters and that is. Damatha should not even be in the discussion. It is not in the same category geographically or academically. The schools of clear and convincing prestige in the area are what we have been mentioning so far. When you add St. Anselm's you have to consider other schools. GP and STA are placing graduates in similar institutions of higer learning. St. Anselms may be doing a pretty good job of it as well but not as well. St. Anselm's is promoting Academics for the GT. It is lacking, girls, sports, population and couple of college placements are questionable. If we start dealing with them we will have to include the Heights Schoool. It is the same kind of stuff but for STA, Gonzaga and GP, the only thing their missing is girls and that isn't so bad for an all boys school.

An administrator at our Catholic school confirmed that GP recruits C students from our school for their athletic teams. My family is in the process of looking at all of these schools, so I appreciate everyone's input.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree pp -- but if you're comparing it to most any public school -- GP is great.

From the story person;;;;;GP is is much better than any public school. You are joking right? Public school might have two or three people out of hundreds going to the Ivies and that may be the Valedictorian. GP is directing its graduates to excellent colleges. I'm sure the school has its faults but not sending its graduates to great schools is not one of them.

Actually I think about 1/2 the GP boys go on to the big 3 Catholic colleges - Georgetown, Notre Dame and Boston College. All good schools but not technically ivies.

The idea that GP is as tough on academics as STA and St Anselms is silly. GP has been known as a jocks school for decades. St Anselms is not supposed to be a school for any kid. Very smart, academic oriented kids. Great to have that option in town. Gonzaga and GP are no doubt better sports schools than STA. Both are larger and focus on that. I do point out that STA generally has a better baseball team than Gonzaga at least. STA is a much smaller school than the large Catholic boys schools. It has no desire to be DeMatha, etc. Nothing wrong with that either.

Anonymous wrote:I agree pp -- but if you're comparing it to most any public school -- GP is great.

From the story person;;;;;GP is is much better than any public school. You are joking right? Public school might have two or three people out of hundreds going to the Ivies and that may be the Valedictorian. GP is directing its graduates to excellent colleges. I'm sure the school has its faults but not sending its graduates to great schools is not one of them.

Anonymous wrote:PP, if you've concluded that GP is one of the most prestigious schools in the country, you've got some more research to do. St. Albans, Landon, Gonzaga, and St. Anselm's (for academics anyway), are all stronger schools.

From the one with the story;;;;;;GP is as prestigious indeed. St. Anselm's does not have the whole package. St. Albans is barely hangin in there with GP and Gonzaga in my opinion. Their sports just ain't up to par. I mean I never hear about how they beat some other school. The only thing I know about St. Albans is that the list of alumni is the bomb. I mean don't get me started on who all went there. That's just telling it like it is. Somehow it is lacking in normalcy. Maybe its the sports thing for me. Everybody knows Gonzaga and GP can play some sports but all you hear about STA is who went there. It sort of places it in the (abnormal school category). All they really have is who went there. My son loves sports too much. Know what I mean?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, if you've concluded that GP is one of the most prestigious schools in the country, you've got some more research to do. St. Albans, Landon, Gonzaga, and St. Anselm's (for academics anyway), are all stronger schools.

I don't know of anyone who applied to St Anselm's and the other 4 or a combination thereof. Why the slams at GP? Do you have boys in high school?

From the one with the story::::::We visited GP and talked to a few teachers there. One of them had graduated from Gonzaga and gone to Holy Cross. In conversation I asked him what he thought of St. Anselm's. He said that St. Anselm's was one of the most difficult schools in town to get into. I know some kids at my sons school who were denied admissions. My problem with them is that they are just too small. No football team and it is seriously ALL academics. My husband visited the school immediately when we got here. We thought my son needed more of a real school environment. It is probably better for smaller children. It wouldn't be so bad if you start going there in 3rd grade because the child. In my opinion it should not be mentioned in the same sentence with STA,Landon or Gonzaga because it is too abnormal. I am a well educated person and even I can say there is more to life than academics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree. If the PP is real (and I'm a AA DC resident with kids in private school), then she doesn't have a clue about how this area really works. And that guy in the waiting room?? Do a background check!

Yes, if real the exchange sounded a little creepy/predatory. And for the troll/wacky lady - you better check your politics - Prep does not strike me as a school with strong ties to the current administration.

Now, I say this to you because I am anonymous. Doesn't it make sense that Prep may not be in favor of a certain political administration but when it comes to a recommendation letter, shouldn't we really go for the Gusto. My real question is is prep looking for position or connection more than anything. If that is the case then I have an opinion about that to. I'm trying to get a feel for what is really going on up here. I've done my research it is one of the most prestigious schools in the country. A coach, teacher or pastor probably won't do it? That's all I'm saying. I thank GOD for the anonymity because most of ya'll would be in my face right about now.

Either the waiting room guy is creepy or he's a prep alumn trying to snag what MIGHT be a good candidate for his place before the kid falls into STA or Landon or Gonzaga. Faithful alumns love talking up their schools. You don't need a letter from this guy or anybody with position or connection for ANY of these schools.

From the one with the story;;;;;I do remember him saying that he went to Andover. I looked it up and it is more north. I am not trying to brag or sound even more creepy or troll like but my son is a magnet like that. We have had other strangers compliment his opinionated demeanor. I remember back home I saw my 10th grade English teacher in the grocery store when he was about 7 and he is 13 now. I introduced him to her and she said that she will be at his next piano recital and all of them thereafter because he was so striking. She did just that until we moved up here. She called in November to see why has name was not on the list of names coming out for the Christmas recital. I told her we moved. She said she is coming to DC for the spring recital at Levine. He is not afraid to talk. He is extremely confident. Maybe a bit overconfident at least in my opinion. My husband says he is fine. The teachers say he is very opinionated and intelligent but too chatty here lately. I also read a text message from a white girl at his school, where he was trying to console her about making mistakes in a basketball game and she ended the text by saying "You are the brightest and nicest boy I have ever met so if you decide to change your mind and date white girls I will be waiting". That People like him, people like him and people like him. My husband and I often say, "nobody ever liked us that much when we were coming up" Know what I mean? So all I'm trying to do is get him to where he can really make a difference if that is what he is suppose to be doing.

Anonymous wrote:It comes off as trying to grab at pseudo celebrity and a misplaced effort at that. It's a transparent effort and a turn off for most admissions officers.

This note is from the one with the story. I really appreciate your post. It sounds honest. When I hear good advice I take it and that is the way I feel about your post.

PP, Why would it be unusual to apply to Saint anselms and one or more of the other schools mentioned? Because of sports, or some other reason? Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:PP, if you've concluded that GP is one of the most prestigious schools in the country, you've got some more research to do. St. Albans, Landon, Gonzaga, and St. Anselm's (for academics anyway), are all stronger schools.

I don't know of anyone who applied to St Anselm's and the other 4 or a combination thereof. Why the slams at GP? Do you have boys in high school?

Actually, GP is on the same level as St. Albans, if you're talking about college placement and overall prestige. And both of those outrank Landon and St. Anselm's. Maybe YOU should do some more research.

Anonymous wrote:PP, if you've concluded that GP is one of the most prestigious schools in the country, you've got some more research to do. St. Albans, Landon, Gonzaga, and St. Anselm's (for academics anyway), are all stronger schools.