Kimball Union Academy - Review #1

At KUA students are encouraged to explore themselves through other means of learning for example exploring a specific scholar program or receiving a Cullman Scholarship. During my time at KUA, I dived into both ends of the pool and became a STEM Scholar (one of the scholar programs) and received a Cullman Scholarship to explore my interest in the human brain in my hometown of Accra, Ghana. As I reflect after graduating from KUA, those two experiences have shaped the way I think and explore my interest.

When I first arrived on campus, I was literally welcomed by the entire community. The love I received from the faculty members and student leaders was amazing. As time passed, I realized that it was not just the student leaders and the faculty but the entire student body and employees that made you feel like you are at home. That feeling of community is like none other. The best thing that happened to me at KUA was making those friendships that will last me a lifetime. I will never forget my sense of belonging at the hilltop. It was an amazing experience that I am grateful for.

When you get on the Hilltop, soak it all in. You most likely might feel homesick when you first arrive but try to enjoy the experience OUTSIDE of your room. During my sophomore year, I was so homesick and shy that I spent most of my time in my room. After I was stuck at home during the pandemic I realized that if I get the chance to go back, I would do things differently; and I did. It was then I truly enjoyed all that KUA had to offer.

I love the community feel and the relationships I made. I love how everyone was there for each other. I love how you could tell that the entire community enjoyed being there and doing what they did. Most importantly, I love the people at KUA.

Never miss Bang Bang Chicken!!! It's one of the best meals on campus. Hint (it's on Fridays at lunch).

The academics at KUA build up a student's potential. It is based on what the student is interested in and at what level of difficulty the student is mentally prepared for. From the first year, students take college prep classes and then build up to honors-level classes and Advanced Placement Level classes. When I arrived as a sophomore, I took college prep classes. What I loved most about the academics at KUA is that I was able to receive help whenever I needed it, wherever I was. Teachers are willing to Zoom, Skype, and even FaceTime with you to make sure that you understand a difficult material or to make sure that you feel confident in the class. And that is what I love most about KUA; you are given all the help you need to make sure that you succeed. I ended up taking Honors and Advanced Placement Classes throughout my junior and senior years.

I love the wide range of athletics offered at KUA. Students are given the chance to engage in extremely competitive (varsity sports), fairly competitive (JV sports), and recreational sports. Students can sign up or try out for different sports teams depending on their skill and comfortability. The facilities at KUA are amazing. We have an Olympic Size Skating rink, State of the art basketball court, running and mountain biking trails and so much more. Plus, KUA offers students the chance to build themselves up physically through an activity known as strength training if they are not exactly up for the sports offered during that specific time of the year. Students are also required to have participated in at least ONE team sport before they graduate.

After being exposed to all forms of art at KUA, I can say that the faculty truly dedicate themselves to making sure that the students give their best when it comes to the arts. I love how they turn students into passionate enthusiasts of the arts. As I am about to start college in the fall, I will still be pursuing my love for singing and acting. I have KUA's art department to thank for that.

What I love most about the activities at KUA is how they are really student-led. From make a wish to model UN, all clubs are initiated and run by the students. we receive the support of the faculty as well which is really nice

I love how diverse dorm life is at KUA. During my sophomore year, I met people from Connecticut, Massachusetts Germany, Spain, and China living in my dorm of nine people (which just blew my mind) The rooms were amazing and cozy, the dorm parents always made sure that we were okay and comfortable the proctors would check up on us and the was always activities to make sure that we were bonding as a dorm.

I love the setup of the dining hall. It has kind of this homey feel whenever you step in and see a group of students laughing with a faculty member or playing a game. I also love the wide variety of meals by Sage Dining Services. We have a Hot meal station, Salad station, Sandwich station, soup station(during lunch), stir fry station (during lunch), fruit and yogurt station (during breakfast) bagel station, and cereal station.During the weekends and some weekdays, we have special snacks made by the dining service

I will admit, we are not a walking distance of the nearest Target or Mc Donalds. However, during the weekend we get to go on town trips to get whatever we need. In Meriden however, we have the Deli Mart and Poor Tom's Tavern. Those two places are considered on-campus and students can go there during their free time. The people around us are very nice and welcoming.

I would say that the are a lot of cool people with interesting backgrounds on campus; you just have to take that first step and get to know them. there are a lot of things happening at once on campus so as a student you may have to work on how to find a balance between all your responsibilities and spending time with your friends. The school is pretty good about that. On weekends and special days, there are activities that students and members of the community can do to meet new people or just hang out with their friends.