FAQs
- We've completed the online form...what else do we need to do? Hide
A completed application includes the parent section, the student section, teacher recommendations, transcripts, and test scores. An interview (that takes place during the shadow day) is also a required element of the process.
If you've submitted the online form, that means you've taken care of the parent and student section. Teacher recommendation forms can be found in the application packets that were sent to you via regular mail. We've had problems posting PDFs of these forms onto our website, but they are "common app" forms that are available on many of the websites of independent schools. We will receive your son's grades once you've submitted the "request for transcript" form (also found in the application packet) to your school. With regard to test scores, your son had the option of designating Stuart Hall High School as a recipient of scores when he took the SSAT or the HSPT.- I haven't sent in my Parents' Financial Statement and it's after January 2...what do I do? Hide
The January 2 date is a recommendation, and not a "hard-and-fast" deadline. School and Student Services (SSS), which is the name of the department of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) that handles financial aid information for all independent schools, can take up to 3 weeks to process the Parents' Financial Statement. We cannot award aid until we receive the report from SSS. Hence the recommendation of January 2...that should allow enough of a window for us to receive the report from SSS. If you are submitting the form after January 2, it's possible that we may still receive the report from SSS on time, but you should submit the form as soon as possible. Please note that if you have not submitted the form by now, you should do so at the SSS website:
http://www.nais.org/financialaid/sss
The online form is processed significantly faster than those that arrive via regular mail.- Can someone explain this December 3 preliminary deadline, please? Hide
The Bay Area Admission Directors for Independent Schools have set up this deadline to allow staffs to begin a file on an applicant prior to the January 10 deadline. In other words, this is a "soft" deadline. In addition,those who are working with the online application at Stuart Hall High School are finding that they cannot submit the parent section of the online application without having their sons complete the student section. This is a glitch that we will fix for next year, but in the meantime, parents should not submit the online application until it is completed by the student. Even though parents might miss the "soft" deadline of December 3 due to this problem, they should rest assured that their application will be in good standing as long as it is submitted by January 10.
- What should we do first? Hide
Call the admissions office at 415.345.5812 and arrange to have an application packet sent to you. If you leave a message, be sure to give the applicant's name, parents' names, address, phone number, current school, and email address. Applications will be available at the end of August. If you would rather fill out an online application, it will be available later this fall on our website.
- Can we do both the shadow visit and interview on the same day? Are these mandatory components of the application process? Hide
The shadow visit includes the interview and is a mandatory element of the application. Call the admissions office at 415.345.5812 to arrange a date. The shadow visit calendar will be available at the end of August. Shadow visits are offered on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays throughout the fall.
- We own a home in San Francisco. Are we "out of luck" with regard to applying for financial aid? Hide
You are encouraged to apply if you believe that your resources are inadequate to meet tuition costs. The Parent's Financial Statement (PFS) that you will submit as your financial aid application takes all of your expenses into account, and there are some families receiving financial assistance who own homes in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Is there a difference between the weeknight Open House and the weekend Open House? Hide
The only difference is the day of the week. The format is the same for both events. You are encouraged to RSVP for the Open House that fits with your schedule.
- We live in Marin. Are there students who attend Stuart Hall High School who live outside of the City? Hide
While most of our students live in San Francisco, 23% reside in the East Bay, Marin, or on the Peninsula. The biggest issue those families face, obviously, is transportation. Most students either carpool, take public transportation (Golden Gate Transit stops 3 blocks from school, and BART has relatively short MUNI connections with stops 2 blocks from school), or commute into the City with a parent.
- We aren't Catholic. Will we feel comfortable at Stuart Hall? Hide
Stuart Hall High School is a Catholic independent school. 41% of our students are Catholic, and while many of the remaining students belong to other religious denominations, a significant portion claims no religious affiliation. Many of the families who do not have a Catholic or religious background choose Stuart Hall because they like the personal, moral, and spiritual dimension of the school. Our parents tell us that a hallmark of their experience with Stuart Hall is the "moral compass" that their sons develop over the course of 4 years here. Our students tell us that the theology curriculum (World Religions in 9th grade, Sacred Texts in 10th grade, Ethics in 11th grade, and Social Justice in 12th grade) stresses values that are addressed in an inclusive way. They also tell us they like having a context that allows them to discuss these issues. The best way to address this question is to attend the Open House and schedule a shadow visit.
