Hi, I’m applying for boarding school for the 2016 year as an 11th grader. I have already interviewed at NMH, Exeter, Andover and Choate. I was personally too fond of Choate and probably won’t end up applying. I’m also considering Interlochen for film (if I can convince my parents).
I was looking for some other school suggestions, here’s a little bit about me
I play club level soccer and have been playing for 9 years (takes up a lot of my time.)
I’m a filmmaker, I take classes and write and direct my own short films, I’m considering film school for college.
I’d be looking for a school that is LGBTQ+ friendly and generally relaxed ( I liked NMH a lot for this reason.)
I have a 3.8 GPA, mostly advanced or AP classes, I also haven’t applied myself really so I could get better grade’s if I put in the effort.
I also am the VP and founder of my school’s quiddtich club.
I have a strong interests in the arts and English, I read and write a lot and I’m also involved with theater a little bit.
I’ve done summer programs at Yale and Oxford- taken classes.
If anybody can suggest other schools that I might be interested in that would be great! Thanks so much.
Ironically, for all the things you are looking for, Choate should be at the top of your list. Our son was laser-focused on film school his first two years there, founded the Choate FilmMaking Society, and produced this video for SMASS his sophomore year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk5xdVxqWYU
Choate’s Arts Concentration Program would enable you to produce films and even do a film-based Capstone project senior year. If Choate didn’t feel like a good fit for you, then it’s not the right place, but for everything else you list, it seems a perfect match. Maybe give it another look? NMH and Interlochen are definitely other good choices given your interests. Concord Academy also might be worth a look.
My visual artist daughter’s impression of Interlochen that she got during her summer camp at there and an admission tour during the camp was that it might be too focused in arts for high school students, unless you are a musician or dancer, where “right” age matters more than for a sculptor, or perhaps a film maker where general education and academics may matter more.
She felt that there are condensed academics and your art major but nothing else as your art major takes up so much time with seemingly minimal Non-dance sports with empty fields and gym at Interlochen. She didn’t want to commit herself fully and only into visual arts yet. She wants to study heavily in humanity and social/global issues first even if she ends up being a visual artist fully. Depends on the movies that you want to make, this could be a consideration for you too.
D was also very impressed with Choate’s Art Concentration.
Concord Academy
Nice video! Mercersburg is very relaxed and accepting, and my artsy, literary, academic daughter finds plenty to do there. No formal film program though.
I agree that Choate is an excellent school to look at in this area, so it is too bad you did not click with it. Also look at Hochkiss for film. I am not that familiar with their film program, but it looks good on paper. Concord, too, yes, but for 11th grade it is tough (only 2 new 11th graders last year).