<p>We seem to have a million and one threads like this about Exeter (with the same answers - ie Harkness) so I thought I'd make a thread like this for some other schools just for a bit of fun. </p>
<p>So people what makes Milton so special ?? </p>
<p>Miltness ??</p>
<p>I don't think Milton is special. I think it's a good school but has bit too much of something that I can't describe but that doesn't sit well with me.</p>
<p>i like their name :P</p>
<p>Milton is an incredible school. My year so far at Milton has probably been the best year of my life. The academics are challenging, the relationships are well balanced, and the everyone is finding out what they truly care about. Milton's Harkness tables and discussion based classes make class more interesting and enveloping than anywhere I have every been. The teachers care about you, the dorms parents care about you, and it is hard not to come by a wealth of friends.</p>
<p>Weeble -- Have you actually been a student at Milton? Don't pass judgement until you've sat through a full day of classes, met the students and faculty, and had a delicious lunch in Forbes dining hall. Thank you :)</p>
<p>There are a lot of things that make Milton special and different than other prep schools -- just as each of the other prep schools has something that makes them unique. </p>
<p>Milton is close to Boston, which makes the vibe a little more urban than most of its peers. Both boarding and day students can spend a lot of time in Boston. </p>
<p>Milton also has a boarding/day population that is pretty much evenly split, which is very distinct compared to other NE boarding schools. I can only speak as a day student, but I think this ratio is awesome ... I love having boarders - all the students in your classes have amazing perspectives and experiences, and you have friends from ALL over the world ... which is incredible! At the same time, because half the school is day, you don't feel like the only odd one at who is not going to a dorm at night. I think the boarders like having day students because it gives them more opportunities to come off-campus (they can stay over day students' houses) and more access to food (haha only partially kidding on that one.)</p>
<p>I would say that Milton is more known for the humanities than the scienes/maths, and think most would agree with me. The English program is extremely strong, probably the most dominant at the school, and the foreign language/history programs are also exceptional. That is not to say that the science/math programs are not strong, I think they just tend to be a little less in the central focus of campus; I think the majority of Milton students are humanities-oriented. With the addition of a new science building (which they have just started work on) and new advanced science classes (students can elect to take an additional full year of bio, chem, or physics or a full year advanced environmental science class), it seems to me that the science program is growing quickly. </p>
<p>In general, Milton's style of learning is very collaborative; someone already mentioned the harkness tables, and I think oddly enough this piece of furniture pretty much sums it up. In English and History classes, every day is student-discussion based. You do the reading, the the teacher will throw is some questions, but the expectation is for the students to direct the class discussion. Obviously, for the foundations of foreign language, lecture-style is more necessary, but as you get more advanced, the class takes on the style of an English class - this year, for my Spanish class, we read a new piece of literature every night, and come discuss it the next day ... and if its a poem, we have to write a short essay on it before coming to class. Even in science and math, the classes are student-inquiry-based, focused on discovering things yourself. In math, as you get up into higher levels, there is more lecturing as topics get more abstract and complex. </p>
<p>The arts program is another strong point at Milton. Most seasons, there are three productions going up, and the visual arts department will put up a student art show several times a year. There are four a-cappella groups on campus, and they often prepare songs for morning assembly (a great way to wake up!) A-cappella night is one of the most anticipated events of the school year, as are the two dance concerts. The orchestra is huge, and many students are also members of GBYSO, the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. Every two years, the chamber orchestra and chamber singers travel abroad. The jazz program is extremely strong, gets opportunities to play off-campus, and travels to South Africa every two years. Every two years there is a musical in the fall. There is also the opportunity to take instrument lessons on-campus, and the practice rooms are always open for students to use to practice as long as they are not pre-scheduled. </p>
<p>The sports program at Milton has many opportunities for all levels, as there are varsity, JV, and thirds (freshman) teams. The squash and tennis programs stand out in my mind as being the true powerhouses, traditionally for both genders, but other programs are very strong. This fall, the football team and boys' cross country team had an awesome seasons. The boys' hockey program is also traditionally strong (the ISL is particularly good for hockey, I think). The track team usually places well, as does the girls' soccer team and coed sailing team. </p>
<p>I think the Milton publications are also worth mentioning, as they are very popular campus activities. There are two newspapers and a literary/arts magazines, as well as many special interest newsletters. </p>
<p>Milton students themselves are a very interesting and very talented bunch. The student body is pretty activist, especially about environmental issues, and overwhelmingly liberal. There is no dress-code, so the campus is much less "preppy" in some ways than, for example, Deerfield. Although I would not call the student body preppy -- jeans are definitely the clothing item of choice -- there are a lot of cable knit sweaters, LL Bean moccasins, and polos (though I can't imagine anyone every popping there collar, and the last time I saw anyone with those pants with the little animals on them was 2005 haha)... as a whole I think its a pretty intellectual campus. The students are EXTREMELY involved, and often in many varying activities. You may find someone you thought was a total "jock", for example, singing and playing the guitar at Beatnik, the student coffee-house style talent show (my FAVORITE EVENT) hosted several times a year. Or maybe the quiet girl in your history class has an incredible voice and sings at Monday morning assembly. Most students are politically aware and opinionated. </p>
<p>I think Milton is AMAZING...It constantly hits me over and over again how lucky I am to be there. I can't imagine a better place to spend four years. </p>
<p>If you want more numerical information, here is the school profile for this year:
[url=<a href="http://milton.edu/academics/pages/colCoun_fs.html%5DAcademics%5B/url">http://milton.edu/academics/pages/colCoun_fs.html]Academics[/url</a>]</p>
<p>I hope that was helpful!</p>
<p>^ Holy crap.</p>
<p>1) Milton is close to Boston. </p>
<p>2) Those 50% Day students dominate!!!!! It feels less like the traditional all-boarding schools.</p>
<p>3) No dress code. Everyone dresses in sweats and jeans. </p>
<p>4) It's big. 700 something is on the bigger scale. </p>
<p>5) Campus is right next to the CEMETERY, and the Milton town is a craphole. </p>
<p>Milton feels like a public school basically.
I don't mean this in a bad way - my daddy and uncle went there and couple of my cousins are now there. IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A "BOARDING SCHOOL." If you visit and look around, the preppy WASP culture that is prevalent throughout any other NEB is not so prominent at Milton. It's more wealthy, smart Jewish Sox fans from Boston kind of thing... Excuse me for poor stereotypes, but just know it's not like the others.
However, it truly does provide excellent education + athletics, just as good as E/A in my opinion, and its college matriculation record is quite impressive. And like the person said above, the art building is amazing.</p>
<p>Is it very hard to get into Milton? What about the diversity at Milton?</p>
<p>For day students, how is the transportation? Is it provided by the school?</p>
<p>i visited milton and it does have a more urban feel to it than any of the other schools i've visited... and it's got like, the third highest ivy league matriculation record thingy... (that is, if any of you want to go to ivy league..)</p>