Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 16:49     Subject: Gonzaga
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The average SAT score of seniors at Gonzaga is no higher than the better public schools in Montgomery, Fairfax and Arlington. So how competitive can admissions really be?


The school turns boys into men. Can’t say the same at public.


This.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 16:39     Subject: Re:Gonzaga
You need to look at his own specific class to see if anybody’s gonna block them and look at historically how many come from your school?

Really not competing against the masses, competing against the courts in your own eighth grade.

So historically, your school sons five boys Gonzaga and there are no athletes or legacies Buckingham I’ll get him. But if you school historically free and there’s two athletes in a legacy ahead of him no matter what their grades are. He’s not gonna get it..
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 16:21     Subject: Gonzaga
It’s not a quantifiable thing. Turning “boys into men" in Jesuit education is about forming well-rounded, ethically grounded, and service-oriented individuals, not just academically successful ones. They think a lot about character, faith, and service, in addition to academics. It’s a good thing IMO.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 15:11     Subject: Gonzaga
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The average SAT score of seniors at Gonzaga is no higher than the better public schools in Montgomery, Fairfax and Arlington. So how competitive can admissions really be?


The school turns boys into men. Can’t say the same at public.


"The school turns boys into men. "

As a graduate of a Jesuit school I cannot stress how important this is to the ethos of the Jesuit education. The Jesuits are focused on developing men for others. Which is to say they believe that serving the community, working for the greater good, and focusing on social justice is an important part of the whole person. Anything you can do before applying to show this is a core belief, in action, will go a long way. If you try to fake it they will see through it in an instant.


How does a school measure that “the school turns boys into men.”? Just curious as that seems like a tough one to quantify.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 12:24     Subject: Gonzaga
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The average SAT score of seniors at Gonzaga is no higher than the better public schools in Montgomery, Fairfax and Arlington. So how competitive can admissions really be?


The school turns boys into men. Can’t say the same at public.


"The school turns boys into men. "

As a graduate of a Jesuit school I cannot stress how important this is to the ethos of the Jesuit education. The Jesuits are focused on developing men for others. Which is to say they believe that serving the community, working for the greater good, and focusing on social justice is an important part of the whole person. Anything you can do before applying to show this is a core belief, in action, will go a long way. If you try to fake it they will see through it in an instant.
Anonymous
Post 12/25/2025 01:15     Subject: Gonzaga
Anonymous wrote:The average SAT score of seniors at Gonzaga is no higher than the better public schools in Montgomery, Fairfax and Arlington. So how competitive can admissions really be?


The school turns boys into men. Can’t say the same at public.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2025 20:07     Subject: Gonzaga
Anonymous wrote:OP here - got HSPT scores and he did get a 99. I read his essays and I thought they were good. So fingers crossed.


Your son is similar to mine last year, and he was admitted with a Presidential Scholarship, so looks promising!
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2025 08:51     Subject: Gonzaga
OP here - got HSPT scores and he did get a 99. I read his essays and I thought they were good. So fingers crossed.
Anonymous
Post 12/05/2025 16:57     Subject: Gonzaga
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone with high 80's HSPT and no hooks get into Gonzaga? We do not know anyone to write recommendations other than teachers.


Mine did. He had high 70's but had some good recommendations outside teachers. I would guess he was on the bubble for admissions. I think high 80's is ok, especially if you are coming from a K-8. No hooks other than Catholic, coming from K-8 with excellent grades. Spent a LOT of time on the essay, which I think helped a lot.
Anonymous
Post 12/05/2025 11:18     Subject: Gonzaga
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone with high 80's HSPT and no hooks get into Gonzaga? We do not know anyone to write recommendations other than teachers.

My son did last year.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 19:37     Subject: Gonzaga
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone with high 80's HSPT and no hooks get into Gonzaga? We do not know anyone to write recommendations other than teachers.


DS had a 92% and no significant hooks. He came from a Catholic K-8 and had a lot of service hours, alter server, other good ECs for the school. He was initially deferred but got off the waitlist after the first week. This was 4 years ago though.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 19:16     Subject: Gonzaga
FWIW, up until last year, every boy who was waitlisted from our Catholic K-8 over the last 5 years ended up being offered a spot at Gonzaga. So it is a real waitlist, not a soft rejection.

The waitlist situation from last year was an anomaly that impacted not just Gonzaga, but many local high schools.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 16:59     Subject: Gonzaga
Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure how you’d know he got a 99th percentile on a practice. If you mean 99%, then he’ll absolutely be in the 99th percentile.

Your principal might be able to give you some reassurance. Assuming you’re Catholic, your hooks are Catholic and a feeder school, which definitely “count.” Make sure there’s enthusiasm in the essay. They love families who love Gonzaga (and I mean that sincerely, people are happy partly because so many people are just really into the place. Including my family).


My son had the best 4 yrs at Gonzaga. It's truly a wonderful and challenging school.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 13:27     Subject: Gonzaga
Anonymous wrote:In our experience the essay means a lot. Place a lot of emphasis on why he wants to go there.


+1. in our experience the essay is the most important piece of the application. The admissions team really emphasizes this as well.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 13:23     Subject: Gonzaga
In our experience the essay means a lot. Place a lot of emphasis on why he wants to go there.