Hi there, just curious if anyone has some feedback for me. It’s sort of a long post so please bear with me if you are familiar with any of the schools.
We are from the Rocky Mountain region and D3 is very outdoorsy. She is interested/open to considering BS as a potential option down the road because she would love to experience the kind of community so many BSs offer. She is strong academically, and would be particularly interested in pursuing dance, skiing (especially Nordic), lacrosse, and lots of theater.
I know these three schools aren’t mentioned much on this forum but I would love some input if anyone is willing to comment. For each school: Is the student body generally more inclusive or more cliquish? Is the campus vibe particularly laid back or particularly competitive? Do students value a diversity of talents- is there balanced support for sports as well as fine arts programs?
I am interested in these three schools for a few reasons. First, I am an MX grad so am quite familiar with the school although I haven’t set foot on campus in years. From the updates I get, Middlesex seems to have a more inclusive student body and stronger general community spirit than it had when I was there. True or wishful thinking? Also Middlesex has a huge commitment to the arts which I know D3 would love as well as the skiing and available sports etc.
Proctor caught my attention because of the strong experiential learning component and the travel abroad. I love how outdoorsy it is and how involved the students seem to be in their community. Seems like a very laid back school. The academics don’t seem as intense there, but that could be a bonus in my opinion. How are their performing arts programs?
Finally, Brooks caught my attention as well simply because I absolutely don’t know a thing about it. I’m pretty familiar with the other St. Grotelsex type schools but am wondering if Brooks is similar or if it is an outlier. If it is different how/why is it unique?
Thanks for any input you would be willing to give. It’s too early for D3 to look at schools this year but your insight might help me guide her research if she wants to pursue BS in the future.
I encourage you to take a really good look at Berkshire School. It’s a truly wonderful school with a very warm community vibe and from the way you’ve described her, it sounds like it just might be a great match for your daughter.
For what it’s worth, in the Greater Boston area, Middlesex is considered very athletically oriented (and its neighbor in the same town, Concord Academy, is considered artsy). Both of those schools are working hard to overcome those reputations, with Middlesex making much of its commitment to the arts and Concord fairly recently adding new sports fields. But many people would still say that M’sex is for the jocks and CA is for the artsy kids. As for Brooks, we looked at it, and I wanted to like it, but couldn’t quite get there. My daughter is also into dance and drama, and was turned off by the very limited offerings in each of those areas. She also felt that it was too stereotypically preppy for her tastes.
I would very much second the suggestions of Berkshire and Millbrook, I think both of those schools have a really great sense of community, and both are very outdoorsy (esp. given their locations).
If you and your daughter are willing to consider a larger school, I would suggest NMH. It has an extensive dance program and lots of theater. It also offers nordic skiing, which neither Brooks nor Middlesex offers as a sport. You can be as outdoorsy as you want at NMH and the school is very laid-back. Every fall they have “Mountain Day” when each class hikes a different local mountain. The student population is extremely diverse, and I would never describe it as preppy, a description I would apply to both Middlesex and Brooks. A friend with a child at Middlesex once described it as “buttoned up”. From spending time on the MX and Brooks campuses over the years, I would say they both look and feel like traditional NE boarding schools, but I’m sure they have significant differences when you dig a little deeper.
When you start looking at schools, I would suggest you ask questions about the ability to pursue your daughters interests, not just whether the school offers the activities. I remember that when we looked at Middlesex, they pointed out that it was possible to participate in sports and theater, because they met at different times. This was not true at other schools - theater is an alternative to sports. This was also true of dance at many schools; dance is considered a sports alternative.
Berkshire mom here…the school is incredible. My daughter adores it; the community (faculty and students) is exactly what we wanted for her…warm, welcoming and demanding. She will be a much different and dare I say, far better woman for having experienced life at Berkshire School. You really should go for a visit.
We looked at both Proctor and Berkshire specifically because of their outdoor programs - both fit your criteria and both are great schools. Proctor feels very friendly and laid back. My DD ended up at NMH and adores it. The arts center is brand new and there are opportunities in theater and dance at all levels. Because it is a little larger, they can offer lots of options. And as of a few years ago they were very eager to have Nordic skiers for their Nordic team. You have a hook! Proctor has their own small downhill ski slope. We met the outdoor “coach” at Berkshire and he couldn’t have been nicer. Proctor offers lots more academic support than most b schools. NMH works best for kids who are capable of being pretty independent and self motivated. The classes average @ 12 kids and very discussion based and the blocks are long which I think you either love or hate.
I’m a Proctor parent - my D will be graduating this year. She has been very involved in theater since her freshman year and they’ve put on some amazing productions for such a small school. She’s also off to France this year with 7 other students and 2 of her art teachers for a semester (all the off campus programs are included in boarding tuition which is huge). A good friend of hers is very involved in the Nordic program and from what I understand it’s a very tight group with excellent coaches. Several of the kids traveled to Norway and participated in the Birkenbeiner (sp?) this year. Academically there are lots of opportunities and a lot of smart kids but the Proctor ethos is definitely more about a balanced life.
I think you have a good selection of schools that you are looking at and when you visit you’ll get a better sense of what fits for her.
What an exciting opportunity for your daughter! I think it is incredibly unusual that Proctor can offer such off campus options. Proctor really impresses me, and I have a ton of respect for their “balanced life” ethos. Thanks for your input!
lr4550, I’m sure I sound overly effusive, but I sincerely mean what I say about the school. I went to St. Mark’s and as much as I loved it, Berkshire’s commitment to character-building beat out SMS and all the other schools we looked at. The other main reason we like it so much is that it offers a true boarding school experience: rural location, less than 50 day students out of 400 kids and an extraordinary natural surrounding. The Appalachian Trail runs right past the school. I’ve heard good things about Proctor from a mom whose daughter goes there, as well.
@catlady I think you sounded very sincere. If our D is going to go to boarding school some day believe me I want her to be looking at schools that have particularly warm and nurturing communities. I do think that the culture of different schools can vary considerably, and by all means I am really impressed by what I have heard from those familiar with Berkshire and Proctor. Thanks again
Please take a look at The Putney School, their mission is founded on experiential learning and they have great arts and outdoors programming, and encourage travel. Trimesters abroad are available without additional cost…you can join a sports team such as Nordic for competition or recreation… many weekends there are camping and hiking trips available or you can take a survival class. The evenings are filled with arts, pretty much anything can be pursued at Putney. Its a very special community that encourages independence and leadership. As a parent of a current student I’m happy to answer any particulars. In a week the school starts their year with Longfall trips, where the entire student body goes out in small groups hiking, kayaking, climbing for 4 days. A visit will show you in an instant what I mean.
I have actually looked into Putney, and I do like what I saw, was just wondering if it feels too small especially if a student is there all four years? Seems like it was a bit smaller than the others on the list but maybe not by much. I was very impressed with the info on the website, it definitely seems to have the kind of opportunities and community we would be looking for.
yes it’s small compared to some, and rural! It’s a working farm when kids aren’t playing Jazz or studying Molecular Genetics, they’re milking cows and cutting trees. …in the end it’s about fit, for many reasons. Knowing or considering what could help your kid thrive is important. Visiting schools is a great way to discover what feels right. It’s great you’re doing your homework and looking for a good fit.
My instincts would say Putney might be a little bit too outside of the mainstream for my daughter, while she is definitely outdoorsy she is not necessarily into gardening etc per se (although she can milk a goat!). My guess is that she would probably relate more to a Berkshire/Proctor vibe but if we do look at schools down the road I will certainly put Putney on the list. It would be interesting to see what she makes of the environment as it does seem different from the other schools. Thanks for you input!
