<p>I know that there are a lot of threads on here from current boarding school students but just wanted to offer any additional help if anyone had questions. I know last year CC helped me so much with school selections, sports and just over all encouragement and I was extremely grateful from the feedback that students gave me last year. Feel free to ask me anything regarding the admissions process, the schools in general, sports, EC's, the arts, homework, social life, town life, the boarding experience, etc. I will try to be as helpful as I can be! I came into my school as a new sophomore so I can relate to people who are under going the same transition very well. </p>
<p>Thats amazing! What is it like being a new sophmore? Did you feel out of place at first? Also, can you really get involved with a bunch of new clubs, sports, and performing arts, or can you only join groups that you have experience with? Are you on FA?(you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, I just would like more info on it if you are.)</p>
<p>I am one of about 75 new sophomores so I did not feel like I was the only ‘new kid’. Personally, I enjoyed coming in during 4th form because the class as a whole already has begun to form its identity as one of the forms at Choate. I can’t remember a day that I felt out of place. The second day after you arrival you and your fellow new sophomores (and freshman plus new juniors) have play fair which is a day dedicated to all of the new students. You play games out on the quad, take a tour of the school and then that night there is a ceremony for all new students. When I left the chapel after the ceremony was complete, all the returning Choate students were our front cheering for us which was the most welcoming experience that I have ever had. This was my third time at a new school and never had I felt so accepted as quickly as I did at Choate. I met some of my closest friends on that day and can’t wait until next year where I’m actually one of the students who gets to welcome all of the new kids!
In regards to clubs, about 2 weeks into the year we have a big outdoors club fair at which all the clubs have a table. Its a great event to start off the year because everyone goes and there is music so it makes for a great atmosphere. you can sign up for ANY club that you would like to! Regardless if you have experience in that area or not, the club leaders are there to guide you and teach you. I joined clubs this year that I had never been a part of before at my old school and have met tons of other students that I would never have gotten to meet had I not joined the club. With sports, we have thirds teams for all sports (with the exception of a few like ice hockey witch is only V and JV). Thirds teams are really dedicated to teaching you a new sport but you still play a fair amount of games against other schools and is seen as any other sports team on campus is equally.
I am not on FA so I do not have much information about it. I know there is a great section on the Choate website about FA though with Q&A. </p>
<p>@yankeefan1234
I had mostly A’s before I came to Choate, but all schools have different grading systems and levels of difficulty so just because a student does not have all A’s dose not mean in anyway that they are not qualified. The average SSAT score is probably around an 87%-91% but again, there is a wide range among the accepted students. There is no way to classify someone who ‘qualifies for Choate’, it doesn’t work that way. There are hundreds of qualified students grade-wise that apply to all of the boarding schools, but it’s what sets you apart that will make you special and desired, not your grades. </p>
<p>@PreppyDude123
The atmosphere at Choate is very relaxed which provides for a stress-free environment. Now of course, its impossible to be 100% stress-free, but there is so much support on campus that its extremely hard to feel that you are not being encouraged. This is actually one of the things that I love about Choate. Your teachers, advisors and coaches will dedicate hours to you until you have reached your goal. They won’t show the answer but rather guide you on the correct path which provides for the ultimate learning environment. Also, there is no line between normally cast-between groups such as the theater kids and the athletes. Some of our top athletes are also in the school plays, a capella groups and model UN. At Choate its very hard to find a person that can only be described by one thing. Everyone here is extremely well rounded and has interests in many areas plus is willing to experiment in new areas.
This students are veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy nice. I remember after having left my tour last year thinking about how genuinely happy people around campus seemed but thought that it was just a facade that they were putting on for prospective students. Little to my surprise, I’ve been here almost 6 months now and people are just as nice as they were when i toured. Choate students are truly genuine in that sense.
Everyone tries really hard to do well and prosper in classes here because the atmosphere makes you want to. Being at Choate, personally, has inspired me to work harder than my best and push down academic barriers that I never thought I could over come. These things just happen from being here and i am extremely grateful for that.</p>
<p>@Yellow22, did you see your grades drop from being a straight A student at your old school when you came to Choate, given the academically rigorous curriculum/classes? How did you bring your grade back up (if it happened) to your best, and what grades do you get now?</p>
<p>@ PreppyDude123
No, if anything my grades actually improved. I think this has to do with the fact that I was coming from a place where virtually no one went to boarding school so I wanted to be able to go away and succeed. My grades this year are better than they were last year even though Choate is significantly harder than my old school. At my old school I took 5 classes, one of them which was an art class and this year I take 6 all-academic classes and am handling it just fine. Again, I can’t stress enough how much this school makes you want to try your best and because of this factor, you will see your grades go up. When you are surrounded by very intellectual students you realize what perspective you personally bring to the class room and then enhance it to the best of your ability to strive academically. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from Choate is that you have to be comfortable with your strengths but even more willing to resolve your weaknesses.</p>
<p>Does the school have an overall “artsy” feel? I know it’s an area of strength, just wondering how much it influences those not doing an arts concentration. Full disclosure, my child is quite interested in fine arts but is also very strong academically. I’m mostly interested in getting a cultural feel for the school beyond what was possible on a short visit.</p>
<p>Ah!! I just wrote a full in-depth response to your question kraordrawoh for 30 minutes and my internet crashed! In short- no, I do not feel that the school has an artsy feel. Its a very liberal and free-willing feel. If you want to be involved in the arts then the school can be molded around that interest and you can live in the Choate-art-world. You can do this with any interest you have and really take advantage of it. Everyone truly supports everyone. For people who are interested in a particular area, you can make the school work for you. In the admissions process its all about what you’d bring to Choate, but once you arrive here its learning to utilize what Choate has to offer productively to enhance you as a student and overall person.</p>
<p>As a follow up, for those interested in the arts you cannot go wrong with Choate. Every art from is represented here and for the students that devote their Choate careers to the arts come away with some of the best experience and lessons that any high school in America could offer. The entire student body goes to all performances (often sold out) and really does a fantastic job of encouraging the artists. Whether you just scored the winning soccer goal against Deerfield, got cast as the lead role in the spring musical or won honorable recognition at Model UN, you receive the same celebration and appreciation from your peers.</p>
<p>@yellow: Thanks for the thoughtful response. Getting a real feel for the student body and school culture helps a lot in the decision process should D1 be so fortunate!</p>
<p>is the atmosphere very competitive in terms of who can gain the teacher’s attention with clever remarks, or is it friendly competion in which everyone helps ensure that the whole class does well? Somewhere in between?</p>
<p>@muf123
emails are sent out at the beginning of the year about the times and locations of tryouts for all fall sports. If you wanted to be on thirds, you would simply go to try outs and try your best and the coaches will place you according to your ability. As for winter and spring, try out times are posted online.</p>
<p>@futureboarder
To answer your question–the atmosphere in the class room is productively competitive. This may seem like an odd response but what I really mean is that everyone strives to their greatest potential in the classroom which in turn makes their fellow students try just as hard. I find that my classmates are always encouraging me to give 102% because we all know that we will take the most away from class having had everyone participate and serve as a positive example for the class. So yes, it is completely friendly competition because at the end of the day, you don’t want your classmates to be falling behind so therefore we keep each other constantly encouraged. Teachers are usually pretty equal among all their students but like any high school, each individual class (I mean one specific class of a subject such as Mr.XYZ’s A block pre-calc class) has its own personality.</p>
<p>I am thinking of applying to Choate. I live in Australia where the school system is slightly different. What is the average age for sophmore year?
I am in year 9 now and am 13 turning 14. I don’t know whether I should repeat year 9 at Choate so I can have the full ‘freshman experience’ or whether it will just be a waste of time?</p>
<p>Are there a lot of cliques? Is it a sporty school? Do you have to do a sport? I’ve never played lacrosse but i would love to try…are there activities for beginners?
Is it hard to get in? What are the interviews like? is everyone there super-smart?</p>