I have been accepted to Kent, Northfield Mount Hermon, and Williston Northampton. I have now visited them, and still can’t decide. Here is some info on me: I want to study business. I really like WashU in STL, UVa, UNC, Cornell, Notre Dame, UPenn, UTexas Austin, IUB. I got a 34 ACT (first try, can probably raise to a 35, maybe 36). I’m an INTP. I hate super competitive environments.
I have a lot of questions–feel free to only answer a few:
Which schools are the most competitive (like staying up till 2AM studying for APs)?
What are the differences in the sorts of kids who go to these schools?
Do the teachers at these schools interact differently with their students?
At which schools is there most caring for students by teachers / most help and nurturing from teachers?
Is it better to have a 4 at Williston than a 3.5 at Kent (just an example)?
Which school would be best in terms of university applications? Please keep in mind that my grades would be better at Williston (I might be able to be valedictorian) than at NMH.
Is NMH that liberal (i.e. just studying tree frogs, rainforests, women’s rights, and African dictators, not political, just in terms of education)?
Do you know anything else that might be helpful about any of these schools?
Finally, which school would you recommend?
I don’t have a kid at any of these schools, but none of them are cut-throat competitive. I know several kids who go to Williston, particularly going into junior year. It is has a broad range of kids, but there is always a group of kids in each class who are smart, excellent students who work hard. They tend to take classes together all the way through, including many AP classes-- but they are a friendly, supportive group, not cut- throat. Classes are focused on participation. Overall, the best students are often day students, just because of the way admissioms seems to work, but I think day students and boarders mix in friend groups. Teachers are VERY nurturing and supportive of all the students, whatever their performance level. I think the place is very warm and friendly. If you have specific questions, ask away. I can’t compare it to the other 2 schools, because I don’t know them as well.
I know Williston very well and NMH sort of. Williston is a great school. They do have a lot of AP’s and honors courses. Absolutely love all of the teachers. They are always offering extra help, and are the best people I know. Highly recommended Williston. NMH has a different schedule where you get half your classes completed the first semester and the other classes the second semester. Williston has a normal schedule which is especially useful for language classes. Many leadership opportunities at Williston.
NMH STUDENT HERE! You’ll go as far as you want, my best friend graduated last year, and he got into most of the schools you mentioned above, we also just got a 1M donation to start a business focused course + we have plans (already announced and made official) of a new STEM building coming up! We were also ranked among the Top 30 boarding schools by 3 different sites (don’t know about WNH or Kent) NMH can be as competitive as you want to make it, you can chose to take all AP or none, so its up to you how much you want to challenge yourself here.
I would say theres not “type” of NMH kid, we’re actually really diverse, you’ll find a bit of everything around campus. but I’ll just say as an over all "nice kids.
I would say well, regarding teachers; since they’re all boarding schools, one way or another you’ll have interaction with them outside of the classroom. I was surprised by how much they cared about me doing well (I struggled a bit through the end of the semester) 2 of them extended my deadlines by 2 days so I could work hard on my assignments and deliver the best work possible instead of something half done.
Yes we’re a liberal school, but not like that -i.e. just studying tree frogs, rainforests, women’s rights, and African dictators, not political, just in terms of education)?- go into our website to know more about the coursed offered.
And since I’m obviously biased I’ll say come to NMH
Oh yeah, if you have any specific questions send me a message I actually work at the admissions office (workjob) so If theres anything else I can help you with, I’d be glad to!
