Read more details about The Putney School on their 2025 profile page.
Reflections and Advice:
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
We all did work at the school. Everything from cleaning classrooms to cow barn work.
No grades were given, I soon realized I was studying to learn and it made me more adventurous to learn about stuff I didn't know a lot about. Not just take courses that I thought I would get good grades in.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
I keep learning and love the puzzle. I exercise if I feel down.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
I wish I had the full 4 years instead of just the last two years of HIgh School.
4.) What did you like most about your school?
The faculty, friends and diversity of available subjects.
5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
They were all great. Look for diversity.
Academics:
1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?
You could study anything you wanted. If you were interested in some subject they would create time and someone who could give you guidance in that subject, whether it was you alone or a group.
Athletics:
1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?
Many sports, I found that when I was actively involved in a sport and I felt better and did better learning.
Art, Music, and Theatre:
1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?
Great theatre, arts and music program. With about 200 students we had a full ochestra and choir. Every Friday we had a Friday night sing, where we sung madrigals and other classical music, with a period of a short student performance. Sunday evening we would sing before we had a Sunday night speaker. We were required to to attend these Friday and Sunday night events. Several plays every year.
Extracurricular Opportunities:
1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?
There were many "evening activities"
Dorm Life:
1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?
Dorms had adult quarters, we had single rooms, doubles and triples. We played music and had incredible conversations.
Dining:
1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.
Students helped in the kitchen preparing food and cleaning the dishes. Students waited on tables by placing the food on the tables and they students and faculty served themselves.
Social and Town Life:
1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.
The town was miles away. You could do a Saturday trip to Brattleboro in a school bus.
On nice days the school would set up trucks to take you a few miles away and you would walk back in self created groups.
2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?
Music events, dancing, camping. It was all great.
Daily Schedule:
Weekday
6:00 AM
Morning barn
7:30 AM
breakfast
9:00 AM
class
1:00 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM
Class
6:30 PM
dinner
7:30 PM
Evening activities, music art, farm and more
Weekend
6:00 AM
Morning barn
7:30 AM
breakfast
7:30 PM
Sunday singing and visiting speaker
Read more details about The Putney School on their 2025 profile page.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
Putney is a vibrant community where teachers and students are actual friends. It’s conducive to personal growth and a place where I and other students found our passions. Everyone is excited and working on something. . .
The unique thing about Putney is that there is a fully working dairy farm on campus. There is a big work program than instills work ethic and responsibility in the students and this includes working. . .
Unique is a term that is often used to describe Putney. As it is located on a gorgeous working dairy farm with sustainable gardens, all students learn agricultural skills on top of advanced academics, sports. . .
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