Woodberry Forest School - Review #2

WFS was pretty unique in that it was an all boys school. This aspect of the school really scares off potential students, but I can't even remember the number of classmates I had my freshman year who were trembling about this fact and then a month or two later completely understood why this all male environment was good for them. The environment breeds close relationships with your classmates, and by the end of the four years, your classmates feel like your brothers. Another aspect of WFS that is unique is its honor code. The school doesn't just give lip service to this code, but uses the system to build an environment of trust within the school. Many friends who went to other prestigious boarding schools can not believe that I never cheated nor knew of anybody who did at my high school. The honor code not only requires its students to do their own work and actually learn the material but it provides a good back bone for the student to develop a strong moral sense of what is right and wrong.

I have a strong sense of what is wrong and right, which is one of the most important things an adolescent can experience. The school also makes a student learn how to use his time during the day to get work done because of the required lights out time. This lights out time seemed to be awfully military-like when I was at school, but now that I'm in college, I think it is a terrific rule because it allows kids to get a good night's sleep.

I would have worked harder the first two years of high school. At the time I felt like college was a million years away, but those grades affect your transcript when applying to college. Make sure to visit as many different types of school as possible, and don't leave out a type of school just because you don't THINK you will like it, make sure you KNOW you won't like it.

The student body. I will never forget the times I spent with my friends. The students make the school, and I have my best memories with them. There were numerous nights that I remember just talking with friends down the hall that I would have never experienced if I was at home trying to stop my mom from yelling at me.

Go to a football game or any other sporting event. This will display the incredible school spirit present at the school, and sell any interested student immediately.

No girls in class and the strong honor code really contributed to how much I learned. The teachers not only were available but made sure struggling students met with him or her to improve a certain area.

You never lose. The athletic program is incredible. The coaches are all very knowledgable, I had a three-time collegiate Division I lacrosse coach. Their knowledge and expertise is given to the athletes they teach, and the teams I played on were all dramatically better then they were the first day of practice. They have incredibly nice athletic facilities, and students are required to participate in athletics their first two years. I played on two nationally ranked sports teams during my four years.

I was not too involved in these departments, but I know the school just built a multi-million dollar theatre department, which I have heard is very nice.

The school requires the student to complete 100 hours of community service, which most students complete and then exceed, because of the feeling such opportuinities provide.

The dorms are better then they are in college. The dorm life at an all boys school breeds unity. Shy kids, outgoing kids, athletes and actors all get to know each other beyond what any other day school can provide. Kids learn about different types of people and cliques are few and far between.

I thought the food was above average at the school when I went there, but after experiencing college dining hall food, I would have to say that WFS's food is excellent. They have a snack bar that provides all the burgers and bacon egg and cheeses a kid could dream about.

WFS is in the middle of nowhere which creates a situation where the students don't get into any trouble. A student can take a weekend and go to Charlottesville, VA which is 45 minutes away.

WFS has mixers where a student can meet girls. Most people after their sophmore years have built relationships with boys that live close by and go home with them or go to their own hometown. This social life gave me a taste of my own high school's typical weekend, but I got to branch out and meet plenty of different people.