HEARTLESS-531
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- Joined
- Mar 27, 2010
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Guys,
Can someone make life decisions based on the recommendations of an on-line community?
I think so. Just to recap, I'm considering sending my daughter to a New England prep school.
Here's what you all said:
-Most of you recommended her boarding (staying at the school vice being a day student - or going home at night).
-Pick a school that fits the childs personality. A big name doesn't always work.
-Prep schools offer some big advantages - the obvious ones being academic and social.
Here was my impression of the four schools I visited:
DEERFIELD - Very polished. Western Massachusetts. They were very prepared for my daughter.
Campus tour with a recent grad (going to Cornell) and then a 30 minute interview with an admissions counselor. After my daughter's interview, I was invited in for a few questions Pretty much the same format for all the schools. Campus was beautiful. Isolated, yet close to Smith College, Williams, UMASS AMherst, etc. Tough curriculum. Close supervision of kids. Enforced dress code. Some of the kids looked like models. BB shirts and rep ties, you know the drill.
CHOATE:
Located in Wallingford, CT. 15 minutes from Yale?? More urban, Several busy roads criss cross the campus so I was a bit concerned. Facilities first rate. Big emphasis on sports. Tour guide was also a recent graduate but inappropriately dressed (skirt way too short for my 14 year old daughter).
Very strong curriculum and lots of extras available for the kids - study abroad, art, etc.
Admissions officer was very prepared and stylishly dressed. Nice guy who asked good questions.
ST GEORGE'S
Located in Newport, RI. OMG. This campus was incredible. Three-sided view of the ocean and Narragansett Bay. Admissions officer himself gave the tour. Enforced dress code. Smaller school - less then 400 kids. Have a custom 65 foot sail boat that takes the kids tothe Bahamas for study sessions year round. Work/study/sail type thing. Really got a feeling of family and togetherness at this school. Not sure where this schools lands on the prestige school but they just seemed totally focused and into theirkids.. Just had a nice feel to it and my daughter loved it. Great presentation. Dining room right outta Harry Potter Hogwarts School yo.
PHILLIPS EXETER.
Located in Exeter , New Hampshire. Tour guide was a 14 yo girl who kept saying 'um'. Drove me up the wall. Was also swinging her Exeter badge around incessantly. At one point I stopped, bought a bottle of water, and made a cell phone call. Honestly, lost interest. Interview was horrible. Interviewee thought I was European. I'm frickin' American,bro - Hockey Town born and bread. Dude seemed disoriented. Facilities impressive but again with the busy streets running through campus. I heard Andover was worse.
Love to hear anything else you all have to add. I just have to add this . Why is it that these schools are slacking on the dress code? If I am dropping 40 large on a school, my kid better be dressed to the nines. Am I just a fuddy duddy? I think this matters and instills a lot of pride in the kids. Remember Pattons 3rd Army with his soldiers wearing tucked-in ties in the heat of California's high-desert. Now that's an education
Can someone make life decisions based on the recommendations of an on-line community?
I think so. Just to recap, I'm considering sending my daughter to a New England prep school.
Here's what you all said:
-Most of you recommended her boarding (staying at the school vice being a day student - or going home at night).
-Pick a school that fits the childs personality. A big name doesn't always work.
-Prep schools offer some big advantages - the obvious ones being academic and social.
Here was my impression of the four schools I visited:
DEERFIELD - Very polished. Western Massachusetts. They were very prepared for my daughter.
Campus tour with a recent grad (going to Cornell) and then a 30 minute interview with an admissions counselor. After my daughter's interview, I was invited in for a few questions Pretty much the same format for all the schools. Campus was beautiful. Isolated, yet close to Smith College, Williams, UMASS AMherst, etc. Tough curriculum. Close supervision of kids. Enforced dress code. Some of the kids looked like models. BB shirts and rep ties, you know the drill.
CHOATE:
Located in Wallingford, CT. 15 minutes from Yale?? More urban, Several busy roads criss cross the campus so I was a bit concerned. Facilities first rate. Big emphasis on sports. Tour guide was also a recent graduate but inappropriately dressed (skirt way too short for my 14 year old daughter).
Very strong curriculum and lots of extras available for the kids - study abroad, art, etc.
Admissions officer was very prepared and stylishly dressed. Nice guy who asked good questions.
ST GEORGE'S
Located in Newport, RI. OMG. This campus was incredible. Three-sided view of the ocean and Narragansett Bay. Admissions officer himself gave the tour. Enforced dress code. Smaller school - less then 400 kids. Have a custom 65 foot sail boat that takes the kids tothe Bahamas for study sessions year round. Work/study/sail type thing. Really got a feeling of family and togetherness at this school. Not sure where this schools lands on the prestige school but they just seemed totally focused and into theirkids.. Just had a nice feel to it and my daughter loved it. Great presentation. Dining room right outta Harry Potter Hogwarts School yo.
PHILLIPS EXETER.
Located in Exeter , New Hampshire. Tour guide was a 14 yo girl who kept saying 'um'. Drove me up the wall. Was also swinging her Exeter badge around incessantly. At one point I stopped, bought a bottle of water, and made a cell phone call. Honestly, lost interest. Interview was horrible. Interviewee thought I was European. I'm frickin' American,bro - Hockey Town born and bread. Dude seemed disoriented. Facilities impressive but again with the busy streets running through campus. I heard Andover was worse.
Love to hear anything else you all have to add. I just have to add this . Why is it that these schools are slacking on the dress code? If I am dropping 40 large on a school, my kid better be dressed to the nines. Am I just a fuddy duddy? I think this matters and instills a lot of pride in the kids. Remember Pattons 3rd Army with his soldiers wearing tucked-in ties in the heat of California's high-desert. Now that's an education