Hoya Live! Online Admissions Discussion

Though we hope you can find answers to many of your questions on our Web site, we’d still like to have a chance to chat with you in person.

Join the admissions staff, day students, and resident students for the first ever Hoya Live! online admissions discussion on Monday, February 13th from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Contributors

Justin, Junior, Chicago             Jude, Sophomore, New Orleans

Michael Horsey, Dean of Admissions

Michael Hoffman, Assistant Dean of Admissions

Editor's Note: You must refresh your browser to view updated content.

Welcome to the first ever HoyaLive! online admissions discussion.

Transcript from Tuesday, February 13th

To: Admissions Office
City: Potomac
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
My son plays a sport quite seriously and we would be interested in meeting with a coach to discuss philosophy, training, college recruitment, etc. Is this something appropriate to do during the admission process, or do we wait until after our son has been accepted? And, how do we contact the coaches? Thank you

Answer:

Just so you know, it is school policy that Prep coaches do not recruit, so please do not take this as a lack of interest. Any student who has contacted the admissions office through the application process is welcome to speak directly with our coaches. They will be glad to supply you with the information you have requested. Feel free to send us an email at admissions@gprep.org and we will put you in contact with the appropriate coach.

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To: Admissions Office

City: Gaithersburg

From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
My question would be just to ask more about how the interview process plays into the admission decision. Mr. Horsey said that it was more for the prospective student than the admissions committee. Can you elaborate a little, please? Thanks again! We were very impressed with the school and your process has been top rate.
 

Answer:

What we do in the interview is not try to evaluate boys, but set expectations for them and to advise them of the opportunities and challenges they will face in the next four years. Therefore, it has no effect on the decision. We do not pass along any comments to the rest of the admissions committee.

Everybody decides in the first 30 seconds whether or not they like someone when they first meet. It wouldn't be fair to pass along our judgment to the admissions committee. In addition, we don't want them to think they only have 45 minutes to impress us to gain admission to Prep.

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To: Day Student
City: Brussels
State: Belgium
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
1. Are there any football camps for entering freshmen? 2. Is the freshmen football team a strong one? 3. When can I expect to hear if I have been admitted to the freshmen class?
 

Answer:

1. Yes, freshman football camp starts 2 weeks before school. You are not required to be in camp to be on the freshman team.

2. Yes, this year the team finished 9-1 and everyone on the team got to play. Only half of the boys on the team had ever played tackle football before they came to Prep.

3. Admissions letters will be mailed on the afternoon of March 2nd, but will be able to access your decision on our website after 3 pm EST on March 3rd.

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To: Boarding Student
City: Beaufort
State: South Carolina
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
Richard asks, Can a freshman be on the swim team? How hard is it to make the team. Are there tryouts? What are the practices like? thank you.
 

Answer:

Yes, many freshman join the swim team each year and no one is cut. Practices can be demanding, most find them exhilarating. Next year, Prep will open a new pool. Click here to see pictures.

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To: Boarding Student
City: Beaufort
State: SC
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
1. Do you get to choose your classes all through high school?2. When do the students attend mass?3. What are some fun trips that the school takes?
 

Answer:

Freshman year the only choice you have is between modern language and Latin. Beginning in sophomore year, you will have more choices. Boarding students attend mass every Sunday at 5:30 pm and daily masses are offered but are not required at 7:45 am. Their are 7 school-wide masses throughout the year.

This year we went to Kings Dominion (an amusement park in Virginia). Past years we have gone to New York, ski trips and we travel to places like Philly, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh to see baseball and basketball games. These trips are included in resident tuition. We also do local trips to restaurants and to dances with girls schools.

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To: Day Student
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
Are there lots of dances with other schools? How does Georgetown Prep interact with other schools not just through athletics? What are Prep's sister schools? What schools does Prep interact with most often?

Answer:

Yes, there have been dances this year with Visitation, Holton-Arms, Holy Cross (across the street), Holy Child, Madeira, and Stone Ridge.

We also have other activities with girls schools such as concerts, plays, "Best Buddies," Black Student Association, and coffee houses.

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The following question or comment has been posted:

To: Day Student
City: Great Falls
State: VA
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
Although a seventh grader, I am getting involved in choosing my future high school. I have looked at Georgetown Prep and Gonzaga. Now, I want to know why I should come to G-Prep instead of Gonzaga or Langley High School.

Answer:

The main difference is that Prep has a small class size averaging 16 and teachers only teach 4 classes, so you get the individual attention we call cura personalis.

Since we are a much smaller school, you have many other opportunities for leadership such as athletics, theater, campus ministry and clubs.

Spend the day as a Hoya-for-a-Day and see if Prep is a good fit for you!

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To: Admissions Office
City: Silver Spring
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
Is it possible for a student to play both the saxophone and violin since it looks like the practice days overlap? Do kids typically continue their lessons privately when involved with the musical groups at Prep?

Answer:

Mr. Ashur, our music director, usually finds out a way to work out conflicts as numerous students play more than one instrument.

Private lessons can be arranged through the Levine School of Music at the Strathmore Hall Arts Center across the street.

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To: Day Student
City: Silver Spring
State: Maryland
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
When do tryouts start for soccer? Do a lot of kids make the freshman soccer team?

Answer:

There is a week long camp for soccer tryouts about 2 weeks before school starts. About 18 boys are kept on the freshman soccer team.

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To: Admissions Office
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
What is the average math and verbal SAT scores a Prep (seperately) over the past five years? How many students over the past five years have been National Merit semi-finalists, finalists, or winners? How have students done on SAT IIs in different subjects in the past five years? How have students scored on AP Exams in different subjects over the past five years?

Answer:

Verbal - 650; Math - 700 average

We usually have 2 finalists and 10 semi-finalists on average each year.

Last year, the average senior graduated with almost 5 A.P.s with 80% of test takers scoring above 3. Last year all Calculus BC and World History students received a 5 on the A.P. exam, the highest possible makr.

Unfortunately, we don't have specific information regarding SAT IIs because they vary greatly according to subject.  Please send us an email with your request for a complete summary of SAT II scores for the last 5 years.

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To: Admissions Office
City: N. Potomac
State: Maryland
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
Is there a formula used to weight the importance of report card grades versus entrance exam performance versus extra-curricular and community involvement, or is there a more subjective view of the whole child considered during the admission process?

Answer:

We do not use a specific formula. Students are rated on a 1 - 4 scale. Each file is read by our 7 member committee. Here is the scale we use:

(4)        Very highly enthusiastic; applicant is outstanding with respect not only to academic ability and performance, but other areas of leadership, promise of future, contribution to the enrichment of Prep life

(3)        Definitely acceptable; very good academic ability and performance and promise of contribution to Prep

(2)        Conditionally acceptable; the evaluator believes the applicant can handle the program and will contribute to Prep life, but will have difficulty in the process. Reasons for possible difficulties and specific conditions to acceptance are stated below.

(1)        Applicant has some positive features (stated below), but is unacceptable

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To: Day Student
City: Great Falls
State: VA
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
Do Altar Servers serve at the masses?

Answer:

Definitely, both contributors here tonight have served at Prep masses. Students are recruited at the beginning of every year to serve at our liturgies.

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To: Day Student
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
What clubs does Prep offer? When do clubs meet? Is it possible to be involved in multiple clubs? How often do clubs meet? What positions are offered in student government each year? Are there elections and speeches to get into student government? How do you get into various honor societies (National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, etc.) What are the student newspapers at Prep?
 

Answer:

Everyone is involved in multiple clubs because we are such a small school.

Student government has a president and vice president of the yard (a traditional title). There are three reps from each class. Anybody can run for office and there are speeches and elections.

National Honor Society requires a 93 average over 4 years and other honor societies require similar marks.

At Prep we have the Little Hoya newspaper (bi-weekly), Political Review (quarterly), Blue and Gray (literary magazine), and Cupola (yearbook).

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City: Washington
State: D.C.
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
Is language a requirement Freshman year? If so is it required then for all four years?

Answer:

Yes, you may chose either Latin or a modern language (French, German or Spanish).

Graduation requires a minimum 2 years of Latin and 2 years of a modern language.

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To: Day Student
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
Does a student have to have a parking pass if they are going to park at Prep every school day? If yes, how does a student obtain a parking pass? Are carpools required? If yes to the first question, is there any preference given to seniors and juniors in terms of getting parking passes?

Answer:

We have enough parking on campus for everybody as long as they have a valid driver's license.

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To: Admissions Office
City: Silver Spring
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
I was really struck by one of your graduation goals: being loving. This is an incredible goal for a school. Can you give me any concrete examples as to how you try to accomplish this?

Answer:

Through our retreats, service projects and especially through our adult role models on campus. It starts with understanding yourself as lovable by God and other community members. By graduation you really see what being a "man for others" is all about. In addition, you learn in religion class what love really means.

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To: Admissions Office
City: N. Potomac
State: Maryland
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
Is it true that the local private high schools have dialogue about prospective students? There is a school for which our son applied showing interest in him. Although this is a fine school, it does not offer the faith base that we desire for our son. We are concerned that if offered admission at this school, our son may have less of a chance of acceptance to Prep, his and our first choice among high schools.

Answer:

No, we do not share notes regarding our applicant pool with any schools.

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To: Admissions Office
City: Arlington
State: VA
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
Although I am an A-B Student, I did not do as well on my SSATs as I expected to and not as well as I did on my Catholic School placement test. How much is the SSATs weighed in the admissions process?

Answer:

Grades and recommendations are definitely the most important factors to being accepted to Prep. SSATs are important in putting together a class whose academic talent is not too disparate,  but there are no absolute minimums.

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To: Day Student
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
How will Prep and its students be affected by the construction and the new buildings once they are completed? How will these buildings affect life at Prep and how they be integrated into the campus?

Answer:

We haven't found the construction to be an intrusion at all except for a slightly longer walk to the Metro station.

Once they are built, it will be easier to get involved in intramurals and other after school activities. Our library will go from seating 5% of the student body to seating 33%, so there will be more space to do homework and be involved with study groups.

They are talking about making everyone stay until 5:30 with extracurriculars or sports from 3:45 on.

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To: Admissions Office
City: Bethesda
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
What are the first couple of things you notice about a student when you review an application?

Answer:

The main thing we are looking for is a pursuit of excellence and a sense of passion. We know these can be displayed through different aspects of a student's life.

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To: Admissions Office
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
What percentage of your freshman class comes from a Catholic, parochial school? What percentage from public schools? What percentage from private schools?

Answer:

It varies from year to year, but about 50% from Catholic schools, 30% from independent schools, and 20% from public schools.

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To: Day Student
City: Silver Spring
State: Maryland
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
Are there masses for students who are not part of the boarding program?
 

Answer:

We have school-wide masses about once per month that all students must attend.

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To: Admissions Office
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
What percentage students get accepted into their first-choice college?

Answer:

About 70%

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To: Day Student
City: Bethesda
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
About what percent of students would you say participate in a sport every season? Thanks

Answer:

80% participate in a sport during the year. 40% participate in 2 sports. 22% play 3 sports.

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To: Day Student
City: Silver Spring
State: MD
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
I think you offer a fencing club. What kind of fencing do you do (foil, epee)? Do you compete against other schools? Can you join with no prior experience?

Answer:

Yes, we offer foil and sabre. Most students have no prior experience.

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To: Admissions Office
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
List some outstanding qualities of Georgetown Prep over local private high schools and other Jesuit high schools.

Answer:

We do not try to compare ourselves with other schools. Schools are only as good as they fit the individual applicant.

We pride ourselves on the ability to educate the whole person, place students in the finest colleges, and provide leadership opportunities for everyone.

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To: Admissions Office
City: Bethesda
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
How many students have applied to enter the Freshman class?

Answer:

About 4 students per spot.

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To: Day Student
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
What is the disciplinary system at Georgetown Prep like? How often are students suspended or expelled? Is there a disciplinary committee and our student on it? List some examples of penalties for various infractions and is there parental notification for them?

Answer:

There is a faculty disciplinary committee and no students have been dismissed in the past two years. Suspension and probation are 2 most widely used tools for serious offenses.

JUG, from the old English term for jail, is a detention for minor infractions.

Parents are notified for all situations except JUG.

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To: Admissions Office
City: beaufort
State: south carolina
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
What percentage of students stay all four years, and how many come just the last year or two, and how many transfer after attending. In other words, what is your percentage of happy campers.

Answer:

Only 2% of students who begin here do not finish (for all reasons). Consequently a very small number transfer in after freshman year.

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To: Day Student
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
who are you?

Answer:

Michael Horsey, Dean of Admissions

Michael Hoffman, Assistant Dean of Admissions

Justin Zubrod, Junior from Chicago

Jude Fitzmorris, Sophomore from New Orleans

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To: Admissions Office
City: McLean
State: VA
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
As a perspective day student, I realize that the Admission letters are mailed on March 3. However, when is the overall decision on acceptance actually made?

Answer:

Our meetings begin Monday, February 20th and continue throughout the week.

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To: Day Student
City: Silver Spring
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
What consideration, if any, is given to legacies, specifically, the son of a graduate or the younger brother of a current student?

Answer:

Younger brothers and sons tend to compare themselves negatively with their older siblings and dads. If we tell them they cant even go to the same school, we undermine their confidence in a very damaging way. In the same token, we don't offer places to boys who don't offer evidence of future success in a rigorous program like Prep's.

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To: Day Student
City: Silver Spring
State: Maryland
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
Are students who are participating in three seasons of sports still able to maintain a high GPA or is there something that is lost with doing sports?

Answer:

Our experience is that the same boy has about 1 point higher average in-season than off-season.

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To: Day Student
City: Bethesda
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
How far a walk is it from the metro to school? Do kids have to cross over Rockville Pike?

Answer:

400 meters and there is a tunnel underneath Rockville Pike.

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To: Admissions Office
City: D.C.
State: D.C.
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
What areas does Prep draw its student from? What is the diversity (in terms of ethnic groups and religions) of the students at Prep?

Answer:

Prep students come from 25 states, 10 countries and about 65 schools each year. This year boys have applied from 135 different schools.

Prep's racial diversity 25% non-Caucasian (11% African-American, 9% Asian, 5% Hispanic). About 25% of students are on financial aid. This year 47% of applicants are students of color.

70% of students are Catholic, 25% Protestant, 5% other

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To: Boarding Student
City: winnetka
State: illinois
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
Has the Dorm food gotten any better?????

Answer:

Charles,

The food is much better.

Your brother,

Justin

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To: Day Student
City: Bethesda
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
How early can students arrive at school? Are there any classes, reviews, or clubs that would meet before the regular schedule? And, do teachers also coach on teams?

Answer:

Students arrive as early as 7 am, but can stay as late as dinner with permission. Because we are a boarding school, there are always students around.

Quite often, reviews will take place before school. Prep singers are one example of a club which meets before school.

Many teachers are often involved coaching, but we also bring in coaches from outside of Prep.

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To: Admissions Office
City: arlington
State: va
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
How many members of the clergy teach and also how do they also involve themselves in the daily life of students?
 

Answer:

At this point we have 7 Jesuits in the community. One is retired, the rest are involved in some aspect of the school including teaching, spiritual direction and resident life.

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To: Day Student
City: Silver Spring
State: Maryland
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
Are there any organized outdoor education or adventure opportunities off the campus?

Answer:

Many of our service projects involve outdoor activities including work in the Appalachian Mountains, Dominican Republic, Gulf Coast, Federated States of Micronesia, and Kenya.

We also have ski trips and the residents take trips hiking, sailing, rock climbing, and other activities.

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To: Admissions Office
City: beaufort
State: sc
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
How many freshman boarding openings are there usually in any given year. How many freshman boarders apply each year on average, and how many of those are accepted. thank you.
 

Answer:

The ratio of applicants to places is about the same for residents as it is for day students. We plan to enroll 25 boarding students.

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 To: Day Student
City: D.C.
State: D.C.
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
Are there any assemblies where announcements are made? If so, how often? If yes (to the original question), what happens other than announcements?

Answer:

Monday - Thursday you meet with your advisee group with about 6-8 other students. Announcements are read at this time. On Fridays, we typically have a school-wide assembly.

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To: Admissions Office
City: Gaithersburg
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
How does the number of applications this year compare with past years?

Answer:

Applications are up about 20% this year.

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To: Admissions Office
City: Gaithersburg
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
Does Prep offer any internship opportunities for Juniors or Seniors?

Answer:

The last quarter of senior year you may apply for independent study where you may take advantage of internships in places like the Federal Reserve, World Bank, National Institutes of Health, as well as DC and Maryland courts.

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To: Day Student
City: Silver Spring
State: Maryland
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
Are there any chances for exchange programs to other countries? If so, would they be for language study or other?

Answer:

Students can go on language trips to Germany, Spain, Dominican Republic, France and Belgium.

There are other trips to English speaking countries. We have a new exchange program to Australia for one term.

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To: Admissions Office
City: D.C.
State: D.C.
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
How is technology integrated into the clasroom and the lives of Prep students?
 

Answer:

The school has Smart boards in every classroom that allow the work of the day as well as projects, notes, and websites to be projected onto a computerized dry-erase board for all the students to interact.

There is a computerized language lab that  each foreign language class goes to each week.

Each course has a "Blackboard" site that students can log into at their homes to keep up with assignment, note, and quizzes.

Boarding students have access to a wireless network.

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To: Day Student
City: D.C.
State: D.C.
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
What is the student-advisor relationship like? What are the responsibilities of the advisor? Can you choose your own advisor?

Answer:

Students choose their own advisor after a month at school and is with their advisor every morning to start the day and throughout the day since they only teach 4 classes a day.

Their primary responsibility is academics but they also help with personal issues as well as make referrals to the school counseling staff.

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To: Admissions Office
City: Bethesda
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
What percent of accepted applicants actually enroll? Do you know how this number compares to other area all-boys private schools? Thanks

Answer:

Prep has one of the highest yield rates of any independent school in the area, typically running as high as 95%.

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To: Admissions Office
City: Potomac
State: Maryland
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
What is the average SSAT score this year?

Answer:

We have not yet calculated this years average but last year it was 78% (SSAT total program percentile). It usually does not change much from year to year.

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To: Admissions Office
City: beaufort
State: sc
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
I have one more question. Do you offer early acceptance? Thank you for your time.

Answer:

We have no early acceptance program.

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To: Admissions Office
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
I would like to thank all who are answering these questions for giving up some of their time to better inform prospective students and parents about Georgetown Prep. I really enjoyed this forum and I am very glad that Georgetown Prep did this. I learned a lot of things that I wanted to know. Once again, thanks so much to everyone involved in answering these questions.

Answer:

Thank you for participating. It has been our pleasure.

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To: Admissions Office
City: clifton
State: Va
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
You state that you choose students who are most interested in attending Georgetown Prep, what can a prospective student do to convince you they are serious about attending Prep?

Answer:

Just tell us.

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To: Day Student
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
What is Campus Ministry? What are some of the religious trips offered? Are students required to do community service? What is Best Buddies? How often do day students attend mass? What do student do during religion class?

Answer:

Campus ministry is an organization devoted to spiritual formation we believe that everything one uses in a day can be made sacred if used for the greater glory of God.

We also believe that one finds God in other people and in nature.

Students have an increasing commitment to community service each year.

Best Buddies is an organization by one one of our alumni, Anthony Shriver. It pairs students with developmentally challenged children for rewarding activities.

Students in religion class learn about the Bible and the history of the Christian church and the basic tenets of other religions.

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To: Day Student
City: McLean
State: Virginia
From: Prospective Student

Question, Comment:
What sports are there usually no try-outs for? Is there any requirement to how many sports a student has to do? Is golf offered in the fall? Other than basketball and wrestling, what are the other athletic offerings during the winter season?

Answer:

 There are no tryouts for football, cross country, wrestling, swimming, golf(Spring), rugby, fencing, track.

In the winter there is swimming, indoor track, and fencing.

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To: Admissions Office
City: Bethesda
State: MD
From: Prospective Parent

Question, Comment:
This question and answer forum has been great! I've learned alot, both from answers to my own questions, but equally, from hearing from other parents and prospective students. Thanks!

Answer:

This is what we had hoped for. Thank you for contributing your insight and we apologize for not being able to answer everyone's questions. We were overwhelmed. If we did not get to your question tonight please email us at admissions@gprep.org .

Thanks, from the four of us.

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