A Review of our visit to Hogwarts

Parent Cafe
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<p>Hogwarts
I thought I was finished with college visits and CC reviews for a while, but I was wrong. Like most of our juniors, S has been receiving the usual recruitment cards for U.S. colleges. After our return from the states, I noticed a thick, heavy envelope addressed to him, but without a return address, and “An Invitation to Hogwarts” in fancy script on the outside. I also didn’t see a stamp or anything. I asked my darling W about it. She said it had been slipped the mail slot while we were gone. S later opened it and inside the envelope was an invitation to an overnight visit to Hogwarts School (What a name! I figured there must be an interesting story behind it). The invitation didn’t provide much information. It said HW was instituting a new program to attract prospective students. It also claimed to be the most outstanding school of its type in the world. Unfortunately, the claim didn’t mean too much since it didn’t identify the “type” of schools represented. It included some travel information about London, and S likes London! Attending school in the UK has always interested S, and he really wanted to visit HW. It’s the most enthusiasm he’d shown for any school prior to a visit. I’d mostly recovered from the Grand Am Boogie tour. I thought, “Why not? Let’s go!” </p>

<p>The invitation had some rather odd instructions to access the website, but it worked. The website still didn’t tell me much about the school, although there was a picture, one of those video types. A very dramatic looking place, almost like a castle, and kinda gloomy. Of course in the UK, it could be a castle. The only link was to travel arrangements, with two options: train or car. I thought about driving, but the car link was their version of a joke. The only option was a “Pegasus” which was described as a “mid-sized flying car” that could automatically activate and navigate. It was a strange joke, but funny. I love the British sense of humor. It was like an old Monty Python routine because you were also supposed to pay in some foreign currency called Galleons and Sickles. Anyway, I opted for the train, which was free and was called “The Hogwarts Express.” Since we have ridden the “Stansted Express” to London from the Stansted airport, that sounded legit. The lack of information in the invitation bothered me, especially since there was no address or information about COA at HW. The uncertainty worried me, but we like visiting the UK, the train wasn’t going to cost anything, and it sounded like an adventure. If it turned out to be a hoax, I figured we could go to a show in the West End and visit the British Museum again while we were in London. </p>

<p>The directions on the website told us to go to King’s Cross train station and wait between platforms 9 and 10. A conductor would meet us there. Our trip to that point was uneventful and sure enough, the conductor seemed to appear out of nowhere and led us to the train. It was an old fashioned, bright red locomotive pulling a few cars. The train was great and I figured no one would go this far to perpetuate a hoax. We climbed aboard for the trip. </p>

<p>We arrived in the afternoon, and we were met at the HW train station by the visit coordinator. He was a giant of a man named Hagrid. My S said this school must be like Earlham where they only use first names. We later found out they are more formal than that. Hagrid looked a little like I picture Curmudgeon, but without cowboy boots. He appeared to be wearing furs. That’s not very PC in the U.S., but maybe it’s not a big deal in the UK. Then it suddenly occurred to me that this might be an extremely conservative school, or even an old-fashioned fundamentalist religious school. I hoped we weren’t about to visit the UK version of Bob Jones U! Thankfully, my fears were unfounded. </p>

<p>HW looked like an ancient castle, but I think it had been designed as a school from the beginning. To some extent, it reminded me of some of the buildings at Kenyon, but on a larger scale. Looking around, it appeared to be even more isolated than Gambier though. The building sits up on a hill with a lake below. The countryside looked rather wild and untamed. I think we were in Scotland, but they never told us. To get to the main building, they had a “horseless” carriage! It was our first introduction to something that is fascinating about HW. They are a High Tech school, but they incorporate the technology into the old traditions. It’s almost like they’re High-Tech Luddites! The carriage must have been battery powered and on a preprogrammed track since I didn’t see a driver. It was quiet, efficient, high tech, and yet quaint! HW was getting more interesting. </p>

<p>We were met by Professor McGonagall. She looked a bit like the actress Maggie Smith, but she had an elusive feline quality. When I tried to make some joke about the “horseless carriages” she gave me a look that could curdle milk. She can probably be a real witch when she wants to be, and I’ll bet there’s no misbehavior in her class! Oh yeah, Prof McGonagall is the AC, teacher, and the head of a house. (more on the houses later) It appears that many of the faculty and staff have multiple roles. I guess that’s not too unusual for a small school. For example, in addition to being the visit coordinator, Hagrid teaches an endangered species class and he has other duties as well. I’m unsure about the faculty-student ratio but it must not be great with so many people wearing more than one hat. </p>

<p>Prof McGonagall said we were scheduled to meet with Professor Dumbledore for an interview. She briskly escorted us through the halls and used a voice activated security lock to access a hidden door. I thought that level of security was extreme, but then I was distracted by a very clever spiral escalator that led to his office. I don’t know what their endowment is, but it must be huge! </p>

<p>Professor Dumbledore was apparently the school president, but they call him Headmaster. You’ve got to love a school that calls its president “Headmaster.” He looked like an ancient hippie with robes and a flowing beard but he was very sharp and astute. Despite his appearance, I had the impression that he was a real wiz as an administrator. His whole office was filled with weird high tech gizmos. He also had a beautiful bird like none I’d ever seen before. We had an unusual and interesting interview, with Professor Dumbledore asking my S a lot about his childhood. For some reason, I couldn’t think of any questions to ask. When my S told him he didn’t know if he had the right stats and background to be accepted to HW, Dumbledore told him not to worry and, “It’s our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” I liked that thought and I anticipate that HW has an essay related to the topic of choices in the application paperwork. He gave me his card, but I don’t know where I’ve put it. It seems to keep “disappearing.” LOL! </p>

<p>After the interview, we spent some time wandering around the building and the campus. While we were outside, several students approached us to talk. They were friendly and helpful, but they seemed concerned that we should not wander too close to the forest or the lake. Another security issue? It concerned me that the students seemed somewhat tense and fearful on their own campus! I asked them if it was finals week, but they said it was months before their tests. Who knows, maybe they just thought I’d fall in the lake! I was trying to get a closer look at an interesting willow tree when a student took my arm, told me it was time for supper, and escorted us inside. He may have been an off-duty tour guide. </p>

<p>Inside the building, the technology HW kept amazing me. For example, their flat screen technology was incredible. They had the screens everywhere disguised as paintings. All of the screens were playing different programs, although they didn’t look too interesting most of the time. (In Prof D’s office he had screens with shows of guys sleeping. I thought British TV had improved in the past 30 years.) I have to say it was hard to find your way around the building. It had a rather confusing layout and unusual escalators and stairways. My initial impression was that HW was a very high tech school, primarily for engineers specializing in visual effects. (For example, the 3-D holo “ghost” projections were seemed almost real). But Latin was being used extensively in snatches of lectures I overheard as we walked by. Maybe they study the classics as well. And I don’t think they would offer a class on endangered species in an engineering school, or put it out in the middle of nowhere. </p>

<p>(continued next post)</p>

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<p>The eating hall is just like you’d expect from old English films. Large tables, high ceiling, stone walls. The ceiling was fascinating. At first I thought it was painted to look like the sky, but then I realized it was changing. The projectors are hidden very cleverly because I couldn’t spot them. I’m telling you, CalTech and Disneyland don’t have anything on this place! (I’ll bet a bunch of their funding comes from LucasFilm.) The food was very good, and there were many choices. It seemed like you only had to express a desire, and you’d find it on your table. They don’t have many teachers, but they must have a huge support staff. HW was the only place we’ve visited that you didn’t have to pick up your own food or clean up your table after eating. I always thought the labor costs are high in the UK. Maybe it’s less in Scotland. </p>

<p>We learned a great deal from the students during supper, much more than from the faculty. The first thing I learned was a new term for Americans. I know the British often call Americans “Yanks” but there seems to be a new term: “Muggles.” Yanks I understand, but Muggles? They also didn’t seem to apply it to my S, only me. Maybe a muggle is a “Middle-aged Yank”? Given a choice, I’d choose “Yank” but they seemed to use it in a derogatory manner. Nice kids (mostly).</p>

<p>The robes worn by the students and faculty were really cool. The students all wore black, but the faculty also wore robes, sometimes in wild and garish colors. The faculty ate at the head table, and they seemed to come from a variety of backgrounds. Many of them certainly didn’t dress conservatively. I didn’t get a feel for the political persuasion of the school, but conservative/liberal doesn’t mean the same thing in the UK anyway. There was an odd tradition that I must mention. Everyone, faculty and students, carry little sticks with them. They didn’t explain the significance of the sticks, but they seemed to be important to them. It must be a British thing. </p>

<p>The “Houses” are their versions of dorms combined with frats. The students remain in the same house all the years they attend HW. The houses are coed, although I don’t know how they’re divided, or whether they have shared bathrooms. Competition between the houses is fierce. This aspect of HW reminded me of Notre Dame, although ND doesn’t have coed dorms. There’s no rush and no rejections from houses. Apparently students are selected randomly for placement in their houses by drawing names from a hat. The students were from all over the UK, and there was a really blending of students from different backgrounds, cultures, and races. However, the students self-segregated according to their four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. </p>

<p>Most of the students in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff, looked like regular students, and they seemed to mix a bit with each other. However, Slytherin students isolated themselves and they appeared to be the “Goth” house. They were pale, wore a lot of black and seemed arrogant, but much more so than Vandy. I actually thought I saw a Slytherin student sneer at us as we walked by! We’ve come across very little anti-American sentiment overseas, but maybe he was French. (Just joking, we haven’t had any problems in France either.) Their Head teacher, Professor Snape, was a really intense looking guy. I’ll bet his classes are interesting though. He apparently teaches chemistry. While I’m talking about the faculty again, I’ll add that there seems that there is a lot of nepotism in the school hiring practices. Apparently, all of the admin and faculty graduated from HW. To remain viable, it seems to me that they should seek out “fresh blood” from some other schools, rather than always hiring from within. </p>

<p>Intramural sports are big there; especially something they called “Quidditch.” It sounds like it must be a Scottish game played with brooms and balls. I suppose it might be like curling. Maybe a Scottish variation, because I think curling was originally Scandinavian in origin. The students seemed excited about it but it didn’t sound too interesting to me. I guess when you’re that isolated, you’ll settle for any kind of activity. Now that I’m thinking about the isolation, I wonder if they have alcohol-related problems. Also, my cell phone wouldn’t work because there were no cell towers nearby. Like I said, this place is really isolated. </p>

<p>After supper, a bunch of the Gryffindor students left with S for their dorm. He was spending the night with them. I liked the students, but only caught a couple of names, Ron and Hermyonee (I’m not sure about the spelling for her name, but an English girl I think. I liked her accent.) I didn’t see him for the rest of the night. I never could figure out where the dorm rooms were. It was almost like they were hidden. I don’t know if that was another security precaution, or a custom that has some historical significance. </p>

<p>After my S left, Professor McGonagall recommended an after-dinner cordial. She said it was a HW tradition for visiting parents. The drink was very pleasant and I soon retired to my room. I was out when my head hit the pillow that night. It was almost like I’d taken a sleeping potion! The bed was small, but comfortable. I had some really odd dreams, but I awoke the next morning feeling rested. </p>

<p>I returned to the eating hall for breakfast. The food was again plentiful, varied, and delicious. My S joined me and he said he’d had a fantastic night with his new friends in the dorm! It sounded like he’d spent the whole night talking with them. And miracle of miracles, he wanted to talk with his mother and me about something important when we got back. Wow, he wants to talk!</p>

<p>We took the train back, but I slept the whole way. Another college visit nap I guess. We definitely enjoyed our visit, especially my S. He seems inspired and has an energy about him that I’ve never seen before. I have to admit that HW was an amazing place and it would be a very interesting school to attend. The great age of the place, the robes, even the quirky “stick carrying” tradition, made it fascinating, especially for an American student. However, I’m concerned about why HW finds it necessary to implement so many security measures. Most of the students seem excited, happy, and engaged in learning. Yet, it’s the only school we’ve visited where I had the feeling there is an underlying tension, as if some kind of “threat” hangs over HW even when its not finals week. I wonder whether HW might be in financial trouble and they don’t want to scare away prospective students by “naming” the trouble out loud. </p>

<p>Despite my misgivings (and I know this sounds crazy), Hogwarts had an almost “magical” feel to it, as if there was something wondrous about to happen. My S has definitely moved it up to #1 on his list and says it’s his “Dream School.” He doesn’t want to apply anywhere else, and he even has a list of school supplies we have to purchase at some “exclusive” shopping district in London. (As if we couldn’t find the stuff at our Base Exchange, or online if necessary.) London is expensive!</p>

<p>I know I’ve been somewhat negative, and Hogwarts may have its faults, but the school has inspired my son!!! I’m extremely happy about that. I also know he shouldn’t put all of his eggs in one basket. They said only very special and talented students are admitted to Hogwarts. I’ve always believed that describes both my children. But “dream school” or not, I know we need some safety and match schools, since Hogwarts appears to be a reach school. I also don’t know if we can afford Hogwarts. Wow! I just realized I never asked them about COA or financial aid while I was there. How could I forget that? Carolyn, do you know anything about them? Does the College Board site include UK schools? I’d like to tell everyone on CC more about it but this is too long already. Also, I must be tired because my memory seems to be fading. Oh, here’s my DW and DS. We finally have time to talk!</p>

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<p>I want everyone to know that Marite is responsible for this. She put the idea in my head and I couldn’t get it out without writing a last “review.” </p>

<p>It is dedicated with admiration, affection, and apologies to J. K. Rowling.</p>

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<p>I love this, Doddsdad! Good luck to your son on his Dream School application ;).</p>

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<p>This is awesome! You’ve thought of everything!.. Do you think you can PM me a link to the Hogwarts app?! =P</p>

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<p>Doddsdad:</p>

<p>You’ve made my day! It’s awesome!!!</p>

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<p>love it!!! :D</p>

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<p>doddsdad - The only thing missing is a post date of April 1. Maybe next year, and annually after that.</p>

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<p>Awesome review. I’m going to have my D read this one as soon as she gets home from school. I think we’ll add Hogwarts to her list. 'Cuz she’s, you know, “special.”</p>

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<p>Thanks for the wonderful college report - magically removed the headache I acquired trying to understand the ‘pope’ thread!</p>

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<p>Looovly, absolutely smashing! Brilliant! <em>said in a British accent</em></p>

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<p>LOL. My S actually goes to a HW-like school, complete with the 150 year old dining hall, ten houses and an amusing headmaster who once dressed as Canary Dwarf when I invited him to a architectural costume party.</p>

<p>No robes though. Black and white jackets and ties, but no robes.</p>

<p>Well done, marite.</p>

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<p>Bravo! I think reading that (a few times over) should tide me over til the next installment of HP.</p>

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<p>Now, your next assignment is to create the HW website.</p>

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<p>Brilliant–I’m bookmarking this post.</p>

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<p>Funkyspoon,</p>

<p>To my knowledge, all of their students are direct recruits, with a high percentage of legacies. Their network of adcoms is extensive, and they are rather good at finding those who fit the Hogwarts mold. Their yield numbers, while a closely-kept secret, are reportedly quite high. For that reason and others that they choose not to disclose, they have never needed to resort to such pedestrian means as applications.</p>

<p>Doddsdad,</p>

<p>Well done indeed. However, I wish to point out that Mr. Rubeus Hagrid actually supplied you with his surname. He is not one for honorifics applied to himself, even though he readily affords them to others. I fear that he never much cared for his given name and tends not to use it these days. Only a few of his oldest friends still call him Rubeus, out of long habit. To everyone else he is simply Hagrid, a name that has grown to fit him.</p>

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<p>Awww shucks! I guess I’ll have to be content with muggling through life and reading about those awesome kids at that awesome school. :D</p>

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<p>inspirational
can’t wait for more installments</p>

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<p>BassDad,
A well done back atcha. I didn’t know about the high percentage of legacies. That certainly explains what I perceived as nepotism in their hiring practices. I’ll need to learn more about the British university system. I’m also relieved to learn that they don’t use application packets. They didn’t give us a packet, and I couldn’t find them listed among the schools that accept the Common Application. </p>

<p>Thank you for the clarification about Mr. Hagrid. I could easily have missed his first name since I was marveling at how his “handshake” included my forearm almost to my elbow. He certainly seemed to be an informal, earthy type of man, although he was almost reverential when speaking about Professor Dumbledore. </p>

<p>Anything else you can share about HW would be appreciated. Clearly you know the school very well. Are you an alum by any chance?</p>

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<p>Doddsdad,</p>

<p>as you noted, their administrative staff and faculty are nearly all alumni or alumnae. Sadly, I cannot claim such status. I will point out that they occasionally hire contractors and visiting professors to fill short-term needs but I cannot say much more along those lines due to their, shall we say, unorthodox non-disclosure agreement. You simply would not believe some of the penalty clauses contained in that document.</p>

<p>The Headmaster has been a mentor for Hagrid for as long as I have known them, and those two have stuck together through thick and thin. Anyone there who does not respect old Albus is a fool, and all but the obvious few admire his deft handling of the recent hostile takeover attempts. Political infighting in the academic world can be surprisingly vicious. I have no doubt that the extraordinary security measures and the current mood on campus stem from these incidents.</p>