The Early Bird Catches the Worm! Kennedy Catholic Prep Students Accepted Early Into University of Virginia, University of Notre Dame, Georgia Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, Villanova University, Vassar College, Fordham University, and Purdue University College of Engineering. 

REPORT FROM EDITOR IN CHIEF, MICHAEL ODDO –– Amid the tumultuous year of testing cancellations and skyrocketing applications, Kennedy Catholic students have earned early acceptances to elite universities. The Gael Winds Team is the first to report that a senior has been admitted to the University of Virginia, one of the nation’s top public universities that accepts 14% of out-of-state applicants. Another student has been admitted to two of the top engineering schools in the country, the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Purdue College of Engineering.

Gaels of the class of 2021 have also been admitted to the nation’s premier Jesuit institutions, including Villanova and Fordham University. Given Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School’s previous successes at Catholic college matriculation, the record-breaking acceptances this year come as no surprise. Villanova, for example, boasted a 53% admit rate for Kennedy Catholic students last year (Villanova’s general acceptance rate stood at 28%). To that end, 99 Kennedy Catholic students were accepted to Fordham in the last three admissions cycles. Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School has also continued its more than 14 year legacy of acceptances to Northeastern University with 3 early admits this year. Last year, Kennedy Catholic achieved a 63% in-school acceptance rate to Northeastern. For context, Northeastern’s Office of Admissions expects to accept only around a fifth of all applicants for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. 

By any standard, Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School will enjoy a record-breaking year for college placement––much to the credit of the school’s admissions czar, Mr. Kyle MacDonald. Last year, the Kennedy Catholic Community welcomed Mr. MacDonald as a faculty member in the Theology, English, and Campus Ministry Departments. Having received a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, Mr. MacDonald was the ideal individual to take the helm of Kennedy Catholic College Placement and break new ground in college admissions. According to his students, Mr. MacDonald’s individualized approach, thoughtful guidance, and empathetic support make all the difference in a process normally defined by stress and uncertainty.

Many students will receive regular decision results in early April, and are hopeful for similar admissions success. As more decisions are released, the Gael Winds Team will continue to provide updates to the Kennedy Catholic Community.