Prep is in trouble - they are now losing way too many Catholic kids to SJC, Gonzaga and Good Counsel. It was not like this 5, 10 and 15 years ago.

Might explain why Prep is trying to raise its academic profile and increase its boarding offering program.

Its old image is gradually fading away

My DS "declined" GP and he is going to GZ.
I know two more kids that declined GP so you have a lot of openings

I think they like kids who get long well in groups and are able to get along with different types of people. Also it helps if your son is popular with his peers. I would have your son write himself telling why he really wants to go to Prep and emphasizing how he wants to part of he Prep community and be active in class room and other activities.

This may not be indicative at all, I expect it varies each year, but during my son's year, they took no one from the wait list. Mr. Gilbert is a hard read, but I do think if you could get someone other than yourself, either the admissions officer/principal at your current school to just send a note on his behalf, I do not see how that would hurt.

Anonymous wrote:GP wait list will move because of the price tag. Be patient. If you sent an email/letter, they got it. They firmly adhere to the policy "the thicker the file, the thicker the kid/parents". Good luck. It will be worth the wait.

Thank you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son also rejected GP, so one more possibility for you.

Not "reject", but declined! Come on, there are people who considers GP as their first choice. Be a little more sensitive about that.

Thank you

Anonymous wrote:My son also rejected GP, so one more possibility for you.

another hope,

GP wait list will move because of the price tag. Be patient. If you sent an email/letter, they got it. They firmly adhere to the policy "the thicker the file, the thicker the kid/parents". Good luck. It will be worth the wait.

Anonymous wrote:My son also rejected GP, so one more possibility for you.

Not "reject", but declined! Come on, there are people who considers GP as their first choice. Be a little more sensitive about that.

My son also rejected GP, so one more possibility for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GP waitlisted 9/boy. Sent a E-mail and sincere letter stating GP is our first choice and waiting. Is it ok to re-write a letter or visit? Should we just wait? Any words can be helpful and many thanks to you.

Do not push Mr. Gilbert...........

It's totally okay to call admissions office and talk to someone in person and confirm that they got the letter. The school where we were waitlisted had not received it yet when we called, and it gave us an opportunity to let them know verbally how enthusiastic we were about the school.

As stated before AD at GP are not to be push. They tent to react the wrong way.

Can you give any other insight into the admissions process at GP? Anything they particularly like or hate? Things that push their buttons?

In no particular order or weighting:

1. Smart enough to do the work. You don't have to be a genius, but neither can you be a drag on the classes.
2. Problem and drama free - GP favors kids from schools they have relationships with so that they can get a formal and informal input what they might be getting. This covers behavioral problems, academic problems, honesty, ethics, interpersonal relationships, etc.
3. List price paying or as close to that as they can get.
4. Special talents and skills - Athletics is a big deal. I would think they would be especially interested in football players these days with lax in the descendency
5. Catholic - with good recommendations from the parish school. Especially if it is one of the feeders (Mater Dei and the Potomac, Bethesda and Kensington Parishes)
6. A solid, if unspectacular, family background (w/o problems) free from Tiger moms and unreasonable parents. (or Moms who are smashed at 10:00am)
7. A connection to the school (legacy status --- father, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, etc.)
8. A popular kid - which means he will drag others along with him to Prep and will do well interpersonally when he is there.
9. A family commitment to Catholic education or even better, Jesuit education. Wouldn't hurt if Dad or Mom went to BC or Georgetown or St Joes.
10. A very strong preference for Prep - I would think that the position of "We are applying to Prep and Gonzaga and St Albans and Landon and XYZ" would be a real loser in GP's eyes. They don't want to offer slots to "shoppers" They want the committed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GP waitlisted 9/boy. Sent a E-mail and sincere letter stating GP is our first choice and waiting. Is it ok to re-write a letter or visit? Should we just wait? Any words can be helpful and many thanks to you.

Do not push Mr. Gilbert...........

It's totally okay to call admissions office and talk to someone in person and confirm that they got the letter. The school where we were waitlisted had not received it yet when we called, and it gave us an opportunity to let them know verbally how enthusiastic we were about the school.

As stated before AD at GP are not to be push. They tent to react the wrong way.

Can you give any other insight into the admissions process at GP? Anything they particularly like or hate? Things that push their buttons?

Anonymous wrote:I guess calling to check up on whether a letter was received is OK. It will show interest, but isn't really going to count for much.

More impactful would be having someone that the school likes/respects call for you to see if you can't get a thumb on the scale.

This could be an alum or it could be a Prep coach. Or it could be a priest from your parish. It has to be someone the school trusts or likes or needs.

GP, like other schools, depends on the middle schools as ongoing sources of students. If someone from your current school could just add a little weight, it might help. It has in the past for others evfen under the Horsey regime.

Thank you, its very helpful..
GP was his first and only choice, we need all the help we can get.

Anonymous wrote:I know two boys turning down their spots for 9th. Just persevere but, gently.

where are they going?

Anonymous wrote:Consider yourself lucky and go to SJC instead.

The poster may not have a choice. But its hard to imagine Prep and SJC being substitutes for one another. They are so vastly different.

I'm not saying one is better than the other for an individual boy. But they are very different experiences.