Bishop Amat Memorial High School

Questions and Answers for Prospective Students and their Families:

Note: Admission for the Fall of 2010 (Class of 2014) is just beginning.

How do I apply for Ninth Grade admission to Bishop Amat?

There are three steps in the admissions process.

Submit a completed application with the $60 application/test fee.
Sign and return to Bishop Amat the Request for Student Records Form.
Take the Entrance Test on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at Bishop Amat.

Once your application is received, Bishop Amat will send for your middle school transcripts and standardized test scores (both 7th and 8th grade). We will also send to your middle school a recommendation form to be completed by your counselor or 8th grade teacher. A Pastor Recommendation Form will also be sent to the Pastor of your Parish (if applicable).

When and where can I pick up an application and additional admissions information?

Application packages are available in the Main Office between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and at the Open House/Information Sessions on Saturday, November 21, 2009 (9 a.m.) and Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (7 p.m.).

Can the application information be returned by fax?

No. All application materials must be returned in person or by mail.

When is my file complete?

Your admission file is complete when all application forms, fees, transcripts and standardized test scores from the 7th and 8th grades, recommendations and entrance exam results are on file in the Admissions Office.

What are you looking for in an applicant?

The Admissions Committee is looking at a variety of personality, achievement, and aptitude factors to evaluate a student’s demonstrated ability to succeed in a competitive college preparatory environment. Students who are applying must have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 or better. In general, a student should display consistently strong academic achievement, positive relationships with peers and teachers, and a commitment to active participation in religious and extracurricular activities at school and in the community.

What criteria are used to choose a Bishop Amat Freshman?
There are four criteria for admission (not necessarily in order of importance):

Grades and standardized test scores from the 7th and 8th grades
Recommendation from elementary or middle school teacher/counselor
Parish Recommendation (if applicable)
Entrance Exam scores
Family relationship with the school is also given consideration.

Can I have test results sent to another school?

Test results will be forwarded to another school upon written request of the parent. We recommend students take the entrance test at their school of first choice. Students who take the test at Bishop Amat are given priority over students who have tested somewhere else.

Can I obtain information from my application file?

If you are accepted, you will have access to your entrance exam scores and middle school transcripts. They become part of your official academic file at Bishop Amat. You do not have access to any other application information (recommendations, comments, etc.) All of this information is considered confidential.

How many students apply? How many are accepted?

For 2008-2009, 540 students submitted applications; 495 took the entrance exam. We accepted approximately 400 ninth grade students for 2009-2010.

Can we visit the campus?

Applicants and their parents are encouraged to attend one of the Bishop Amat Open House Sessions scheduled for November 21, 2009 at 9 am or Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

When are acceptance letters mailed?
Test results and letters of admission status will be mailed on Friday, March 5, 2010.

When do freshmen register?

Freshmen registration will take place on Saturday, March 13, 2010.

If accepted, are placement exams given?

A math placement exam is given to students who may qualify to take Geometry or Algebra II. Information regarding the dates and qualifications for taking this exam will be given on Registration Day.

Are students admitted conditionally?
Some students may be given a conditional acceptance and may be required to attend Summer School 2010 at Bishop Amat. Some students may also be given a conditional acceptance pending his/her performance during the 4th (or last) quarter at his/her present school. It is possible that acceptance may be revoked based on Summer School or 4th quarter performance, eve if the student is not given a conditional acceptance.

Is there a wait-list for students who are not accepted?

When the 2010-2011 Freshman class has been selected, the Admissions Committee will prepare a list of students who are qualified, but who have not been accepted during the first-round. The Admissions Office will contact students as additional space becomes available.

Are non-Catholics at a disadvantage when applying?

First and foremost, Bishop Amat is a Catholic school. Amat owes much of its success to the generous support of the Catholic Community over the past 45 years. Catholic applicants are generally, but not always, given preference over non-Catholic applicants. Being Catholic is not a requirement for admission. Presently, the student body is 87 percent Catholic.