Anonymous wrote:You all are naive. What do you think the point of the camps are? Ever noticed that the head varsity lax coach at STA runs camps and classes (for general public) for kids as young as 5? Nah, he's clearly not interested in young potential talent. Not at all.

Most highly competitive private schools do the same.

It can't be to supplement his teacher's salary while he lives in an expensive city, could it? Perhaps even taking advantage of the crazed parent frenzy in this town to prep kids even as young as 5 for sports so that one day it will be on their college app.

Admissions staff doesn't have that kind of time. This just isn't a big deal for lower school admissions although occasionally there's an 8th grade admit and athletics is a factor.

Anonymous wrote:At least for the STA application, the applicant is supposed to list every sport you participate in as well as the organization. So the admissions committee will know whether the applicant, for instance, is playing recreational or travel soccer. That's one way of scouting out even 7 year old talent.

At least in lacrosse, the coaches are very much plugged into certain recreation and travel organizations. I would not be surprised, nor would I think it inappropriate, if admissions staff reached out to the coaches to find out not only athletic skill, but temperament, whether the applicant is a team player, etc.

A few points:

1. Athletic ability/athletic potential is much more of a factor for applications for Upper School (grades 9-10) than for Lower School (grades 4-8).
2. It is rarely a factor for STA Lower School admissions, and the rare cases are generally in the higher grades (7/8), when it is easier to project ability.
3. STA soccer does not scout recreational/travel soccer leagues.
4. As a prior poster noted, yes, STA does run some of its own sports camps and that is a way for an athlete to get noticed by the STA coaching staff. The camps don't tend to be a huge entry point though.

Bottom line, STA cares about sports but doesn't have a big recruiting operation -- it's still mostly about the academics with athletic ability as a plus factor, and that mostly in high school admissions. Don't stress about it -- write the sports stuff down and let the chips fall. If you are applying for a higher grade and STA runs a sports camp with its head coach in charge, consider doing that in the summer.

Good luck with the process!

At least for the STA application, the applicant is supposed to list every sport you participate in as well as the organization. So the admissions committee will know whether the applicant, for instance, is playing recreational or travel soccer. That's one way of scouting out even 7 year old talent.

Why should a school not admit a child who has the academics and is good at sports? Gonzaga, STA, prep, and landon are all fine schools and are not football or basketball factories.

You all are naive. What do you think the point of the camps are? Ever noticed that the head varsity lax coach at STA runs camps and classes (for general public) for kids as young as 5? Nah, he's clearly not interested in young potential talent. Not at all.

Most highly competitive private schools do the same.

Over the years (6 years), I have personally seen coaches from Big 3 area teams at area summer and year long club championship meets (e.g., Junior Olympics) simply enjoying the competitive festivities.

PS: and not necessarily because they were parents of children in this meets or events!

Anonymous wrote:They are not scouted. Give me a break. If there is an exceptional kid for basketball or some other sport, they are made aware of it. But this isn't like college coaches watching HS AAU players. You have no idea what you're talking about.

Ok, think what you like, but I know for a fact that private-school coaches do scout for talent in area leagues.

They are not scouted. Give me a break. If there is an exceptional kid for basketball or some other sport, they are made aware of it. But this isn't like college coaches watching HS AAU players. You have no idea what you're talking about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will athletic prowess and accomplishments be a factor for lower school admissions?

What exactly do you mean by "athletic prowess?" How can your son really be that much better than other athletic boys that it would make a real statement or impact??

I'm not the PP who made the quoted statement, but there'e a boy in my son's class at STA who was known for being super at soccer, not at his previous school, which did not offer soccer, but in the local recreational league. He was admitted in the sixth grade. It's been a few years, and he's consistently been a star performer on the interscolastic soccer team ever since. I am sure his "prowess" at soccer was a factor in his admission. I've been told that the area private school coaches scout the recreational and travel soccer leagues.

THAT is crazy. Scouting 8 year olds. I don't believe it for a second. No adult with an ounce of self-respcet would engage in this.

A sixth-grader is not 8 years old, usually. More like 11 to 12 years old. And 6th-graders are indeed scouted.

Anonymous wrote:THAT is crazy. Scouting 8 year olds. I don't believe it for a second. No adult with an ounce of self-respcet would engage in this.

That is ridiculous. I mean, everyone knows you can't get an accurate read on athletic potential until age 12, maybe age 11 at best. At age 8, they cry too much when you make them run.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will athletic prowess and accomplishments be a factor for lower school admissions?

What exactly do you mean by "athletic prowess?" How can your son really be that much better than other athletic boys that it would make a real statement or impact??

I'm not the PP who made the quoted statement, but there'e a boy in my son's class at STA who was known for being super at soccer, not at his previous school, which did not offer soccer, but in the local recreational league. He was admitted in the sixth grade. It's been a few years, and he's consistently been a star performer on the interscolastic soccer team ever since. I am sure his "prowess" at soccer was a factor in his admission. I've been told that the area private school coaches scout the recreational and travel soccer leagues.

THAT is crazy. Scouting 8 year olds. I don't believe it for a second. No adult with an ounce of self-respcet would engage in this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will athletic prowess and accomplishments be a factor for lower school admissions?

What exactly do you mean by "athletic prowess?" How can your son really be that much better than other athletic boys that it would make a real statement or impact??

I'm not the PP who made the quoted statement, but there'e a boy in my son's class at STA who was known for being super at soccer, not at his previous school, which did not offer soccer, but in the local recreational league. He was admitted in the sixth grade. It's been a few years, and he's consistently been a star performer on the interscolastic soccer team ever since. I am sure his "prowess" at soccer was a factor in his admission. I've been told that the area private school coaches scout the recreational and travel soccer leagues.

Anonymous wrote:Will athletic prowess and accomplishments be a factor for lower school admissions?

What exactly do you mean by "athletic prowess?" How can your son really be that much better than other athletic boys that it would make a real statement or impact??