<p>haha i’m not hispanic-i just use chica as like
a word for girl
anyway good luck with your decision-i was in the position sort of last august
when i got accepted to SPS and i’m REALLY happy i came
pm me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>boarder56, there is no rule against wearing jeans at Exeter. Kids revisiting should feel free to wear jeans (or shorts!). Also, the dress code for boys is shirt and tie (no coat).</p>
<p>boarder56, thank you for sharing your experience. Andover sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to go for our Andover revisit next week.</p>
<p>This is a great thread…thanks to all for posting…very helpful for us.</p>
<p>Did anyone revisit Berkshire or Taft? I revisited both last year, so I’m just wondering.</p>
<p>peateacher-</p>
<p>really? the website made it seem like we all had to dress formally.
my parents still aren’t letting me wear jeans to exeter for my revisit.
they’re all, “the school says to dress formally! so dress formally!!”</p>
<p>ughh…</p>
<p>Assuming you’re a girl, the dress code is “dress, skirt or nice slacks with blouse, sweater, collared shirt, or turtleneck.” To me (a guy), this has always sounded like a complicated way of saying “just about anything goes.” The list of “prohibited items” does not list jeans and does specifically indicate that “hemmed shorts may be worn.” Bottom line: don’t wear a T-shirt, but feel free to wear jeans.</p>
<p>Unless a girl is in like a prom dress or something…most times I can’t tell when they’re dressed formally or casually. Now with a guy…it’s just obviously at first site how they’re dressed and if your in the wrong thing you will stick out easily. Not the same for girls though…I mean I would just wear what your parents what as to avoid trouble. Doesn’t really matter anyway.</p>
<p>PEA teacher- my mistake. The dress code at Exeter did not include jeans, so I assumed they were not allowed. Also, though I know a coat isn’t required for boys, most people revisiting wore one (probably because of the cold!).</p>
<p>Choate Revisit Day, April 2nd</p>
<p>I was invited to the Headmaster’s Breakfast, to connect with “teachers and faculty who share your specific interests”. I think only about 30 or so students were invited, because it wasn’t very crowded at the Sally Hart Lodge. I met up with Coach Loeb, and met Mr. Noel (FA), Headmaster Shanahan, and Mr. Diffley (Admissions).
Then we went to Getz Auditorium for a student panel, a speech thing from Mr. Diffley and the student council president, and then parents and children split up. I went with my student guide to her sophomore English class, which was awesome. It was relaxed, casual, but the teacher had a control over the students that would never have happened at my school. Then I went to a Spanish 300 class, which I might take next year, and experienced my first full-immersion language class. It was amazing. I hate Spanish, at my school it’s the worst class to take (but our only offered language) and I wasn’t planning on taking it next year. But it was engaging, interesting, and I learned more in those 40 minutes than in a week in my class at home.
At lunch, my guide sat with me at a table full of her friends. The food is amazing, varied, and very available. Her friends welcomed me completely, and once I told them I’d already decided to attend as a new sophomore, they told me, “The first few weeks are tough as a new sophomore, but you’ll be okay because you can hang with us.” I’d already made friends!
By the way, there are NO bells at Choate. You basically have to guess when class starts. Keep an eye on your watch, then, but teachers are insanely lax about it.
We went to Chem next, where they took a quiz and I met a few more people that were awesome and nice. After that, we went to Chapel, where the chamber Orchestra performed and I met a sophomore oboe player, which is what I play. She was so nice and Mr. Ventre was awesome! He’s the conductor, by the way. Then we got a speech from the head of Choate’s ministry (the name escapes me) and then we were released.
My dad loved it, and he got the campus tour. We went to the school store, where I bought a pair of sweatpants, a pennant, and a bumper sticker. Then we checked out the gym (I love their permanent volleyball courts) and then we left.</p>
<p>All in all, it was amazing. I could literally imagine myself walking those paths from the PMAC to the dining hall or from the SAC to the gym everyday. A full day there felt like it went by in a half hour. I met so many amazing people (who I have now facebooked and will be keeping in touch with until I end up on campus!) I was invited to preseason for volleyball and told I’d be okay as a new sophomore (one of my very few worries). I now know I can do almost everything I do now to the fullest extent, from theatre to orchestra to volleyball. I met the track coach, who told me “You triple jump?? We need triple jumpers!!!” I had fun, and I ate well, and I bought over-priced merchandise.</p>
<p>IT WAS AMAZING.</p>
<p>We went to the Middlesex revist day yesterday and it was fantastic as well.
As soon as we arrived, our son was escorted to the library and paired up with a student who had common interests and he spent the day with him. They spent the whole morning going to class just like a regular Saturday. You could choose which classes you were interested in. My son went to English, math, science and French.<br>
While he did that, we went for refreshmensts in the Terry Room where we able to mingle with other parents who were considering the school. The Head of School gave a brief speech about how they had the largest amount of applicants in school history this year (1000 for 110 spots -75 freshmen, 30 sophmores and 5 juniors) and that we should be very proud of our children etc… They then directed us to the theatre where we heard once again from the Head of School but also from Head of Teachers, Head of College Admissions, Head of Arts, and one more woman whom I can not place but was very intereting…something to do with curriculum…Head of curriculum? The Head of school is a very engaging woman and she was impressive. A wonderful combination of strict and warm. Each took a turn speaking about their area and each were terribly interesting to listen to. They all teach as well and to have any of them as a teacher would be excellent.
After this we attended an art history class with a teacher who is hard to describe…my usual descriptives apply but he was beyond interesting, engaging etc (I want to take him class!). They have these large plasma screens in the classrooms and they have a huge digital catalog of paintings where you can look at the painting as if it was there, even down to the brush strokes. They have the sketches and xrays for many as well so that they can dwelve into the whys and hows of the great masters. FANTASTIC! This is a mandatory class for freshmen or sophmores but one even my art deprived son would love.<br>
We then went on to a teacher panel where 4 teachers and the head of school, spoke about why they had chosen Middlesex. Once again engaging and interesting and everyone had something different to offer. Even the math teacher was a great speaker!
At this point everyone, students and parents met up in Chapel for a brief chapel talk then we enjoyed some music and singing by current Middlesex students. Another wonderful experience.<br>
Our next stop was a student panel where we met the dean of students and a panel 6 students from different grades. They spoke about themselves then we were able to ask questions about their life at Middlesex.<br>
Lunch time arrived and we enjoyed a buffet lunch with our son and a math teacher. At this point we were free to mill around the school and speak with teachers and coaches. We spoke to language teachers, math teachers, history teachers and all but one were very personable. We also met with a couple coaches. You could then leave or stay and watch one of the atletic competitions.<br>
Our son was very impressed with the school and has already made friends and plans for the next year. However there are still other revisits before the decision will be made…</p>
<p>S - Vermont Academy: Beautiful campus blessed with a sunny day during our stop. Great facilities for 200 or so students. Arts center is new & impressive. Friendly campus atmosphere. Adjacent (small) town is somewhat down at the heels. Impressive, trained learning skills staff. However, we have concerns about VA’s ability to meet FA. More fundamentally, S just didn’t warm to this school. </p>
<p>S - Kents Hill School: We were struck by the strong sense of caring we felt on the part of the Headmaster, teachers, administrators & coaches, all of whom spent time with revisit families. Additionally, KHS had current parents reach out after S was admitted – always a nice gesture but especially valuable when you get a parent who can articulate why they chose the school, as our parent did. S reported that kids did not break out into cliques before & after revisit events. He liked the other students he saw, both current KHS students and prospectives on revisit. A number of faculty had previous careers, e.g., as a US Navy nuclear engineer before becoming a teacher of physics. Eclectic mix of honors/AP types and 30% or so enrolled in the learning center (some of whom are also enrolled in the toughest part of the curriculum). Perfect mix, from our perspective. Extraordinary facilities for 230+ students. Two turf fields. Brand new athletic center that would be the envy of a school with 5-10 times the number of students. State of the art technology present in most classrooms (and presumably coming to the remainder). Remodeling former gym as art center. Building new learning center. KHS learning skills director has been working this field for 30 years. Remote setting, although Augusta, ME is but 15 minutes away & Portland, ME is just an hour down the Maine Turnpike. Fencing team beat Exeter, but football program is in a building phase; snow sports well established. FA met need. A bit of a hidden gem, this school.</p>
<p>D - St. Mark’s School: A class act. SMS characterizes itself as smart yet caring, and the School came across that way during revisit. Presence of so many suburban Boston kids made D wonder if she’d fit in, but revisit went a long way toward addressing this concern. Mom & I both noted the articulate, sharp nature of the faculty and administrators, while D felt the classes & students would raise her game. I bumped into a random member of faculty crossing the campus & stopped to ask for directions. He gave them then asked my name. When I told him, he immediately named my daughter and form to which she was applying. (I still have no idea who he was but can say for certain that he was not the admissions director.) SMS’ outreach program began during admissions and continues to this moment, with contact from students, parents, and even, from a trustee. It was a pleasure to work with the SMS FA team. Impressive school, firing on all cylinders. Wow.</p>
<p>Sorry, if it would help, I did not talk about Middlesex layout. built on a quad circle like Groton, but here you can walk across, even play frisbee on it! Beautiful facilities, art, science, athletics, all top rate especially for a school with only 360 students. Beautiful observatory and warm atmosphere.</p>
<p>Revisit: Saint Mark’s and Loomis Chaffee</p>
<p>Saint Mark’s revisit;
- Nice location! I really like it!
- Nice, kind, and friendly facuties and staffs. They already know my name.
- Small size(total 320 students) and close relationship with faculties are merits to me
- good presentation from their current teacher, current parent, and current students,
and chamber orchestra. - I thought the facilities are not very good. However, after about half day at Saint Mark’s, I realized that their new modern buildings like Performance hall, Science building, and Art building are first rate. I am sure the school will be a big shot once the main building renovation is completed.
- I received a handout about their past college matriculation and I counted – about 15% of their seniors go to Ivies and MIT. I asked the data about the current seniors. They said that 60% of them already received admissions from top schools as early actions or early decisions. About 40% of them are waiting for regular admissions.
One student who received admission from MIT gave a talk about her school lfe, and it sounds like the school was a really good experience for her. - I went to their real classes, and I like the way they interact with faculties in the classes. Teachers are great and kind. The class modd is excellent
Overall, it’s awesome!</p>
<p>Loomis revisit:
- It is not suburb and I’d say it is rather rural location.
- Dorm is nice
- Not so much attracting force
- Maybe the size(nore than 700 students) is too big to me.
- Day student is more than 40%. I am not sure if it is a good thing or not.
- I heard their acceptance rate was more than 40% last year. I heard that from the current student. I don’t know about this year’s rate.</p>
<p>My conclusion; I am not sure 100% now. But my parent and I almost decided to go to Saint Mark’s. Please wish me a good luck!</p>
<p>Ahh! I’ll write about my two revisit experiences tomorrow… just wondering, GTM, what day did you go revisit Loomis, and what grade/age are you? (:</p>
<p>Check out my Milton revisit thread for my input:)</p>
<p>Cant wait to revisit St. Marks. We go on Wed.
From the time of acceptance my S has felt a connection, coaches calling current parents too.
Loved the video the kids made.</p>
<p>I visited Saint Mark’s school last Sat. It was so great and te school seems to be much better thatn I thought. I love it. People are so nice and I agree with gtm. Its college matriculation is great. The only thing was the main building outlook. But they have many new buildings such as performance art hall and science buildind, etc. they are building two turf fields and they have a plan to renovate the main buildings. I love it so much. I actually accepted and sent the contract today. I will be there from this Fall as a new Saint Marker.</p>
<p>Blown away by revisits at Blair and Kent!!! This has been a learning process for me; I now appreciate how vital it is to look beyond the name of the school and at the substance of what the school offers a particular child. The “sink or swim” environment only suits a few children. These schools and others are truly underappreciated jewels of secondary education!!!</p>
<p>hockymomof three,</p>
<p>I heard that the number of people on Wednesday’s revisit is a bit less than last Sat. I don’t know if it is good or bas. But it may be better since you may have a better chance to interact with faculties and staffs.</p>