Read more details about Choate Rosemary Hall on their 2024-25 profile page.
Reflections and Advice:
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
Choate should be considered a top academic school, no doubt, because of the degree to which it prepares you to handle future academic pursuits. It is a place where you are not only challenged in the classroom, but also supported by a great environment of teachers that care about your individual pursuits. They help you develop your interests and I believe that it is unique to have the opportunity to pursue high-level study of specific areas of interest. Similarly, I now think very highly of the opportunities that were available in the arts at Choate, given the opportunities for people of all ability levels.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
I feel that boarding school has made me a lot more independent and responsible. I got to meet great friends that I'll have forever and was challenged to learn and try new things. I competed in the Harvard Economics challenge and placed 6th among contestants and got to work in a wet lab studying mutations that lead to cancer in a stem cell laboratory.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
I would have lived on campus all 4 years. I was a day student at first and didn't get to enjoy as much of the boarding school life. Also I would have been more involved in clubs if I could again.
4.) What did you like most about your school?
The caring environment that Choate created was special because it pushed its students to try new things and embrace the opportunities available there. In addition, the tight knit community that grew as a result of the boarding style stands out as my favorite part about Choate.
5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
Definitely explore the newer buildings - a lot has changed in recent years. If you like tennis check out the tennis center and make sure to swing by the Arts Center for an idea of what resources are available there.
Academics:
1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?
I liked most that the academics were flexible to my interests - I particularly wanted to do more in economics and science and those were available to me through the economics independent study that I designed and the Science Research Program. It was relatively competitive and the workload was heavy in the challenging classes, but they were very well taught, even in classes that I was less interested in. Junior Year was notably difficult, but it was the year in which I got to study the most interesting items.
Athletics:
1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?
The athletics at Choate were very competitive - I love sports and wish I could have done better individually, but it was awesome to have teams that were very good. We were always competitive against every school. The facilities were great, especially when you compare them to what you see at different colleges and at some different prep schools.
Art, Music, and Theatre:
1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?
There were a lot of opportunities at all levels in the Arts. The teachers were very passionate and I specifically enjoyed those that taught voice/choir/theater.
Extracurricular Opportunities:
1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?
There was something for everyone. What was cool is that if you wanted to do it, it was there, but you never had to do too much. There was mock trial, economics team, math team, language clubs, different sports clubs, culture clubs (lots of cool ones here), and many others.
Dorm Life:
1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?
I liked that the dorms made a tight-knit community. I was a day student my freshman year and life was better once I started boarding. There was no late night food access, rooms were selected via lottery, and most rooms were doubles.
Dining:
1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.
Food was good, but it was only open during main hours - it was hard to find free food if you ate very late or in the mid afternoon. It's hard to do good cafeteria food, but they did a good job. Lots of options for allergies and other diets.
Social and Town Life:
1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.
Wallingford was nice, because there was pretty much everything within a medium walk or short uber - wallmart, movie theater, lots of restaurant and fast food options.
2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?
The best part about the social life was that all of your friends were always around. The best days were the snow days when you were basically trapped with all of your friends.
Read more details about Choate Rosemary Hall on their 2024-25 profile page.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
At Choate, I felt that the faculty and administration really cared about my wellbeing and growth. Classes were mostly organized to allow for discussion and office hours were easy to attend and allowed for personal. . .
Choate has a diverse and interesting study body from all around the world. While it is an old and prestigious boarding school, I found Choate to be less traditional than some of its peer schools. . .
The community is definitely Choate's greatest asset, and the admissions folk do a great job of picking students. We're a pretty chill bunch, so you won't find much of the cut-throat competitiveness that usually accompanies. . .
Show more reviews (27 reviews)
Recent Articles
Boarding School Myths
This article debunks common myths about boarding schools, addressing misconceptions about wealth requirements, diversity, student life, school types, and family communication. It provides valuable insights for families considering boarding school education and highlights the modern realities of these institutions.
A Partnership of Three
This article explores the three-way partnership between the school, parents, and students in boarding school education. It outlines the obligations and responsibilities of each party, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and commitment to ensure a successful boarding school experience.
Admissions Checklist For Boarding School Applicants
This comprehensive guide provides a detailed checklist for boarding school applicants, covering key aspects of the admissions process such as testing, recommendations, interviews, and financial aid. It also includes additional information for international students applying to U.S. boarding schools.
