Loomis Chaffee questions

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>hey, i was wondering if an LC student or parent could help answer my questions -</p>

<p>1) what is a typical day like?
2) are meals good?
3) what is boarding like? do the majority of students enjoy it? do they board because they have to or because they truly want to take advantage of the opportunities it offers?
4) homework load each night?
5) how are weekends spent?
6) dating scene?
7) party scene? honestly are there lots of drugs/alcohol/sex?
8) good teachers?
9) music program?
10) do parents who live close by ever visit or take their kid home from the weekend?</p>

<p>thank you!</p>

2

<p>bump sorry I really need info!</p>

3

<p>I can answer some questions as a parent of a sophomore</p>

<p>1) Day starts with a possible chore and mandatory breakfast check-in. Classes (and a study hall) until about 3 with a lunch period. On Wed. sports competitions after lunch. Saturday AM classes. Most kids do some sport or community service until 5, then dinner. 7-8 is free time or clubs, mandatory study hall 8-10. Lights out 10:30. Very busy schedule.</p>

<p>2) No food complaints, there are also full kitchens in the dorms and small refrigerators OK in all rooms. My daughter bakes a lot (brownies, cookies, etc.)</p>

<p>3) The boarding students are a close knit community, most board because their families live too far away to commute. </p>

<p>4) The typical BS homework - 45 minutes per class per day</p>

<p>5) There are lots of weekend options (skiing, buses to malls, visit places, but my daughter tends to hang out on campus with friends, or walk to nearby Windsor with friends and have a meal at a casual restaurant)</p>

<p>6) Dating is not that frequent - it is a small community and people tend to socialize in groups, although there are a few “serious relationships”</p>

<p>7)there is some partying according to my daughter, but most kids are not involved. After a warning if kids are caught with drugs or alcohol a second time they are expelled. </p>

<p>8)great teachers - very supportive and available.</p>

<p>9) The curricular strengths are the writing program, and performing arts (theatre, dance) as well as some strong sports</p>

<p>10) parents visit often, there is an active parent’s association, and my daughter really appreciates socializing with local families of her classmates on weekends (going over to have home-cooked meals, going to Hartford or NY for special events) - we live too far away to visit often. There are only a few “closed weekends” each year where boarders cannot leave campus because of special events or tests. </p>

<p>Overall, great experience and my daughter loves Loomis - we are HAPPY PELICANS</p>

4

<p>By “the typical BS homework” I meant “typical Boarding School homework”, it is not “busy work”. My daughter actually finds the academics far more challenging compared to our local public school.</p>

5

<p>Thanks 2prepMom for all that info! My son got into Loomis and we will be revisiting in April.</p>

<p>I have a question in terms of how well the faculty get to really know the students. At smaller schools with a higher percentage of boarders and most faculty living on campus, it seems as though kids are less likely to “slip through the cracks” if they are having problems or falling behind. What is it like at Loomis? Are advisers/dorm parents responsive to parent concerns? Is it what one might call nurturing, or is it more sink-or-swim?</p>

6

<p>thank you 2prepMom! your information was very detailed and I appreciate it :slight_smile:
how does boarding affect your mother-daughter bond?</p>

7

<p>Teachers and advisors are very involved, available for help, ready to add many layers of support and structure. No sinking, but floating effortlessly is not well tolerated either. Learn to swim. Many levels of math, for example, from post-AP to “essentials”. Excellent communication between house parents, deans, advisors and parents. My daughter has benefitted from extra help in several subjects. The motto of Loomis is “Our Best Selves”, so working on areas for improvement is respected and expected.</p>

<p>Relationship has very much improved with my daughter. We sat in awe as she effortlessly discussed Pulitzer prize winning literature at Thanksgiving - those sit-down dinners several times a week with faculty have unexpected benefits. </p>

<p>The dance and theatre programs are fabulous, we know those best.</p>

8

<p>i have a few questions i will most likely attend loomis next year as a 9th grader. ill play on varsity girls hockey team so if theres anyone that willbe on the team PM me.</p>

<p>1) what dorms do the freshman girls board in?
2) what do you do for fun?</p>

9

<p>If I remember correctly, freshman girls are either in Harmon or Carter, the two buildings next to the library.</p>

10

<p>ok thanks!</p>