<p>Hi all!
I've spent the past school year living and learning as a freshman, in a small, community oriented (yet rigors) Boarding school environment. Last year, the people on this site were a big help to me. The parents and experienced students were always there to answer my questions, and calm my fears.</p>
<p>SO... I figure, I can do the same thing for this years incoming freshman class, or students and parents new to the expirence. Ask me anything(form finantial aid, classes, cliques, teachers, dating etc.) , and I'll do my best to answer to the best of my ability.</p>
<p>What school are you best capable of discussing with competence?</p>
<p>I’ve done alot with SPS, Asheville School, Deerfield, NMH, and Hotchkiss.</p>
<p>Hi, thanks for offering your help. I know this probably varies from school to school, but what is the social scene like? Is there an exclusive social hierarchy? How existent are drugs and alcohol? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Did you find it better to overpack and bring a lot of things or buy the basic necessities and slowly buy things while living there? What were the basics in your dorm? And how were the bathrooms/ showers like? (Sanitation wise) Did you have to clean it? Thanks!</p>
<p>In my experience, boarding school social life is very lax and chill compared to “normal” high schools. You all live together, so it’s really hard to have grudges against people. Cliques are really minimal, obviously, some people will be closer friends, and hang out together more-- but these are usually really informal “social circles” you won’t have any “Why are you sitting at our table?” type stuff. Sometimes, you might get the occasional sideways glance when you sit down with a bunch of international seniors form Taiwan, discussing Thai pop songs. Also there’s no real “popular clique” I mean, some students are more well known than others.A lot of names you’ll recognize, others you wont. Generally these kids are not so much “popular” as they are “friendly” and extroverted. You should have very few problems there. No need to feel as if there’s a social ladder you must climb, or a cool table in the cafeteria.</p>
<p>Tiger- I made the mistake of over packing. Don’t go down that road. Having to scramble to hide all your stuff before room inspection because there’s just TOO MUCH of it is not good. I’d stick with basic school supplies (in moderation-- don’t have 24 packs of paper with you on your first day, regardless of the great deal your mom found) a lamp, alarm clock. A few pairs of jeans, an abundance of t-shirts, sportswear, flip-flops and a few nice things for dates and stuff. Add all this to your classroom dress code, and you’ll be good. Also, don’t forget sleepwear,one or two towels/robes, sweats, toiletries, books, SOCKS(i forgot to pack those, try explaining to your new field hockey coach why you don;t wear socks with your cleats, not fun) and a few toys, puzzles and hobbies, along with a booklight to entertain yourself after lights out on sleepless nights.</p>
<p>Bathrooms vary, Mine were up to date but not very clean. Another dorm was cleaner, but had very moody hot water flow. My advice, don’t touch the walls, wear shoes shoes, and invest in a nice plastic shower tote. Most schools have staff that clean the bathrooms, but still twenty-seven girls+ eight showers-=ewwww.</p>
<p>That look’s odd. I didn’t type half of that!
I can’t explain that double thing</p>
<p>Start reading after the arrow that looks like this (mwl 2.19.2009)–></p>
<p>Daz
I found your earlier post on automatic expulsions on honor code violations interesting. Also heard that Asheville gives second chance on most other things (sex,drug,alcohol). I think that is the main stream for most school. D’s school was different. Sex,drug,alcohol automatic expulsion; final warning on honor code violation.</p>
<p>Glad to see you made it through the year.</p>
<p>How did you enjoy the Blue Mountains and Asheville?</p>
<p>The second chances thing only true to an extent. Drugs is an automatic expulsion, sex and alcohol are iffy. Our school is very community oriented. So we hold our honor code above all else, therefore most major violations do result in expulsion; but even that is not set in stone, our honor counsel (comprised of 4 teachers and 6 students) decides the correct course of action for a violation. Either way, it always hurts to lose a member of the community.</p>
<p>Asheville was great! I love it, honestly my biggest complaint is that I come from the deep south, and it’s COLD up there in the winter. 
The town of Asheville is very progressive and eclectic, there’s tons of fun stuff to do! And the school is so welcoming and small. We had a bit of a financial struggle this year, that caused us to lose a few, beloved faculty members, but <em>sigh</em> I guess it couldn’t be avoided. It was great to get to know all my schoolmates, and I am closer to the friend I made this past year than I have ever been to anyone.
The work is strenuous, and difficult. But there’s always someone to help you out of you get stuck, from upperclassmen, to brilliant teachers (that live on campus) everyone is there for you.
:D</p>
<p>What a great year you had. I remember this time last you being very worried.
GREAT</p>
<p>did you find that making the sports teams was difficult?</p>
<p>Around how long did it take you to adjust to boarding life and the rigorous academics?
Did this adjusting period affect your marks at all?
Thanks so much !</p>