<p>For the software-integration issue, I wouldn't worry. The only thing you would really need is a word processor. You can even get that for free though (OpenOffice).</p>
<p>i would say its like 50/50 too.
it does not really matter what kind of computer you have. it just goes down to which brand you like better. and i would say most kids do have a computer. i dont really know anyone who doesnt have one...</p>
<p>My daughter will be returning to SPS for her senior year after spending a year in Italy with SYA. We are from the west coast and did not have strong opinions about east coast boarding schools even though her father attended Lawrenceville. She chose SPS for many reasons but the most important element of SPS that we have come to appreciate as parents is the close knit community at Millville. They do not let the kids fall between the cracks. My daughter's transition to an east coast boarding school was not smooth. She took advantage of the freedom part of "freedom with responsibility" ... SPS helped her find the responsibility portion of the equation. I am pleased this maturing happened at SPS and not in college!</p>
<p>She is a smart creative soul who questions.</p>
<p>By the way, they are planning a learning center for those kids who discover while under the pressures of SPS that they might have learning issues. </p>
<p>Now that we are looking at colleges, it is tempting to wonder that if she had stayed home, her grades would probably have been better and her prospects for a top college better but the experience at SPS has been life changing and will better her overall success in life.</p>
<p>I am thrilled to learn that Stanford is now top of the list for SPS grads and that 4 turned Harvard down this year ... a possible broadening viewpoint.</p>
<p>MQD Nice testament.</p>
<p>
</a></p>
<p>SPS News
[quote]
Girls Crew Places Fourth in U.S. at Nationals
6/17/2008</p>
<p>Competing in Cincinnati, the SPS girls crew finished fourth in the nation as a result of a strong finish in the "A" final at the USRowing Youth Invitational - the nationals - on Harsha Lake at East Fork State Park.
The Big Red finished a stroke behind New England rival Phillips Exeter in Sunday's national title race for women's eight with coxswain. Two California-based crews - Marin Rowing Association (6:33.66) and Los Gatos Rowing Club (6:36.93) - edged the New Hampshire crews to place first and second, respectively. Exeter (6:37.39), St. Paul's (6:38.61), Community Rowing of Boston (6:40.05), and Green Lake Crew (6:52.07) followed.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>In case you did not see it..... The Langley Parkway is now open. So before we return in September the Silk Farm entrance will be closed. It will make the drive from Interstate 89 a couple of minutes longer.</p>
<p>(Instead of taking a left off the Exit 2 ramp, motorists will instead turn right onto Clinton Street until they reach the sign for the Langley Parkway. Turning left on the Langley Parkway will take vehicles to the traffic light on Pleasant Street across from Concord Hospital. A left on Pleasant and a half mile of following that road will bring visitors to the main entrance of St. Paul's.).</p>
<p>This should eliminate a lot of traffic and will eliminate the public drive through campus. After 50 years of discussion, lawsuits, enviormental concerns, IT IS DONE AT LAST.</p>
<p>We are looking at SPS (and one other) -- we're from West coast. When do students travel alone to/from BS? And is going to Boston or Manchester best route for SPS? And what are the specifics of getting from B or M to SPS? Nearest family is couple states away and won't be of help.</p>
<p>Manchester is closest - about 1/2 away. Flights can be more expensive than Boston, though. The school runs bus service to both airports at vacation time, as well as NYC airports.</p>
<p>NYC -- I hadn't thought of that. </p>
<p>Glad to hear there is school bus service at vacation time! I had thought there might be, but didn't see anything saying that.</p>
<p>Rector's Fall Convocation Address</p>
<p>News story dated 9/8/08</p>
<p>Does this mean St. Paul's is changing its rules about lights out or mixing the 9th-12th graders together in dorms?</p>
<p>Nope. Not sure how you got that impression from his address, Old1.</p>
<p>In case anyone wanted to know, here are some changes they've made to things this year:</p>
<p>-third formers now check in at 9, forms 4 and 5 at 9:30, 6th form at 10</p>
<p>-there is no seated meal in winter anymore, instead there are twice a week informal advisee dinners (this is an improvement in my opinion)</p>
<p>-winter term schedule is rolled back by a half hour, so chapel starts at 8:30 and the day follows normally, with green blocks eliminated to account for the time</p>
<p>-winter break has been shortened by about a week</p>
<p>and (this isn't new this year but I hadn't noticed it)</p>
<p>the security guys ride segways.</p>
<p>hahahaha</p>
<p>Hi Adsum, winter break shortened, do you mean Christmas break? Seems about the same, Dec 19, returning Jan 5th. Spring break appears longer than the norm starting Mar 1st, returning Mar 22nd.</p>
<p>Winter holiday break (Christmas/New Years) is the same as last year - about 2 1/2 weeks. March break is one day shorter than 2007-08.</p>
<p>Creative: Thanks for posting the Rector's Fall Convocation. I read it but the audio is even better. It gives the emotion and brings it together in a coherent fashion that the mere reading did not. Thanks!</p>
<p>hey-i'm a third former at st. paul's
the 9 pm check in is not very good, but it's better then having to spent two hours for study hall in your room...after check is usually when i get all my work done...
internet shuts off at 12 [which is annoying but insanely helpful] and so far we haven't been getting much work
it's a really cool place...if you have any questions you want answers to about boarding school/sps you can ask me...i know things like dating / hookups and how dances are and questions like that are hard to ask here but definetly helpful to know so you can pm me if you need anythinggg :)</p>
<p>My son is a 5th former. "The more things change, the more they are the same." When I was there, 3rd formers were required to be in their rooms at 9:30 and lights out at 10. I was a 6th form supervisor (now proctor) and one of my jobs was to see that this was enforced and they were not reading in their closets or under the covers. Ah.... well Sailor_chica, I hope you survive the rigors of well intentioned rules.</p>
<p>While I hate the ranking conversations that inevitably devolve into a worthless competitive tangle of hurt prides..... I started this thread so I will take the liberty of posting here the 2008 PrepReview rankings, which once again show SPS as #1. I will not do this on the “ranking” threads because …. Well…. Enough said. If you like St. Paul’s, then be proud. As you make know, this is a paid subscription site (unlike the US News and Wall Street Journal sites) that the schools provide data to for their own tracking purposes. </p>
<p>They rank based on College admissions, based on Ivy’s plus MIT and Stanford. They also track average SAT’s, student:faculty ratios, AP courses etc. Their 2008 survey ranks schools as follows, based on their own self reporting:
1 St. Paul's School
2 Deerfield
3 Milton
4 Groton
5 Middlesex
6 Andover (tied)
6 Exeter (tied)
8 Nobel & Greenough
9 St. Albens
10 Lawrenceville</p>
<p>Average SAT scores, SPS was third behind Groton and Exeter, in a close comparison.</p>
<p>Last year I understand 5 students were accepted by Harvard, but only one chose to go (may have changed after year end). So numbers are always confusing. Students also write occasionally illuminating reviews. For 2007, only one student (U. of Penn) provided a review. It was as follows:</p>
<p>Academics</p>
<hr>
<p>Courses: Quality and availability of courses at St. Paul's School is quite extensive- the school's Humanities program is highly emphasized, as History and English is combined into a kind of double course that is quite effective. Math courses extend from Vector and BC calculus to Geometry. Each course in the sciences and Mathematics have honor sections. There will be a new math/science building in the works, as the current ones are starting to show their age. Teachers: Extremely helpful and very available for extra help/independent projects suggested by a student. A lot have PhDs- most are ex-college professors from very good schools (Ivys etc.) Class size: small, intimate. Effective. Work Load: You will need to work hard for classes- but there is help available for tutors, study halls,etc. Overall: School does not over emphasize student's exams. They pride themselves on encourage a holistic learning approach.</p>
<p>College Counseling</p>
<hr>
<p>You will start discussing college selections by sophomore year, and then assigned a counselor that more with you independently through selections to deadlines. They work hard to get to know you to emphasize strengths/weaknesses. Almost always available in their offices and the greatest part is-because most teachers/counselors either live on campus or give you their home telephone number,- you can contact them outside business hours. Its fantastic. Since almost a third of St. Paul's students go to Ivy leagues and other top tier schools (i.e. Stanford, Swathmore, Williams, Middlebury, Duke, UVA etc) this system is very effective. Personally, I was very satisfied, I was accepted to my Ivy League (Wharton) first choice on an early decision.</p>
<p>Admission Process</p>
<hr>
<p>SSATS should be taken, aim for 83 and higher if possible. School will take a full range of students, from athletes to students with particular skills and those that are well rounded. School likes to have well rounded class with different personalities. Admissions interviews is almost always required, it is formal so one should present themselves in formal dress. Questions are relaxed, ask about interests positive qualities, why they are looking at schools and different questions to get to know you. No trick questions, but a good idea is to have discussed the answers to possible questions ahead of time and have a list of accomplishments/ strengths. Parents and students can be involved. Feeder schools are not needed.</p>
<p>Extracurricular Activities</p>
<hr>
<p>Activities: Athletic: have three houses/ clubs that students are randomly assigned and stay with until graduation. They are involved in club level sports and have tournaments that are highly attended. School does not have the most enthusiastic school spirit in all sports. Sports that are offered are very extensive, including a FANTASTIC 32 million dollar gym and pool. Beautiful 2000 acre with ponds and streams, make walks and runs beautiful and Rowing fantastic as well. (also brand new expensive double story boat house with very expensive boats offered) Outside: A lot of clubs by students are offered and easily created. The newspaper-The Pelican- is a very strong program, although demanding.</p>
<p>Quality of Life</p>
<hr>
<p>Quality of Life Food: B-B+ Cafeteria looks like hogwarts, eating hours are not a long as desired for dinner, but the food is always rotated, hardly ever repeated, and big holiday feasts are big deals and excellent. There are also twice a week sit down formal seated meals, that afterwards convene with coffee and tea that acts as a relaxed session that is highly social and mandatory. Housing: A-B Depends on the house, some room are even double story. But all have excellent heating, are not falling apart, and are not infested with mice or bugs. I have never seen a roach and/or mouse my entire time I attended St. Paul's. Some are farther away from classes, so it depends. Each dorm is equipt with a full kitchen and several common rooms and computers. Crime: A+ (BASICALLY NONE) Highly dedicated private security for campus, and crime is basically non existent. Stealing happens a lot more at college by other students then at St. Paul's. The worst you will probably have taken from you will be a few bagels or old take out you left in the fridge and forgot to label. Neighborhood: C, Concord is small and not particularly exciting, but Boston is an hour away by a 8 $ bus ride. Campus: A+ (IT IS GORGEOUS!) Social Events: Excellent, as St. Paul's is all boarding, they care very much about what their students have to do on weekends. They also have 'surprise' holidays announced in the morning. Socio-economic background of students: Not so much middle class, around 25% of students have financial aid /scholarships, the rest ( 65 % or so ) are Upper class. They students are not very elitist however, and the schools tries to diversify their student body. Overall, the quality of life is what you make of it, but it is basically impossible not to love it there.</p>
<p>What a beautifully written review. St. Paul's School also came out as number one for comprehensive college placement--which rates all college matriculations for the most recent five years and is not limited to acceptances at the Ivy League schools, MIT & Stanford.</p>