Eagle Hill School - Review #2

The Eagle Hill School in Hardwick, MA, is an institution that that stands out among the rest. The faculty at EHS provide their students with the attention and patience that most schools do not or cannot provide. Classroom sizes range from 2 - 6 or 7 students. It's like having a personalized tutor for every class you take. That alone separates the school from all others. It's an incredible gift.

The Eagle Hill School changed my life. Although the school provided the path, I made the choice to walk it. Many people throughout their lives will never have the opportunity to attend a school like Eagle Hill. Just like every other school, many students don't fully take advantage of golden opportunities. Before I attended EHS, I had a 1.7 GPA and I lacked confidence emotionally and physically. I didn't think I was capable of going to college. I knew that my grades weren't strong enough, especially with the competition of students in this generation. After a great deal of work and effort, I graduated from Eagle Hill with a 3.9 GPA and I will never forget the afternoon that I received my letter of admission to Hofstra University. It's proudest moment of my life.

I wouldn't change anything. My advice to you is to believe in yourself and to put down any guard you might have. Life is too short.

Eagle Hill gave me an opportunity and I took it. I am forever grateful.

My advice is to check out the new cultural and visual arts center. It's a breathtaking site and will provide a tremendous opportunity for artistic growth.

What I liked most about the academics at Eagle Hill was the awareness the faculty provided, both academically and socially. Students are able to move at a pace that suits them although they are expected to meet the same requirements as everyone else. The institution also knows the ability of each and every student. In public schools, students are a dime a dozen and it's physically impossible for each faculty member to truly provide the necessary attention that a student deserves. Since Eagle Hill has around 150 students, almost every student interacts with each faculty member. In addition, many of the faculty members participate in weekend and after school activities. This allows the students to bond academically and socially with the faculty. In theory, they become your mentors and your friends.Students are required to participate in study hall every evening. When I attend EHS, it was a mandatory 2 hours and I believe the schedule has not changed. Many faculty members are present during study hall. Imagine asking for help with your homework from the actual teacher? It was so helpful.

Almost every student participates in sports. Like every other school, some sports are more competitive than others. As a basketball player, our team loved playing other rivalries and it gave us something to look forward to after class. Many schools recruit athletes while Eagle Hill does not. The school is not known for its athletic competitiveness although many of the students at EHS are exceptional athletes.Another great aspect of the athletic program is that the teachers often coached the teams. It was just another way for us to bond with them after school and in a different environment. The gym and athletic facilities are state of the art.

When I attended EHS in 2001, the school lacked a visual arts, music, and theatre program. Meanwhile, the school is in the process of building a multi-million dollar cultural arts center. The facility should be open by October. Once the building is available for use, students will have every opportunity to participate in after school visual arts, music, and theatre programs. When I visited the school two weeks ago, I truly couldn't believe my eyes. Eagle Hill now looks like a university rather than a boarding school. This new visual arts center will attract so many new and unique students.

There are dozens of extracurricular activities that students can choose from. Groups range from clubs such as chess and board games to student council opportunities and amnesty international. Students have the availability to participate in political, social, and recreational groups. Since the school is so personalized, students can often create and/or request groups that may interest them.

The school has changed dramatically since I attended. Now, students live in a state of the art dorming facility with Internet, common rooms with large flat screen TV's and telephones in each room. A major beneficial aspect of boarding school in general is that students learn to live away from home and they are much more prepared socially than the average public school student that lives at home. The dorms at EHS are very similar to most colleges and the rooms are new and spacious. Students must keep their rooms clean or they will lose certain after school privileges such as "free time". This allows the students to learn that there a repercussions when rules are broken. Many parents fail to establish these boundaries.

The food is delicious and is run in a "buffet" style atmosphere. A salad bar is present at every meal which allows the students to make healthy choices. Students are not required to assigned seats and the quality of food is great.

The town of Hardwick, Massachussetts is small and quaint. It's a perfect scenario for boarding school students. To be honest, there isn't much excitement that goes on in town. The lack of entertainment in Hardwick keeps the students on campus and the school provides all the entertainment a student could possibly want. Most students prefer to stay on campus grounds.

I have made lifetime friends from Eagle Hill. Most of us shared many similar stories and experiences. After all, we all went from being underachievers to excellent students. Unlike the social atmosphere at home, you actually get to live with the students on campus and that was a wonderful opportunity. Some of my most memorable moments in life occurred in the dorms on campus. Once classes were over, everyone just got socialize and it was like college and camp put together. It was a lot of fun.