<p>Hey I'm a Loomis Chaffee rising sophomore, and after just completing my amazing freshman year at Loomis, I would love to answer any questions anyone has about applying, life at Loomis, etc.</p>
<p>Ask away!</p>
<p>My daughter will be entering this year as 9th student. It looks like there isn’t much choice to select courses during freshmen year. However starting sophomore year, what do you recommend in taking courses - would it be better to take chemistry vs physics vs biology? Also should she just discontinue her advanced language so she has an opportunity to take AP science course instead? We are trying to schedule her entire 4 year courses to look at the bigger picture but it seems like it is a bit restrictive to take AP course or other elective courses either due to pre requisite requirement or maximum 5 credit per year course requirement. Also for her band activities, do you think it would be useful to take band courses for entire 4 years or do you think it would be too much or redundant to take all 4 years of band? Thank you in advance for your inputs!</p>
<p>By the way, my daughter wants to major in business/economy/finance in her university after Loomis graduation. Thank you!</p>
<p>Isn’t it a bit much to try to schedule her four years of courses before she’s even set foot on campus as a freshman? Leave her some room to find interests that she doesn’t even know yet she has.</p>
<p>Thx for your comments. Unfortunately not everyone is like you.</p>
<p>Most students take Biology freshman year followed Chemistry or Chem Advanced sophomore year. However, depending on what your daughter took this year as an 8th grader and whether or not she gets credit for it, I know some students who took Chem freshman year followed by Physics sophomore year. Other students who have greater interest in Biology than Chem can also take Chem freshman year (with special permission) followed by Biology Advanced sophomore year. </p>
<p>Students are required to reach 3rd level proficiency in a language, so whether or not she continues on is totally by choice. Students entering freshman year have to take 3 arts courses, which band would count as. So she could either do it 3 years, try something else, or do it all 4 years if she really enjoys it. I find that most of my friends plan to get their requirements out of the way freshman and sophomore year, leaving them to choose from a wider range of harder classes junior and senior year. </p>
<p>The advisor program at Loomis is also very strong, and all freshman meet with their advisor throughout the year to make a four year plan based both on their interests, parents opinions, and making sure that school requirements are fulfilled. There is also an add and drop period in the first month of school or so, so any class your daughter doesn’t feel is a right fit she can change. As for the 5 class cap, its actually 5 and a half(and I’m pretty sure band is a half course so it wouldn’t count as one of her 5), and some students are allowed extra classes depending on their grades and what type of class they wish to add.</p>
<p>All in all, I wouldn’t worry too much about getting the perfect class set-up freshman year because advisors are always willing to help get the rest of the years figured out, and as you said most of the freshman classes are pretty standard(language, Freshman English, World History, Algebra 2 for most, and usually Biology).</p>
<p>I hope your daughter loves Loomis as much as I do! Can’t wait to see her on the island!</p>
<p>frosh, I have a question. Is there reading you have to do during the summer before 9th grade?</p>
<p>Frosh28, thx for a great info!</p>
<p>Are there snobby people at loomis how much fa do they offer? im pretty average have straight as and am really good at art could I get in with fa?</p>
<p>Hi i am a rising senior so i can also answer any questions!
@sclair11 People at loomis aren’t snobby at all about financial aid. Most of my friendsare on it and honestly no one really talks about it or cares. As to whether or not you could get in it is hard to say. A lot depends on your SSAT scores as well. I know recently Loomis has gotten more competitive and admissions are looking for involved applicants. I’d say that you have a good shot at admission though, so it is definitely worth applying!
@loomis I really wouldn’t worry too much about your daughter’s four year plan. There are very few options for entering freshman in regards to electives. I mean out of her five classes I would recommend taking world history, science (bio or chem, up to her), english (mandatory), language (i would recommend continuing), and a math. She can also continue with band on top of her 5 core classes. I would strongly suggest this because it is a good way to fulfill one of the arts requirements for grad. It would also be a good opportunity to see if band is something she wants to continue with although I think it would be worthwhile to do because three years of it will fulfill all art requirements for grad and 4 years will help for college. As far as electives go you definitely have more room for them in your Sophomore, Junior and Senior years. I for instance will take/ have taken AP Euro, AP Gov, Advanced Physics, Evolutionary Bio, AP Gov, AP Comparative Politics, AP Spanish 4, 2 religion courses, and 3 english electives all as electives. Feel free to message me for my email if you have any other questions!</p>
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<p>@jahphotogal Yes there is reading before every year, but its only 3 books as well as an all-school read. Freshman are not given a graded test on the readings, but sophomores and up are. </p>
<p>@loomis96 No, they really aren’t very many snobby people, and the few that there are mostly keep to themselves and certainly aren’t “bullies”. No one really cares about financial aid in all honesty, with most people you can’t even tell if they’re on FA or not and if it is a known fact no one holds in against them. I don’t know much about the admissions process, but we do have a lot of different art classes if that’s what interests you.</p>