<p>Ok, so I got into the Blair Academy, Brooks School, Hill School, and St.mark's School. I'm sort of eliminating the St.Mark's School and the Hill School because it just doesn't really match my standards. I'm not looking for the most highly ranked school, but the most warm school where I can meet new people and feel comfortable. So basically I want to go to a school that could improve my social life. Also, I really like art so the school with many art related classes would also be ideal. From some I hear that the Blair is good, and some say I shouldn't go there. Some say I should go to the Brooks School. I need major help deciding. If anyone knows anything about these schools please tell me how to choose. Thank You!</p>
<p>I don't know anything about Brooks School but I know about Blair. Unless you find someone who has children in each school, I think it would be hard to get a fair assessment of each. </p>
<p>Blair is known for having a closely knit community. It is very likely that you will meet almost all of your classmates plus the faculty. Almost all the faculty live on campus, and you will make friends with some of them. While academics are strong, there is also time for friends and fun, and the school offers many social opportunities from the Headmasters' Society Week to the Sadie Hawkins dance to Peddie week culminating in a bonfire celebration. </p>
<p>Over the last 2 decades, Blair has been building its arts programs and they get stronger every year Blair</a> Academy - Fine & Performing Arts. Did you visit the Armstrong Hipkins Performing Arts Center? I love the theater! Did you see the outdoor theater overlooking Blair Lake? In the spring, they hold outdoor productions there with torches for light. It's so dramatic! My son isn't an artist, so I only know about the introductory art course. I do know that Blair is always posting fine arts related events on their website. If you have ever been intrigued with film, they have a few great film production courses. Blair has weekend outings to New York City with its many galleries and museums. </p>
<p>When people look for boarding schools, many focus their search on New England. As a result, Brooks may be known by more who just looked in New England. For many decades, Blair was managed by trustees from a local Presbyterian church who weren't focused on building endowment and long-term improvements. That has all changed, and over the last 2 decades the endowment has grown dramatically, plus there have been numerous new buildings and remodeling projects. Last year they added another 100 acres to the campus and next year they will open the new athletic and student center. I think next year would be a good year to be there with the new center opening. Blair is on the rise. </p>
<p>I believe Blair offers you what you want, but I have no way of comparing and contrasting it to Brooks. If you have more questions about Blair, please feel free to post here or pm me. </p>
<p>Congratulations on having 2 great choices and good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>All good schools. But you may also want to factor in size if your concern is social life. Brooks and St. Marks are in the 350-370 range and Brooks has a large number of day students (good if you want to get off campus; bad if the school seems small on weekends). Blair and Hill have larger student bodies (400+). You may also want to consider dress codes (Brooks and Hill are formal; St. Marks and Blair informal). I would lean towards Blair because it has a great headmaster, a pastoral setting and is less snooty than the others.</p>
<p>Blair Academy offers a terrific combination of stellar academics within a nurturing, cohesive, family type environment. The arts and athletics, as well as facilities are all top notch as well. The campus is beautiful, and the staff and headmaster are genuine, approachable, involved, caring and professional. The more you learn about Blair, the clearer your decision will be, if you value the above.</p>
<p>I always come back to this - if you are truly undecided, which is closer to home? It is nice being close to home for a variety of reasons. If your coming across the country or international, this doesn't apply to you of course.</p>
<p>I looked at both and even though I was only waitlisted at Brooks, I liked blair better and ended up choosing Blair over Tabor. I liked almost every aspect of the school. The campus, community, academics and athletics. I also liked Brooks a lot, but Blair felt right for me.</p>
<p>For what it is worth, St. Mark's has an incredible math department. I would have thought it was one of the stronger of the schools you were looking at. I love the Hill, but many students are from the Phil. area and go home on weekends.</p>
<p>Brooks School has a wonderful, warm and inviting faculty, administration and student population. The day students mix extremely well with the boarders, many live very close by and are on-campus on weekends for various extracurricular activities as well as sports. </p>
<p>The student art show was terrific. It was just taken down, so is no longer highlighted on the Brooks website. If you do visit the website, you'll see the work of three Brooks kids who just won Boston Globe art awards. </p>
<p>The sports facitilities are impressive; rowing tanks an all. The library is charming, light and inviting. The new science building under construction is quickly taking shape. </p>
<p>It is a very low-key school and does little self-promotion. Brooks was my daughter's first choice, over many other schools. The unpretentiousness of the student body, the openness of the administration, the fascinating study-abroad opportunities and the science program all had great appeal. </p>
<p>Lack of snootiness was of primary importance for her and for us!</p>
<p>wow, congrats!</p>
<p>go with brooks. My grandmother used to work there.</p>
<p>Concord Academy or Loomis Chaffee may have been good choices for you due to your interest in art. I have been to Blair, Brooks & Hill. Blair is beautiful, feels like a country club and has some spectacular athletes. Blair admits PGs--mostly for athletics. Brooks does not admit PGs (to my knowledge) and is a beautiful campus full of very friendly people. Have you visited either school? If so, what did you like or dislike? Are you athletic? (By the way, I think that your selection & elimination choices were solidly made.)</p>
<p>I do not recommend Brooks. I know a couple of people that have gone there and one of them transfered out after six moths. He said it just wasn't fun and even for him, (he is not the brightest person ever) most of the classes were WAY too easy. Go to Blair unless you saw something extremely special about Brooks. I visited and saw absolutely nothing worthwhile, i ended up not even applying.</p>
<p>thank you everyone for helping me out. I have chose the Blair since it seemed best for me. Although brooks and the others are all good, Blair seemed best. Thanks everyone for allowing me to make my decision.</p>
<p>Hey dodgers298, why not add your name to our definite classmates thread so you can help other people with their decisions? :)</p>