I’ve read through every forum about this and I still can’t choose. Please someone help me. I really feel like I just need to get a better understanding of the culture/ vibe on campus since that’s what I’m missing because of revisit days. Most people I know want me to go to Choate. At Choate I’m mostly interested in their signature programs and all the classes they have, but you have to apply to signature programs so I don’t know if that should be the reason that I would pick it. On the other hand at Lawrenceville, I wanted to go there through this whole application process and I really liked being on campus, but I can’t really find a reason that would make me go. My friend did a camp there and she said that the dorms and bathrooms are disgusting 
my parents want me to go to Choate since my mom went to college near there and she thinks it could help get me in there. On the other hand Lawrenceville is near Princeton and I have no connection at all. Do you think Choate could help me get in at my moms alma mater, or do you think there’s no difference if I go to Lville. Sorry I just rambled so much on this but please HELP.
Oh by the way, when I toured at Choate this fall I really didn’t like it, but ever since I got in I’ve been doubting myself since they seem to have so many things that I like.
Go with your gut instinct as both are great schools.
Both schools are equally strong with respect to college admissions although Lawrenceville gets an unusually high number of students admitted to Princeton each year. (Could be athletes and/or students with parents who work at Princeton.)
Select the school at which you feel more comfortable. Both are very prestigious prep boarding schools. Congratulations !
Is your mom’s alma mater Yale? Unless your family is mega wealthy, multi generational legacy or she is faculty there, it won’t make that much of a difference unless you earn entry based on your talents alone. I grew up in that area and there are a lot of faculty kids at Choate that are also very smart too. Also every other person in New Haven, Milford, Hamden, etc and to a less extent a little further north is connected somehow to Yale. I guess in CT you would have a better chance of striking up a relationship with a prof or someone who could recommend you to Yale. What happens if you want to study something Yale doesn’t even offer, like a BArch, or BFA, or some specific area of interest for you? You should just go with the school you will like better and don’t worry about college.
Hi @Usernameuser …This is a big decision. Maybe try scaling down the stakes to see things more objectively. Let’s say you’re just OK with coffee fudge ice cream. But you like coffee, and you like fudge, why aren’t you liking coffee fudge more? Even your friends like coffee fudge. But man you feel like peppermint. (Though one friend didn’t like the sugar-free peppermint btw). All the ice creams are basically made from the same sources of milk and sugar, it’s just the last bit of flavoring that will be to your taste. What would you choose?
You will do best for colleges if your taste buds are satisfied, and you’re able to strike out on your own. Good luck, it’s an awesome choice to have!
@usernameuser Congrats for getting admitted to such amazing schools!
I went to Lawrenceville Summer School over the summer so I am a bit biased towards Lawrenceville (I got the oldest dorm on campus and it wasn’t disgusting haha). According to current students, although classes and academics are really challenging, there is a great support system and the school really makes sure no one is left behind. Lawrenceville also has a variety of very interesting courses you might not see anywhere else like forensic sciences! I think the location is pretty great as it is only about 1 hour away from New York and 15 minutes away from Princeton University. Close to campus, there are a variety of small shops (bakery, pizza shop, Starbucks, ice cream store). I think that Lawrenceville students are outgoing and friendly and know how to balance academics and fun. While I was waiting for my interview in the admission office, a group of 30 students dropped by to steal candy from the admissions front desk!
On the other hand, Choate is known for their amazing signature programs. The art concentration, environmental immersion, and capstone program are all things you won’t find in other schools. When I visited, I loved the community and my tour guide was super friendly and nice. She seemed to know almost everyone on campus! One of my closest friends went to the Choate Summer Program and she loved it so much. The campus is beautiful the programs are amazing and the community is quite diverse. I think Choate is such a great school.
I know I sound super biased towards Lawrenceville, but that is because I spent around 3 weeks there and I know more about that school. Both are super amazing schools! Good luck deciding!
Oh my god, same… I’m also deciding between Lawrenceville and another place… my brother went to Lawrenceville too. If you liked Lawrenceville better/had a gut instinct that told you to go, you should probably go there. The dorms are fine, I don’t know what happened with the person who said they were disgusting.
First of all, Lawrenceville dorms and bathrooms are not disgusting (I’m a student)
I looked at Choate’s signature programs and Lawrenceville has very similar ones. The Sciene Research Program at Choate is basically the same as the Hutchins Scholars program at Lawrenceville, the Environmental Immersion at Choate is similar to Lawrenceville’s Leopold Scholars, and etc. Lawrenceville also has similar programs for writing and history. Lawrenceville has a capstone program and a term abroad program too. You can even do an independent study.
I would go with your gut feeling, but you really can’t go wrong with either school.