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Prep School Admissions Prep School Cafe
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<p>This thread is for any middle school student considering applying to boarding school, or any student planning on attending in the coming year (I realize that this information would be more of use to the former). I've seen a lot of well-intentioned Q&A posts on this website, some too brief, some filled with generic responses applicable to just about most private schools of this caliber. </p>

<pre><code>I may come off as jaded, but I've spent considerable time here, enjoyed and loathed a variety of experiences, and have been able to gain a thorough perspective on what the boarding school experience is really like. You and I both know that the peppy, starry-eyed tour guide rambling on about the "unshakable bonds of community" and students dedicated to a life of the mind" is just spouting sugar-dipped platitudes that she herself may have come to believe.

I want to answer any questions anyone might have, because when I was applying, it was really difficult to ascertain accurate and detailed information about boarding schools, because students were a) too enamored with the glowing ideal of the institution that they had envisioned or b) overtly critical and bitter of being stuck in a sea of "Ralph Lauren-wearing Manhattanites" whom they had no desire to relate to.

I hope I can help those who are unfamiliar to the topic further understand what being a student at Choate is like, or life at a boarding school in general. No questions are too stupid.
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<p>MODERATOR'S NOTE: Anyone can ask or answer questions in this thread.</p>

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<p>What were (are) your best experiences and worst experiences at CRH?</p>

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<p>redbluegoldgreen: The first experiences that come to mind as memorable-- midnight before winter break, rounding up all the people in your dorm that were you were close to, consuming whatever stocks of cup noodles, stale cookies, and half-empty Pringles cans that you could find while watching reruns of Futurama under the same comforter knowing that half of you had a 5 am flight the following morning. </p>

<p>Either that, or weekend dinners in the dining hall nearing the holiday season. Imagine dim, glowing lights à la Hogwarts and periodic snow flurries as seen through the windows. People would keep going back for refills on Fruity Pebbles or to get one last brownie, and you’d end up staying for hours. </p>

<p>Also, the one vicious snowstorm that brought 3 feet of snow to Connecticut, and the following day off. Snow forts, yurts, and tunnel systems sprang up all over campus. Because it was a break, we were able to enjoy ourselves freely without the grey cloud of commitments looming above us; I had never witnessed the announcement of a snow day bring so much unrestrained joy. </p>

<p>Worst experiences have probably involved the school’s attitude towards seniority. Because of a schedule conflict, an art elective I had been vying to take for a year was denied to me, as “you are a sophomore and we would only make those exceptions for seniors.” As I would learn later, the administration won’t bend over backwards for you, or anyone, unless your parents have donated a building or something. But this attitude is unconsciously instilled in most of the school’s population: the dining hall is split into sections for each grade. The designations are unofficial, and teachers/students will casually refer to them just for ease of identification, but I’ve witnessed them being enforced by many a student. When I was a sophomore, I tried to take a seat at an empty table only to be approached by a girl who gruffly asked if i was a junior, “because the sophomore section is over there.” It’s an unspoken rule, usually enforced passive-aggressively, but I think it makes for an unhealthy grade dynamic where each grade almost looks down upon the grade below it. </p>

<p>The school has “senior benches” and “senior steps” but many-- almost all!-- schools that I had visited had similar traditions valuing seniors, so I guess it’s a private school thing. Lawrenceville, Taft, Loomis, Deerfield, and some more all had similar artifacts, but I’m not sure how lightheartedly each school takes them. </p>

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<p>Thank you for this useful thread @macdac‌ ! What intramural sports does Choate offer? And how is Choate’s arts program (specifically dance and music)?</p>

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<p>How are the athletics? How is the pool?</p>

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<p>@awsmyyy <a href=“http://www.choate.edu/athletics/intramural-sports/index.aspx”>http://www.choate.edu/athletics/intramural-sports/index.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You have to do a sport 2 out of 3 trimesters a year… for the not-so-athletically-inclined, there is a sizeable offering of non competitive intramurals. There are intramural versions of most of the “mainstream” sports, including but not limited to soccer, hockey, basketball, running, crew, swimming, tennis, etc. The school offers more options like kayaking, hiking, farming (hardcore gardening of sorts), yoga, rock climbing, etc. Intramurals are for the most part not too physically demanding, and are best done with a friend/group of friends. I personally believe there is a pretty diverse selection and have never heard anyone complain about it. </p>

<p>The arts programs… well. Choate is not an arts conservatory, that much is obvious. WIthin the arts, it’s strongest in instrumental music, specifically the string orchestra, which actually goes on tour every summer to play in foreign countries. (The wind ensemble is lacking.) This summer it was Korea/China/HK although there are rumors that they’ll cut back on the touring. I don’t have as much experience with dance, but it is an intramural offering, and there is a sort of club troupe of considerable size, as well as a hip hop club if you’re into that. There are limited classes devoted to dance, and I think the instructor is someone who comes in infrequently and only for classes. </p>

<p>As there is a devoted “arts concentration” program, which is good for the student that wants to maintain academic excellence in a rigorous environment like Choate, but knows they are interested enough/talented enough in theater/visual arts/music to let the program consume much time in their schedule. In that respect, Choate is good for arts, but MUCH of the time in the program is intended to be unstructured practice or working time. It’s for the student who already has a sense of direction in the arts and can utilize that time wisely. For a student who just wants to dabble in the arts, there’s a small offering of painting/drawing classes but the department, and classes, are small. Choate has many programs like the arts concentration program, like the science research program and the new environmental center program, but participating in a program like that can really change the trajectory of your high school/future experience, because it leaves limited time in your curriculum for dabbling in other interests. This is very different from a school like Middlesex, which in my opinion, tries to get the students to try a wide variety of offerings throughout their high school experience. </p>

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<p>Thank you @macdac‌ ! I play piano, so that bit about the strength in instrumental music really helped. Also, how would you describe the overall community atmosphere? I know that it is more urban compared to schools like Deerfield and Hotchkiss (correct me if I’m wrong), but how would describe the students at Choate?</p>

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<p>Hey @macdac I’m a rising freshman who will be moving onto campus in less that a month. Is their any advice you can give me on what to expect on move-in day and for the first couple of weeks on campus?</p>

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<p>is there a lot of privelage there? If so, is it very apparant?</p>

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<p>Hello from Vietnam. I have some questions to ask you about the admission process. I can’t visit CRH, can I do interview through Skype ? Is interview the first step after the inquiry ? What sort of questions do they typically ask you during interview ? When do I get to see the essay question ? Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>@mathman1201‌ : The pool is quite nice from what I’ve heard, compared to all the similar tier boarding schools. Not a swimmer, personally. The swim team is pretty good and a comparable rival to the other schools, but the diving team definitely stands out in the league.</p>

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<p>@awsmyyy‌ Regarding piano: You can take lessons through the school for a price if you’d wish. It fits in your schedule just as a class would. If you would like to continue throughout high school, I hope you are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to practice. (Alright, all that applies to all instrumental music in general) With the piano, it’s more difficult to find an ensemble to play with, the benefits of which include structured rehearsals and group repertoire. Good pianists come and go-- again, it’s not a conservatory. If you are capable enough and demonstrate your interest, people in the department are pretty accommodating. </p>

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<p>@awsmyyy‌ Regarding “the sense of community”: You are right, that the school is more “urban” than many boarding schools including Hotchkiss and Deerfield, although that term applies loosely. There are few, if any, true urban boarding schools, and the neighboring town is about as urban as it gets regarding boarding school locales. I consider it a large positive because although it is convenient as there is a train station and small cafés and restaurants, the school is in no way dependent on the surrounding town for entertainment and activities. (Looking at colleges, I’ve been seeing that students of urban colleges tend to branch out beyond campus for things to do, which lowers the number of activities on campus.) </p>

<p>As for “what the students are like”… Oh boy. That’s a difficult question to answer regardless of what school it’s posed about. This is hard for me to answer because I haven’t been at a student at other boarding schools of similar caliber and size, so i really have no benchmarks for comparison. </p>

<p>I find that not everyone is very involved. By that I mean you’ll never see any political demonstrations or rallies of school spirit… People keep to themselves in more than one way, preferring to hang out with their small circles of friends in their rooms or play frisbee, doing something laid back if they have the chance. Many are superficially involved with leadership positions in many clubs, but clubs across the board are poorly attended, especially when it drags on during the winter and you’ll get a turnout of 2-4 a week for the smaller clubs. People are quick to start new publications and as a result tables are bombarded with them, many of which are thinner than a pamphlet or poorly formatted with meager content. But there are passionate kids that excel in one venture or another, and they really do a lot to amplify the campus voice.</p>

<p>It’s competitive, in every aspect. You’re surrounded by your peers 24-7 in this compact environment- sometimes it feels like someone’s always on your tail, judging how you dress, what you eat, how you do in school. I know for a fact that stuff gets around. But it’s subtle, and that’s only the attitude of the paranoid, and definitely not exclusive to Choate. Every boarding/prep school experience exhibits subtle tones of competition, subtle or not. </p>

<p>Would I say quirky? Individualistic? Well. I think those qualities are down there, deep down. The New England prep school zeitgeist is a noticeable force at work, pushing the ebb and flow of the social dynamic. (It pushes it. It does not dictate it.) Consider that a bunch of insecure young people are away from home from the first time, trying to be different while still fitting in, growing into their skins. The follow-the-crowd mentality is prevalent at any high school, but it’s definitely amplified by a high-pressure, competitive environment, which breeds a hookup culture and flagrant gossip and other frivolous things. People are genuine, though, especially if you take time to get to know them one on one. And everyone grows out of it, I can assure you that. You go from trying to preserve this image of yourself, in a perfectly tailored Barbour-jacket-and-Hunter-boots ensemble, to a year later showing up to a college lecture in a hoodie and PJ pants. Boarding school, in some ways, is more vicious than college.</p>

<p>Most importantly, I think kids are capable and smart. You gotta be a little of each. Although sometimes you gotta reach out first, beyond your immediate clique, people are accepting and willing to make friends. And they’re good kids; in the end, I genuinely can say that I have faith in them.</p>

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<p>@prepschoolhopes‌ Oh crap, that’s crazy. You probably have no idea what to expect. I can tell you that you’re about to start a very memorable experience, for better or worse. </p>

<p>My advice is to keep open minded. When you get there, try to talk to as many people as you can. Remember their names-- people love when you say their names. Don’t just settle for a group and stick with them-- that’s one of the worst things you can do. (It’s normal to have a group of friends that you’re closer with than others, but just don’t restrict yourself.) You’ll likely make your closest friends in the dorm. Hang out in the common room. Or the dining hall, or the SAC. Usually launching into a deep conversation with friends or ordering takeout happens organically when they bump into you and you end up hanging out for way longer than you imagined.</p>

<p>And what to expect? Expect a bit of culture shock (or a huge amount, depending on where you’re from). Expect to be homesick, a little insecure. Expect to meet a lot of people that are very different from you. Expect to do a lot of growing up in the next 4 years. If you’re ever nervous, remember that everyone else is scared too, and they have no idea what they’re doing either. Even the most confident ones.</p>

<p>Don’t worry yourself sick. All you have to do is take it easy, and take the experience as it comes. I’ll see you in 2 weeks! ^_^</p>

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<p>@KimberlyLaila‌ many students are full pay. But I think, even if you are from the most well off family, living in a dorm and being on sports teams with with kids that are on full scholarship, you get a sense of the wider scope of the world and become more grounded in that way. </p>

<p>Is the privilege apparent? Well, looking at the school, it very much embodies the stereotype of the New England prep school. However, I’ve never really noticed anyone flaunting their wealth. Well, it’s happened once or twice, but it’s not the norm by any means and people view that behavior as rude. There are children of CEOs and big companies, but it’s actually pretty difficult to guess who they might be. People like to gossip though, and it’s a small school so people tend to just know that stuff. I am under the impression that there are less scions of “old money” than at some other New England schools. But yes, you will see money, and you will see privilege. </p>

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<p>@somedayatChoate‌ I’m assuming you already filled out the inquiry, and are applying for the fall of 2015… Damn, that’s when I got to college… </p>

<p>Yes, you can do a Skype interview. They only require on campus interviews for anyone that lives about 200 miles or closer to the school, I believe. Although I would really REALLY suggest you try to get yourself down to New England and see a bunch of schools in the area before you apply… I see you have your heart set on Choate already, judging from your username, but sometimes you become enamored with this perfect idea of a school that you’ve created, and in reality it’s completely different. I’m curious, tell me more about yourself. How did you hear about the school, and what drew you to it so quickly? And Vietnam is so far-- are you from Hanoi?</p>

<p>The interview is one of the last things you complete in the application process, I believe; you interview after you submit your online application with all the stats and numbers about you. This is so they get a chance to learn a little about the things you are interested in and how you are as a student, so they can use that material as a jumping off point during the interview. As for the essays, I believe they’re released with the rest of the online application, which probably comes out soon? The entire application is released together. </p>

<p>And don’t worry about the interview, it’s really supposed to be a laid back conversation in which the interviewer can get a chance to know you as a person. There shouldn’t be any tough questions that they try to stump you on. Although I did have this chill lax bro alumnus as an interviewer, I believe all of the interviewers just want to make you feel comfortable in your own skin so you can tell them about yourself. </p>

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<p>Hi! I’m an incoming freshmen and I have a few questions I hope you can answer!</p>

<p>1) Do the different grades get along? Are the freshmen ever teased by upperclassmen?</p>

<p>2) Is it easy or difficult to get involved in theater as a freshmen?</p>

<p>3) How’s the freshman homework load?</p>

<p>4) Are there cliques/popularity and is everyone supper preppy? </p>

<p>5) I did summer camp there and my homesickness was absolutely terrible. Does it fade quickly (I know it depends on the person but I’m just wondering your perspective)?</p>

<p>6) Any other advice in general? Things I should know that you wish you knew as a freshman? </p>

<p>Please don’t hesitate to tell me the worst, I don’t want sugarcoating.</p>

<p>Thanks so much! I’m nervous but pretty excited!</p>

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<p>Thanks for the great advice. See you in two weeks lol</p>

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<p>@futureauthor </p>

<p>1) There’s no outright “teasing” anywhere, at least not like you’d see on a Disney Channel sitcom. When you move in you might hear older kids say stuff like “oh they’re so little” and stuff. I think some upperclassmen are totally full of it and might say condescending things about people in lower grades than them. I hear that stuff a lot. Subtle stuff. Seniority and experience is really valued by a lot of people, as it is one of the easier-to-quantify metrics that measure your right to do certain things, say certain things. Which I think is completely frivolous and unnecessary. For example, a “new sophomore” saying something like, “oh I love this school” and someone else there since they were a freshman butting in with “oh well how would you know, you haven’t even been here for a year yet.” Bad example but you get what I mean, I hope. So ignore that kind of stuff. Just show that you’re a real person willing to connect, and someone will take you under their wing soon enough. Forget the arbitrary grade labels. </p>

<p>The attitude is very prevalent, but it’s subtle. For example, i overheard some upperclassmen who were distributing magazines in the dining hall talk about concentrating their publication in the “senior section” and putting only one or two issues in the “freshman section”, as if younger students didn’t deserve the press or something. It was absurd. </p>

<p>Refer to my post on the first page where I talk about informal segregation in the dining hall. This attitude is so insidious that even though there are NO formal guidelines or rules stating where members of each class shall sit, it’s self selecting and perpetuates itself. Separate but equal? I don’t think so. </p>

<p>2) Easy? Not sure what you mean exactly. Choate isn’t a conservatory, so there’s little competition in auditions, you just have to be sort of competent. The hard part about it may be the requirement that you do 2 terms of a physical activity. That leaves you only one term to be able to participate in a production. </p>

<p>3) Please do not stress out getting straight As freshman year. Good enough is good enough, I say, for your first 2 years. It’s not supposed to be difficult, it’s merely there to ease you in. Focus on building relationships- with your peers and teachers. This foundation of a support system will help you immensely during your last 2 years-- having friends and teachers to rely on, knowing people are there to help you. Only your junior year GPA is factored into college admissions, did you know that?</p>

<p>4) lol at this question. Whereas at my old high school, everyone sort of grew into themselves and stopped worrying about that stuff, choate is like middle school on crack (not necessarily literally) in terms of people hyper-concerned with presenting themselves in such a way, concerned with their social standing and public image. I think cliques and popularity are mainly middle school concepts, cultivated and exacerbated by those who seek some recognition of their worth. And just like middle school, there are people who care a lot, and people that don’t. So… don’t let it get to you. Try to talk to many different people. You will find more in common with many of them than you might think. Cliques exist as at any school, but don’t feel confined. Ask someone to hang out, the worst thing that will happen is that they say no. </p>

<p>5) Yes, I think. You’ll be fine, there are people there to help you go through the adjustment. It’s almost like they expect that from everyone. You’re surrounded by people like you, living, eating, taking classes together, and you’re bound to feel comfortable with some of them. Everyone’s going through the same thing, so take comfort in that. I guarantee you there will be someone coming from farther than you are, or who can’t go home on the long weekends, or has been boarding since middle school. People help each other out. </p>

<p>6) Other stuff I’ll talk about–
The “hookup culture” is actually pretty rampant, in part due to the fact that some boys and girls just don’t know how else to interact with each other. You’ll make most of your good friends in the dorm, that’s for sure, as you’re spending the most time with each other. Genders will self segregate way more often than you’d see in a public school, due to fundamentally how a boarding school works. </p>

<p>Things I wish I knew-- this is pretty meta, but I wish I knew that reading a list of advice like this one wouldn’t really help me all that much. I speak from my own experiences, which were cultivated over many mistakes and failures. Just keep in mind some of the things I mentioned about the social dynamic, and use that as a basis to make your own decisions. You might not agree with me at all in the end. You just have to jump right in and take in as much as possible. </p>

<p>Okay? I’m glad you’re excited, you should be. I’ll see you in about a week! </p>

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<p>@macdac I’m from Ho Chi Minh and I first heard about the school when a friend of mine enrolled last year. At that time, I wasn’t too interested in Choate or the concept of boarding school or studying abroad since I was too busy preparing for the upcoming high school entrance exam and also because my family had problems that would hinder the application process. But at the end of Grade 10, we weren’t so busy anymore and I had a chance to meet up with my friend. Having seen how much more mature she grew, I have always wanted to be the same. So I digged a little bit deeper and found that Choate could offer things I want.
I want to come to Choate challenged by its rigorous programs. My high school, although one of the most prestigious in the South area, is actually pretty easy to handle. I want to be forced to step out of my comfort zone and experience something new. I know I can be pushed further to completely fulfil my potential, like my friend- as 9th graders, we were pretty much on a par with each other. In addition, I’m hoping that Choate will be a tight-knitted family in which I have a chance to interact more, especially with the teachers. In Vietnam, teachers teach and leave. And there are 47 students in my class! You can imagine how little attention is given to each of us. I heard that teachers at Choate are very friendly, and that we are even invited to visit their houses. That’s the kind of experience I’m expecting.
Academically, I think I will do pretty well, as I have always have. In my application, academics should not be a problem. I am a little obsessed with studying, always hard-working( almost too hard-working in fact) and curious about new stuffs. But if I were to come to Choate, I would seek a little bit of fun as well.
However, I think the odds are againts me. First, financially, I would need nearly full financial aid to be able to enroll. Choate has given such aid in the past, but for international student? I don’t know. Can you clarify this matter and , if possible, provide me with some schools that can give such an aid? Second, I am great at academics, but that’s just it. For extracurricular activities, I am currently tutoring TOEFL at a pretty famous English center and I’ve taken up reading only recently. I’m just too busy. No arts, although I would definitely try the guitar at Choate. No official sports; I just play ping pong, soccer, jianzi and swim for fun.
In the interview and essay, apart from academics, I would try to show the admissions officers my character, which is somethin I really pride myself on. Three points: determined, caring and capable of ultilizing time( the second one would be stressed the most.)
I heard from my friend that one of the Vietnamese students is graduating this year, so it’s possible that Choate will admit another. I am really serious about Choate. Although it’s a long shot, I would like to take my chances so that I would not regret not trying.</p>