My daughter, a sophomore, is interested in applying for a semester at HMI. A couple of faculty at her boarding school suggested she would love it. Anybody with first hand knowledge of the program?
I would be very interested in this information as well, since my DD has voiced a similar interest.
DD has a friend at HMI now who absolutely loves it! DD is at BS this year but the private day school she attended sends a couple of students each year. A kid from her BS is there this semester also. I just asked DD and she hasn’t had any contact for awhile as they have just returned from their second expedition. This is what I know from conversations with students and their parents who have attended:[list]
[]HMI is in Leadville, CO - formerly named Rocky Mountain Semester
[]They have summer & gap year (new) programs, but the semester program is primarily Juniors with an occassional Senior and is available Fall & Spring semesters - about 48 kids per semester.
[]Tuition is approximately 27k and they offer financial aid but I don’t have details as the students I know are FP.
[]I saw the class list for this semester and lots of BS students attend - I was surprised by this, I think because BS kids are already “away” (our day school allows tuition to be prorated so I assume BS do the same?)
[]Students live in cabins with solar lighting that are heated by wood stoves. The have chores, help cook meals & chop wood.
[]Academics are rigorous and compatible w/day & BS; HMI offers Honors and AP courses & works with students to make sure graduation requirements are met; independent study is available in specialized courses (DD’s friend is doing independent study with day school teacher in Chinese because that language is not offered, but other courses match up with current curriculum). Courses are taught in the classroom and study continues while they are on expedition. They also have a morning exercise program (AMX), 90 minute blocks of time in the afternoon for sports or community service, 2 hours per night of study time & a college counseling office. The school administers the PSAT in October and AP tests in May. I’m not sure about the SAT & ACT test dates. I believe HMI faculty and/or counselors frequently write recommendations for college apps.
[]Students have limited cell phone usage and are unplugged most of the time; DD usually emails, snapchats or skypes with her friend during the day when she has access to wifi on her laptop. They go on three “off the grid” backpacking expeditions for approximately 10 days at a time with students being given increased responsibilities and leadership opportunities on each expedition. They go rock climbing and canyoneering & one of the three expeditions in Spring semester includes a ski week.
[]The focus is on risk taking and experiential learning. They learn a lot of wilderness skills including packing & maintaining your gear, navigating with an actual map (no GPS!), cooking meals on the trail & building quigloos.
[]Learning to live and interact within a small community is an important component of the HMI experience. Everyone has to be a participant. HMI instills in students the concept of EB “expedition behavior” - where your actions should promote the success and strength of the whole community.
[]The kids I know who went are adventurous and outdoorsy & they all thoroughly enjoyed their experience at HMI. One is currently at a Colorado college so be forewarned they may not want to leave 
Thanks so much for information! It sounds like a program my DD would love.
I know a Hotchkiss grad who did the program in his junior year. He wasn’t really prepared for the wilderness “immersion” (though he thought he was). By the time it ended, though, he really didn’t want to come back…
My dd applied to both HMI and Chewonki last year and I was so impressed with HMI and the whole idea of a semester school junior year. She is going to Chewonki 2nd semester - I would look at that as well since I’m not sure of the acceptance rates (she was wait listed at HMI and accepted into Chewonki).
Thanks for the info everyone. We are very familiar with Chewonki. What a great program! We are from Maine so I think a new terrain would be more appealing. Lots to think about.