I’m an entering PG who is mostly an academic PG but also does a sport competitively and is interested in humanities. I’m wondering the following: What are the differences in culture generally betw. these schools? How hard is it to fit in as a PG as each school? Socially, are there cliques/how are groups formed (sports teams, dorms, etc.)? What are each schools’ strengths and weaknesses? I saw the post to not post this sort of discussion but reason why I am is because due to many senior conflicts like going to multiple college admit weekends I simply won’t have time to revisit boarding schools and I’m trying to gather as much info as possible. Also there are few previous posts on PG year and I want to learn specifically about the fit as a PG.
You wrote previously: “I’m wondering–how would Andover, Choate, Exeter, Hotchkiss look at a senior who is an academic PG looking at doing a PG to grow personally and getting boarding school experience before college? I do a variety of EC’s and have been admitted early to a HYPS school–does that matter?” They were clearly all happy to take your money .
Then you wrote: “@skieurope @sgopal2 Thanks for your responses. I not worried about performing academically, but I think that I would benefit from having boarding school experience socially. I also would benefit from developing my extracurricular experiences/skills before going to college. Thus, while I am prepared for college now, having that extra year would make me even more prepared, not just academically but all-around.”
I dont think I am the only one that doesnt understand why you would possibly waste your time doing a PG year. All I can imagine is that you didnt get the college you wanted for your sport and you are hoping for a more prestigious school for your sport. Back to your last question: most PGs are there for sports or occasionally to add to a somehow lackluster transcript or a missing credit etc. PGs generally do their sport and are applying for college --its not a year where you will in general truly become part of the fabric of the school. Its a very fast year for many reasons: you wont meet many kids in classes that are not 11, 12 and PG. They are all fantastic schools. Being a PG is essentially a GAP year for a reason. And “cliques” exist based on sports and interest everywhere.
@Center I’m just a kid who’s trying to figure life out. I’m sorry if you don’t agree with me but the rudeness of saying I’m “wasting my time” simply isn’t necessary. These schools have up to billion dollar endowments/many people donating to gain entry and don’t need my few bucks. Also several schools gave me generous FA, FYI and schools like Hotchkiss are small communities that take very limited PGs so they obviously felt like I could contribute. And “hoping for a more prestigious school for your sport” isn’t my case–please don’t jump to conclusions just because some people have wider viewpoints than you.
Well as @sgopal2 said "I’m not sure that a PG year will help you socially. Keep in mind that most of the kids in any given boarding school have been together for a long time (3-4 years). So their social circles are already established. Breaking into an established friend group will be difficult. But its possible: you’ll have to join clubs, sports, etc. Almost all of the leadership positions will have gone to students who have been there already for a few years.
If you’re going to do PG to make friends, I don’t think it will work out well. You’ll be much better off starting as a new freshman in college, where everybody is in the same boat."
At this point your purpose is just trying to undermine me. I thought this was a forum to find information and guidance, not be questioned and undermined on my decisions, which by the way is my own life. Note, the question is comparing those questions not whether I should take a PG year. And once again, you are jumping to conclusions as my primary objective isn’t making friends. Perhaps I simply want to try something new, continue to develop my passions, live away from home, and experience boarding school. How is one year of schooling at one of the best prep schools in the world going to be “a waste of time?”
If you are going to post questions on an open forum, tell everyone you got into HYP but are going to PG for social reasons then dont be surprised to get answers you dont entirely appreciate. You seem to want to hear something that there isnt an answer to. So pick the boarding school you like best and go grow socially. If you’ve already been admitted to HYP why do you need to bother with college admit weekends? One year of redundant schooling for no purpose other than social development seems like a waste of time to me. A year of schooling at one of the best prep schools in the world is no longer necessary for you. But thats just one person’s opinion.
I have no horse in this race nor any experience with PGs. My recommendation would be for you to contact the coaches and/or admissions offices and ask if they can put you in touch with current PGs or maybe seniors to get the sort of feedback you’re looking for.
@AppleNotFar thank you