Why not watch them play a board game (unless they really want to judge their athletic ability)?

Where did you get the idea they would have to play an instrument?! Of course not.

It doesn't matter what game they play. The only purpose of the game is to see that they try to play and that they are good sports.

Do they make them play a musical instrument as well?

Anonymous wrote:The immediate above poster posting again. STA has the boys play "crab football" or something like that usually. Occasionally they do something more mundane like basketball. They're really looking more for sportsmanship, behavior, cooperation, etc. than athletic ability. Poor athletic ability likely won't hurt you, but spectacular ability could help a little.

What game are they making them play this year during the visit/interview?

What is up with all the "oh pleases" in the DCUM school forums? For real? I don't even have a dog in the St. Albans fight - my child is a girl - but why all the eye-rolling? I'm GLAD the poster who sent her son to Sidwell posted here. Even if I had a son, sent him to St. Albans, and loved it, I can't see getting so bent out of shape by a parent posting about an experience or impression that's different from mine. Most posters, I hope, can read the differing views on a thread and make up their own minds without the "OMG you totally suck that's not my experience and therefore you are so WRONG" comments.

BTW, I do send my child to an independent school that has received positive and negative reviews in this forum. All of the schools discussed here get raves and pans, so I really don't know what the big deal is.

Anonymous wrote:I was completed offended by the St. Albans admissions process. My son is a terrific student -- nice, really smart, top scores -- but at Albans the whole focus seemed to be on which boys could be transformed into "St. Albans Men." It was so 1950's. No focus on developing the unique qualities of the child. I know someone whose son actually went to boarding school after a couple years at Albans because he wanted to get as far away as possible. I would never send my son to that school. We pulled the application and my son went to Sidwell instead.

This may be a good fit for some boys, but I'd be careful.

Oh please. It is absurd to write that this school prohibits developing the unique qualities of a child. Students do transfer and sometimes such moves are generated by a desire/need for easier academics, more opportunities to make a team or get game time, etc. STA {IAC} is in a different and higher level athletic league than Sidwell {MAC}. Sidwell is more about the parents - STA is about the boy in the application process.

I was completed offended by the St. Albans admissions process. My son is a terrific student -- nice, really smart, top scores -- but at Albans the whole focus seemed to be on which boys could be transformed into "St. Albans Men." It was so 1950's. No focus on developing the unique qualities of the child. I know someone whose son actually went to boarding school after a couple years at Albans because he wanted to get as far away as possible. I would never send my son to that school. We pulled the application and my son went to Sidwell instead.

This may be a good fit for some boys, but I'd be careful.

I've been hearing that Beauvoir students have recently not been very prepared for the academics at STA, is that true? Is STA viewing Beauvoir applicants with less rose colored glasses?

Anonymous wrote:My son was accepted by both St. Albans and Landon and immediately chose Landon. We have not regretted the decision at all.

Why?

What were the Beauvoir to STA numbers like last year?

Anonymous wrote: do many people choose not to go to st. albans or is the choice usually not theirs to make?

Doesn't Beauvoir pretty much give you a yes, no or maybe?

If it's really the right match for your child, all should be fine. There are people who pull every string to get their child in and then realize, too late, and their children are not happy. Probably happens at least once a year.

if you go through all of the trouble of getting into beauvoir, with your eye actually being on st. albans, what happens if you really want your child to go to st. albans but they don't get in? is that possible? what are the factors? do many people choose not to go to st. albans or is the choice usually not theirs to make? i would be really bummed if we didn't get into st. albans after going to beauvoir.

that is simply untrue. there are many families of all faiths there, including a sizable jewish community. sizable despite people like the previous poster scaring people off. they welcome people of all faiths yet make no bones about being an episcopal school, which means there are some religious classes and chapel. my children have a strong Jewish identity and have had no issues being there. The religious classes are not taught to change your beliefs but to learn (hey the bible stories are pretty good stories), the cathedral architecture is magnificant (you learn about that too) and world comparative religions should be a required class everywhere.

Ask about people of other faiths during the admissions process so you can talk directly to a family who might be at the school and be able to answer your questions.

Anonymous wrote:I would be interested to hear about the experiences of any Jewish or other non-Protestant families at St. Albans/NCS.

There simply are not that many of the former, and those of the latter are basically WASPs without the P.