Revisit Matrix - Your Thoughts?

[pulsar]

<p>We need to choose schools pretty soon and I thought I'll create a matrix to find which school is the right fit. Please add to the list whatever you think are important to you to make that decision. What else would you like to see? Parent contributions are also welcome: What is important to your child?</p>

<ol>
<li> School Infrastructure: Facilities, Dorms (single, double), Labs (well maintained?)</li>
<li> School Size: Small (D, H), Medium (C, L), Large (A, E)</li>
<li> School: Nurturing / Sink or Swim?</li>
<li> Classes/Teachers: harkness? inspiring? </li>
<li> Number of Courses Offered / level: accelerated, honors?</li>
<li> Language Options (Spanish, Latin, French, Russian, Chinese)</li>
<li> Science Research Opportunities like Intel, Siemens.</li>
<li> School Publications: Newspaper, Literary, Art Publications</li>
<li> Study Hall? Lights out policy</li>
<li>Art and Music Opportunities: Orchestra, Bands</li>
<li>ECs available: Clubs, Competitions</li>
<li>Athletic Facilities: Sports: Varisity, JV, thirds?</li>
<li>Weekend Activities? Food</li>
<li>Social Environment</li>
<li>Disciplinary Policy: 1 strike, 2 strikes?</li>
<li>D/A problems or lack there of?</li>
<li>Technology (PC, macs)</li>
<li>Distance from home?</li>
<li>Dress Code</li>
<li>Amount of homework each night?</li>
</ol>

[classicalmama]

<ol>
<li>School Infrastructure: Facilities, Dorms (single, double), Labs (well maintained?)</li>
<li>School Size: Small (D, H), Medium (C, L), Large (A, E)</li>
<li>School: Nurturing / Sink or Swim?</li>
<li>Classes/Teachers: harkness? inspiring?</li>
<li>Number of Courses Offered / level: accelerated, honors?</li>
<li>Language Options (Spanish, Latin, French, Russian, Chinese)</li>
<li>Science Research Opportunities like Intel, Siemens.</li>
<li>School Publications: Newspaper, Literary, Art Publications</li>
<li>Study Hall? Lights out policy</li>
<li>Art and Music Opportunities: Orchestra, Bands</li>
<li>ECs available: Clubs, Competitions</li>
<li>Athletic Facilities: Sports: Varisity, JV, thirds?</li>
<li>Weekend Activities? Food</li>
<li>Social Environment</li>
<li>Disciplinary Policy: 1 strike, 2 strikes?</li>
<li>D/A problems or lack there of?</li>
<li>Technology (PC, macs)</li>
<li>Distance from home?</li>
<li>Dress Code</li>
<li>Amount of homework each night? </li>
<li>Electives vs. required courses</li>
<li>Dorm set-up: mixed grades? faculty or dorm parents resident? adult:kid ratio? </li>
<li>Average number of tests/essays/big projects due each week</li>
<li>Internet access–when and where</li>
</ol>

[pulsar]

<p>Thanks C’mama, as usual. :)</p>

[Burb_Parent]

<p>If something is important to you, then you should certainly ask about it. However, don’t underestimate the importance of gut feel. Sometimes a school just feels right or wrong. Not scientific, but often that is the way decisions are made.</p>

[markalex1]

<ol>
<li>School Infrastructure: Facilities, Dorms (single, double), Labs (well maintained?)</li>
<li>School Size: Small (D, H), Medium (C, L), Large (A, E)</li>
<li>School: Nurturing / Sink or Swim?</li>
<li>Classes/Teachers: harkness? inspiring?</li>
<li>Number of Courses Offered / level: accelerated, honors?</li>
<li>Language Options (Spanish, Latin, French, Russian, Chinese)</li>
<li>Science Research Opportunities like Intel, Siemens.</li>
<li>School Publications: Newspaper, Literary, Art Publications</li>
<li>Study Hall? Lights out policy</li>
<li>Art and Music Opportunities: Orchestra, Bands</li>
<li>ECs available: Clubs, Competitions</li>
<li>Athletic Facilities: Sports: Varisity, JV, thirds?</li>
<li>Weekend Activities? Food</li>
<li>Social Environment</li>
<li>Disciplinary Policy: 1 strike, 2 strikes?</li>
<li>D/A problems or lack there of?</li>
<li>Technology (PC, macs)</li>
<li>Distance from home?</li>
<li>Dress Code</li>
<li>Amount of homework each night? </li>
<li>Electives vs. required courses</li>
<li>Dorm set-up: mixed grades? faculty or dorm parents resident? adult:kid ratio? </li>
<li>Average number of tests/essays/big projects due each week</li>
<li>Internet access–when and where</li>
<li>Rural vs. urban location</li>
<li>Style of architecture</li>
<li>Distance from large cities (Boston, NYC, etc.)</li>
</ol>

[DieterSama]

<p>Are these ranked in order of importance? Because although the school should be the main focus, remember that you are leaving with these kids for the next four years. I also agree with the gut feeling, but you must have a balance. A school may be much better on paper, but if you have a gut feeling about a different school you may be caught playing the “What if?” game through out high school.</p>

[classicalmama]

<p>I saw it as more of a list in no particular order from which different kids could pick stuff important to them. I’m a big fan of gut feel, but specific questions will definitely get better quality chatter from students at revisit than a generic, “So do you like it here?”</p>

[pulsar]

<p>The list is not ranked.</p>

[Sue22]

<ol>
<li>School Infrastructure: Facilities, Dorms (single, double), Labs (well maintained?)</li>
<li>School Size: Small (D, H), Medium (C, L), Large (A, E)</li>
<li>School: Nurturing / Sink or Swim?</li>
<li>Classes/Teachers: harkness? inspiring?</li>
<li>Number of Courses Offered / level: accelerated, honors?</li>
<li>Language Options (Spanish, Latin, French, Russian, Chinese)</li>
<li>Science Research Opportunities like Intel, Siemens.</li>
<li>School Publications: Newspaper, Literary, Art Publications</li>
<li>Study Hall? Lights out policy</li>
<li>Art and Music Opportunities: Orchestra, Bands</li>
<li>ECs available: Clubs, Competitions</li>
<li>Athletics- Facilities, Sports available, Teams (Varsity, JV, thirds?), strength of teams</li>
<li>Weekend Activities? Food</li>
<li>Social Environment</li>
<li>Disciplinary Policy: 1 strike, 2 strikes?</li>
<li>D/A problems or lack there of?</li>
<li>Technology (PC, macs)</li>
<li>Distance from home?</li>
<li>Dress Code</li>
<li>Amount of homework each night? </li>
<li>Electives vs. required courses</li>
<li>Dorm set-up: mixed grades? faculty or dorm parents resident? adult:kid ratio? </li>
<li>Average number of tests/essays/big projects due each week</li>
<li>Internet access–when and where</li>
<li>Rural vs. urban location</li>
<li>Style of architecture</li>
<li>Distance from large cities (Boston, NYC, etc.)</li>
</ol>

<p>Adding</p>

<ol>
<li>School schedule-Saturday classes, timing of spring break, length of shorter breaks </li>
<li>Accessibility of academic support</li>
<li>Percentage of day students</li>
<li>College matriculations</li>
<li>General academic difficulty-will student be top of the class or bottom 25%?</li>
</ol>

<p>I’m differentiating academic support from sink or swim environment because even a school that expects students to hit the ground running and has teachers who offer no second chances may have a fabulous academic support center and time built into the scheduling for tutoring while a more forgiving school may require families to arrange for outside tutors.</p>

<p>I’ve also edited #12, Sports, to include strength of teams. Some kids will want a team that will propel them into the NHL. Others would never get to play on such a team and will want a school with more modest athletics.</p>

[pulsar]

<p>Thank you Sue22. :)</p>

[pulsar]

<p>bump…</p>

[SevenDad]

<p>Hah, pulsar, I had my own matrix before you posted this. Only 10 factors, though…</p>

[pulsar]

<p>SevenDad, Can you please post your matrix? I want to create a master matrix that everyone can use.</p>

[Sue22]

<p>You’re welcome, Pulsar.</p>

<p>BTW, I’m enjoying the new, happier, more generous [admitted] neutron star!</p>

[SevenDad]

<p>You had many of these (they are in no order):</p>

<ul>
<li>Location/Proximity</li>
<li>Campus/Facilities</li>
<li>Warmth of People</li>
<li>College Placement</li>
<li>Personality/Vibe/Fit</li>
<li>Caliber of Students</li>
<li>Activities/Sports</li>
<li>Faculty/Academic Program</li>
<li>Service Opportunities</li>
<li>Leadership (Head of School)</li>
<li>Value (more of a parent consideration)</li>
</ul>

<p>I think Service Opportunities, Leadership, and Value are the only ones that are covered by stuff on your master list…</p>

[pulsar]

<p>Wait a minute Sue22?</p>

[Sue22]

<p>waiting… :)</p>

[pulsar]

<p>bump…</p>

[2kidsnoanswers]

<p>I have not incorporated 7dad’s separate list, but have listed it below & have added my thoughts to the main one:</p>

<ul>
<li>Location/Proximity</li>
<li>Campus/Facilities</li>
<li>Warmth of People</li>
<li>College Placement</li>
<li>Personality/Vibe/Fit</li>
<li>Caliber of Students</li>
<li>Activities/Sports</li>
<li>Faculty/Academic Program</li>
<li>Service Opportunities</li>
<li>Leadership (Head of School)</li>
<li>Value (more of a parent consideration)</li>
</ul>

<ol>
<li>School Infrastructure: Facilities, Dorms (single, double), Labs (well maintained?)</li>
<li>School Size: Small (D, H), Medium (C, L), Large (A, E)</li>
<li>School: Nurturing / Sink or Swim?</li>
<li>Classes/Teachers: harkness? inspiring?</li>
<li>Number of Courses Offered / level: accelerated, honors?</li>
<li>Language Options (Spanish, Latin, French, Russian, Chinese)</li>
<li>Science Research Opportunities like Intel, Siemens.</li>
<li>School Publications: Newspaper, Literary, Art Publications</li>
<li>Study Hall? Lights out policy</li>
<li>Art and Music Opportunities: Orchestra, Bands</li>
<li>ECs available: Clubs, Competitions</li>
<li>Athletics- Facilities, Sports available, Teams (Varsity, JV, thirds?), strength of teams</li>
<li>Weekend Activities? Food</li>
<li>Social Environment</li>
<li>Disciplinary Policy: 1 strike, 2 strikes?</li>
<li>D/A problems or lack there of?</li>
<li>Technology (PC, macs)</li>
<li>Distance from home?</li>
<li>Dress Code</li>
<li>Amount of homework each night? </li>
<li>Electives vs. required courses</li>
<li>Dorm set-up: mixed grades? faculty or dorm parents resident? adult:kid ratio? </li>
<li>Average number of tests/essays/big projects due each week</li>
<li>Internet access–when and where</li>
<li>Rural vs. urban location</li>
<li>Style of architecture</li>
<li>Distance from large cities (Boston, NYC, etc.)</li>
<li>School schedule-Saturday classes, timing of spring break, length of shorter breaks </li>
<li>Accessibility of academic support</li>
<li>Percentage of day students</li>
<li>College matriculations</li>
<li> General academic difficulty-will student be top of the class or bottom 25%?</li>
<li> How much does the campus empty on weekends? Even with a high % boarders, local boarders may go home on weekends.</li>
<li> Ease of transportation home (even if not far from an airport, you may have to make multiple connections).</li>
<li> Accessibility to needed amenities (doctors, etc).</li>
<li> Religion/chapel</li>
<li> Leadership opportunities</li>
<li> Community service opportunities</li>
<li> Study year abroad or other travel opportunities</li>
</ol>

[SevenDad]

<p>bump10char</p>