<p>Based on a thread last year by SevenDad, I thought a posting on school revisit observations would provide some valuable information and insights. Last year there was some good discussion in general and for specific schools. Some guiding questions to aid inputs (thanks SevenDad):
-Basic format/schedule of the revisit day.
-Did the revisit confirm interest in a school or dissuade you from matriculating?
-If you visited more than one school, did you note any big contrasts or differences that were important to you?
-Did you learn anything new or surprising?
-Was there something you had wished you had learned but did not?
-How was the food?
-How were any classes that you attended?
-Any overall impressions of the students and campus in general?</p>
<p>Just figured this could be a good clearninghouse of of impressions and revisit information based on experiences this year.</p>
<p>Prepmom1, I was just logging on to write this exact same thing! </p>
<p>Episcopal High School, which we visited last weekend:
Basic format of the revisit day: students and parents met at about 10:00 am in one reception area where coffee water and other snacks were set up. There was a table on the far wall of the room, so you had to walk through everyone (which was actually good because it drew everyone all the way in) to pick up folders (one for the kid, one for the parents). These had itineraries, nametags, and a photo directory of all the returning students with their hometowns. The kids all left in a giant group and the parents stayed before moving on to various panels (history, foreign language, english). The kids went to several classes and hung out with their hosts. My daughter went to the student center and heard about where the kids can hook up (tennis courts) among other things. She had a lot of fun with this crew. Chapel was next and parents sat in the front rows while the kids were all around. It was about fifteen minutes and started out with a Glee-worthy rendition of the Doobie Brothers’ “Listen to the music.” It was just…Wow. I’m not what anyone would call religious, but I could go to chapel every day if that was happening to start it out. The episcopal leader then gave a very cool and inspiring talk on not being afraid to say yes and how this outlook has so many benefits. Then the kids went to lunch and the parents stayed in the chapel with the headmaster for some Q & A. Finally the parents were able to go in to lunch, which was plated and very nice. The food was okay. The earlier kids lunch was apparently served family style and was some sort of chicken pasta. There were no assigned seats, so people seemed kind of confused about where they should sit and number of seats available and all that. A very famous and absolutely recognizable, charismatic politician was there as his daughter will be starting in the fall. That was totally unexpected. They served sweet tea and water to drink. After lunch the group was separated into parents of 9th girls, 10&11 girls, 9th boys and 10/11 boys with separate tour guides and a student host. The kids went back to class I think. We saw dorm rooms and common areas, bathrooms and laundry facilities. We saw a faculty apartment too. Then we sat down for dorm Q&A, where we heard how no students really have relationships there. My daughter, when I told her this later, found it hysterical for some reason–probably because she already knew about the tennis courts. There was a student panel at the end with a variety of students from different places and there was a lot of Q&A. Parents finally had reconnected and were sitting with their kids. After that there were informal meet and greets with the teams and other interests. There were cookies and lemonade (this was outside) and everyone was really friendly and nice. We talked about preseason etc.
I felt that the revisit confirmed our positive impression on the school but my daughter said the wow factor wasn’t hitting her as much this visit. She liked it, but it was somehow different. Obviously it was less personal because there were other people there and she wanted a big fuss or a parade or something for her, because she said she was expecting “more.”
School differences: Of our revisits, this school has the Washington benefit–classes in DC and two day weekends, plus all the free tickets to events. To have DC so close and the fact that it is a regular weekly visit–is a great thing.
New and surprising: Girls can wear any color jeans except blue. Boys have coat and tie. My daughter is dress code and dress how you want to be perceived ALL the way, so this was not a good thing.It seemed a horrible double standard when the boys are all in coat and tie (and they can’t wear coat, tie and shorts like many schools when it is hot).
I think we covered everything during the visit.
The food was nicely presented and was fine. Everyone liked the dessert which was a flower shaped cake.
Class overview was a hmm moment because many of the texts for English we have already covered–and a few were several years back. However, the foreign language textbook was outstanding.
Overall impressions of the students: Good looking, fun, nice kids. Fantastic-truly like a nice country club- locker rooms and fitness center with personal trainers. Southern vibe. The campus is amazing, clean and new overall. The teachers are there because they love it. They have recruited some really, really good coaches including Taft’s football coach.<br>
You could definitely do worse than Episcopal. Oh they also handed out gray t shirts with Episcopal on them and a coupon to the bookstore, in case you needed more stuff than one shirt to wear back at home.
Up to the revisit, it was the frontrunner. Now, she likes another school at least as much. , and I expect she will go to one of her other options.</p>
<p>Sorry that was really long. And I will say the reason the other school is likely to be “the one” is because they are showing her a lot of love–more than anyone else.</p>
<p>To be fair, one choice of ours is a local private day school–a description of that revisit probably wouldnt help anyone not in my area, and the other boarding school we have visited several times, but the official revisit is this weekend. I can describe that all on Monday. And I will have her decision then.</p>
<p>I do know some kids who loved schools on their initial tours, but are now are having regrets because the classes at revisits have been so different from their expectations.</p>
<p>Schools work really hard to impress you guys. It’s not just a one-time thing…people are thinking of what they’re going to do all year. Everything has to be coordinated and be able to accommodate several people. The fact is: there are 100+ new students with 200+ parents/children on our campus. It’s hard to accommodate everyone. Not everything is going to run as smoothly as it can, unsurprisingly.</p>
<p>Lawrenceville’s revisit day was outstanding and memorable. The night before, they had a presentation on extracurriculars and you heard from the students various speeches and performances. The kids got a little chance to bond without the parents.</p>
<p>On the morning of the actual revisit, the faculty did an outstanding job of exposing you to their philosphies and how that gets put into practice. Faculty, housemasters, advisors, college counselors, drama, athletics, …</p>
<p>Food was very good - not over the top, but healthy and tasty. Good enough for my kid.</p>
<p>A number of current parents volunteered to eat lunch with prospective parents, something I have seen before at L’ville. I take that as a good sign that the parents are pleased with the school and bought into its mission.</p>
<p>The classes we sat in were outstanding. The kids do most of the talking (one was Calculus and one was Ethics), they are supportive of each other, and everyone gets brought into the discussion. Very impressive.</p>
<p>Probably most important of all, the faculty, fellow students, and also fellow parents were genuine and caring people who also happen to be bright and motivated. They’ve done a great job capturing my DD’s heart and mind.</p>
<p>I expect they must end in the next day or so, since admitted students have to let the schools know their decisions by next Tuesday, April 10. (I guess it is possible that a school could have revisits planned for next Monday, April 9.)</p>
<p>I actually loved my Andover revisit day
-First we listened to the opening remarks, then met our tour guides, I love mine she was a great host, and went to four classes and lunch, there was a short panel and then we went home
-I already accepted my admission there, I just went because I couldn’t wait to start in the fall!
-I didn’t really learn a lot of surprising things, but everyone there knew each other and were all very nice
-The food was fantastic, the frozen yogurt was a plus
-The classes were great, great teachers, great flow, and I didn’t see anyone resting their heads on desks, passing notes, or whispering at all. And another thing, I don’t think its the teachers responsibility to have everyone hanging on their every word. It is the kids responsibility to listen! Not that teachers should be boring, and these teachers weren’t. But kids can’t blame teachers, or the learning style harkness/normal for not paying attention
-Like I said, everyone was nice, everyone said hello, I met lots of people, really fun!</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Basic format/schedule of your revisit day
Check-in, Reception w. light breakfast, musical performance, short speeches, us kids went back to student center, met buddies, followed around, had lunch, another class, more speeches, singing and dance performances, final speech</p></li>
<li><p>Did the revisit confirm your interest in the school or did it dissuade you from matriculating?
Confirmed</p></li>
<li><p>What specific things about the revisit pushed you in either direction?
My revisit buddy was really nice, friendly, and knew everyone. The classes seemed very interesting and very open to discussion about different topics. The students also joked around, but it wasn’t disruptive. Also, it was interesting how when she had a free period, the first place my buddy would go after her dorm room, was to her advisor’s office. We hung out there, ate chocolate, talked, and just chilled with her advisor (who happened to be a coach I had already met with multiple times). They seemed really close and this relationship was comforting to me for next year.</p></li>
<li><p>Did you learn anything new/surprising about the school?
Not really, except for the fact that the HD (Human Development) classroom has excerise-ball-chairs, and that the Spanish teacher found it fitting to also give me the quiz the class was taking that day.</p></li>
<li><p>How was the food?
AMAZING. There was a huge variety of food: roasted vegetables, panini’s, wraps, salad bar, cereal bar, fresh fruit, cookies, brownies, and much, much more.</p></li>
</ul>
