Whats your BS expeirence?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>What were some schools you applied to and what you thought about them? I realize there are a lot of these, I just thought this would be interesting since I've read a couple of those and found them helpful. </p>

<p>Of course the HADES schools interest me along with Cate, Thatcher and a few other schools I am currently forgetting. I haven't toured them and I'm actually studying for the SSAT this summer.</p>

<p>So, even if its not these schools what was your application-touring and figuring out the atmosphere of your chosen schools-process like? What impressions did you get from the schools?</p>

<p>On a side note: Lets not make this a fighting thread like a few others have become. I'm just curious of other people's opinions on the atmosphere of their BS. (: Also If your a student (or was one) what was some of the things you liked best?</p>

<p>--and I typed this up fast, so sorry about grammar!</p>

2

<p>Bump :slight_smile: I think these answers would really help me and a lot of other applicants too</p>

3

<p>Wouldn’t they? I found a thread like this a long time ago before I joined and haven’t found it since. :(</p>

4

<p>I’m not a current student, but I’ll give you some insight on my experience applying for boarding schools.
I toured St. Paul’s, Andover, Exeter, Hotchkiss, Deerfield, Loomis and Choate
All were obviously EXTREMELY different.
St. Paul’s was the first tour I went on. The campus was gorgeous and spacious. The dorms were my favorite aspect, out of all the schools I’ve looked at I felt that St. Paul’s had the strongest community simply based on their dorms.
That being said, I do not like the chapel aspect so that was a negative for me.<br>
Andover has an amazing campus, my favorite of all of the schools. Driving to the admissions builiding we passed several students just walking around the town. I liked that the town of Andover was considered part of the campus. I liked the non-formal dress as well and the dorms were HUGE. Andover felt like normal high school, but obviously a billion times better. It did not feel preppy or anything boarding schools typically are stereotyped as. I was very impressed and would say that Andover was my favorite.
Exeter seemed cold to me. I liked the campus and the dorm set up a lot, they were like apartments. However, I didn’t feel like the town of Exeter was very much a part of the school the way the town of Andover is a part of Phillips academy. The library and science building were incredible, they left me awe-struck. All in all I was ‘wowed’ by Exeter but it was not the place for me I could tell. While all the kids I met were nice, I got a cut throat vibe.
I didn’t like Hotchkiss at all. It was in the middle of nowhere, and the dorms were old. The main building seemed to just stretch on forever. The boys were very attractive I might add haha but other than that I just wasn’t feeling Hotchkiss.
Deerfield’s campus was gorgeous. I like urban settings typically but the classic buildings and beautiful new england valley that Deerfield is situated in make the school stand out. The were singles, which is a positive aspect to me, might be negative to others. The science center was probably the coolest one out of all the schools, matched only by Exeter maybe. The athletic facilities were definately the largest and most modern of all the schools I visited, which made me feel the school is very athletic-oriented. Only negatives I personally didn’t like were the formal dress and the sitdown meals.
Loomis had an attractive campus. The key points I remember were that driving into it I thought it almost looked like a normal high school. The dorm quad was very nice (sorry I keep using that adjective over and over haha) Nothing in particular stuck out to me that made me love the school though. I ruled it out when I learned how many day students attend, something like 40:60. I don’t know if it necessarily is a suitcase school but that number was too high for my liking.
Choate was set in a cute town. I automatically was impressed with the facilities. We didn’t know what building was admissions and asked a student and they were so friendly and polite! This school, like Andover, reminded me of a ‘normal’ high school simply because the kids seemed so down to earth and not cut-throat. The hang out place was my favorite of all the schools, it was HUGE. There were flat screen tvs and a dance floor and a like cafe sort of thing. The dorms were mostly doubles I think, but they were very large doubles. An aspect I was unimpressed with was the common rooms. They didn’t seem cozy or like a place that people would want to hang out at. That literally is the only negative I could find from the school though. </p>

<p>I don’t know how helpful those observations were, but let me offer some advice: don’t buy into the ‘HADES’ thing. Yes, they are all wonderful schools, but I am SO happy I looked into other schools as well and really wish I would have looked at more. Had I gotten into Choate I honestly would have chosen it over any HADES school, no doubt in my mind. Hope I helped, good luck (:</p>

5

<p>Thanks!!!
I don’t know how but thats always the internet-vibe I got about Andover vs. Exeter. I have loved looking into Andover and weirdly got that home-vibe from just looking at it through the computer, but exeter always felt cold to be. Maybe it was just the stereotype i bought into but it was kind of clear even in photos that andover was more comfortable, or at least to me. Deerfeild- I’m not athlete! uh-oh! That one I’m looking into some more. Hotchkiss surprises me. There was a video on youtube from a student documenting their day and it almost seemed nice it was secluded and the students seemed really happy-and the guys were VERY cute! (that is agreed haha!) I haven’t looked much into St. Pauls so I can’t say too much on that but Loomis always gave me the same feeling you got too- It was nice but I never felt connected to it. Thanks for all the info- that was a longggg post! This will help- my parents need a limited list and living a LONG way away from BS I would like to apply to makes it hard! Thanks! (:</p>

6

<p>if anyone is interested in the hotchkiss video:
[YouTube</a> - ‪The Hotchkiss Day‬‏](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube) --I’m not sure if I’m allowed to post links, If this doesn’t work just search “hotchkiss” on youtube. Its the third down I believe! have to admit the ending scared me a bit! haha</p>

7

<p>thanks xxDAxx for posting that it helped me alot especially since I won’t be able to visit schools until revisit days but for the hotchkiss one since that was my main choice would you recommend it to someone who likes nature and being secluded? I personally am from the city and am dead sick of it so maybe hotchkiss would be good for me?</p>

8

<p>I am also not a current boarding school student, but I did apply to all the HADES and toured them all. This was done in two trips: An Exeter-Andover-Hotchkiss visit in November, and a St. Paul’s-Deerfield visit in early December.</p>

<p>Exeter was the very first one I saw (at 8am right after a red-eye flight…not fun), and I was pretty much blown away. My Dad and I were there on the day of the Andover-Exeter games, so our interviewer told us to go to the pep rally. We snuck into the back, and saw a tremendous amount of school spirit, as well as these stomp-beat-dance performances. My favorite thing though, was when the math team went up on stage and got as much cheering as the football team. Their reason for going up? “We’ve never lost to Andover in a math competition” =)
I’ve heard some people on CollegeConfidential saying that Exeter felt “cold” or “cutthroat”, but I didn’t get that feeling. I felt inspired, as in “all these great people went up these stairs and sat in these seats, and if they can accomplish great things, so can I”</p>

<p>Also that day, my Dad and I saw Andover (and saw the “Beat Exeter!” spirit too) and were led around by these two very nice, informative girls. We didn’t see too many students, since this was after school hours and most kids were in sports practices. However, the dining hall had a frozen yogurt machine and a tea bar. Other than that, I really don’t have too much to say, as I was falling asleep from traveling exhaustion.</p>

<p>The next morning, my Dad and I went to see Hotchkiss. I was only visiting Hotchkiss because a friend of mine goes there, but was 99% set on wanting a big, old school like Andover and Exeter.<br>
I fell in love with Hotchkiss. The scenery was beautiful, the buildings spacious and modern, and the students kind. The vibe I got was welcoming and students and teachers would willingly answer my questions. At Hotchkiss, I found the balance between a school big enough to run outside and make a new friend, and one small enough to have others reach out to you. It was my first choice from then on out.</p>

<p>@Plainjane23: I would recommend Hotchkiss to you if you enjoy nature. I later learned that the campus is HUGE (about 800 acres), and I would assume there are hiking paths around the lake. We also saw a map of cross-country runs, which could double as nature walks as well. I’m from a kind-urban kinda-suburban town, and the beauty of the campus completely knocked my socks off.</p>

<p>I don’t have time right now, but I’ll post a submission on Deerfield and St. Paul’s as well.</p>

9

<p>I think I had a unique application process. I started VERY late like in mid December. I never heard of a boarding school until the day before I applied. I only applied for two schools: Deerfield and Andover. Applying for Deerfield went much more smoothly than for Andover. For starters, I actually had friends that knew the headmaster and AO’s very well, so we could schedule an interview easily, and I was able to meet with the swim coach, who also wrote a reconmondation for my brother and I (I’m an identical twin, which might’ve added to my diversity factor). All I can say about Deerfield is that only SOME stereotypes are true about it. The campus is very beautiful and is supprisingly high tech (heated pathways for the winter :D). Many of the kids I met there were kind of up-tight and “snobbish”. I honestly didn’t fall in love with it. Andover was a completley different story. When trying to schedule an interview in december for an interview in january, all the slots were booked. We ended up getting a home interview, which I have to say did not go well at all! on second to last day of the application deadline, we called Andover to ask one last time if they had any interview spots or tour spots open. They told us that they just had a cancelation in one of their tours and we could take it for the next day. 20 minutes later, they call us again saying they have 2 interview spots. So we made it up to andover in 6 1/2 hours because of a huge snowstorm, which lead to the first delay of school opening at andover. The campus was AMAZING and so was the food! I literally cannot describe what Andover was like in words. it is Indescribable :D!I ended up getting accepted to both schools, and am now going to Andover starting in the fall as a freshman or “junior” along with my brother</p>

10

<p>(Continuation)
I also visited Deerfield, and really disliked it. The day I was there it was cold and rainy, and everyone seemed miserable. People may say “you just toured on a bad day”, but there’s going to be bad days at boarding school because there are bad days in life, and Deerfield seemed to me like a depressing place to be when you’re feeling down. Also, I didn’t like how they don’t have a mascot. Are they actually called “The Deerfield Doors”?</p>

<p>Later that day I also saw St. Paul’s, and even though the weather was lousy there as well, I still liked it. The library was beautiful and had a great view of the lake. It’s also a huge campus with a large forest. And the campus looked like Hogwarts!
However, I was turned off by the religious affiliation. I wasn’t raised religiously, and while I respect those who do, I thought it would be awkward to live there.</p>

11

<p>I found Deerfield campus the most beautiful setting. I found Andover too large teaming with students running around, kind of felt like a busy mall during Christmas season.</p>

12

<p>The biggest school I applied to was Peddie, and from the moment I stepped onto campus and witnessed interactions between students and teachers, I loved it. Now, of course, I was biased since I already had a sibling there, but it was true. When I toured, the student tour guide was amicable and genuinely glad to be there. When I interviewed, I immediately felt comfortable with my interviewer. He was happy, popular with students, and very free with me. I got to connect with him, which rarely happens. I made him laugh, he made me smile, and the conversation was like the ping-pong match, as we constantly contributed to the talk. He was inspiring, and egged me to think of ideas of how I would improve the Peddie community. I absolutely adored him.</p>

<p>My advice to all applicants is to stop being stuffy. Often in these interviews we tense up and respond with formal everything. I know at schools like Peddie, I can relax and be myself. Often schools would rather have personality than a stiff student. Always ask questions to the interviewer, do your research on the school beforehand and impress the interviewer with your knowledge of the schools, and don’t be afraid to be yourself. It worked for me!</p>

13

<p>@martay0 thanks for the recommendation about hotchkiss and wow 800 acres is A LOT :smiley: some of you guys said deerfield felt snobby or depressing can you expand on that? I had deerfield as my second option so this i really important for me thanks</p>

14

<p>@Plainjane23, I found Deerfield depressing because I didn’t see a single person smiling and they had the admissions office set up in this old, drafty building. Also, the library seemed unwelcoming and work-oriented, and I like libraries to be comfortable places to relax. Also, some of the buildings seemed to be in need of repair…I thought it was a miserable place to be when it’s raining.</p>

<p>That being said, I know a couple kids who go to Deerfield and love it, so it’s really your call to make.</p>

15

<p>@Plainjane23: I think I can expand on this. For starters, none of the kids were smiling or seemed to be having a good time in my opinion. Everyone was either rushing to class or studying for a huge test. My tour guides were somewhat enthusiastic. To explain the preppiness, you have to go there. It’s not just one thing, but the entire environment that makes the school “preppy”. I mean People wearing Vineyard Vines, J. Crew, and all those brands every day, along with being like a colonial town and having many rich kids go there are only some factors to the stereotype. I know that many would argue that many kids are on FA, but there are enough students who give into the snobby and preppy fashion that it almost defines the environment. That’s my point of view, and some people have different views, which I respect very much. Don’t get me wrong though, there are MANY good things about Deerfield to consider as well. (Great Athletics, especially lacrosse, more of a community, away from the fast paced life, more nature setting, amazing science facility, and great academics, which is a given at Deerfield and most NE prep schools)</p>