Culver Academies - Review #6

One of the great aspects of Culver is its focus on leadership. Junior and senior years you get to put your skills to the test and take on roles within dorms, student government, or in outside interests. All seniors are required to do a community project - and they are super flexible and helpful in finding something fulfilling and cultivated to your personal interests. Culver is two schools in one. The boys are military and the girls are on a prefectorial leadership system. Classes are mixed with both schools. Strong emphasis on extracurriculars such as sports (team or intramural), dance, theatre, music, drill team, equestrians...Beautiful campus in a cute, friendly little town in Northern Indiana. Chapel, horse barn, small landing strip, and a gigantic fitness center/gym with tracks, courts (basketball, volleyball, racquetball, tennis)... are just some of the amazing features of this campus. Student center is always packed, dorm activities, a fantastic vedette... and best of all you leave with amazing connections and life-long friends from all over the world

I was incredibly shy as a kid. Culver opened me up to so much growth within my own social anxieties. It taught me to believe in myself and push myself to do the best I could. Meeting people from all over the world (and sometimes sharing a room) meant that you could learn so much beyond your own borders. Graduating from Culver Girls Academy was the greatest honor I could ever have and it definitely also prepares you for college.

My advice would be to think about the school as a journey to something you never thought possible. You learn so much by opening yourself up and figuring out how to make your experience special (or rather more so since boarding school is already something very special). Dare to learn!!

The chance to interact with people from all over the world and to work with instructors who care so much about their subjects and students. I also love all the opportunities not found many other places.

Take it all in - on-campus and off. Boarding school doesn't have to be scary - the right place could be life-changing!

Humanities freshman year is taught by two professors (one english, one history), languages from spanish, french, german and others.... math, science, physical education and health classes like nowhere else. Formal CQ which is a two hour, required study hour either in the dorms, at the library, or wherever is needed.The professors are tough, but supportive. They want you to succeed and do so with passion. All the teachers are super helpful and sweet. Many of them double as mentors (both casually and formally in designated groups within the students to further engage and support students. And the classes definitely prepare you for college

never took part, but there is such an amazing group of coaches that bring together teams that are incredibly skilled. Lots of diversity of offerings - football, baseball, softball, lacrosse, fencing, cheer-leading, soccer, basketball, tennis, track (which has a incredibly high reputation). Amazing facilities and fields.

The departments work incredibly well together. Run by former and current professionals who have an incredible passion for what they do. All departments offer honors programs for graduating seniorsTheatre - 3 plays a year, fall straight play, small experimental pieces, and a spring musical; have participated in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (through the American HS Theatre Festival)Music - orchestra, band, voice, private lessons, choirsVisual Arts - classes, portfolios, displaysDance - two productions a year. One full-length ballet for fall and a combination of instructor-choreographed and student-choreographed pieces.

So many opportunities, from clubs to volunteer work. There's a drill team, a speech team, and the dorms are really good about creating fun activities and interaction. They do require you to attend some sort of religious gathering... and these have expanded so much while I was there and even after I left. But there are also things like meditation to fill in for those who do not feel comfortable in a religious setting.

Doubles, Singles, and Quads available. Kitchen on each floor with community bathrooms/showers. Since Culver started as strictly a military school (before the girls), there are inspections 6 days a week. Weekdays are pretty casual, but Sundays are formal. Dorm mothers (amazing ladies who will become 3rd grandmothers to you) make sure you are awake, and you sign in for breakfast at the dining hall.

Dining Hall serves 3 meals a day, but stays open all the time with cereal bar, etc. Serve up a wide variety of options to cater to people from all over the world and to expose students to different cuisines. There is also a cafe in the basement that serves american food like hamburgers, fries, etc. The cafe has some game tables set up too. It's the perfect spot to socialize. There is a snack break after first period during which there are juices or milk and some sort of nutrition bar or the like available if wanted.You are required to work the dining hall line a few times as a student.

amazing little town. tiny little gem surrounded by cornfields (which you forget about when you are in Culver - the town, not the school). There's a lake, walking trails, tons of restaurants, and a small movie house.

What could be better than meeting people from all over the world and developing friendships that last forever. Once a year the dorms and barracks compete in Spirit Games along with faculty. Everyone has a theme and the events are the silly ones like water balloon tosses and three-legged races. A great day of fun and social interaction.Seniors have special building set up with a full kitchen, pool tables, TVs,, etc.