Best Fit? Exeter, SPS, Hotchkiss, Deerfield, Choate

<p>Hey Everyone,</p>

<p>To start, I don't want this to be a "What are my chances" thread. I'm hoping to find out what would be MY best option if I had the choice of any of these schools. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia (hence the name), I love writing and history, and I want to major in broadcast journalism. I am curious to find out what schools REALLY emphasize writing and broadcasting type arts. Also, I am a tennis fanatic and just love sports in general. I want to be a sports broadcaster specifically, so a good sports program is important to me.</p>

<p>If there is any other information you need to help me out, feel free to reply to this bost and request that information.</p>

<p>Thanks so much!!!</p>

<p>AtlantaBoy</p>

<p>You can’t go wrong with any of those schools except for Hotchkiss. I went to an open house and the headmaster is not very bright. Someone asked what he was proud about the school and he didn’t have an answer also someone asked about character developement and he said he was not proud of it even though he was bragging about it. Hotchkiss struck me as a school that is only part of the HEADS because smart kids apply there and nothing else. Since so far out of those schools I’ve only looked at St. Pauls I have to say that they are a really good school with a great sports program.</p>

<p>I disagree strongly with comment #2. Hotchkiss is a terrific school on par with any of the top New England schools. i’m sorry that pepperjke had a bad open house experience but I’ve spent more than 20 years involved in boarding schools and can say without doubt that h’kiss is making some truly innovative moves in terms of international experiences and sustainability. The H’kiss head of school is generally spoken very highly of by faculty/heads at many of the schools I interact with, to imply that he is “not very bright” is misleading. As far as sports, Hotchkiss has arguably the strongest sports program (past five years) of any of the schools you’ve listed. In fact, SPS probably has the weakest sports of any of the schools you’ve listed. When visiting H’kiss ask about the radio station, I know they used to have student broadcasters do live website commentary for sports events. In reality, if you’re passionate about sports broadcasting and know at least a little bit about using technology you could easily set up web broadcasting at any school you attend. Read a lot about each school, visit each and find the best fit. Please don’t rely on internet “opinions”, hope this helps.</p>

<p>What, Malcolm McKenzie, head of THS and Rhoades Scholar, is not very bright? This is a joke, right?</p>

<p>As for tennis, the Hotchkiss boys’ varsity tennis team was undefeated last spring and the NE Prep champion.</p>

<p>Sorry I was just giving my opinion. Maybe Hotchkiss might be the school for you but based on my experience I can safely say that I wasn’t happy with what was being offered there by the faculty or headmaster there. I also don’t doubt that their sports is very strong. Also just so you know Hotchkiss is a very, very secluded school…think country.</p>

<p>Secluded, and the problem with that is???</p>

<p>My point is different schools meet different wants and needs, that is what is meant in fit. We are from a major city and my d decided that she wanted a rural school. Enough of the bright lights, buses and trains, and starbucks. Her preference was no street lights, no night traffic, stars to see as soon as the evening begins.</p>

<p>I totally get that a rural kid wants that city feel, the constant motion, etc to each his own. I respect your feelings about your encounter at Hotchkiss but saying it is secluded is not he negative to everyone.</p>

<p>Hotchkiss is for sure first rate in sports and academics. Their womens field hockey team I think #1 in the league for something like 10 straight years in a row?</p>

<p>I agree with Alexz mom. It seems like it’s personal preference whether one falls in love with a rural school vs. suburban vs. city.</p>

<p>I’m definitely going to look at Hotchkiss for my daughter. I was on line yesterday taking a virtual tour. Dining Hall didn’t seem as nice as some of the others we’ve seen and although well manicured, the fleet of red brick buildings seemed a little austere, but I think the education can’t be beat. To each his/her own.</p>

<p>I never said secluded was a bad thing. Some kids do prefer rural to urban. I was just telling the OP just in case he didn’t know. I was simply expressing my opinion on the school and nothing more.</p>

<p>P.S. Exeter and Middlesex both have radio stations</p>

<p>Hey there,</p>

<p>I’m an Exeter grad. Exeter has a really great radio station, and pretty much anyone can get a show if they want. If you love writing and history, Exeter also might be the place for you because HARKNESS is amaaaazing. I’m a big humanities person, and while I was only at Exeter for two years, I think I learned more there than I learned during my entire life before Exie. You might go to Exeter thinking you are a good writer, but you will be humbled. There is so much more to learn, and you leave Exeter with the best writing skills possible. I know I’m biased, but really, there’s no better place to learn the humanities.</p>

<p>Oh yeah, Hotchkiss also has a radio station where the students broadcast daily. (My son’s roommate is the co-host of one of the hour slots on Wed. night. S says his roomie plays music of his choice and adds commentary as he wishes. The show is apparently a blast.)</p>

<p>I second Toombs as Pepper doesn’t know what he/she is talking about – don’t let one kid going to one open house scare you away from a terrific school. Hotchkiss has everything you are looking for – strong academics with great history department and literary tradition including a very well regarded student newspaper. the Record, as well as the student radio station. The sports facilities are better than most colleges (thanks to the Mars family) and tennis is definitely tops there as well as many other sports. You can’t go wrong given your preferences.</p>

<p>Yeah, I think Hotchkiss can teach kids to write. Here is a small sampling of some of their students, all of who could scribble a bit: Henry R. Luce, Potter Stewart, Lewis Lapham II, Archibald MacLeish, Robert Bork, John Hersey, Peter Matthiessen, Paul Nitze, and William Loeb.</p>

<p>@LoudandClear- Because You are an Exeter Graduate, can You chance me-On MY Profile at-Chance me for Exeter (Final Version) </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Choate graduated several notable writers, and I think the English program is extremely good. We have a student-run radio station as well, but I think, correct me if I’m wrong, most of the HADES schools do? Choate also has a great arts program, and we run this thing called the Capstone program, where in senior year, you can pursue a certain area of interest overseen by a certain faculty member who has experience or expertise in that subject.</p>

<p>@LoudandClear
Same question as Exeterr, could you chance me?
You can find it on my profile under “All threads started by goldengirl2805”
It’s the only thread I have - “chance me please!”
Thanks :)</p>