<p>I'm a sophomore girl at The Taft School in CT, and I would love to answer any questions you guys may have about the school, admissions process, academics, EC's, sports or just boarding school life in general.</p>
<p>Heres some background info about me, and feel free to ask away!</p>
<p>I think what I’ve seen constantly since day 1 is just the overall friendly, kind, and supportive atmosphere where everyone wants to see you succeed and do well. From teachers, friends, advisors, monitors and dorm parents everyone is always there for you and is rooting for you 110% of the way through the day you graduate. It’s definitely a really warm and close knit community that doesn’t let anyone slip through the cracks and that doesn’t let any achievement (academic, EC and athletic) go unnoticed.
That’s probably what I like most about the school, and knowing that I have that constant support with everything I do, and with any struggles that happen along the way. 2nd to that I would have to say the dorm life and having monitors from upper grades who pretty much serve as mentors to all of us, and how the closer buildings really tie together the community feeling.
I’ve been asked what I like least countless times through tours and other friends and I honestly can’t think of anything. (I swear I’m telling the truth and not being forced to say that!) If anything I would have to say exams which are fast approaching, or the dreadful days when the ice cream machine is off. :)</p>
<p>So glad you have had a good experience so far. </p>
<p>Is there a particular sort of kid that the school seems to serve best? I am guessing it would be a kid with great grades already firing on all academic cylinders, who is willing to work hard, has good time management skills, and is socially an extrovert. But I won’t put words in your mouth…you tell me your opinion. And others familiar with Taft, feel free to chime in. We have one child in boarding school currently, and are beginning to mull over what might be right for child #2. </p>
<p>And this is sensitive, but I’ll throw it out there because I think I’ve got enough good will on this board to be taken as a sincere question. Over time, it seems there have been some schools where the admissions/tour process has seemed a little cold and off-putting to some of the applicants, and Taft has been mentioned as one of these. I’m not sure that the reception one receives in admissions is necessarily reflective of the experience one can expect once on campus, but I was hoping you could comment, especially since your experience with the school has been warm and friendly.</p>
<p>And here’s hoping that ice cream machine stays on! :)</p>
<p>I’m a mom - but I went on the interview tour so I’ll give you my opinion on that. We were at the tail end of a whirlwind tour of schools and of all of them, Taft was the friendliest. Faculty interaction in the reception area and in the hallways was jovial and upbeat. And our student tour guide was hilarious, pointing out the “local wildlife” (kids in love), the faculty pets in case my D was homesick and wanted to play with one, etc. At other schools the guides seemed to just go through the motions including my alma mater where our guide wouldn’t get off her script even after I explained I was an alum and my D had done summer school there. Ugh.</p>
<p>So I wonder if the tone is dependent on who you get? We had a “cold” experience at another school with two people but later discovered from other parents it wasn’t reflective of the campus experience.</p>
<p>My experience so far has been - it’s a school that actually likes its students and there’s a good mix of introverted and extroverted kids there. The summer before you arrive you’re assigned a Senior who stays in touch and meets you on move-in day. Our “old girl” helped her find her mailbox, showed her where all her classrooms were, took her to meet her teachers. This year my daughter was an “old girl” and she answered calls all summer to help the incoming student get acclimated (what clothes, what binders, etc.). So that was a plus for us. You’re not left to twist in the wind on arrival.</p>
<p>Probably just goes back to the school “fit” us where others might not have. We love it (and yes - the world ends for us too when the ice cream machine goes down! But there’s so much else in the cafeteria, we make it work )</p>
<p>Sounds great, Exie. Don’t want to hijack this thread, but other schools where some seem to see it as friendly and some as cold have been Lawrenceville, Groton, and to a lesser extent, Peddie. I’ve been puzzled, but didn’t need to pay attention until now, as DC #1 didn’t have these schools on the list. </p>
<p>Perhaps, as you say, it really does just come down to school ‘fit’. Still, one cannot visit them all, so it gets tricky in compiling a list.</p>
<p>Several years ago, I conducted a study on elite boarding schools’ college placement. Out of over 40 schools, Taft was the only one which refused to co-operate (although one NJ boarding school sent falsified information) despite several Taft parents trying to help. The gist of the issue is that most elite prep schools try to attract students & their families with claims about college placement, but then refuse (in Taft’s case) to back them up. Consumer fraud ? Not sure, because we never got any data.</p>
<p>To be clear: This says little about the quality of education offered by Taft nor does it address suitability issues. I was just surprised & disappointed. And consumers remained uninformed.</p>
<p>I am extremely passionate about languages as well as community service. What kind of opportunities are offered at Taft for either of those two. Also, how much wait does Taft put on scores. I have good grades and interview well. However, I got a 68 percentile on the SSAT in November and I will be retaking it in December to hopefully get my scores up.</p>
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