Anonymous
Post 04/22/2025 07:27     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
Anonymous wrote:When DS applied, the application just asked if we are Catholic or not. It was a yes no question. He answered yes and there was a drop down where it asked for the name of our parish.

Since your DC was not baptized in a Catholic church and you are not a member of a Catholic church, I don’t think you should answer yes to that question. However, in her essay, your DC could write about her exposure to both religions if the religious aspect of the school is part of why she wants to attend.

+1 this is a great approach.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2025 06:52     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don’t say they’re Catholic if you’re applying to a Catholic school because you’ll be caught flat-footed when they ask for baptismal or first communion papers.

It’s too late for a 7th grader, but I know a similar family whose kids decided to do baptism and first communion in 6th grade to prep for competitive Catholic HS admissions. Based on who I saw at Easter vigil this week, they aren’t the only ones to have this idea.


NP here. I did not even realize that this is an option. How much of an advantage does being Catholic carry in the admissions process? and is it the same at different Catholic schools? For example, I hear Stone Ridge isn't too Catholic. Do they give as much advantage to a candidate being Catholic as another more conservative Catholic School such as Oakcrest?


I can’t speak to specific schools other than Visi and Gonzaga but in my experience it counts a fair amount in admissions. Even better if you are coming from a Catholic K-8.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 23:15     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
When DS applied, the application just asked if we are Catholic or not. It was a yes no question. He answered yes and there was a drop down where it asked for the name of our parish.

Since your DC was not baptized in a Catholic church and you are not a member of a Catholic church, I don’t think you should answer yes to that question. However, in her essay, your DC could write about her exposure to both religions if the religious aspect of the school is part of why she wants to attend.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 22:20     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
I would include that you were raised Catholic. I work at a Catholic school and think it could be a feather in DC's cap during the application process for them to know that DC's family has a Catholic background.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 22:12     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
Anonymous wrote:If you are confirmed catholic, say you are catholic, DH episcopalian, kids episcopalian.


Agree. You can also say that you want your children to benefit from a catholic education in your parent statement.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 22:00     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’d write Episcopalian because they were baptized as such. They certainly aren’t Catholic, but could convert of course.


Just to be clear people aren’t baptized as Catholic or Lutheran or Episcopalian. They are baptized as Christians. The churches recognize each other’s baptisms as valid sacraments.

But for a kid past elementary school they would expect further sacraments to consider that child Catholic.


That is true, I guess I should have said baptized in an Episcopalian church. I know because my son’s certificate is from an Episcopalian church. I’m sure the Catholic school we applied to would recognize that he is baptized as a Christian, I’m just saying they don’t seem to care. They just want to know Catholic or not. They don’t seem to give any preference to a Christian-but-not-Catholic student over other students from other faith traditions.


Yes, this. Im the previous poster too—there is no place to put your denomination unless you are Catholic
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 21:53     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sorry if this is a silly question but I was not raised in the US (came here as an adult) so I am not very familiar with private high school application processes. I am Catholic and DH is Episcopalian. Both our kids got baptized in the Episcopalian Church. We have attended mass at both Catholic and Episcopalian churches and our kids are familiar with service at both churches.
Our eldest will be applying to high schools next fall and a couple of the schools she is interested in are Catholic.
What should we put down for our family denomination when asked? I am assuming we have to put Episcopalian for the kids because that's where they were baptized? Would this put them at a disadvantage in admissions?
TIA


If your kids have not made any sacraments in the Catholic church, they aren't Catholic for this purpose.

Catholic schools in this area give a fair amount of preference to kids whose parents have shown committment to Catholic education all along. They give a much smaller amount of preference to kids who have made their sacraments and have come from public or other private school.

I would write "Christian".


No, "Christian" is too broad. I'm in the South and it has been conflated with politics so much, I would never use that term. I think Christianity has been highjacked by a fundamentalist movement close to those in Islam for which the republican party is breeding hatred.

Episcopalian is correct for th kids. If you want to be most accurate write "catholic/Episcopalian, not confirmed"
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 21:45     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’d write Episcopalian because they were baptized as such. They certainly aren’t Catholic, but could convert of course.


Just to be clear people aren’t baptized as Catholic or Lutheran or Episcopalian. They are baptized as Christians. The churches recognize each other’s baptisms as valid sacraments.

But for a kid past elementary school they would expect further sacraments to consider that child Catholic.


That is true, I guess I should have said baptized in an Episcopalian church. I know because my son’s certificate is from an Episcopalian church. I’m sure the Catholic school we applied to would recognize that he is baptized as a Christian, I’m just saying they don’t seem to care. They just want to know Catholic or not. They don’t seem to give any preference to a Christian-but-not-Catholic student over other students from other faith traditions.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 21:21     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
If you are confirmed catholic, say you are catholic, DH episcopalian, kids episcopalian.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 21:17     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
If your children were baptized Catholic, you can say Catholic. If they were baptized Episcopalian, say that. If they have not been baptized, say Christian.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 21:01     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
PK-8 Catholic ADW schools offer tuition discounts for families who are active/registered parishioners. We've just applied to Catholic HS and I'm not aware of any similar financial benefit since most are independent/not run by the ADW.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 19:14     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
We just applied, accepted and DC is going to a Catholic high school. We’re Episcopalian and I don’t recall anywhere where it asked for religion (other than indicating you are Catholic). My son addressed this in his essay saying that her went to Sunday school and we attended church regularly but I don’t recall in the application saying anything specific??
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 19:01     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don’t say they’re Catholic if you’re applying to a Catholic school because you’ll be caught flat-footed when they ask for baptismal or first communion papers.

It’s too late for a 7th grader, but I know a similar family whose kids decided to do baptism and first communion in 6th grade to prep for competitive Catholic HS admissions. Based on who I saw at Easter vigil this week, they aren’t the only ones to have this idea.


NP here. I did not even realize that this is an option. How much of an advantage does being Catholic carry in the admissions process? and is it the same at different Catholic schools? For example, I hear Stone Ridge isn't too Catholic. Do they give as much advantage to a candidate being Catholic as another more conservative Catholic School such as Oakcrest?


I’m the PP you’re replying to and I don’t know that it is an advantage. I think the families are just anxious about admissions and looking for any leg up. Given the amount of time it takes to attend classes to convert, I think time might be better spent studying for the HPST, sincerely doing service hours, or focusing on an extracurricular.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 18:45     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
Anonymous wrote:Don’t say they’re Catholic if you’re applying to a Catholic school because you’ll be caught flat-footed when they ask for baptismal or first communion papers.

It’s too late for a 7th grader, but I know a similar family whose kids decided to do baptism and first communion in 6th grade to prep for competitive Catholic HS admissions. Based on who I saw at Easter vigil this week, they aren’t the only ones to have this idea.


NP here. I did not even realize that this is an option. How much of an advantage does being Catholic carry in the admissions process? and is it the same at different Catholic schools? For example, I hear Stone Ridge isn't too Catholic. Do they give as much advantage to a candidate being Catholic as another more conservative Catholic School such as Oakcrest?
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 18:38     Subject: What denomination is our family (for catholic school admissions)
Anonymous wrote:I’d write Episcopalian because they were baptized as such. They certainly aren’t Catholic, but could convert of course.


Just to be clear people aren’t baptized as Catholic or Lutheran or Episcopalian. They are baptized as Christians. The churches recognize each other’s baptisms as valid sacraments.

But for a kid past elementary school they would expect further sacraments to consider that child Catholic.