<p>Okay I know these schools are quite different from one another, so I'd like your feedback on each of these schools. I'd mostly like to know about the Theatre program (musicals and dramas), the academics (easy, moderate, high-moderate, overly difficult, etc.) and the setting/atmosphere. I've heard Cate and Choate have a more laid back feel than Exeter, is this true? Also, at Interlochen, do most people start for 9th grade or do they come later? So basically give me your reviews on these schools (1) and which school do you think would be a better fit? (2)</p>
<p>A bit about myself:
I am constantly involved in shows, musicals, and I participate in a highly selective drama magnet program at my school. I am a really good student (one B last year out of the whole year, plus I'm in all honors/gifted classes.) I have won various awards at my schools in the past. I would like the boarding school I go to to have an amazing theater program, great academics, but not feel all stuffy and I don't want to be at a school where everyone's a study freak. So yeah thats about it, this is my first post so tell me if I did anything wrong.
Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m wondering why Idyllwild Arts Academy is not on your list . . .</p>
<p>As for the schools you’ve listed, I can’t help you much. What I’d suggest is that you contact the head of the theatre program at each school and direct your questions to him/her. The heads of these programs want successful, happy students in their programs . . . I don’t think they’d steer you wrong.</p>
<p>One thing you need to decide is what proportion of your time you want to spend on theatre and what proportion you want to spend on academics. There’s a big difference between an academic school with a good theatre program and a performing arts school with a good academic program. At Exeter, for example, I’d anticipate that no matter how good their theatre program is, it’s never going to be your main focus. And, although Choate has a performing arts concentration that sets it apart from the other New England schools, my guess is until you’re in 11th and 12th grade, and eligible for that program, you’ll still be spending most of your time on academics.</p>
<p>From what I know about Interlochen and Idyllwild, I’d guess that your time there would be more evenly divided between academics and performing arts. But that’s just a guess. Contact the department heads and see what they have to say.</p>
<p>As for “laid back,” from what I’ve heard, all the California schools (including Cate) tend to be more laid back than any of the New England schools.</p>
<p>There is nothing laid back about Choate (read the school newspaper which is constantly writing about student stress) and Cate is surprisingly academically intense (except maybe relatively to some East Coast schools). As the previous post states, if you want a rigorous academic BS, the school will be stressful academically, especially when trying to balance it with the time commitments for theater.</p>
<p>I suggest you check out Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Mass. My daughter was like you, attending a top public school in all honors classes while spending massive amounts of EC time on theater, dance and voice activities. She now attends Walnut Hill and loves it.</p>
<p>Choate has a very strong theater program. Beautiful performing arts center designed by I.M. Pei. Many alumni have gone on to have some success in the arts, including Glen Close, Michael Douglas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Paul Giammatti (sp?). Another graduate is the Pulitzer prize winning playright Edward Albee. A classmate of mine is a director and a number of years ago won an academy award for a screenplay he wrote. I also believe one of the producers of Precious is a Choate alum.</p>
<p>However, I wouldn’t characterize Choate as being laid back academically. It is pretty demanding. However, Exeter does have the reputation of being even more demanding and something of a pressure cooker. Not sure if its well known for theater. My impression has always been that it is very strong in math/science. It has produced a number of well known authors however.</p>