<p>Hello. I have been reading this forum for some time, but this is my first time posting. Went with D today for a stroll around Exeter. She will be applying to BS's this fall for freshman year (09/10).<br>
My question is what top tier schools have an arts concentration, and/ or really strong in English. D gets A's in science and math at her junior high school, but is much more interested (and stronger) in just about everything else.</p>
<p>Lawrenceville seemed to have a strong arts program.
Middlesex does as well.
I think I heard Loomis does, but don't quote me on that.</p>
<p>talk w/someone from the art department. or look online, or visit their galleries. normaly, student, teacher, and/or community work is displayed.</p>
<p>Choate has a special program called Arts Concentration</p>
<p>The web sites of many schools list the courses offered. So, you can see what Art and English electives are offered, for example.</p>
<p>Choate has an excellent arts program for any student, not to mention a specific Arts Concentration program. If you are looking at schools in the tier of Exeter, definitely have a look at Choate.</p>
<p>Are you willing to look in Pennsylvania? My art-y daughter loved Mercersburg
Arts</a> & Culture
We also liked George School's arts program (and their horses)
George</a> School | arts</p>
<p>Middlesex does NOT have a strong visual arts department.
Concord Academy, Cambridge School of Weston & Walnut Hill School all have terrific arts programs. Middlesex is great for academics and the English department really has some wonderful teachers.</p>
<p>Take a look at Mercersburg Academy: Mercersburg</a> Academy</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts.</p>
<p>My D needs substantial FA, which I get the feeling she wont get from Choate. Ditto, Cambridge School of Weston ( my old alma mater, along with NMHS) CA is definitely on the list, as is Walnut Hill....but again, FA?? ( She is a talented clarinetist, but not quite yet a virtuoso.) An avid and experienced equestrian, we have also been looking at riding schools, visited two. Again, even if she got the FA its not going to pay for the horse! Also, it seems few riding schools are in the top category - a shame, because its been her sport since she was old enough to say whoa. She has no real "school" sport, except that this year - 7th grade- she has taken up track/ cross country, and plans to run daily through the summer, hopefully it will pay off dividends come 8th grade?!</p>
<p>Frankly, D detests science and math, even though she gets A's in them. Well, after seeing the science building at Exeter she may have changed her mind! :) She would love the environment and intellectual challenge of a top rate BS, where I feel she would prosper, as she is self motivated and manages school quite well without parental interference. Our public school is very good, comparable to many BS's, so it is going to be her "safety". She is taking a practice SSAT in June. That will shed some light on whether or not I'm out of my mind here...:)</p>
<p>Sorry for the book. So far this is the top of the consideration list : Groton, Exeter, Deerfield ( my favorite so far, but she hasn't visited ) Northfield Mt. Hermon, St. Paul's, Concord Academy. Prefer to keep her in New England.</p>
<p>Hi Sadie, I know of at least one student at Walnut Hill who has received considerable financial aid. </p>
<p>When looking at boarding schools, many places tout their arts requirements, but if one digs deeper, the schools actually discourage spending any extra time on non-gpa building electives. Check the electives, number of faculty members in the department and how many kids are currently enrolled in arts electives, and of course, if there is student art visible anywhere on campus.</p>
<p>"My D needs substantial FA, which I get the feeling she wont get from Choate."</p>
<p>Why do you say this? Choate has a rather large endowment and 30% of the student body makes good use of it!</p>
<p>Thanks jgO339. Your advice is right on.</p>
<p>Walnut Hill must have many super talented kids....but I will explore this school further!</p>
<p>Exeter tells me they have 500 students presently taking private music lessons. Thats a lot of musicians. </p>
<p>I don't mind my daughter having to learn subjects she doesn't love.... just want her to be able to explore her own talents and make friends with like minded individuals as well as receive a top notch education and go on to a great college!</p>
<p>xoxcookie, </p>
<p>Thanks for that. It may have been the boarding school review site. Anyway, just visited the school web site. Think maybe we need to have a second look!</p>
<p>Thanks again1</p>
<p>No problem! I don't mean to be overly-assertive, I just love the school and your daughter's profile so closely matches my own that I think it is a good idea for you to look into it.</p>
<p>i think you have to look at saint paul's if you are into the arts. i am headed there in the fall. while i am not arty, the school has lots of top art opportunities.</p>
<p>St. Paul's is on the to visit list!</p>
<p>If your daughter is interested in all-girl schools, then she should look at Westover. They have a very strong arts department and have decent academics. Its definetly not up with the big boys but its a very good school.</p>
<p>just my personal experience, but i dont think choate is too generous with FA. i applied this year, am going to exeter next year, and i got rejected from choate saying i needed to much fa, and if i didnt need it, i would be accepted. so thats just my experience, and my guess if i was absolutely amazing, i wouldve gotten the fa. but still, not too generous.</p>
<p>As jg0339 pointed out, many schools tout their arts programs, but in reality there may be little time left to indulge in them, because they are so academically competitive. (This is what I found when I was a student at NMHS,
many years ago).
The auxiliary to my question is - can one fit in at Deerfield, Groton, Exeter, St. Pauls, etc., if one is NOT primarily a major math or science brain? Seems to me that schools across the board are becoming more and more science focused ( including colleges and universities) and less and less humanities. Or is this just my perception? </p>
<p>Only old timers willing to comment?</p>