Pomfret School - Review #4

One aspect that makes Pomfret unique is the strong relationships that you build with the teachers and faculty members interacting with them in the classroom, at dinner, sports fields, or weekends. The teachers and faculty members of Pomfret truly care about your well being and advancement as a student, athlete, and person.

The best thing that happened to me at boarding school is the class schedule that I was able to take. At Pomfret I was able to take classes such as Economics that were not offered at my previous school. This experience allowed me to find a passion and continue my learning through college.

If I were to give any advice it would be to get involved in as much as possible and to try new things. There are many classes, clubs, and activities that one can pursue at Pomfret. You may not think that they are for you, but trying never hurts. By doing so you will meet new people, diversify yourself, and become involved in the community. The possibilities are endless and can only be as good as what you make them. Keep an open mind to all things and go for it.

Overall, I liked the people. Everyone from students to faculty were nothing but nice, supportive, and caring. Faculty and students wanted the best for you and helped you whenever needed. Faculty cared about your life as if they were parents. With this feeling everyone felt comfortable and welcomed into the Pomfret Community. Creating that culture allows for everyone's time at Pomfret to be successful and memorable.

One clear night take the time to take in the view from atop the center of the quad and appreciate why Pomfret is called the Hilltop.

The academics at Pomfret were a combination of challenging and fun. Upon coming to Pomfret I was in large classes where one could get lost, go through the motions, and not retain the information. At Pomfret I noticeably realized a difference in the learning environment that fostered a more learning in a fun manner, in a small setting. Teachers were challenging, but not out there to fail you. They pushed you to learn and were there any day of the week to help you learn the material.

The athletics at Pomfret are top notch. On all of the teams in which I played on, I played against all of the other top schools in the New England area at a highly competitive level. This offered the team full exposure to college coaches, and the potential to continue playing sports after Pomfret. The facilities at Pomfret were excellent and well maintained. All facilities are on campus and students do not have to worry about traveling for practice. Even though one is not required to participate in a sport every season, all students play at least two sports, the majority play three.

If you do not like sports there are options for you at Pomfret. You can join the Dance Company or perform in the seasonal Theater production. I choose to enroll in a yoga class one trimester and found a new passion. Next semester I enrolled in a Dance Techniques class with the same teacher. Eventually, by the spring semester I was performing in the spring dance performance on the side. You really do not know what will happen when you try new things, and Pomfret offers a vast array of new options to try.

I was active in sports all three seasons and loved the competition and team togetherness. Building strong relationships with teammates is like no other friendship. Besides sports there are other clubs and activities that one can join from Outdoor Adventure, Dance Company, Theater Productions, or Community Service Clubs. Also available are academic clubs/teams such as the Math Team or the Physics Club. If none of this fits you there is also an acapella group or school government.

The dorms at Pomfret were a great part of the school. There is one main dorm where about 80% of students live. The rooms are well put together. As underclassmen, you are paired with a roommate and live together. The rooms spaciously fit beds, desks, and a closet with shelves nicely. As an upperclassmen most students live in single rooms. Learning to live with other kids in a dorm is a necessary skill to learn before you go to college, and Pomfret's system prepares you well.

At Pomfret the cafeteria was open for all three meals a day, opening at 7am and closing at 7pm. Breakfast was optional every day, but the majority of students and faculty can be found in the cafeteria before class starts. Every Tuesday and Thursday there is mandatory "sit down lunch" where the entire school enjoys a meal in the cafeteria all at once. At each round table sat 1-2 faculty members with 6-8 students who ate and spoke up current events around Pomfret and in the news. This meal is served by student waiters. Everyone eventually in the year gets their turn(s) to wait. Then after sport/club commitments students will fill the cafeteria for dinner.

Pomfret's location sets its campus alone in a quiet area, but is also closely located near the town of Putnam. In Putnam there are numerous fine restaurants and small family owned businesses unique to the area. Further, there are supermarkets and commercial stores located close by, where kids can make weekly trips led by faculty members. If trips were out of the question, delivery is also an option frequently used.

Even though the daily schedule is full, the social life is constant. By living with students in a tight nit community, you make friends with everyone and know them well. Whether its during class, between classes, at meals, or on sports teams you constantly are hanging around your friends and making new ones. The best friendships are developed in the dorms when you are frequently around each other going through this experience together.