<p>Hi everybody,
I applied to Andover, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, Milton, and Peddie for ninth grade this year, and I already know I was accepted to one. I was just wondering if any current student who attends a school like the ones mentioned above could advise me on study habits while at boarding school? Is there a certain way you study that you find effective, such as Quizlet, flashcards, memorizing, etc. How bad is the workload freshman year, and how do you find the time to balance everything, between school, sports, music, clubs, and friends? How hard is it to maintain a 4.0 GPA, and is it actually possible? How many people in your grade do you think have 4.0s, and are they all super introverted? How many hours a night do you spend studying, and do you find it stressful? Is everyone super competitive about grades, or does everyone collaborate together? Also, what is a typical night of homework look like? For example, is English/Humanities mainly reading or writing essays? Is Science mainly writing reports, or worksheets, or something like that? Sorry for all the questions, I'm super stressed out for next year haha and just really want to know about this from a student. If anyone could reply that would be great, thank you so much!</p>
<p>I’m in 11th grade at one of the schools mentioned above. For me, in 9th grade, HW was about 30 minutes per night per subject. Starting in 10th it;s about 45 minutes per night. AP classes will be more than that…You will have some projects that you will have to plan for.</p>
<p>English and history is mostly reading and the occasional paper. Math, science, and foreign language is mainly exercises. Of course you will need to study for tests. Depending on your school, you may have a mandatory study period after dinner.</p>
<p>Is life competitive? Sure. Is it cutthroat? No.</p>
<p>You need to balance time. The biggest adjustment for 9th grade will be being on your own for the first time, but everybody will be in the same boat. You can balance as a freshman. As a sophomore, if you’re a varsity player or doing some other high commitment EC, you will need to figure which of your other activities will decrease.</p>
<p>Do not go in with the expectation that you will maintain a 4.0; 97% of you will not, and that’s OK. You want to strive to be in the top quarter and not in the bottom quarter. Beyond that, get the most out of the experience.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you so much! And yes, I would be going in as a Varsity swimmer freshmen year, I talked about it with the coaches (given that I am accepted and choose to go, of course). </p>
<p>Sorry to bother, but another quick question: who exactly is considered to be in the “bottom quarter”? Is it mainly recruited athletes and legacies? I really can’t imagine who would be, seeing as everyone who attends is extremely talented in one way or another. And are these bottom quarter-ers people who don’t bother to study, or what? Why exactly are they in that position?</p>
<p>Everyone here deserves to be here. The ones that don’t will be asked to leave. But at the end of the day, if you have a class of 100, 25 by definition will be in the bottom. Once you’re in, nobody really talks about how they got in. For some it may be obvious. I really can’t say I know who is in the bottom. Someone may be pulling straight A’s in math and B’s in history. Like I said, that’s OK. That person will still go to a good college.</p>
<p>My son’s experience matches what skieurope says exactly. In last years’s entire graduating class, there were only 2 kids with a 95 average at graduation-- but colleges understand grades at these schools, and, as skieurope says, people still get into good colleges. The only thing I would add is that studying is DIFFERENT than it is at many schools, in part because the approach to learning is different. For example, you asked about memorization. While there is some memorization in language classes, that’s about it. My DS just had finals this week, and was saying that for both science and math, in middle school (he was a day student at a good JBS), he’d study his notes,his homework, and his quizzes, memorize formulas, and do great. Now the teachers take those formulas and homework problems and give you much more complicated problems on the tests, where you have to figure out what to use and use it in a new way. In history, instead of memorizing facts, they analyze primary source documents. It’s really interesting, and you learn a lot, but it’s not just memorizing.</p>
<p>Thanks again. Can you tell if you are in the bottom?</p>
<p>Okay, thank you so much! That is really helpful for me. Yeah, I figured that the colleges would understand, but it’s still nice to have that perfect 4.0 haha…</p>
<p>I’m going to jump in and ask a question because I also applied to two of the school mentioned. (I applied for 9th grade). And erm… what should one do if the teacher isn’t so great? I had a lot of bad luck with teachers this year so the night before the test I read the whole chapter and handwrite my own study guide. Is that helpful? Quizlet also kind of saved my life but I’m going to admit I’m a huge procrastinator. I understand procrastinating is not an option when attending such a prestigious school. My goals for High School are not to get anything beneath a 95 but we all know that is very difficult.</p>
<p>How does one juggle social life, sports, clubs, homework, and extra study things? (Like looking ahead the math chapter). And, If I’m currently taking Algebra 2 this year I should go on to Math Analysis (Precalc) next year but if I attend a school I have to take another math test right? If I do fine on the test then can I choose to take AB or BC?</p>
<p>^ Same here! Quizlet is a life-saver, and procrastination is a major problem. And tips on juggling social life would be nice too, since being social is really important for me.</p>
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<p>Having followed your past postings, I know the schools to which you’ve applied and your major EC. All I can tell you is the teachers are amazing. I doubt that issue will occur. That said, one of the other adjustments is that teachers are here to facilitate your learning; they are not here to spoon-feed. You will learn to become a critical thinker. As for what study tools you use, everyone is different. I do not use Quizlet, and I’m a top student. I read the texts, make some notes, practice some problems, and I’m good to go. YMMV.</p>
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<p>By not procrastinating. By limiting video game times, etc. The reality is, if you are coming from an environment where you are in class until 2, then do a couple hours of sports every season, four hours of piano, and have the lead in the school musical, one of those is going away. The school day is longer. There is more homework.</p>
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<p>Varies by school, but most likely for math and language, yes. In my case my 8th grade teachers and I gave recommendation for placement, and the testing confirmed. Will you be placed in CalcAB or BC without precalc? I doubt it.</p>
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<p>Time management again. There are plenty of opportunities for social interaction through EC’s, dining hall, study breaks, trips to the mall. At the end of the day though, this is a prep school, not Night at the Roxy.</p>
<p>@skieurope thanks a bunch! Wow, if I ever attend theses schools I better get straightened up.</p>
<p>These answered helped me a lot!</p>