<p>@GMTplus7 - hope springs eternal :)</p>
<p>bump! any questions?!</p>
<p>I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about the social scene. Thanks!</p>
<p>Everyone is really friendly.</p>
<p>When you first come to Choate, you will probably be very nervous about making new friends. Everyone is nervous though, so don’t worry.</p>
<p>There is a popular group, awkward group, etc., but everyone gets along with one another. It wouldn’t be a high school if everyone was the same.</p>
<p>Hello GoldBlue,</p>
<p>I was recently accepted into Choate, Hotchkiss and Deerfield. It is going to be an incredibly difficult decision, so I was hoping to learn a little more about each school! I found this thread (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1302763-ask-deerfield-graduate.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1302763-ask-deerfield-graduate.html</a>) by DAgraduate to be extremely helpful (especially in term of the answers’ frankness and courage to not shy away from “hard” questions) and was hoping you could answer some of mine as well.</p>
<h1>1: I guess I’m curious about the whole “partying/drugs/alcohol” issue as well in regards to Choate. How much of that goes down?</h1>
<h1>2: (Again, hi-jacking this from the Deerfield thread, but I do want to know about the situation in Choate as well) “What about the kids that don’t [have money] . . . do they tend to be excluded from much of this off-campus social scene?”</h1>
<h1>3: How hard is it to excel at Choate? Do people motivate each other or is there a cut-throat mentality?</h1>
<h1>4: What sort of activities are YOU involved in and what are you passionate about? How has Choate helped you in this regard? Sorry if this sounds personal, but I’m curious. I find the answer to this sort of questions tells me a lot about the school.</h1>
<h1>5: Not sure if this has been asked already yet, but what is your favorite thing about Choate?</h1>
<p>Thanks!
Tali</p>
<p>#1: I guess I’m curious about the whole “partying/drugs/alcohol” issue as well in regards to Choate. How much of that goes down?</p>
<p>To be honest, I am sort of oblivious to this. There are some kids who do drugs like weed or chew tabacco but VERY FEW. There are no wild parties. Some kids bring alcohol from home, but if they are caught, their rooms are searched from time to time.</p>
<p>#2: (Again, hi-jacking this from the Deerfield thread, but I do want to know about the situation in Choate as well) “What about the kids that don’t [have money] . . . do they tend to be excluded from much of this off-campus social scene?”</p>
<p>NO. I am someone who doesn’t have much money. I come from a middle class family and have a great sum of financial aid and I fit in well. Most won’t judge you based on your financial situation. Students who are friendly and social thrive. Kids who flaunt their money aren’t necessarily liked by many if they are rude.</p>
<p>#3: How hard is it to excel at Choate? Do people motivate each other or is there a cut-throat mentality?</p>
<p>Everyone is really supportive. My friends always encourage me to study and bring my grades up. People don’t want you to fail at Choate. There is no cut-throat mentality in my opinion.</p>
<p>#4: What sort of activities are YOU involved in and what are you passionate about? How has Choate helped you in this regard? Sorry if this sounds personal, but I’m curious. I find the answer to this sort of questions tells me a lot about the school.</p>
<p>I am involved in orchestra as well as the newspaper. I am very interested in photography as well. I take pictures for The News. I also love doing community service. Choate provides many activities because the student body is so diverse. I have improved my photography skills and writing skills because of Choate.</p>
<p>#5: Not sure if this has been asked already yet, but what is your favorite thing about Choate?</p>
<p>My favorite thing about Choate would either be the teachers or the students. My teachers are my best friends. It sounds really cheesy, but I have really good relationships with them. All of them are so down to earth and encourage me to do my best. I couldn’t imagine where I would be without the friends I’ve made at Choate. I am so happy that I decided to go to Choate because if I didn’t, I would have never met them.</p>
<p>What’s different about Choate than other top prep schools?</p>
<p>Oh, and how much HW is usually assigned?</p>
<p>How are the dorms? Specifically size and location</p>
<p>Specifically, how does Choate deal with homesickness?</p>
<p>Is there freshman/new student orientation? Like activities for new students to get to know each other?</p>
<p>Is it more common to take notes with laptops or paper and pencil?</p>
<p>What’s different about Choate than other top prep schools?</p>
<p>To be honest, I can’t really compare because I haven’t experienced other prep schools. Choate is about 850 kids where as Andover and Exeter are 1200+ and Taft is about 600+. Choate has a dress code stricter than Andover’s but more relaxed than Hothckiss’s. I cannot give insight on classes unfortunately. </p>
<p>Oh, and how much HW is usually assigned?</p>
<p>I usually get 3-4 hours. It depends on your teacher and level though. Sometimes I get more and sometimes I get less.</p>
<p>How are the dorms? Specifically size and location</p>
<p>All freshman boys live in the same dorm and freshman girls are split into two dorms. Can either be really large, normal sized, or small. My room is small but it is comfortable and I don’t complain. Sophomore through senior year kids are all over the place. Freshman are closer together for bonding reasons. Most locations are great, but as a new student, you are not able to choose your location. Everywhere is manageable though. </p>
<p>Specifically, how does Choate deal with homesickness?</p>
<p>Everyone has an advisor. Your advisor is someone you should be able to go to whenever you need help or are feeling uneasy. They will comfort you!</p>
<p>Is there freshman/new student orientation? Like activities for new students to get to know each other?</p>
<p>Yes! There is something called PlayFair at the beginning of the school year where all new students get to know each other. You find out what you guys have in common! There are also some events just for your grade.</p>
<p>Is it more common to take notes with laptops or paper and pencil?</p>
<p>Paper and pencil</p>
<p>Thanks GoldBlue!</p>
<p>Do you have any advice in terms of “survival checklist”? For instance, what are a few things you WISH somebody had told you before you got there? My sister told me she really wish she remembered to bring rain-boots to her college in the Midwest. Any advice like that for Choate?</p>
<p>Also…I just found this. I’m a little alarmed: </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/41245-practical-advice-those-who-got-into-choate.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/41245-practical-advice-those-who-got-into-choate.html</a></p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>-Tali</p>
<p>I can’t think of anything for a survival checklist, but if I do, I’ll definitely post it.</p>
<p>I just read the thread you just posted and I disagree with most of what is being said. I’ll talk about what I agree with from that thread and what I think is wrong. </p>
<p>Agree:
- Language department isn’t as strong as I would hope. It is stronger than my old school, but it not as vigorous as the other departments at Choate. Maybe Chinese is more vigorous than Spanish.
- Alcohol and drug use is minimal. I have never seen someone drinking or using drugs at Choate.
- Choate is very strict about academic integrity. Be honest and do not plagiarize.
- Take notes because you’ll be lost without them.
- Some races stick together</p>
<p>My opinions:
- CHOATE IS NOT A CUTTHROAT ENVIRONMENT IN MY OPINION!! Everyone here is so friendly towards me and everyone is encouraging. I guess times have changed since 2005.
- Choate’s student body is amazing. I have made so many friends at Choate in my first year here. I honestly don’t know what I would do without the people I have met.
- Kids from China will usually hang out with each other and other ethnicities will do the same. My friend group is all over the place though so everyone is different.
- Our football team is very strong. We made it to the finals this year.
- You most likely will get along with your roommate. Choate’s housing survey is very detailed and specific. It was about 25 questions if I can remember correctly. One of my friends that goes to Phillips Andover told me that she only had 4 questions for her survey.
- Nobody ever goes to the library unless it is exam week.</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me if you have a specific concern after reading that post you showed me. I disagree with most of it.</p>
<p>bumpppppppppppp</p>
<p>Bumppppp!!!</p>
<p>Can someone please tell me the difference between the 2 girl dorms at Choate?
What classes will I be taking as a 3rd form student in general?
How far is the laudry room from the 3rd form girl dorms?
Are some of the teacher uninspired? How do you deal with the bad teachers? Thank you.</p>
<p>Can someone please tell me the difference between the 2 girl dorms at Choate?
Nichols houses more girls than Pitman houses.</p>
<p>What classes will I be taking as a 3rd form student in general?
Physics, Geometry/Algebra 2, English, Language, World Religions/Art Course/Contemporary Issues </p>
<p>How far is the laundry room from the 3rd form girl dorms?
VERY close. I’m actually jealous of the people who live in those dorms.</p>
<p>**Are some of the teacher uninspired? How do you deal with the bad teachers? **
All of the teachers love their job here and are very passionate about what they teach. None of the teachers are bad. Honestly, none of them are bad. Some may have different teaching styles than you are used to, but you just need to adjust to it.</p>