FAQ's

F R E Q U E N T L Y   A S K E D   Q U E S T I O N S

 

• Art, Music & Band
• How much prior knowledge must a student have in order to take any arts elective? In Drawing I, none. In Photography, complete an assigned entrance project. Theory and Music History courses, none. Band, minimum proficiency in playing and reading.
• My son wants to be an artist; can he take art as a Freshman? No. Usually art electives begin in junior year, except for very rare cases. He can, however join a couple of clubs where he can have an artistic outlet.
• Are there AP courses in fine and performing arts? Yes. They are Music Theory and Studio Art.
• Can a student be in Band and in sports? Yes. Band meets during the school day; conflicts with sporting events and practices are virtually non-existent.
• Does SHP rent instruments to students who do not own them? No. The school owns a wide array of instruments and if the inventory coincides with a student's needs, the school will lend it to the student free of charge.
• My son has a minimum proficiency on his instrument; is that o.k? Yes, provided he is committed to continue to learn and grow as a player.
• What about students who play piano? While the band does not include piano, many keyboard players join the band and learn to play orchestra bells or xylophone.
• Does the band take guitar players? No, but many guitar players become bass players, playing on 4 strings of their guitars. They must, however, read bass clef [not just tabs.]
   
• Mathematics
• What levels of Mathematics courses are available for freshmen ? The levels offered are Algebra I, Algebra I-2nd Honors, Algebra I-1st Honors, and Algebra II 1st Honors.
• How are incoming students placed in these levels ? Students are placed according to performance on our Entrance/Placement Exam. This exam is graded out of 40 questions. Students who score well on the exam will be accepted with Honors Placement. Those students accepted with Honors Placement will take an Algebra Placement Test in May or June that will place the students in either Algebra 1-2nd honors, Algebra I -1st Honors or Algebra II 1st honors. Any student hot accepted with honors Placement may take the Algebra Placement Test to possibly improve their placement.
  
  NOTE: These placements put about 70% of our freshmen in Algebra I and about 20% in Honors and 10% in AP.
• If a student has completed an Algebra course in 8th grade, can he skip Algebra 1 at Seton Hall Prep? Yes. Skipping Algebra I is only offered to those students who are selected to take the Algebra II 1st Honors course, base upon their Algebra Placement Test results. Unfortunately, many seventh and eight grade classes cover Algebra topics, but they do not cover a comprehensive Algebra I curriculum.
• Are Advanced Placement courses offered ? Yes, we offer two Advanced Placement courses in Calculus and one in Statisics.
• What can a student do to become eligible for Advanced Placement courses ? Students who start out in Algebra II and are successful are already on track for Advanced Placement. Other students can take Summer Enrichment courses to acquire the proper prerequisites to take the AP courses. Over the summer we currently offer Pre-calculus I Honors, Algebra II 1st Honors and Geometry 1st Honors

Activities

• How are students able to be involved in activities if they must take the school bus? The student schedule is designed to provide built-in morning activities periods two days per week [8:30 to 9:20] to enable students to work with clubs and activities, as well as to schedule extra help-classes. This is in addition to the time each day between the final bell [2:40] and the departure of the buses [3:30]. A late shuttle bus to the train station accomodates students finished with activities and sports practices finishing after 5:00 [departs 5:30].

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Admission

• By taking the Archdiocesan CO-OP test, does that suffice for application and notification to
  Seton Hall Prep?
  No, Seton Hall Prep does not use this test for our admission process. All applicants wishing to apply to Seton Hall Prep must sit for Seton Hall's Entrance/Placement/Scholarship Exam offered on the four possible Saturdays from November to January. [see application process]
• Can applicants spend the day at Seton Hall Prep to see what it is like? Yes, a student can spend the day as "a freshman for the day" at Seton Hall by having a parent make an appointment with our Admission Office. Visitors may also request a particular freshman host in advance. [Freshman for a Day program]
• Other than the October Open House, how else can families visit the Prep? Families can also visit to tour the school and ask questions on the morning that their son is taking our Entrance/Placement/Scholarship Exam. In addition, all accepted students and their families receive personal invitations to our Candidates' Day on the last Sunday of January.
• Does Seton Hall provide busing to and from school? Yes, but this does vary from town to town. We have 15 buses that make stops all over Northern New Jersey. We also provide shuttle bus service from Mountain Station in South Orange for families who are near a train line. Other students walk, carpool or use public busing. [for details]
• How many students are accepted to Seton Hall Prep each year? We will accept about 325 students out of an applicant pool of 500. So, about two out of every three students are accepted. Decisions are based upon grades from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades, as well as the performance on our Entrance/Placement/Scholarship Exam.

Financial Aid

• Does Seton Hall Prep Offer scholarships or financial aid? Yes. Seton Hall offers academic scholarships based upon a students grades and performance on our Entrance/Placement/Scholarship Exam. In accordance with NJSIAA regulations, we do not offer athletic scholarships. Seton Hall Prep also offers financial aid, applications for which are available once an applicant has taken our Entrance/Placement/Scholarship Exam on his choice of four possible dates. [details]
• What is the difference between "financial aid" and "scholarship"? Financial aid at Seton Hall Prep is a grant based solely on a family's financial situation and can be applied for as soon as a student sits for Seton Hall Prep's Entrance/Placement/Scholarship Exam. Scholarship is different in that it is a grant reserved for students who have maintained an "A" average for their 7th and 8th grade marks and who score in the top 10%-15% of Seton Hall Prep's Entrance/Placement/Scholarship Exam. Students need not apply for a scholarship, because they are automatically eligible by sitting for our Entrance/Placement/Scholarship Exam. A student can receive both financial aid and a scholarship!

Development Office / Alumni Services

• What are the areas of responsibility of the Development Office? The Development Office is one of the most unique offices at SHP. The office is responsible for two key areas: fundraising and alumni services.
• As a private school, fundraising must be important. How does the Prep deal with fundraising? Fundraising is a main focus of the Development Office. Funds from our Annual Appeal are used to bridge the gap between tuition ($9050 in 2003) and the actual cost of an SHP education ($11,000). The Annual Appeal generates over $1 million from alumni, parents and friends of SHP.
  
  Capital Campaigns focus on major gifts, often paid over a 5-year period. The Challenge for Seton Hall Prep and the The Next Phase campaigns have raised $8 million and $4.75 million respectively. Projects funded by these campaigns include the Scholarship and Faculty Endowments, the purchase and development of the Kelly Athletic Complex, as well as upgrades to our technology program and our auditorium. The Prep Endowment Funds have grown from zero to $13 million over the last ten years. The goal is to bring the Prep's Endowment into line with most other private schools, whose endowments are in the area of $25 million and above.
  
  A unique way for members of the Prep community to contribute in a meaningful and personal way is The Millennium Walkway. Commemorative brick pavers and capstones with personalized inscriptions are available in the new walkway that will be built from the gymnasium to the main driveway. The funds raised will not only pay for the project, but also contribute significantly to our scholarship endowment.
  
  The Office conducts a very popular golf outing each year, which directly support the scholarship endowment.
   
• What does the Alumni Office do? Kyle Benn '02 is the Director of Alumni Services, which organizes annual alumni functions, such class reunions, Hall of Fame Dinner, alumni luncheons, and regional alumni clubs. In 2005 an updated  Alumni Directory was released, with contact information for over 11,000 alumni. The Alumni Office also sponsors athletic reunion contests for several sports, including basketball, lacrosse, hockey and soccer.

Office of Communications

• What is the function of The Office of Communications? This office is responsible for the dissemination of information about Seton Hall Prep to the Prep Community and the community of northern New Jersey at large. In particular this involves the design and publication of our bi-annual magazine Tower Revisited, currently circulated to over 12,000 alumni, parents and friends of SHP. In addition, the design, layout and updates to our website are done in-house as a function of the office. Admission Office view books and marketing pieces are designed here. The school's monthly newsletter, PrepNotes is published and circulated from the office to all Prep families.  The photography on the website and displayed throughout the school is the personal work of Richard Morris H'95, Director of Communications.
• What is the Parent-Teacher Link? This weekly e-mail web update of school community activities is available to current families, simply by signing up on the page called "The LATEST ." or by sending e-mail information to the Office of Communications. It is designed to keep parents and alumni abreast of class projects and co-curricular activities. Currently nearly 1500 families avail themselves of this service. In 2006 a new portal called GROUPFUSION was added to our menu of communications. This venue will allow parents and students to interact with faculty and other members of the various academic classes and departments, as well as access assignments, classroom materials and discussion groups. Go to www.setonhallprep.groupfusion.net to see how it works.

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Guidance and College Planning

• What percent of Prep graduates go on to college? Usually between 99 and 100%. Every year or two a senior will elect to enter the Armed Services.
• What types of colleges do Prep students attend? Our students attend a wide range of schools. Most of our students attend those colleges that are rated "very competitive", "highly competitive" and "most competitive." Very few attend "competitive" or "less competitive" colleges or county colleges.
• How does the Prep do in the National Merit Scholarship Program? The usual range for each senior class over the last few years has been 10-15 Commended Students, 5-10 Achievement Commended, 2-5 Achievement Finalists, 2 or 3 Semi-Finalists.
• How many students attend Ivy League colleges? Between 5 and 10 each year.
• How does the Prep prepare students for college planning? In freshman year the focus is on adjustment to Seton Hall Prep. As the student progresses into sophomore and junior year, meetings between counselors and individual students reveal college and career interests, allowing actual planning to begin. The process intensifies in junior year and senior year. College Nights are held a number of times during the year at the Prep; sophomores and juniors are encouraged to attend with their parents. Summer and early fall conferences between the Senior Counselor and seniors and their families lay out a plan for the application process and begin exploration of financial aid issues. College Admission officials visit the Prep during the school day, giving seniors the opportunity to meet with them for information and questions
• How many counselors are there and what is their caseload? There are 5 counselors who work with between 180 and 200 students each.
• What is the average class size? That depends a great deal on the subject and the level. The
  numbers indicate an average class size in the academic areas of 17.6. Individual departments are as follows: [chart]

Technology

• I notice there is no Freshman Computer Class. How do Freshmen get instruction in computers ? In 1999, as part of our new Accreditation for Growth Middle States Goal instruction in computer use became part of the Integrated Freshman Technologically Curriculum. This means, the students will be exposed to Word Processing, Excel Spreadsheets, PowerPoint Presentations, and Internet Research as part of the regular curriculum, integrated into the English, Theology, Math, History, Language, and Science Requirements. As the students progress to higher grades, additional programs will be introduced
• Is there a Computer Club? The Computer Club is moderated by Mr. Metelsky and meets weekly. The club examines issues of programming, networking, web design and other topics of interest to the students. It is NOT a video game club.
• Are there computers available to the students outside of the class structure? There are 12 computers available throughout the day in the Library for research purposes, and 20 more in the Library Annex for the purposes of research, word-processing and other desktop applications. There are presently 4 computers available in the Math Center for student use during help-classes, 5 in the Economics Lab, 3 in the College Placement Office, and 8 in the Griffin Bridges Office. The 23 computers in the Computer Lab classroom, besides class time, are available during activity periods and lunch periods, and students are welcome to quietly utilize the unoccupied computers even while a class is in session whenever they have free time.
• What kind of hardware do you have? The newest, and largest group of machines are 3Ghz Pentium 4's, with 80GB harddrives. All the school computers are networked using Microsoft Windows NT and are connected to the internet through our T1-line, which is capable of moving data at a rate of 1.5 million bps. The students save on the network, so that they can access all their files from any computer on the network through the secure login/password system.

Theology, Religion and Campus Ministry

• Do all students take Theology? Yes, it is a requirement for all students. The idea is to give all students a share in the identity of the school; to give all students an understanding of what we're about, of who the Prep Community is as a Christian Community. Students who are not Catholic treat it as a purely academic class.
• Do students have to go to Mass everyday? No, students are not required to attend Mass daily. There are several Masses throughout the school year to which all students must attend (Mass of the Holy Spirit – opening of the academic year; Thanksgiving Mass – prior to Thanksgiving vacation; Advent Mass – prior to the Christmas break; Ash Wednesday Mass – at the beginning of Lent; and the Mass of Holy Week – prior to the Easter break). In addition, Mass is celebrated every day in the Chapel at 8:00 AM and anyone who wishes to attend is most welcome.
• What is the Knights of Setonia?    The Knights of Setonia is a Mass on the first Friday of each month. Students are invited to attend the Mass and are treated to juice and donuts after the Mass. The tradition goes back to the 1930's and is one of the longstanding practices at the Prep which encourages both community in the present and connection with the past.
• Are the retreats mandatory for all students?    Yes. The expectation is that all students will participate in the retreat for their class year. The rationale is as follows: the purpose of the retreats is not to force any student to believe one thing over another. Rather, it is an opportunity – both as individuals and as a class— to think about some important issues in human and spiritual development. These issues are: community, service, identity, and mission.
• What about confession? Do I have to go to confession?   No, no one is ever made to go to confession. It is completely voluntary and up to the individual. All of us need God's help to be the kind of people we are called to be. And we all make mistakes and fall short of our potential. We all sin. The school does recognize the importance of the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation and provides the students the opportunity twice a year (before Christmas and before Easter) to go to confession. Usually 10 to 12 outside priests come to help as well as the Prep priests. With the priest community in the classrooms and around the building, the opportunity for confession outside these two times is always present.
• What is Campus Ministry? Campus Ministry is the program the school offers in order to help all of us – students and faculty – to realize that God is living and working in our midst. There are the formal dimensions of the program which encompass all of the sacramental opportunities to come to this realization. It is also the less formal aspects of encouraging and forming community that remind us in a similar manner that God is at work in the life of Seton Hall Preparatory School.

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Service Learning

• What is the Service Learning for Social Justice program? The Service Learning for Social Justice program is intended to promote social justice and awareness to related issues through experiential learning opportunities. Service is placed within an academic context to provide for a more challenging and reflective learning environment.
• What types of service experiences are available to the students? Seton Hall has been involved in numerous service projects. Some of organizations that are served are St. John's Soup Kitchen, Missionaries of Charity, Community Foodbank in Hillside, New Day Community, Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity/ Newark, Habitat for Humanity/ Appalachia, etc.. These projects are run in addition to a year round food and clothing drive and twice a month sandwich making session for those who are homeless. Finally, students are engaged in individualized service projects ranging from work in hospitals and nursing homes to tutoring and mentoring children. Projects are being run every week.
• Is service a requirement for graduation? There is not a set number of hours that a student must complete for graduation. However, because the service requirement in the school takes place within the academic setting, the student's participation in and reflections on the experience will be reflected in their grade. Graduation is affected only insofar as a student's grade is affected in a particular subject area.
• Are the projects run only for students? No. All students, parents, faculty, administration, staff, alumni and friends are welcome to join in our efforts. A calendar of events is distributed at the end of each month listing the events for the upcoming month.

S T A T I S  T I C S

SAT Scores	2002	2003	2004	2005	2005
National	504	507	508	508	503
	516	519	518	520	518
	1020	1026	1026	1028	1021
New Jersey	498	501	501	503	496
	513	515	514	517	515
	1011	1016	1015	1020	1021
						Top 25% of class	Top 10%
Seton Hall Prep	554	561	573	578	573	681	721
	571	562	572	588	582	697	724
	1125	1123	1145	1166	1155	1378	1445

 

Class Size 2006-2007	# classes	av. size
Art/Music	23	18.0
English	65	17.9
Language	48	16.8
History	51	18.6
Theology	51	19.9
Mathematics	50	19.7
Science	52	19.1
Technology Education	6	12.8
Total  Academic		17.7

 

COLLEGES ATTENDED BY THE CLASS OF 2006 Adelphi University, American University, Arizona State University, Auburn University,  Baylor University, Berklee College of Music, Bloomsburg University, Boston College, Boston University, Bowdoin College, Brown University, Bucknell University, Cabrini College, Catholic University of America, Centenary College, Chestnut Hill College, Clemson University, Colby College, Colgate University, College of Staten Island, College of the Holy Cross, Columbia University, Cornell University, Costal Carolina College, County College of Morris, CUNY-Baruch, Dartmouth College, Delaware State University, Delaware Valley College, Dickinson College, Drew University, Drexel University, Duke University, Duquesne University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fairfield University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florida State University, Fordham University, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Franklin and Marshall College, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Gettysburg College, Goucher College, Hampton University, Hartwick College, Hobart & Williams College, Hofstra University, Indiana University, Iona College, Ithaca College, Jacksonville University, James Madison University, Kansas State University, Kean University, Kenyon College, King's College, Lafayette College, LaSalle University, Lebanon Valley College, Lehigh University, Loyola College, Loyola University Chicago, Macalaster College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Marymount Manhattan College, Merrimack College, Miami University of Ohio, Michigan State University, Middlebury College, Monmouth University, Montclair State University, Mt. St. Mary's College, Muhlenberg College, New York Institute of Technology, New York University, NJIT, Northeastern University, Northwood College, Norwich University, New York Maritime College, Ohio State University, Ohio University, Pace University, Penn State University, Pittsburg University, Plymouth College, Polytechnic University, Providence College, Purdue University, Quinnipiac University, Randolph-Macon College, Richard Stockton University, Rider University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rowan University, Rutgers College, Rutgers Cook College, Rutgers Engineering, Rutgers Livingston, Rutgers Newark, Rutgers University, Sarah Lawrence College, Savannah College, Seattle University, Seton Hall University, Siena College, Skidmore College, St. Anselm's College, St. Bonaventure University, St. John's University, St. Joseph's University, St. Lawrence University, St. Michael's College, St. Peter's College, Stetson University, Stevens Institute of Technology, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Buffalo, Susquehanna University, Syracuse University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey, Towson University, Trinity College, Tufts University, Unity College, University of Arizona, University of Chicago, University of Colorado, University of Connecticut, University of Dayton, University of Delaware, University of Florida, University of Hartford, University of Louisville, University of Maine, University of Maryland, University of Massachusetts, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Missouri, University of New Hampshire, University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburg, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, University of Rochester, University of San Diego, University of Scranton, University of South Carolina, University of Tampa, University of the Pacific, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, University of Vermont, University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin, US Military Academy, Villanova University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Wake Forest University, Washington College, Wells College, Wesleyan University, Wilkes University, William Paterson University, York College of Pennsylvania   Statement of Non-Discriminatory Policy The Roman Catholic elementary and secondary schools of the Archdiocese of Newark admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. These do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of the educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. The above policy is in keeping with Internal Revenue Procedure 75-50, and is in accordance with Section 0602 and 0603 of the Administrative Manual of the School Office of the Archdiocese of Newark. [top]