Seton Hall Prep is an institutional leader in New Jersey in large part because of its student body. Here, intelligent thinkers meet athletic phenoms in a melting pot of different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. Consequently, there would be no Prep experience without our admissions office and their yearly curation of the next best incoming class.
The current freshman class consists of 268 students. This is the largest in the school, with the senior class (263) not far behind. The breadth of the freshman classes each year are credited to our admissions team. They direct open houses, information events, and even freshmen-for-a-day. As a result of their efforts to promote SHP, students fight to fill all possible seats. Beneath these components though, relentless work goes into the admissions process itself, which entails middle school visits to the entrance exam to scholarship determination. I recently spoke with Mr. Zinsmeister (Mr. Z), Director of Admissions, to discuss the process and the sphere of admissions at Seton Hall Prep.
We began by discussing the recruitment methodology. According to Mr. Z, this process runs on science. He aims to visit any middle school that will let him in to speak. Despite many schools foregoing representative visitation, Mr. Z and SHP’s status as a leading Catholic high school grants him access to many Catholic middle and charter schools. Freshman-for-a-day is arguably the most important factor in recruitment and admissions for eighth graders. In this program, interested middle schoolers shadow a freshman for the entire day, following him through classes, peer group, lunch, and student activities. When prospective students witness what The Prep offers and recognize the connection inevitably formed with their freshman, they become fixed on the school. The pinnacle of recruitment is the Open House in late October. This event is more geared toward parents rather than students. Families gather in the auditorium to hear speeches from head faculty, go to the second floor to learn about transportation, and visit the dining hall to listen to academic department heads and school counseling. In the gym, varsity teams, activity moderators, and campus ministry are set up. Following the student-guided tour, mothers can grab coffee with the Mothers’ Club, and fathers move outside for the Fathers’ Club barbeque. The purpose of the Open House is to allow potential SHP families to see as much of the school as possible in a student-driven manner.
Most student attendees at the Open House are eighth graders, or prospective Pirates. Mr. Z walked me through the intensive application process. Connection to The Prep begins whenever a student or parent makes contact with the school, either through email or attending a school event. Prospective students must complete the online Seton Hall Prep application and sign up for a test date (two in November and two in December). This test is unique to SHP, as Mr. Z and the department chairs work together each year to create a flexible, proper examination. In the month after the test, eighth grade students are encouraged to attend SHP winter events, such as basketball games or the Christmas Tree Lighting. On January 11, all decisions are mailed to families. Just a day later, on the 12th, the online portal features the student’s application status (accepted, waitlisted, or denied). Throughout the next two weeks, all students are given a personalized phone call from either Mr. Z or an ambassador. This is Mr. Z’s favorite time of the year. Getting to hear those happy families is fulfilling and rewarding. January 28 marks Candidates Day for accepted students, and even the Seton Scholar brunch. Registration day, which includes a home basketball game, is held in early February. From there and throughout the Spring, financial aid materials are handled, while August signals the transition of incoming Pirates from Mr. Z to the school administrators.
Why are people drawn to SHP? Why is there a constant student battle to claim a spot at one of NJ’s premier Catholic institutions? Mr. Z credits this to the amazing product and community The Prep offers. The many clubs, activities, backgrounds, and opportunities here captivate families and students. Moving forward, the admissions office knows The Prep will continue to boast these features. Yet, Mr. Z emphasized adaptability. While they will continue to aim for 250 students, current economic, social, and political factors will influence incoming classes. With the state of the economy, some families cannot afford an SHP experience. The number of Catholic schools, the bread and butter for Mr. Z, is dwindling. The admissions office has a mission to adapt to these challenges, making necessary tweaks to their advertising, online presence, and outreach. With this increased creativity, Mr. Z and his team will undoubtably be able to maintain SHP’s flawless admissions process and strategy.
As a senior amidst the college application process, I am constantly involved in all admissions discussions. It has suddenly become my most used word. For those eighth graders, though, I encourage them to become a freshman for a day, attend tours and admissions events, take that test, and immerse themselves in The Prep experience. Becoming a Pirate and embarking on that journey creates an unforgettable four years.