<p>Since I started this thread I will give my opinion on the latest question although I will say my opinion is most informed (if at all) with respect to girls hockey and much less so with respect to other sports. You cannot argue with the results that Pomfret girls hockey has delivered the last few years, but it doesn't really fall into the category of schools that I think of where hockey is arguably more important than academics. Perhaps (hopefully if my daughter ends up there) Pomfret is a great combination of an academically strong school that has a great athletic program also, at least in this sport. I am sure the characterization of a school as somewhere where hockey is more important than academics is a characterization that every school would deny, but in my mind there are some schools where hockey may be too important. Objectively trying to measure it at Pomfret I think you can look at a few different things. Yes admissions rate is higher than the real elite schools and SATs a little lower, but the schools I am thinking of as hockey schools have SATs even lower (admissions numbers may not be meaningful at these places because girls are going there for a different reason and the pool of applicants is self selecting). Additionally as I look at Pomfret I see very qualified faculty, high number of AP classes offered, broad curriculum with advanced instruction, etc. I don't see those things or at least see them in materially lower quality at the schools that I am thinking of as hockey schools. I haven't done any sort of serious analysis of college matrics, although just eyeballing what they publish it looks pretty good.</p>
<p>I just gradated from Pomfret in the spring. If you have any specific questions, I would be happy to answer them. I don't have time to read through the whole topic. However, from what I briefly read, I'll answer in my opinion whether I think Pomfret is a sports school or not. Well, yes. When a student attends Pomfret they have to commit themselves to 3 seasons, 3 sports unless of course they want to volunteer, act, or do an independent project (available senior year). I wasn't the most athletic person so I did Squash and Horseback Riding. As far as academics go ... they're pretty challenging with graduates going to Yale, Brown, MIT, Vassar, Mount Holyoke, and Bucknell just to name a few. However, I think the whole persona of the school needs to change a bit and (well) become more motivated. I remember a teacher remarking last year that when he first started at the school (30 years ago) other teachers would brag about how hard they had made their tests. Is it this way now? Somewhat. I think the History department needs work but mathematics, the Arts, and sciences are pretty strong. Overall, I think the place that your daughter feels most comfortable in should be top priority regardless of the prestige that comes along with the name. I only looked at Pomfret because my parents didn't even know what a prep school was before I went. Do I wish I had gone somewhere else? No. I liked my school and I think it helped shape me into the person I am today.</p>
<p>BTW hockey is BIG at Pomfret. It's like a cult. ;)</p>
<p>I guess I'm a bit more liberal in my analysis of schools. I have thought of Pomfret as a top school. I know most people are more restrictive in what they consider a top tier school, but certainly Pomfret has a rich tradition and from what I see it has a top quality academic program. My question was posed because I guess I did not consider the quality of sports. I guess I have always thought no matter what bs you go to sports will be required. With that said, I will make this one final comment. Pomfret accepts something like 60% of the students that apply. We may think of this a high, and yes maybe compared to some other schools it is, but that still is a whopping 40% that do not get in. CC is a tufffffffffffff crowd!lol Why do I bring this up? I have no idea. lol</p>
<p>"When a student attends Pomfret they have to commit themselves to 3 seasons, 3 sports" quote by Iliara</p>
<p>Doesn't this apply to all boarding schools? At least the ones I'm familar with.</p>
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<p>Are you talking about Shattuck? That is the one school that sticks out in my mind because of its success at Nationals. </p>
<p>Perhaps Brewster in New Hamshire could be considered a hockey school based upon the percentage (>50%) of girls hockey players on their roster from Canada.</p>
<p>On the boys side Avon Old Farms has a reputation within the hockey community as a hockey school.</p>
<p>Of course, no school comes with a label saying "Jock Prep", so a lot of this discussion is probably silly. Yes some schools market themselves towards athletically inclined students and take more pride in their athletic teams than others and some even grant more generous FA to certain athletes than other students, but does that make it an inferior school?</p>
<p>It almost says that someone who can run, jump, catch, tackle, shoot, skate or swim can't possibly be as smart as the geek crowd.</p>
<p>I think that many of these reps are created by those who would rather put down another institution for a difference rather than build up their own school's image.</p>
<p>Sports, like Arts and Music, are additions to the academic offerings of a school that offer a rounding diversion and a sense of community and pride to the students. Some may like more sports event oriented than others who may value cultural presentations more. These are just choices - none right - none wrong.</p>
<p>creative1</p>
<p>Most, but not all require 3 seasons of sports. My daughter's school only requires 2 (only 1 of which must be team or competitive). The other term can be an arts based EC.</p>
<p>Just to clarify what I said; it didn't come across right. Every student has to participate in something during the "sports block" and usually they have to do a sport but they can apply to do an independent project or non-competitive club sport such as Outdoor ED.</p>
<p>Some schools require three seasons each year in a team sport. Others require at least one season in a team sport and two in a sports class. Still others have some variation of team sport, sport class, theatre, volunteerism, etc. You really have to check each school. Also, if you have a sports interest that is not offered (for my d that was figure skating) make sure the school has an independent sports program or will at least support you in someway in the non-offered sport.</p>
<p>At many schools after your 1st year you can be a team manager for 1 of the 3 seasons (soph year). Many schools will then only require two of 3 seasons in the junior and senior year.</p>
<p>biffgner - Wow - I can't believe that a year has already gone by and last year at this time my mom and I were doing exactly what you and your daughter are doing now. The thread caught my eye because Pomfret was my top-runner choice until the very last minute. I really loved the school from the time I visited it, was accepted, the revisit and all. I thought it would be my school. They have a strong curriculum, beautiful campus and I like the smaller population schools too. It had a friendly atmosphere and it wasn't until so many people told me to take a second look and revisit a school I wasn't particularly fond of during the interview process, that I totally changed my mind. I knew upon that revisit which was done merely to satisfy others, that I realized my first impression was wrong and it would be a better fit for me. I still remain fond of Pomfret and it is a wonderful school. I am so glad to see so many this year looking at all the other great top-notch schools out there versus the popular ones that dominated this site last year. I felt like the lone student thinking outside the box and looking at more than just the names. Best of luck to your daughter. If Pomfret is your choice I know she'll be satisfied with it.</p>
<p>can you recommend New England boarding schools that offer PG programs catering to kids with ADD?</p>
<p>A similar question was asked here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=269867%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=269867</a>
Have you looked through <a href="http://www.boardingschoolreview.com%5B/url%5D">www.boardingschoolreview.com</a> ? While they are not always accurate, they do let you know which schools have PG, and I think they just added a section on ADD support. You can also do an advanced search on <a href="http://www.schools.com%5B/url%5D">www.schools.com</a> .<br>
There are schools that offer a PG year and have ADD support. Good luck!</p>
<p>Boarding school review provides a list</p>
<p>A good number of these are in New England and offer PG years as the page shows. My daughter attends one of these schools and we are quite happy with it (although she is not ADD/ADHD), so if you would like PM me, we can discuss that school further offline. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>I wanted to thank everybody for their feedback on Pomfret several months ago. My daughter was accepted and while we will evaluate all of the options she ends up having, I am pretty confident at this point that she will be enrolling there. In some ways makes me feel good as a father that I realized 5 months ago what the right answer was going to be. This was a school that felt right to her (and her mother and I) - more so than a lot of the higher profile schools that get a lot more focus on this board.</p>
<p>Congratulations! It's wonderful that you found a school you all like and that really wants your daughter.</p>
<p>Pomfret is a nice school.. all I know is that my cousin is applying, but their mother wouldn't allow them to apply anywhere other than great.</p>
<p>Congratulations!</p>
<p>Well it is official. Revisits are done and if possible she feels even more certain about Pomfret than she did in the fall. Mailed the contract and deposit this AM. Thank you all again for your input.</p>
<p>It definitely is a lot easier to write the check when the decision is that certain. Congratulations on an excellent choice both in academics and hockey!</p>
<p>Congratulations! Please post about Pomfret when you can so that next year's applicants know about other boarding school options beyond the usual suspects.</p>