<p>Hello everyone!
I am currently a student at the Hill School. I know when I was applying I used this site to find out more about it, but there wasn't much here. That being said, this is just me offering to answer any questions you might have about the Hill (in Pottstown, PA).
I promise I don't bite!</p>
<p>How would you describe your rivalry with Lawrenceville? ;-)</p>
<p>Hahahaha good question.
Our rivalry is intense, to say the least. Think about it, we spend an entire week pepping up for one day of competitions! But at the same time, I think it’s a respectful rivalry. We have our own (slightly crude) traditions, just as I am sure L’Ville does, but at the end of the day I think we accept that we are all high school students. Last year, L’Ville’s headmaster actually came and spoke to us at Hill and got a standing ovation from the crowd.
That doesn’t mean we feel bad for them when they lose to us, of course!</p>
<p>How would you describe the competitiveness for a sport that is tryout based such as girls or boys basketball?</p>
<p>It definitely depends on the sport, since all are try-out based for varsity. However, girl’s golf is much less competitive than girl’s lacrosse.
I would say that the most competitive sports here are (for guys): football, ice hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. For girls: soccer, squash, field hockey, and lacrosse.
Although Hill does have a sports requirement, you are invited to also try an afternoon activity, such as theater, debate, pit band, or community service. Anything you do will be focused and intense, but also fun (at least in my opinion!)</p>
<p>“It definitely depends on the sport, since all are try-out based for varsity.” Does this mean that JV sports are not try-out based?</p>
<p>Hi again, sorry for the late response and confusion. JV sports are all tryout based (just like varsity and thirds teams), but as would make sense, you are more likely to not get cut from JV than varsity. Did you have any particular sports you were interested in?</p>
<p>That’s alright! I imagine your schedule must be pretty busy. I was looking into girls basketball specifically.</p>
<p>I know girls are supposed to wear the blazer and an appropriate length skirt/dress or pants, but other than that, is the dress code strict?</p>
<p>@confusedonhades
We are actually on a short break right now, so I’m working on homework and sleeping :3
One of my close friends is on varsity girl’s basketball, and she said that tryouts were fairly competitive. If you have played varsity before, then you definitely have a good chance. If you don’t feel comfortable on varsity, there is <em>nothing</em> wrong with JV.
@keisha404:
I would actually say the guys have it a lot worse than the girls!
We are required to wear a blazer at all times during the academic day (unless your teachers state otherwise). Skirts are supposed to be four inches above the knee or longer and not form fitting, but a lot of girls push that to body-con skirts that are very short. A lot of them get away with it, but most don’t. You are also welcome to wear dress pants without rivets (the little button-like things at the corner of pockets) at any time. Shirts are supposed to be Oxford style blouses (button down with a collar) that do not expose any undergarments. On Wednesdays, girls are permitted to wear “conservative dresses” with a blazer. In the winter, dress code changes a bit to allow corduroys as well as turtlenecks and varsity letter sweaters in place of a blazer.
There is a LOT to say about dress code, so if you have any questions, just ask!</p>
<p>Does Hill recruit for sports?</p>
<p>Hill doesn’t ‘recruit’ specifically, but if they are looking for a star basket ball player, you are more likely to get in. PGs also come here FOR something. As in, “he’s a hockey PG” etc.
So no, we don’t specifically send out letters recruiting people, the coaches have a huge say in the acceptance and application process.</p>
<p>Sorry for the vagueness. I meant once your already accepted. For example if they see you play will they say “hey you should tryout for so and so sport” or “you should come and be on my team”.</p>
<p>Absolutely. The track coach even saw one of my friends running and told her she should quit tennis and run instead! But yes, if they know you play a sport, they will ask you to tryout or play for them.</p>
<p>Can you tell us more abt Tennis (JV and varsity level) and also can you tell us more abt community service offered and Debate too. Can you describe what is your typical schedule for academics, sport, community service how do you manage time? how are weekends typically?</p>
<p>Hi alwaysaparent! This response might be a bit long, but hopefully I will be able to answer all of your questions!
Tennis: I actually played tennis my freshman year. I was awful (yay for thirds) but it was my first time playing and I had an insane amount of fun. My coach was always very willing to help and I would have easily made JV had a decided to try out again. Usually, there is not a thirds team, so tryouts can be very competitive. This year they cut about 8 girls from JV, including my roommate. However, this was not a problem for her Hill offers many options for the afternoon.
One girl in my dorm is on varsity tennis and she is kept very busy by it. I would guess that they have anywhere from 1-3 games a week, any many of our competitors are far away (such as L’ville). However, she’s only said good things about it and was very upset when she sprained her ankle and was unable to play.
As for community service, I’m assuming you mean as an afternoon activity and not in general. I have not had the chance to do it yet, since I am extremely involved in technical theater. That being said, I know that they frequently act as tutors for children at local elementary schools. They also go to the retirement homes in the area to spread happiness. One time, instead of having tennis practice, my team went to clean up and replant the garden for a halfway house near the school. Basically, community service does a bunch of activities, most of which I’m not aware of!
Our debate team is very strong, but two of our best debaters are graduating this year. Our rival, L’ville, and The Hill first debated during our competition weekend two years ago. This year (and the year before!) Hill easily won. Sometimes, the debate team will travel to compete in larger competitions.</p>
<p>My daily schedule is as follows:
Wake up: 7:30
Breakfast (mandatory check in only for freshmen): 8:00
First Period: 8:25
Second Period: 9:10
Third Period: 9:55
Chapel/Advisery: 10:40
Fourth Period: 11:10
Fifth Period: 11:55
Lunch: 12:40
Sixth Period: 1:20
Seventh Period: 2:05
Eighth Period: 2:50
School Ends: 3:30
Afternoon Activity (depends on what it is!): 4:00
Dinner: 5:30
Study Hall: 7:45
Final Check In: 10:15
Lights out: 11:00
I take 7 classes, which is the most you are allowed to take. 6 are graded (Studio Art 3 Honors, Chinese 2, Algebra 2, Philosophy Seminar: Can Virtue be Taught?, Chemistry, and English 2) and one is non-graded (Orchestra).
During my free period, I either go to my dorm to finish homework, or hang out with my friends in a room above the Student Center.
After dinner, I like to walk around the track and just relax. However, some nights I have a lot of homework, so I end up going back to my dorm to start that. Study hall, which lasts from 7:45 to 9:45, is an extremely useful time. I am a huge procrastinator, so it helps me get my work done on time! After that, there is a half hour break during which I occasionally go to the grille or get extra help from my teachers. Then, there is lights out for freshmen at 10:30 and 11:00 for 4th and 5th formers.
There are a lot of variations to this schedule, but this is the basic.
Weekends are really only one day, but Saturdays are only half days and then check in isn’t until 11. On Sundays, I sleep FAR too late but end up going to brunch around noon. There is always a shuttle to Target and the movies, and teachers frequently plan trips to Philly or other fun places.</p>
<p>Hopefully I managed to answer most of your questions! Let me know if I can help with anything else.</p>
<p>Thank you so much. This is lot of help. You answered all my questions. Thanks you for taking time and giving us detailed answers with very useful information.</p>
<p>Now that M9 is approaching I find myself with yet another question.What do kids do about worship services? Does hold them on campus and have a Chaplin or do they make arrangements for to help you find one off campus?</p>
<p>Oh one more question? Since your admission decision is revealed online, when did you receive your log in info. I know they said mid to late February but I was just wondering around what day or week?</p>
<p>Hello again Confusedonhades,</p>
<p>I’m so sorry for the late response, I completely didn’t see these posts! Acceptance letters came out today, so hopefully you got in.
Briefly on worship services: you are required to attend one service a month. They offer 4 or more per month in the chapel, but they also offer meditation, a Quaker Meeting, and many others. If there is something you are looking to do, Hill is very happy to help you find one.</p>
<p>Also, bumping this thread since people might have more questions starting today!</p>