Episcopal High School - Review #4

Episcopal is a really well-rounded school, and there is always something for everyone. Although you might find yourself in the minority in some cases, but people at EHS were really encouraging friendly regardless of who you were when I was there.

I have changed so much as a person. I learned so many good lessons on honor, relationships, and responsibility. It also wasn't bad becoming an expert on doing laundry before entering college. I am really grateful for my boarding school experience, and I will recommend it to anyone who is independent and is up for a challenge.

Definitely try everything the school has to offer and don't forget to be yourself!

I loved all the opportunities it had to offer and the teachers.

- Take advantage of the free laundry (that probably won't happen ever again) - The chocolate chip cookies at the snack bar are delicious! - Don't be scared to try something new!

Episcopal definitely prepared me for college. The work load and rigor at Episcopal constantly challenged me, and the amount of classes offered (AP and non-AP) allowed for enough flexibility in one's schedule that it allows you to dive deep into topics you love and also to explore new topics unfamiliar before. The teachers are pretty encouraging, and they are honest with you when evaluating your skills. They are also available for you outside of class during tutorial periods (usually right after classes end) and if you really need extra help, some teachers are willing to take you into their on-campus home! And as time goes by, your teachers start to become your coaches, mentors, substitute parents, and even friends.

Although I was not very involved in athletics at Episcopal, I will say that it is a big part of life on campus. Each Episcopal student has to fulfill 6 credits of afternoon sports (afternoon dance also counts). And to be honest, Episcopal has much more school spirit than the university I attend now (Tufts). I remember a lot of people would show up for big home games, and almost everyone (including alumni) goes to the Game with our big rival school, Woodberry Forest. I still remember a lot of cheers that we use in the Game, and I can't even sing one Tufts fight song in its whole entirety! In terms of diversity of sports available, there is a wide selection. And people are definitely encouraged to try something new when they first arrive by their teachers and fellow peers.

Every student at Episcopal is required to fulfill one arts credit (with most arts credits being 0.5 credits). There are so many options available for students. We have a superb arts center with a dark room for photography development, a recording studio that can easily hold a full band, and countless other supplies and resources for music and the visual arts. My favorite part of the Arts Center is definitely the Angie Newman Gallery, where the school often hosts displays of student work, faculty work, and work from artists outside of the school. The National Chamber Players also comes to Episcopal to play for free and many of their members are instructors for students playing their respective instruments. It really is a fabulous program and is well utilized.

There are a lot of clubs at Episcopal, the most popular being the Service Council. They organize and do a lot of philanthropic activities within the school and in the community. The Vestry also has a huge presence on campus, where the students help plan and maintain the spiritual life on campus. We also have one of the nation's largest Young Republican club, and John McCain is a notable alumni of our school. Our student-run performance group, SAPA, is also extremely popular, and they organize the largest student concerts every semester, where on-campus bands and singers are featured.

Dorm life is really cozy - the dorms are well-kept (literally, when I came to college, the first thing I saw myself missing was the niceness of Episcopal dorms), laundry is free, and there is always social activities going on. People are relatively friendly to each other, and you end up with really close friends. It's such a great experience, and the transition to college dorms was much easier.

The dining hall is a gorgeous place - one of the most well-kept places on campus, and from my 4 years of giving tours at Episcopal, the room has also generated the most compliments from parents. The meal hours are pretty strict, but as the years go by, you see yourself visiting the dining hall throughout the day to get a piece of fruit or a bowl of cereal. The majority of our meals are seated (meaning we sit in our advisories or rotation tables and students waiters serve us), but all breakfasts, week-end meals, and most dinners are buffet style. The food quality is decent, but you can get sick of it due to its repetitiveness. Student dietary restrictions are well-met, and the school treats the vegetarians and celiacs with really good care.

Episcopal High School is one of very few boarding schools located near a major metropolitan district - and the school definitely makes use of this great asset. Whether it be on an academic tour, a concert or play at the Kennedy Center, or just a fun night out with friends, I have experienced and learned so much from the city of Washington D.C. One of my most memorable times in the city was visiting numerous open houses of embassies around the world during a week-end in May my senior year. Another fun tradition of the school is participation in each president's inauguration. We are definitely located at the center of politics in America, and it is so enriching to be so close to major decisions that affect the nation and the world we are in.

The social life here is pretty fun - having D.C. close prevents one from being constricted to campus during the weekends. Episcopal can be hard to transition to if you are not used to living at large. However, there is always a place for everyone, and it is really up to you to define your time here. The community is pretty small, so word travels fairly fast about people. But overall, people are out-going and friendly to each other regardless of your background, and you end up making quite a few solid friendships.