Read more details about Blue Ridge School on their 2024-25 profile page.
Reflections and Advice:
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
Blue Ridge School is an all boys boarding school, so that sets it apart from many other boarding schools. Another thing that sets it apart are the sports programs offered. I believe they offer more sports than any other boarding school in the country. It was a requirement that each student play at least one sport annually when I was there. I'm fairly certain it's still that way too.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
I graduated with A's and B's and college was a breeze for me as I was very prepared unlike some of my fraternity brothers who had never been away from home and had never had any structure.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
I would recommend going to summer school prior to starting to make sure one likes it. It's 6 weeks and that is enough time to see if it is for one or not.
4.) What did you like most about your school?
The reputation and the campus and the cache' that comes with saying I graduated from there. Kids are getting in to Harvard and Princeton and other fine colleges now. I'm really proud of BRS.
5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
The new dorm is nice and the chapel is really beautiful. The Tiffany windows are stunning.
Academics:
1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?
When I first came to BRS, my adademics were a mess. I couldn't focus in class. The small classes, and the small ratio of teachers to students and the study halls helped me get my learning in order. My confidence really grew as I begain to make good grades. My french teacher, Mr. Charles Hamner, who I still correspond with today, was a very good teacher. I exempted the first year of french when I went to college and it was because of him and how good the program was.
Athletics:
1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?
The thing I liked most about it was that I got to play on teams that I probably wouldn't have been able to had I stayed in public school. We were a small school and everyone had to play something and that was awesome. We were very good in Football and Basketball and some of the records set by my teammates over 30 years ago still stand today.
Art, Music, and Theatre:
1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?
I liked working on the set crew and helping build things for plays and performances etc. Plus it was a way to meet girls who would come and get roles in the plays and musicals.
Extracurricular Opportunities:
1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?
I liked having half day classes on Saturdays. Typically we would have mixed with female boarding schools on Saturday nights. Another nice thing is our breaks at Thanksgiving and Christmas and Spring Break were really long. We also had long weekends ever four weeks. We were on campus and couldn't go any where so we may have well been getting credit for days attended
Dorm Life:
1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?
I loved dorm life and getting to know all of the students. My roommate and I are best friends to this day, were in each others weddings, and we talk a few times per week and get together several times annually. Life long friends I made there and it was fantastic. We had study hall 7:00 to 9:00 each night and that was good because of that habit, I did really well in college because i knew how to budget my time.
Dining:
1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.
We had good food while I was there and there was always plenty to eat and a good variety too. I also liked that we had to work in the kitchen to help serve and clean up. It was a good learning experience.
Social and Town Life:
1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.
Charlottesville, VA was 20 miles away and we would go there on the weekends. Dyke had a gas station and post office. That was it. We were in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Architectural Digest just named it the prettiest private school in the entire state. Prettier than Woodberry Forest, VA Episcopal School, Episcopal High School etc. I am very proud of that.
2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?
Hanging out with my team mates and dorm mates was great. We were all in it together. I liked taking trips to other schools to compete in sports and I liked going to mixers at Stuart Hall and Foxcroft etc.
Daily Schedule:
Weekday
7:00 AM
wake up
Read more details about Blue Ridge School on their 2024-25 profile page.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
Blue Ridge School is an all boys boarding school, so that sets it apart from many other boarding schools. Another thing that sets it apart are the sports programs offered. I believe they offer more. . .
Blue Ridge School is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains 20 miles outside Charlottesville, Virginia. It is located on 750 Acres which covers the campus as well as mountain regions, and the view is spectacular. . .
Small classes more attention from teachers, also they had a great outdoor program, climbing walls, lake with canoes and kayaks, mt bike trails, with the blue ridge mtns in our backyard. . .
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