<p>Does anyone have any first hand current information about this school? any current students?</p>
<p>I have a friend from camp who goes to Holderness and she absolutely LOVES it there</p>
<p>thanks. I have heard really great things about it.</p>
<p>Not a student, but my son interviewed there and was accepted. He opted for Exeter, but we were very impressed by the headmaster (who took the time to chat with my son!), the admissions office, and the faculty we met. We liked the annual special programs for each class–seemed like a great way to community build and to expose the kids to service, arts, and outdoors. In general, we liked the mix of sports and academics–and the wide range of sports offered, from skiing to rock climbing. </p>
<p>Perhaps irrelevant, but this is the only school where the student tour guide responded to my son’s thank you email. Overall, I think it’s a school that get overlooked too often on CC, especially for those looking for an alternative to HADES or for a smaller school, or for a kid who loves the outdoors. If we end up sending our next kid to bs, Holderness will be one of the first places we call for an interview. </p>
<p>And my son’s AO at a GLADCHEMNS bs went to Holderness and had lots of good things to say about it!</p>
<p>thanks so much for your reply. we will definitely keep it on the list for now.</p>
<p>Classicalmama-Wow. I can tell that it’s a great school, even though I’ve never heard of it. The one school I applied to was Exeter and I sent an E-mail to my tour guide, thanking him, but he didn’t reply, like your son. Nevertheless, I hope to be accepted. Does your son like it there? :)</p>
<p>Exeterrr–yes he does, though I think the whole experience is different than he imagined it would be.</p>
<p>classicalmama-Different in what manner (Good/Bad)?</p>
<p>Not sure it’s a good/bad thing…just different. Teachers with very high expectations and really respecting those teachers, so wanting to live up to their expectations. Lots of homework, but no meaningless busy work, which means homework that always requires your best effort. Lots of diversity–in the classroom and in friends. Nice kids in dorm. Dorm building not so geat. Warm relationships with dorm faculty. Missing family. More competitive sports. Not much down time. Inspiring assemblies/special speakers. “Lame” dances–but dances nearly every week-end. Open minded critical thinkers everywhere. Genius popping up in surprising places. All of that’s a mix of good and bad, depending on how you look at it I suppose.</p>
<p>But off topic from Holderness…feel free to PM me if you have specific questions I could forward to my kid!</p>
<p>Thanks so much-That would be Great!</p>
<p>Fishin - </p>
<p>We have a very good friend who sent both of his children (one daughter, one son) to Holderness and they thrived. Both went on to very good colleges, made life long friends and are in successful careers. </p>
<p>Our son is in a JBS nearby and he interacts with Holderness (and all of Lakes Region) kids a lot through sports. They are always good sportsmen, are extremely polite, seem very happy and always look neat. That may sound funny - but I go to a lot of the cross country meets where all of the Lakes Region schools participate. Holderness buses are nice, their uniforms are nice, they just look very together. He plays them also in tennis and interacts with them quite a bit in snowboarding. He says the girls are really nice looking.</p>
<p>Holderness is very very popular with kids who have a passion for skiing or snowboarding. I belive they are also strong in hockey - but since that isn’t my forte - double check me.</p>
<p>The campus is really gorgeous and it is a short walk to Plymouth - which is a pretty hip town for being up in the North Country. Nice restaurants and little shops. </p>
<p>My son knows a lot of kids from his school that go there and are very happy. When he interviewed one of the things that stuck out to him was that the AO said that they want the students to have a balaced life. They never want kids cramming for a test or doing homework while on a two hour bus ride to an athletic event. </p>
<p>Also the new dining hall is really attractive and so are all of the campus buildings.</p>
<p>I’d just add to what mamakiwi said about a balanced life that the reverse was true as well–that is, they made it clear that students who were more interested in sports than academics would be better served by a sports academy–academics matter at Holderness.</p>
<p>Mamakiwi- thanks for that great information. I like everything that you wrote! Nice and balance matter to me. I know some alums in their 40’s and all great people. Thanks so much for your information!</p>