Randolph-Macon Academy - Review #1

One aspect that I liked most about R-MA was the fact that the classes consisted of no more than twenty students. Having this few students in a classroom meant that as an individual student I was able to get the attention and help that I needed in all of my classes. This helped me out immensely, in that the teachers were able to see that I worked hard in class and knew the information well enough that they would curve my grade sometimes if I had a bad test grade. The teachers at R-MA will work hard to help you as a student out if they see that you have learning issues such as test anxiety, ADD, or ADHD. Another aspect that I enjoyed about R-MA was the tutorials that were offered every day. Along with the small classes, the tutorials helped when I had an issue with a subject. Every teacher makes sure that they are available for tutorial so that there students can come in and get extra help if it is needed.

I believe some of the best things that happened to me was the fact that I was helped to become the most successful student that I could be. While at school I was able to keep my GPA at a 3.5 and received various awards for community service, sports, and various other things. I have learned how to cope with certain situations better than I think I would have in a normal school. I have also learned valuable leadership skills that I know will help me on later in life.

I think I would have tried out for certain sports a lot earlier than I did. I would advise future students to try as many activities as they can while they are at school and truly enjoy there time here/

Overall I liked the small classes and how much the teachers really do care about you as an individual, not just as there student.

If you are visiting the school ask as many questions as you can come up with so that you and your parents can get a full grasp on the school.

The aspect that I liked most about the academics at R-MA was the fact that you were always challenged. Like any school, you will have the great teachers who challenge you on a daily bases and prepare you for college, and then you have one occasional teacher who doesn't do as good a job of challenging you. Like I said before I enjoyed and took full advantage of the fact that the classes were small and there was a tutorial every day. The school works hard to make sure you fulfill all your academic needs before you graduate, which is nice because then you as a student do not have to worry as much. Also they encourage the opportunity to receive an advanced diploma.

At R-MA they highly encourage there students to participate in as many activities as they can. Since the school is so small, usually anybody can get on to a sports team and eventually play. This is a nice aspect, in that if someone had never played a specific sport before they can try and see if they like or are any good at that sport. The schools that we compete against are like us in that they are private and sometimes boarding schools as well. Our athletes are always very competitive and always strive to win as many games as they can in a season. The coaches strive to constantly incorporate leadership and team work, because that is truly the only way that a team can be successful.

While at R-MA I did not take part in theater or art, but I was friends with students who did and they loved it. I did however take part in chorus for three years and I enjoyed it very much. The chorus performed at many events at the school and outside of the school as well. In fact, my senior year we went to Sea World and sang in front of a crowd there and we also sang at the NRA convention in Charlotte, NC. The band at the school is also very good and they have won many awards for there performances in various parades. The school tries to incorporate as much artistic aspects as it can.

There were many extra curricular activities that were available when I was a student and now there are even more. I participated in the flight program while I was at school and I loved it. I loved being able to go up to the airport once or twice a week and fly the airplane for at least an hour. I also participated in community service which helped me feel better about myself as an individual. the community service program has a wide variety of things that they help with and they try and acquire as much money as they can in a year to donate to a specific program that needs help.

I was a day student, but I did stay in the dorm a couple of times and had many friends who were boarding students. Those who live in the dorm usually find out the first day they move in who their roommate is. I believe the school tries to look at similarities in individuals and pair them up as best as they can. Students have to keep their rooms in a certain order because the rooms are inspected at least once a week. They are also allowed food, so if they want a late night snack they can have one. Every hall is managed by a CLS (Cadet Life Supervisor) which in translation is like the student's other parent. Also, the halls are usually separated by flight, so the flight commanders take care of the students on that hall as well.

Meals are offered at specific times every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a serving line that has the hot meal of the day, and there is also a salad bar, deli bar, cereal bar and an ice cream server. The food is okay, compared to public school it is good.

The town that R-MA is in is very small town. However, the town is growing and has acquired many stores that students are allowed to go to on the weekends. The thing I like most about the town being so small is that there usually aren't any problems with the school and the town.

Everybody is pretty close nit because it is such a small school . I like that we are all just one big family most of the time.