personality type for top private day school

dgwlkr · 03-21-2008, 08:49 PM

What tyoe of personality does your child need to be succesful at a school like Horace Mann?

siliconvalleymom · 03-21-2008, 09:16 PM

Don't you think that most schools of any size have students with a range of personalities and strengths?

oldfort · 03-21-2008, 09:41 PM

Not necessary. Each private school has its own personality. You may want to post this on the private school forum to get more relevant response. Horace Mann is now a very competitive school in NYC, great college placement.

momof3sons · 03-21-2008, 09:45 PM

If you are asking about "academic success," once a student is part of the Horace Mann (or any top private day school) student body, then the answer is.....be yourself, and do the best you can. Seriously.
This thread should be posted in the Prep School Forum where you will receive more answers.

mathmom · 03-21-2008, 10:11 PM

I don't think it's so much that as what personality types don't need Horace Mann because they'll be able to avail themselves of the opportunities their public schools offer for free. I have a friend whose oldest went to Horace Mann - she loved it and felt they were very strong on writing. Her youngest son however wanted to the theater and arts programming our public high school offers.

My oldest son had some good English and History teachers at our high school, but because of class sizes, there simply aren't as many papers assigned and they aren't corrected as quickly as at some of the elite prep schools. The public schools tend to do better at math and science and often in the arts where there is a critical mass for theater, dance, orchestra, band, theater etc.

I think the personality type that does well at any school is the same anywhere - self starters, motivated students, students with strong interests, and ones who care enough about grades to do well even when they aren't 100% interested.

There are definitely personality differences between the various private day schools in the NYC area.

dgwlkr · 03-22-2008, 12:54 PM

Thanks. He is very sensative and has trouble transitioning from one thing to another. I was wondering if that will be a problem at private school? Will the school be tolerant of that kind of behavior?

mathmom · 03-22-2008, 01:32 PM

I think a kid who hates transitions is likely to have a hard time at first anywhere. It's harder when you don't know any one at a school. Most schools have orientations for new students to help them find a place.

momof3sons · 03-22-2008, 01:59 PM

I have heard that Horace Mann has an orientation program before school starts which is very helpful in getting all the new kids to meet each other. I think it would be rare for a child not to be a bit unnerved about making a transition to a new school setting.

citymom · 03-22-2008, 02:18 PM

I can point to two things.
The school is competitive. So the kid has to be bright and ready work hard (kids at bottom 50% tend to be unhappy and to stay on the top one needs both brains and persistence, one of the two is not enough). On the other hand a kid should be relaxed about not getting perfect grades, ready to not always be the first, not jealous. There will be kids who are way ahead of everyone at one subject or the other. In your own class there will be winneres of EVERY competition that you will loose, and it should not poison your life. Finally, you should be able to interrupt for having fun even if you seem to have an iinfinite amount of homework.
The school is expensive. Some kids are rich. If you are not, you should be cool about it.

jrpar · 03-22-2008, 06:05 PM

It would be helpful if your child attended one of the accepted student visit days - spending a day at the school would give you and your child a good idea of the personality of the school. It seems a little late in the process for this - aren't deposits already due? Is the decision between HM and a public school? Or HM and another private day school?

cgarrett101@aol. · 03-22-2008, 06:22 PM

My S had A LOT of difficulty transitioning in kindergarten, but had an incredible attention span for things in which he was interested. Eventually we found out he was ADD, inattentive type. He was never really active or problematic- just a nice boy, so we never anticipated the ADD. Anyway, he has done well with small classes in private schools. I was afraid it would take too much out of him to be in an academically rigorous school, but he is in 9th grade and thriving.