<p>My son has been admitted to both Choate and Hopkins.
We live in CT, within driving distance to both (He would go as Day student to Choate).
Both are awesome schools.
Both have great academics.
Science is my son's passion.
It would appear that Choate has more resources all around and that Hopkins is more focused on academics.
Admission rate is lower at Choate, but perhaps that's because they attract many more applications (from all over the world vs just from immediate CT area for Hopkins).
Any thoughts? + and - of the schools?</p>
<p>I don’t know much about Hopkins, but Choate is definitely a great school!</p>
<p>Visit, visit, visit!!! And then let your son take the lead in deciding. (With as little influence from you as you can manage!) You can do searches on this forum for people’s perceptions of both schools (although there’ll be much more about Choate than Hopkins), but what other people think of the schools isn’t nearly as important as what your son thinks when he visits.</p>
<p>Since you are so close, you have an opportunity that most applicants don’t have to really spend time at the schools. Don’t limit yourself to revisit days - go on a weekend, go on another weekday, and just wander, talk to people and get a feel for the place. (And, my own student would say, stop by the dining room and try the food!)</p>
<p>Choate is one of those schools that really offers a plethora of opportunities, and many students would kill for the chance to go there . . . but the only thing that matters for your family is how it feels to your son. As much as possible, keep your opinions to yourself (I know it’s hard!) and let him discover the schools himself.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks. That’s what we are doing. He has 100% the final say on which school to go to. He totally owns the final decision - there is probably no wrong decision, just which one is best for him. We like to point out the strong points of each school but keeping it balanced. For example: Choate has a much wider, international community that he would be part of. Hopkins is all day, so there would be no concerns that “he is missing something” while not at school or about day/border issues. Thanks for any additional information you can share.</p>
<p>Attend the revisit days. For what it’s worth, Hopkins appeared on Forbes’ recent list of best prep schools: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/920576-forbes-magazine-has-new-prep-school-rankings.html?highlight=hopkins[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/920576-forbes-magazine-has-new-prep-school-rankings.html?highlight=hopkins</a>.</p>
<p>You son has an enviable choice to make.</p>
<p>Revisit days are so much more comprehensive than interview days. Somehow, after a day on campus going to classes and talking to faculty and students, your son may develop more of an affinity for one school over the others. For my D it was a series of non-quantifiable factors that finally tipped the scales. My DH said he could tell while watching her expressions at the schools, where she was leaning. But we weren’t allowed to express an opinion, the cost was the same so she had made the final decision on which felt most like it could be her second “home.”</p>
<p>One big issue to consider is that Hopkins is a day school while Choate is primarily a boarding school and being a day student at a boarding school can have its advantages and disadvantages. The schools have very different feels to them so definitely go to revisit days and speak to day students at Choate.</p>
<p>I agree with the other posts that going on visits and getting a feel for the campus and the people is the best way to decide. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if Hopkins has a comparable program, but if science is your son’s thing, Choate has a Science Research Program (SRP). It’s a highly selective program, so not every student gets in, but the opportunities it affords students are extensive.</p>
<p>[Choate</a> Rosemary Hall: Academics » Signature Academic Programs » Science Research Program](<a href=“http://www.choate.edu/academics/special_thescienceresearch.aspx]Choate”>http://www.choate.edu/academics/special_thescienceresearch.aspx)</p>
<p>It’s an intensive science track and includes a summer working at a lab to gather hands-on experience. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>WOW, WOW, WOW. We visited Choate today for their open house to accepted day students. I was blown away by the school, faculty, & staff. I tried to contain my excitement so that my son wouldn’t be unduly influenced… but from the facilities, to athletics, to faculty, to curriculum, to the caliber of students, to their Hogwarts’s Style Dinning Hall (with great quality and variety of food), it was just an incredible tour de force. But want to know what impressed me most? The way everyone embraces and cares for the students. The way the students interact with one another. The harmony between faculty, staff & students. The palpable love throughout. I kept asking myself, “Is this marketing or is it real?” But from everything I gathered, I think it’s real. I would love to be a teenager again to go to Choate!!!</p>
<p>He is off to Hopkins shadow day tomorrow. I am keeping my mouth shut. It will be 100% his decision.</p>
<p>The students, staff, and faculty- the atmosphere- is all genuine, although there were little touches, like tablecloths in the dining hall (they’re only brought out when lots of parents are around), that were for marketing purposes. :)</p>
<p>As erc mentioned, the Science Research Program (SRP) is highly regarded. This year, Choate even had an Intel finalist from the SRP program. See [Saha</a> '11 Named Intel Finalist](<a href=“http://thenews.choate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=771%3Asaha-11-named-intel-finalist&Itemid=21]Saha”>http://thenews.choate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=771%3Asaha-11-named-intel-finalist&Itemid=21)</p>
<p>Choate is a fantastic school. Congratulations on his admission.</p>
<p>He loved his shadow day at Hopkins and all that the school stands for. He thought the students were nice and lots of fun. He ranked both schools along a dozen categories and both did extremely well. It came down to the intangible and which one he felt would prepare him better for his college experience. He thought that Choate would take him more out of his comfort zone, and by pushing him beyond his comfort zone it would make him a better person. So it’s GoChoate! Thanks for all your public and private counsel.</p>
<p>Congrats to your son Maquila! I will be attending Choate this fall as well!</p>
<p>Awesome job! Congratulations to you and your son!</p>
<p>Make sure you get in touch with some day student families. There are usually some tips that make being a day student at a BS easier. Learn from their experience. Also great to have driving back-up!</p>
<p>Congratulations! It’s a great school. You should receive a phone call soon from someone on the parents’ committee who will answer any questions you might have. The person who called us a couple of years ago was really kind and helpful.</p>
<p>Also, when you register on the first day, you will be given a book with every student and their family contact information listed. This is really useful for carpools (day students) and weekend permissions (boarders). There is a LOT of communication between the school and parents. I think you will be impressed!</p>
<p>If you have any questions, please feel free to IM me as well. My son isn’t a day student, but is currently a senior and has been there since he was a freshman.</p>
<p>I think you will find that Choate is a great choice. The academics are outstanding and the students are among the nicest and friendliest of any BS. My sense is that day students don’t feel out of it because they don’t board. One of my son’s best friends is a day student and it seems like my son’s dorm is his home away from home.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone. We are overwhelmed by the kindness of everyone in this thread and by the entire Choate community. I also want to emphasize how wonderful a school Hopkins is. Superb teachers, super nice students, and very nice facilities. When comparing schools of this caliber, there is really no wrong choice. It’s just which one is a better fit for whatever the student is trying to accomplish. Thank you. I hope to be in a better position to provide guidance to other BS applicants in a year or so. xoxoxo</p>