<p>I know this is like comparing apples and rhinoceroses. My daughter got in at both and now we are trying to make the final decision. Academically, both are fine schools and vert competitive. My daughter is interested in both fine arts and well as drama, and it appears that Milton may have a slight hand up. It's coming down to campus atmosphere and where she feels most comfortable. She's been to both schools and each has much to recommend it: Winsor seems very intimate and supportive; Milton seems to be more diverse in all respects. But these are just impressions. Anybody have any kind of sense of what these places are like inside?</p>
<p>Fine Arts at Milton are awesome. The output of the students in Sculpture class was amazing in both quantity and quality. The teacher was incredibly nice and respected each student's creative style. The other standout departments were English (Mr. Moore must be one of the best teachers in the country) and History (Ms. Wade is tough but excellent). Academics thoroughly prepared students for the most difficult colleges. Students were mostly kind and supportive. I don't know anything about Winsor, though.</p>
<p>Greenblue, thanks for your response. What is your sense of the relationship between day students and boarders. My daughter would be a day student. She's only met a few students but so far has found boarders to be more down-to-earth and open. Your take? Or anyone elses?</p>
<p>If your daughter will be a day student, I'd recommend Milton, because it has a half-and-half boarding to day popualation.</p>
<p>I would recommend Milton. The arts program is great.</p>
<p>well does she want to experience the boarding life?</p>
<p>
[quote]
apples and rhinoceroses
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</p>
<p>Mmm. That's a new one. :D</p>
<p>First, congratulations. As you no doubt already know, both Milton and Winsor are outstanding academically and do extremely well as far as college placement. Since your daughter will get an outstanding education at either institution, the only real question is which would be a better fit for her, and where will she be happiest. </p>
<p>Winsor is smaller, single sex, more self-contained and does not have any borders. Will be a more nurturing environment and there's no chance your daughter will get lost in the crowd. However, it won't have the same facilities as Milton, as varied a selection of courses, as many sports and EC's, as diverse a student body or boys (although Winsor does a lot of things with Belmont Hill).</p>
<p>My sense of Winsor is that many of the girls tend to be type A superachievers, although this is a generalization based on several school visits and a couple of girls I know who go there (so you should take this observation with a grain of salt).</p>
<p>As for Milton, one question I'd have for the school is how well it integrates the day students and the borders. I know there's the feeling among the day students that it is generally tougher to get in as a day student than as a border. Not sure if the two groups tend to move in separate worlds or whether the school is able to create a strong sense of community. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Though the demographics of the two populations are different (I think it's true that admission is more competitive for day students) I didn't get the impression that there were serious day student vs. boarder problems at Milton. I think the boarders recognized the day students as assets to the school even though they'd naturally tend to be best friends with other boarders.</p>
<p>In terms of prestige, quality of education, and college placement, Winsor is a step above Milton (FYI).</p>
<p>OP, I agree with your comparison. You should also consider the commute, what it is like to start in D's grade and how many enter then (9th?) and what kids from the school do on weekends. If you haven't already talked to current parents whose kids entered in a similar situation, do. I know at M., there is plenty of school-based weekend activity, available to day students. The single sex v coed would be a big factor for many kids at this age.</p>
<p>I am really interested in what you decide and why. Both kids go to local private, son recently accepted into well known all boy HS. I would love to have daughter (currently in 1st grade) go to Windsor or Milton.in a few years. Preferably Windsor, I really think there is something to be said about single sex HS. But, I really like Milton. Because Milton has such a large proportion of day students I don't think your daughter will miss out on much. And I assume you would drive her to school on the weekends if she wanted. A lot of school sports are scheduled on weekends, I know my ds's school had a lacrosse and T& F meet scheduled on Sat this week. </p>
<p>good luck with you decision, please keep us posted.</p>
<p>Joan</p>
<p>Our daughter is going to Winsor next year. We were very impressed with everything and everyone we encountered on our visits and in our interactions with students, faculty, admission staff, and parents, etc. Excellent academics and very nurturing environment. Seems very diverse and getting more so. Really looks at the student and building confidence and self esteem is a large part of the philosophy - helping girls and young women become the best that they can be. I am new to this board but have lurked for a while, and Winsor, as is the same with other day schools, doesn't draw many posters on CC. It's been difficult in finding info outside of what the school or websites such as Petersons, etc. provide, so we relied our own positive experiences and on friends and current and former students. My daughter enjoyed her re-visit day very much. She got a real sense of what her classes would be like and met some current students who will be in her class as well as new students who will join her next year.</p>
<p>As you know, Milton is also a great school and there is more info on CC on Milton.</p>
<p>It seems your daughter's decision will come down to single sex vs coed, city vs suburb, larger vs smaller, and the strength of the arts program.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>BostonDad, thanks for your post. Our D would be entering as a 9th grader -- one of only about 5 or 6. Is yours in 5th? We've been trying to find others who either are or have entered as a 9th grader to compare notes. But as you might expect it's been very difficult to find others.</p>
<p>Our daughter will be entering as a 6th grader or Class II. You might want to ask the Admission people for the name of a girl who entered in 9th grade whom you can contact to ask her what her experience has been like. They are very accommodating and helpful. My daughter's tour guide, entered in 9th grade and she said she had a very positive experience. It can't hurt to ask for a contact. Good luck.</p>
<p>^^Might be a little late for that at this point. Decisions are due on Tuesday, after all.</p>
<p>Winsor is one of the top day schools around and rivals the best of the best bs.</p>
<p>Thanks all. In the end we decided to go with Milton. Academically, both are great schools -- although I suspect that Winsor has a slight edge there. But my D loves writing and the arts and Milton offers so many more oppportunities. Winsor is a wonderful, nurturing special place. We were concerned, however, that by senior year it might come to feel a little limiting. The all-girls aspect was a plus for us -- although not enough to outweigh the greater potential diversity of experience offered by Milton. I think too that the calculation is quite different when you're looking to place a freshman -- who is on the brink of looking forward to satisfying the desire for experience and experimentation that a good high school experience should offer -- as opposed to a middle schooler (the biggest entry point for Winsor). Had we been looking for a school for our D as a 6th grader it would've been Winsor, hands down. But we weren't.</p>
<p>Milton is a great school. Congratulations and good luck!</p>
<p>Masspop, your choice/daughter sounds well thought out and therefore sounds like the right choice. Good Luck to her and her future education.</p>