<p>Hi. I am going to be an 8th grader this Fall and am going to be applying for boarding school this year. My top pick is Choate (because I have family who lives in Wallingford, CT. If you are reading this and are a Choate Alumni or a Choate Parent, could you please answer some of my questions about it?</p>
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<li><p>What (REALLY) is the Arts Concentration program? On the website it said that it is for people who are interested in the arts. But I was unsure as to whether or not it was like one of those programs that students take if they want to be an arts major. I am interested in the arts (I've done theater for 6 years), but I don't want it to be my major. I want my schedule to have mostly academic classes. Is the Arts Concentration Program for me?</p></li>
<li><p>What is the schedule like? The schedule in the brochure sent to my house is a bit confusing. In the brochure, it says that lunch and dinner are both about two hours long. I was wondering, does that mean that actually have to be in the room for two whole hours (unable to do homework and such)? Or does it mean that you can leave and enter the lunch room anytime you want. For example, as soon as lunch started, you eat in 20 minutes, then you go to your dorm to study.</p></li>
<li><p>Can you leave campus at all? If so, can it only be on weekends? To leave, do you have to be in a certain grade or age? Since I have family living walking distance from Choate, I thought it might be cool if I could leave campus. </p></li>
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<p>Sorry for all the questions; normally, I would just ask an admissions officer while visiting Choate, but I can't since I won't be able to visit Choate at all.</p>
<p>Thanks,
Mark</p>
<p>Hi Mark- CRH parent here. I’ll quickly try to answer your questions. Someone correct me if I’m wrong but…the Arts Concentration program meets in the afternoons instead of athletics. The theater program is truly outstanding. Not sure about long lunches- my kids always complain that they’re not long enough! There are sit down lunches twice a week. You can always walk into the town of Wallingford when you are free- it is considered “in bounds.” You can go home any weekend except for the very first one, but you have to decide to sign out by Thursday. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>Yes that helps. Thank you very much Baystateresident. Hmm, I’m still unsure though about the arts concentration program. It won’t be interrupting classes, but it is at the same time as sports. And I also do sports! Do you know if the arts concentration meets every day? Or just every other day? If it is every other day, I might be able to fit sports in. Either way, thanks for the help.</p>
<p>-Mark</p>
<p>MarkAlex1: You might find this helpful. It’s from page 9 of the Choate Course catalog: </p>
<p>The Arts Concentration program is intended for students who
possess talent, passion and discipline and who can demonstrate a
sustained commitment to their own artistic development. Students
who are accepted into the program are expected to explore their
discipline in breadth and depth by completing a series of prescribed
courses and by devoting a significant portion of each week to
practice, rehearsal or studio work. (Students may choose to
participate in athletics or other afternoon activities one term out of
three each year.) By providing students with time in the afternoons,
the Arts Concentration program allows students to develop as
artists while completing the requirements of a Choate Rosemary
Hall diploma. Each student is evaluated at the end of each year
and asked to present evidence of his or her artistic progress.
Though not every Arts Concentration student will go on to study at
specialized conservatory or university programs, Arts Concentration
students acquire the tools, techniques and confidence necessary for
continued study and artistic growth.</p>
<p>In case you’re interested, there are additional details that discuss what courses are required: <a href=“http://www.choate.edu/academics/pdf/coursecat.pdf[/url]”>http://www.choate.edu/academics/pdf/coursecat.pdf</a>. </p>
<p>Given what you’ve stated as your level in interest in the Arts, the program may not be for you. The good news is that the Arts Department has a great many offerings you could take and participate in, while still allowing you to pursue a broader academic program. You don’t have to be in the Arts Concentration Program to take full advantage of all the different the opportunities available.</p>
<p>Hi–</p>
<p>I was a part of the arts concentration program at Choate. It’s not intended for those who are going to major in the arts. It’s for those who are interested enough in the arts to give up two terms of sports. When you are doing the program, you do at least 2 terms of arts concentration a year. As for the other term, you can elect to do a sport or remain in the arts concentration program. During these 2 terms, if you are in the theater concentration program, you participate in a show (one of the many going on that term), or do tech for a show. There are also some theater course requirements to graduate in the program.</p>
<p>Lunch (unless it’s Tuesday or Friday when it’s sit-down lunch) is optional. You can go grab something and leave, or go and eat with your friends for the whole period. Most people have one free block for lunch (50 mins) but some have two free blocks (2 hours). We do not have sit-down dinners so dinner is always optional and you can spend as much time as you want at dinner or as little time as you want. It is from 5:15 to 7:15.</p>
<p>And like baystateresident said, the town of wallingford is considered to be a part of the choate campus. So you can go into town whenever you’re free (even during the class day IF you don’t have class).</p>
<p>Hope this helps =]</p>