The Thacher School - Review #11

One major aspect of Thacher that sets it apart from other schools is the unique, California-mission style. Many boarding schools have architecture that, while very upscale and nice, is not distinctive from others. Thacher has a campus that is unmistakable from the moment you see it.

The best thing that's happened to me in boarding school is meeting people and families that I have kept in touch with after graduating. At other schools, once everyone graduates, people split apart and never talk to each other again. At Thacher, the family feeling keeps people together even after graduation.

I would have been more eager to try more things. With so many offerings at Thacher, there is too little time in a day to try all of them. Try to meet other people and see what they are doing - maybe they will have some recommendations for you.

The combination of the location, style, and education makes Thacher one of the most elite schools in America. Also, many colleges recognize the Thacher name and know that a graduate of Thacher is qualified and mature for any college.

Before the mandatory horse class, talk to the trainer. He will give preferential treatment to the students who make an effort to branch out.

I loved the individual attention that each student received at Thacher. When you attend a boarding school, it is expected that students will receive an education that is above and beyond; however, at Thacher, students have a connection with teachers that extends outside of the classroom. Teachers actually care about you as a person; you are not merely just another student. In addition to this close bond with teachers, you get to know people in your class that you otherwise might not know as well. The intimately small classes do not allow you to avoid other people; you talk to everyone and get to know all of the students very well.

As far as sports go I was a varsity wrestler and I absolutely loved it. I also did cross-country and got to meet a lot of different boys from every grade. Meeting other people was a great experience because I connected with people outside of my social group.

At Thacher, there are a lot of talented students that can play instruments, act, and sing which just adds to the great diversity on campus. We have a building dedicated just to the arts which also hosts many theatre and musical events throughout the year. The school does show a deep commitment to the arts and encourages its students to explore and find their passion.

It seems as if there are hundreds of clubs and organizations that you can get involved in so can rest assured that you will find something you like and want to be involved in. If not, Thacher also encourages students to form their own clubs and helps with the process. Many students like to get involved and what I really liked about the extracurricular activities is that they were a great way to meet new people and branch out.

I absolutely loved living in the dorms at Thacher. Many are well-kept and close to the academic buildings. There are singles, doubles, triples, and a few quads throughout campus and I have been in all of them, and they have all worked out fine. Many dorms to "food-runs" to one of the many fast food restaurants nearby or they can buy food from one of the vendors (pizza, Chinese food, etc.) that come to campus.

There is one large dining hall in between the academic buildings which gives it the best location. The food gets better every year and they're usually open from 6am-8pm. The best thing about the dining hall is that it's also an all-you-can-eat buffet so you never have to worry about a food plan. The cafeteria is also just a great place to sit and talk some friends.

Ojai is an awesome town and there's plenty of stuff to do if you ever just want to be out and about. It is a safe and friendly town with a handful of restaurants in walking distance and even more as you branch out. There's plenty of fast-food places and a movie theater that's a popular destination on the weekends.

There are usually fun parties every other weekend on campus and a bunch of other stuff that the school organizes to keep you busy. This can range from ping-pong tournaments to paintball to a movie night. You can always just hang around in the dorms with your friends or go out to somewhere nearby. You can always find something to do and its usually fun.