Ask a Lawrenceville Student

<p>If any prospective Lawrentians want to ask a current Lawrenceville Junior any questions, I'm all ears.</p>

<p>hello! I have 2 questions.</p>

<p>1.) (Sorry if this is a stupid question) I was looking at the website, and it seems in the winter, fencing, track, and swimming are varsity sports. So does that mean you have to be at the varsity level? Because I want to TRY fencing but I don’t think there are any beginner teams…</p>

<p>2.) Why did YOU choose Lawrenceville (over your old school or preferably over other schools you chose)? Like what makes it different than other schools? I know a lot of kids go to Princeton afterward but that’s basically it…</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>what is the atmosphere like at lawrenceville? do richer people treat those on financial aid poorly? is it extremely competitive academically?
how does it cultivate a student to become a better person?
is there a security system on campus, like guards for the gates since the campus is huge?
how is the girls lacrosse/field hockey program?
does it ever feel like everyone is so smart that you’re not smart anymore?</p>

<p>helang425:
By all means try out for fencing! For some of my friends, fencing is a first. Within “varsity” teams there are some who want to try new sports out, and they will accomodate you. My friend is the captain of the fencing team and she has mentored others. Also for track there a lesser positions within the team (which is also very big) chances are you will find someone in the same boat as you. There are rarely ever cuts on the track team.</p>

<p>I chose lawrenceville over hotchkiss mainly because it seemed more friendly and had a lax dress code. I also chose it because of the Japanese Program (but that is ending next year) Its very homey, it feels almost like a neighborhood. we have school meetings every friday so everyone in the school gets together in the arts center. Freshman year was awesome because all the boys and girls were so close to one another in proximity and classes (we had orientation too) In sophomore year, you are put in separate houses (boys in the “circle” girls in the “crescent”) and that fun because of the rivalries and the house olympics in the fall. All in all its very well rounded, and focused on harkness table discussions.</p>

<p>ylaxw1123
Atmosphere: Its very welcoming and lax. but its academically rigorous. </p>

<p>FinAid/RichPeople: People are people, rich or poor. I am a FinAID studentMost of the students here are financial aid in some sort of way. In fact some of the people who I thought were well off, were on financial aid. You never really know. So no, there is no discrimination of financial aid students.</p>

<p>Academically Competitive: Yes. Towards Junior Year, you start to see competition between students for grades, and colleges… etc I personally think its good for a school to be academically competitive.</p>

<p>Better Person: There is a community service requirement for all students to fufill, and helps accomodate even for busy varsity athletes. Its 40 hours when you’re a junior. (I’m community service council btw) Also there are so many different kinds of people from all over the world. You get to see different perspectives and respect other people cultures.</p>

<p>Security System: There are 4 openings/gates to the school, two are supervised and two aren’t. Lawrenceville is very safe though, and public safety is usually cruising around in their toyota prius’ anyway. On the outside of the gates there is rt 206 and across are small restaurants/pizzerias/icecreamshops that are considered on campus. Inside campus there are routine fire drills, and a really loud alarm system that you can hear from anywhere wether there is inclement weather, or an emergency drill.</p>

<p>Lacrosse/Field Hockey: Tons of girls at the school do either one of these sport (its very popular) We are quite good. Last year Varsity feld hockey was NJISAA State Champs. so give freshman field hockey a try.</p>

<p>Smart/NotSmart: I was in a program before lawrenceville, that helped prepare me for this feeling. So I dont let it get to me. But yes, there will be times when you keep getting B pluses or feel stupid or whatever. Just be confident in what you have to say. Say what comes to mind in your head. Don’t restrict it. Teachers will love you if you just participate in class. I definelty feel that people are alot more accomplished than I am. I regret not sticking to one sport or extracurricular. But honestly if you got into lawrenceville, there is obviously something that made you stand out from the rest of the people who didn’t get in.</p>

<p>thanks that was very helpful!</p>

<p>Thanks for your response! I had another question.</p>

<p>I’m not really sure if you can answer this because you’re not an admission officer or something, but do you know if financial aid hurts your chances of being accepted as well? Also, if I don’t get an interview, does that hurt my chances of getting accepted also?</p>

<p>(I really dont know but these are just hunches)</p>

<p>Lawrenceville is NOT a need blind school, so I would not say that financial aid would hurt you, but it may be a factor in admission. But so many kids here are on financial aid (technically 100% of students are on financial aid since the school subsidizes tuition to keep it ‘low’) that I really would not worry about that aspect.</p>

<p>It is impossible to interview every applicant, as I have seen in the college process. Not having an interview would not be counted against you.</p>

<p>how many hours of homework per night does each freshman, sohpmore, junior, and senior have?</p>

<p>As students we are given a two hour study hall from 8 to 10. As a junior I would say that freshmen year, we didn’t have much homework. Sophmore year I dont think I had a free period so I felt pressured for time. This year I have 1 free period so it usually takes me 2 hour to finish homework. On a more rigorous day (monday) I would have to take more time on sunday to get a headstart on my homework. I’m not sure about senior year, but I’m sure it will get more relaxed then. Seniors have unlimited access to the internet so I’m sure they can pull all nighters if they had too, especially for finals</p>

<p>What is English at Lawrenceville like?</p>

<p>Are sports a big part of the culture of the school?</p>