Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions: 

How can I get an application?

Complete the “Request for Application” link on the Mater Dei Admissions page. Please go to the "Request for Application" page. If my student applies and is accepted, when does a decision have to be made by the family? The family has until the middle of April to make a decision. By accepting admissions to Mater Dei, the family completes the Registration Packet and returns it with the Registration Fee to reserve their space. If the packet is not received by the deadline, the student’s space will be given to a student on the waiting list. Is there currently a waiting list for the freshman class? No. The waiting list will not start until all available spaces are filled. If my student is placed on the waiting list, when will I be notified of his/her acceptance? The family will be notified via mail once a space is available. There is no need to contact the admissions office once you have been placed on the waiting list. Students may be notified of their acceptance as early as the end of April through the first week of September. Mater Dei closes admissions for the year in mid-September. Tuition: What is the tuition? 2010-11 Catholic student tuition is $10,225; non-Catholic tuition is $11,450. Tuition may be paid annually, semi-annually or in ten monthly payments. Additional expenses, such as books and uniforms, cost the average student $500-$800 per year. Need-based financial aid is available to qualified families. Advancement Office: When do you offer tours? Private family tours at the following set times throughout the week:
Mondays - 9:30 a.m .
Tuesdays - 11:00 a.m.
Wednesdays - 2:00 p.m.
Thursdays - 1:00 p.m. Your tour will be conducted by the Director of Admissions Marketing and will last 40-60 minutes. Students are encouraged to attend the tour along with their parents. Please call the Advancement Office at (714) 850-9534 or e-mail Melinda Craft to schedule a family tour.
What is Shadowing? The Shadow Program is designed to give students a feel for Mater Dei life. Students attend school for a day with a Mater Dei student host including all classes and lunch. This program is designed to give students a look into student life at Mater Dei that they can only receive by being here.  What grade do you have to be in to shadow? Can my student shadow with a friend?
7th and 8th grade students and high school students interested in transferring are welcome to shadow a Mater Dei student through the Shadow Program.

The program is available mid-October through mid-May most Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. 8th grade students and high school transfers may shadow from October through May. 7th graders may shadow February though May.

Prior admission acceptance to Mater Dei is not required.  Students may shadow any current Mater Dei student in good standing, or may be paired with a student host based on similar interests such as choir, band, honors classes, sports, or other activities. Only one shadow may be assigned to each student host on any given day. How do I set up a Shadow for my student? The program is available mid-October through mid-May on many Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Shadows must be arranged at least one week in advance; space is limited and subject to availability.
Test Questions: Is the test the same at all schools? When is it administered? The entrance exam will be administered at Mater Dei High School and other diocesan schools in the area. Check back for the dates which Mater Dei will offer the exam. 
Where does my student go on the day of the test? Students assemble in the Meruelo Athletic Center by 7:45 A.M. (we recommend that students come early). Does my student have to take the test at Mater Dei? Can someone applying to another school take the exam at Mater Dei? A student applying for admission to Mater Dei High School may take the test at another Catholic school in the diocese; however if the student tests at another school, there is an application fee of $60. Likewise, if a student is applying to another Catholic school in the diocese he or she may take the test at Mater Dei. If you are testing for another school, or testing at another school, please notify the Admissions Office. It is highly recommended that students interested in attending Mater Dei take the test at Mater Dei to expedite application processing. What is the testing fee? Students need to bring the testing fee of $60.00 in cash or check. What does my student bring with him or her on the day of the exam? They need their testing fee and a copy of their social security number (not the card only the number). No calculators are permitted. We provide everything else they will need for testing. What test do you administer? The exam given at Mater Dei High School and at all other Catholic schools in the diocese is the HSPT. It is a standardized test of students’ verbal and math skills, similar to the diagnostic testing that many schools do on a yearly basis. Students also compose a sample essay while in the testing room. Is there a practice book? Practice books are available at most bookstores including the Mater Dei Bookstore.
Is extended time allowed on the test? Extended time testing is available for students with documented learning disabilities. The documentation must be current (testing done within the past three years), and a copy must be submitted to our Learning Center Director, Ms. Marilyn Wilson prior to the entrance exam.