Milton Academy - Review #5

Milton is known for its very green and well-groomed quad that sits in the center of campus. We use the Harkness round-table style of discussion. Class discussions are fueled by students, and participation is a factor in teacher evaluations. Everyone at Milton wants their peers to do well. We don't have to often toxic competitive atmosphere commonly found in many elite prep schools, while still being rigorous.

My dorm was probably the highlight of my boarding school career. To be able to grow so close to 40 other girls from such different places and backgrounds is something I never thought was possible. The amount of love and support I received was never ending, and I don't think I'll ever have another experience like this. I did a great deal of growing during this time with everyone around me, and I'll forever be grateful.

I think I would have prepared myself better to be challenged. I was so used to everything coming easily to me that when I suddenly didn't understand things, both socially and academically, I was thrown off. I would say to be open and know that this will most likely be unlike anything you've ever experienced, but don't let that scare you. Embrace it.

My dorm and the clubs.

Hallowell House forever. Also, go to the plays!

I liked that we were pushed to succeed and break out of our comfort zones while still being supported. Teachers were always available to meet and we were encouraged to reach out to the Skills Center if we needed extra help. Every teacher at Milton has their own unique style and approach to their respective subject.

Every student is required to participate in at least two seasons of athletics each year, three seasons as an underclassmen and upperclassmen have the option of taking a season off. For students, like myself, who are not athletically gifted, PE was a universal option. There are also intramural teams and mandatory PE credits like Project Adventure, Fitness Concepts, and CPR. At the end of every season we have Nobles Day, a day where we play our rival school, Noble and Greenough. In the fall there is a school-wide pep rally that incorporates our lower and middle schools as well.

Every season Milton offers three on-stage performances. We have mainstage shows, 1212 plays held in Wigg hall, and student-directed one acts, to name a few. We also have two dance concerts, our large, mainstage in the Winter and a smaller scale one in the spring. Students choreograph and cast both. We also have numerous visual arts classes including Ceramics, Studio Art, and Advanced Drawing that showcase their work in the art shows throughout the year. Milton also has the Nesto Gallery, which showcases work from students, local artists, and nationally-recognized visiting artists. In terms of music, we have a plethora of vocal and instrumental opportunities, including a jazz group, a capella, Chamber Orchestra, a classical Chamber Singers group, etc. The I liked the endless options. It really felt like there was something for everyone. Our Chamber groups and Jazz combo also tour and perform out of the country every two years. I had the opportunity to go to the Czech Republic and perform in Prague castles, an experience I'll never forget.

There's a club for everyone at Milton and if you can't find one that piques your interest, you can start it. I liked the variety as well as the many leadership positions available. Each club has a faculty sponsor, but everything is really student-led. Some of our more unique offerings include a Hip Hop club, anime club, and Dumbledore's Army, our Harry Potter club. At the beginning of the year we have a big shop-around where each club will set up a booth in the quad an promote their clubs, often wearing costumes and offering snacks to people walking by.

Milton has eight dorms, four girls and four boys. Every boarder is assigned to a dorm before they arrive and they stay in the same dorm all four years. This creates a very close-knit, family environment, one of my favorite qualities about Milton. Rooming depends on the dorm, but in my experience every freshman is roomed with another freshman. Mid-year, we have Room Swap and freshmen are required to change roommates. All boarders have to check in by 10 pm on weekdays and by 11 pm on weekends. Freshman lights out during the week is 10:30 and sophomores have to be in bed by 11. Upperclassmen don't have lights out, but they can't be loud. Every dorm has a kitchen with a communal fridge, microwave, and oven. Every dorm has an elected senior Dorm Monitor who is in charge of planning events and maintaining a positive tone in the dorm. I was Dorm Monitor of Hallowell House my senior year and I had the opportunity to not only be a member of the dorm, but also meet with our faculty and House Head on a weekly basis to talk about the function of the House.

There is one main dining hall in the middle of campus where all students each lunch. Every student has either 5th or 6th period free, and that's when lunch is. Breakfast is served until 7:50 each morning and continental breakfast is served until 9:00. For dinner, boarders have a sit-down dinner with their respective dorms 3x a week. Milton isn't known for its food, but it's decent.

The town of Milton is a suburban area bordered by Quincy, Dedham, and Dorchester. It's a pretty quiet area, but since we're only 10 miles away from Boston, kids will often go into the city on the weekends. Milton offers shuttles to and from places like South Shore Plaza and Legacy Place every weekend, so getting off campus is fairly painless.

People at Milton are generally very friendly, and I often found myself saying hi to at least 5 people walking between each class. Since there's so much work, social hierarchies aren't as obvious as they are in other schools, but there are definite groups. The difference is no one really cares who hangs out with what group. It's not hard to find a set of friends, especially if you're in a dorm. People in plays, sports teams, and clubs also hang out with their respective groups, so you'll find lots of people with similar interests.