Through out this boarding school application process I read many, many reviews of the 12 schools that we visited and interviewed. Many of the reviews were by students who attended high schools other than the one which was reviewed. Just wondering how one can review a school that they did not attend. If you review a restaurant it’s because you dined there and ate the food, had an experience. If you review a hotel, it is based on an experience you had while staying there. Any thoughts? I am particularly interested in the negative reviews.
Every school will have its proponents and its detractors and kids’ experiences will vary widely. I am not convinced that kids who are in the thick of it can even really appreciate the big picture – I know when I went I did not. Anecdotal opinions are just that. And internet reviews tend to serve as a megaphone for all opinions but those opinions may not represent a consensus. So my advice is to do your best to consider the source and take everything with a grain of salt.
@sarrip, such a good question. At the end of the day, it’s all anecdotal. The kid that goes there writes his story, the kid that has a friend there writes another, and the kid that got kicked out writes yet another (and that one is probably the most colorful!) And at some level, there’s probably a bit of truth in all of them.
I feel like there are schools near me that many friends’ kids have attended, where friends work, and where friends serve on the board that I know – not as well as the one DS attended – but pretty well. And in some cases, I may even know something about these schools that a parent there does not because my connection there doesn’t want whatever they’ve shared with me known in the school community. (For example, how a school handles a child who is having mental health issues…)
As with anything, I suppose that you to figure out if it sounds at all sane and then, if possible, where the truth is in it (if at all.) When someone who doesn’t like a school writes “cliques form fast”, what they’re probably saying is “I didn’t find my friends right away and it feels like everyone else did” and also, quite possibly “you can feel pretty lonely/bored here if you don’t have friends”. The first is about them but the second may also say something about the school and the activities they offer. As in, not enough “social engineering” to ensure that you meet a lot of people or that there are things you’d feel comfortable doing if your friends were not participating.
I doubt that DS or his friends would ever dream of writing a review of any school other than their own, but interestingly, they believe they have a sense of every school they’ve faced in an athletic contest based on the other kids on the field (apparently, they often chat during time-outs!) and the parents on the sidelines (who, I have heard, occasionally shout at the opposing players!) And I’m guessing that part of the boys’ assessment is right – at least the part based on the 20 boys who play that sport.
IF something really concerns you, you can use it as a basis for asking questions. And then, armed with your own brand of the truth, you can write your own review!
For a school, it’s just a single experience, or in very rare cases, one of two. Calling them “reviews” is kind of silly. It would be akin to asking someone to “review your childhood,” and then taking all the six-year to nine-year olds in a town and saying “it’s a great town” or “this town isn’t for everyone.” Reviews work for hotels, restaurants, or movies because there are lots of people with lots of different reference points. That doesn’t exist here.
But I agree with 100% with @gardenstategal–if there’s an issue that comes up regularly–real or perceived–make sure you are comfortable with it. For example, asking about headmaster turnover at Hotchkiss was a very legit question this past year. And of course, so was asking about supervision at SPS–or any other school–in the wake of those issues.
@Temperantia, Thank you! I agree. @gardenstategal, so true, everyone has an opinion, even if it’s something that they heard from someone that was told by their cousin’s best friend’s sister’s brother (LOL). Just out of curiosity I had nothing better to do at the time so I tracked a few of the reviews and noticed that some of the negative reviews or ratings came just after M10. I do believe that reviews/ratings can be useful but should not be weighted very heavily in the decision making process. @Mr.Wendal, I agree with you, it’s all subjective unless every review is negative.