Boarding School Uniforms: Specifically Exeter, Groton, Hotchkiss, Deerfield

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>What are the uniforms at boarding school like? I know when boarding schools in America say "uniform", it doesn't exactly have the same meaning as when European or Asian boarding/private schools use the term. </p>

<p>How strict are the uniforms?</p>

<p>I would just like a feel for what different boarding school uniforms/dress codes are like. </p>

<p>So if people could post with their (or their child's) school and uniform/dress code requirements.</p>

<p>For instance: is the uniform more casual- polo and slacks and skirts for girls; but all of your own choosing and make and model, maybe even jeans.</p>

<p>Or is the uniform more, well...uniform - like one school issued standard uniform. For example: blue blazer, white collar dress shirt, school issued tie with school coat of arms on it and gray ironed slacks or gray pleaded skirt. And everybody in the entire school wears the same thing.</p>

2

<p>You can find this information on most school’s websites and by doing a search on the forum…there are loads of threads about dress codes. There generally isn’t a generic uniform that every single person wears, but a dress code which varies depending on the school.</p>

<p>Exeter (from their website):
For Boys - shirt and tie.
For Girls - dress, skirt or nice slacks with blouse, sweater, collared shirt, or turtleneck.
Hemmed shorts may be worn.
Ethnic attire is acceptable.
All clothing must be clean and in good repair (not torn, frayed or cut off).
Shirts with tails must be tucked in.
Skirts and shorts must reach at least to the fingertips.
The following items are prohibited: revealing necklines, tank tops, spaghetti straps, bare midriffs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, military fatigues, overalls, athletic wear.</p>

<p>Groton (from another thread on this site):
Dress code is semi-casual, collared shirts for guys and no tee shirts for girls. No jeans.</p>

<p>Hotchkiss (from their website):
Hotchkiss continues to have a somewhat traditional dress code for classes, most
meals, and other formal school appointments: i.e., jackets and ties, appropriate shirts
with collars or turtleneck shirts, and appropriate slacks (not jeans) for boys; dresses,
blouses/shirts with skirts, or appropriate slacks (not jeans) for girls.</p>

<p>Deerfield (from their website):
Deerfield students must attend classes, Academy events, occasions designated by the Headmaster and sit-down meals in “class dress.” For boys, class dress means a dress shirt, tie, and sport coat, or a suit and tie. (Boys can wear a turtleneck instead of a shirt and tie.) Class dress for girls means a skirt or dress pants with two visible layers on top, one of which must be a blazer or a sweater. Both boys and girls may wear “walking shorts” when it is warm out, with class dress tops. At times when class dress isn’t required, informal dress in good taste is the norm.</p>

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<p>Does anyone know if any of the schools have rules against make-up?</p>

4

<p>I really don’t think so- the make up, I mean. Typically, dress code is for propriety’s sake. Such as, no bare-all clothes and no facial peircings, etc.</p>

5

<p>hj0519: Thank for the information! Can I ask exactly where (links maybe?) on the websites you found the information. I couldn’t find the information when I was looking though the websites and there are still a couple other schools I’m looking into (St Paul’s School, Milton, Choate Rosemary, Kent, Loomis) so I would love a little internet/technology guidance! Thanks again.</p>

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<p>I googled the school’s name with dress code and generally something came up. It was in the FAQ’s at a couple, in the student handbook for Exeter. If you look around the websites there’s usually something or if they have a link to their student handbook, it’s most likely there. You can also just a do an advanced search on this site, have the search be “dress code” or something like that and then narrow it down to only be posts from the Prep School Admissions category. There’s also usually some sort of place on the school’s website where you can search the website and put dress code into the searchbar.</p>

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<p>St. Paul’s:
on page 51. <a href=“http://www.sps.edu/ftpimages/36/download/download_group3978_id261148.pdf[/url]”>http://www.sps.edu/ftpimages/36/download/download_group3978_id261148.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Choate:
[Choate</a> Rosemary Hall: Students » Campus Life » Dress Code](<a href=“http://www.choate.edu/students/campus_dresscode.asp]Choate”>http://www.choate.edu/students/campus_dresscode.asp)</p>

<p>Kent:
discussion mostly about girls, but there’s also a post about the dress code for boys at the end.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/510200-kent-dress-code-girls.html?highlight=kent+dress+code[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/510200-kent-dress-code-girls.html?highlight=kent+dress+code&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Milton:
near the end of post number 5
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/604975-what-makes-milton-so-special.html?highlight=milton+dress+code[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/604975-what-makes-milton-so-special.html?highlight=milton+dress+code&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;