Read more details about The Hill School on their 2024-25 profile page.
Reflections and Advice:
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
Faculty "hall masters" and students live in dormitories and take meals together in the dining hall. There is a true sense of mentorship and family.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
The Hill transformed me from a nerdy and brainy kid from south Florida who was a decent distance runner into a young man who had a reasonable amount of justified self-confidence in many areas. I have often said that if a young person has a talent, it cannot stay hidden under a basket at a good boarding school. It is safe to say that boarding was a transforming experience for me.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
Be accepting of every challenge, and give anything you are interested in a try. As for doing anything differently, I cannot think of a single thing.
4.) What did you like most about your school?
The sense of returning to a community after every school vacation, where one was not only accepted but often praised for one's strengths and nobody dwelt on weaknesses.
5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
Find those places where you would feel comfortable studying with plenty of peace and quiet. The dining hall and library are important as shared meals in a community and study space are vital to the purpose of the school.
Academics:
1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?
Small classes and individual attention. Large range of electives and some of the best teachers ever encountered. The faculty know the students so well that they each to the individual learning style. My first week as a sophomore (Fourth Former), a big deal football player walked up to me and said he knew I ran cross country, but complimented me on my top grade in English on my first paper. I was shocked that I did not need to hide my academic talents to be accepted.
Athletics:
1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?
The coaches were all excellent classroom teachers. Participation was mandatory, facilities superior and sports were a huge way to be well known, as were good academics.
Art, Music, and Theatre:
1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?
I was President of the Dramat my Sixth Form (senior) year. It was a joy to have leading roles in everything from Shakespeare plays to Arsenic and Old Lace. I had arrived as a shy nerd from south Florida. The performing arts center today hosts many events in the school's region, not just school performances. The signing groups, musicians and visiting shows and lecturers expanded my perception of the world and comfort with my capabilities.
Extracurricular Opportunities:
1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?
See Drama comment above. I was very busy and loved just about every minute of every day. We were heavily "scheduled" but that gave us a sense of self-discipline to prepare for whatever was coming up soon.
Dorm Life:
1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?
The masters and their family often had "hall feeds" in which they provided snacks and various games for the students under their care. While the schedule was rigid, the masters were always a bit flexible if they knew you were studying with a flashlight, etc.
Dining:
1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.
One very large dining hall with sit-down meals, rotating student duties to carry food from the kitchen, cleanup etc. Masters headed each end of the long tables. Manners were insisted upon. Paintings by Wyeth surrounded us on the walls.
Social and Town Life:
1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.
Pottstown was regarded as the outside world and we could visit the town on Wednesday afternoons only. Things have changed a great deal, and now the students do lots of community service and are much closer to events in town.
2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?
The Hill was all boys when I went there. So we had the usual formal winter and spring term dances with the all girls schools in the region. Very old-fashioned (dance cards etc). Now with co-education I am sure things are much more relaxed and respectful.
Read more details about The Hill School on their 2024-25 profile page.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
The Hill was not only crucial to my education as a student, it also afforded the pleasure of learning how to be a gentleman. While I retain my "book knowledge" to a great degree, my. . .
Faculty "hall masters" and students live in dormitories and take meals together in the dining hall. There is a true sense of mentorship and family. . .
It's been 50 years but the school has developed a partnership with the town of Pottstown which is unique across the country. Several alumni (in my class of '67, including the Governor of Pennsylvania). . .
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