Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More "bros" at Gonzaga in my experience.

What is a bro?

Seriously? Google is your friend.

Anonymous wrote:More "bros" at Gonzaga in my experience.

What is a bro?

More "bros" at Gonzaga in my experience.

For admission to elite private colleges, GZ does way better than SJC

Anonymous wrote:Many families have/had children at both. IME, they are pretty comparable and the choice comes down to the vibe that a particular student likes. So what does your son think?

This is true. We have had boys at both. Besides the lack of girls at GZ they are very similar. GZ likes to say they do more service but that isn't exactly true. SJC likes to say they are better at sports but that isn't exactly true either. I do think that the girls moderate the behavior at SJC and I personally haven't liked how GZ has handled recent behavioral issues though those seem to have calmed down.

Please don't start on the baseball teams at either school -- both coaches and teams are cut from the same cloth. I have no idea what is with that sport but when issues have come up at both school with those athletes only SJC has done something. GZ had a kid with a lot of complaints about dealing and using and did ZIP about it. It was so bad we almost pulled our son. But again, I think those things have calmed down because there was a ton of backlash.

I agree with others that it really is where you son feels comfortable and engaged. Either school is great.

I have two sons at SJC. They are both loving the social aspect of the school. One even started as a freshman this year but has made several new friends and doing fine socially. Additionally, the parents are incredibly welcoming with the Men of St. John's and the Mother's Club doing many things to make the school a better place for your children and a wonderful environment for your entire family.

I've had two sons go through Gonzaga, neither are "boys gone wild" nor are their friends. My youngest is there now (my oldest graduated). My youngest has very challenging coursework and is doing very well academically. He has found his people and is loving his time at Gonzaga as are all of his friends.

We know plenty of happy smart kids from both schools. Let the kid choose.

Anonymous wrote:Ask to be put in touch with families at both schools.
At our Catholic 1 - 8, you trip over a Gonzaga or SJC family at almost every step! I find it hard to believe you don't know any families that have sent their children to either, particularly if you went through the long admissions season and if your child is at a Catholic school.

OP stated they don’t know anyone. It is likely they aren’t coming from a Catholic k-8.

Ask to be put in touch with families at both schools.
At our Catholic 1 - 8, you trip over a Gonzaga or SJC family at almost every step! I find it hard to believe you don't know any families that have sent their children to either, particularly if you went through the long admissions season and if your child is at a Catholic school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does St. John's compare to Gonzaga as far as academics, culture, student environment and behavior. Distance I don't care. Can get my kid to school either way just really wanting to know how the two school compare. Behavior attitude of the students. My Son was accepted to both have heard lots about Gonzaga boys gone wild type of behavior. Has anyone experienced that? Than hear kids at St. Johns are stuck up and not welcoming. Thoughts?

Re: St. John's, how can it be unwelcoming when it starts in 9th grade and every single student in the freshman class is therefore new to the school?

When I read that I had to stifle a chuckle. That's the first time I have heard that description about SJC. /s/ Parent of a recent SJC graduate

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your child play a sport? I wouldn’t want my kid anywhere near the athletics department at St Johns

Why not?

There’s several threads here and articles in the post about the baseball coach, his atrocious pay to play scheme, and the resulting loss of an entire group of elite players. That he’s still a part of the athletic department would give me pause even if I didn’t have a ball player. But this recent article about how a female wrestler was treated, and the reasoning for why, would solidify my no.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/02/17/st-johns-wrestling-tried-welcome-girl-its-team-this-season-school-said-no/

Ditto- FWIW I have a DS at Gonzaga and DD at SJC. Both great schools. Congratulations to DS. He was our oldest and it was a VERY tough decision. DD wanted to attend SJC since his Open House.

Anonymous wrote:Not exactly the same situation, but my DD struggled with the decision between SJC and Visi and for her it came down to where she felt more welcome at the shadow day and that was SJC. She said the students there were far more welcoming than any of the other schools she shadowed at.

My DD had the same experience.

Not exactly the same situation, but my DD struggled with the decision between SJC and Visi and for her it came down to where she felt more welcome at the shadow day and that was SJC. She said the students there were far more welcoming than any of the other schools she shadowed at.