1. What is a typical school day like, with after-school activities?
Classes run from 08:05 am to 3:20 pm (on Wednesdays, they run from 08:05 pm to 1:20 pm). Our classes are 1 hour long, but you might have an extended period on the 1st period or 2nd. If you have an extended period, your class will be 1h25m long. Moreover, lunch periods are either on the 4th period or 5th, and each lunch period is 45 minutes long. Usually, between classes, we have class meetings (one each week), all-school meetings (one each week), club blocks (four club blocks each week), extra help sessions (one each week), or advisories (one every Wednesday).
Also, we have two main schedules: blue week schedule and orange week schedule. Basically, our schedule is set up in two different ways, and we switch weekly. So if this week is a blue week, next week will be an orange. On my blue-week Mondays, I do not have the same classes I do on my orange-week Mondays.
After classes end, everyone has their after-school activities. Sports and rehearsals start at 3:30 and run until 5:30 (except for Wednesdays). If you do not have an athletic commitment, you are probably taking a Physical Education class (PE takes a free period from one’s schedule, but gives them a free afternoon).
Following after-school commitments, it’s dinner time. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, we have mandatory dorm dinner at one of our dining halls. On the rest of the days, we have regular dinner from 6 to 7.
After dinner ends, underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores) that live at dorms have mandatory quiet hours. How quiet hours work depends on each dorm, but basically, everyone has to be quiet doing their homework for two hours (yayy). That’s for underclassmen, however. Upperclassmen have the freedom to manage their time however they want.
Check in on weekdays are at 10pm. It might be slightly different for each dorm, but, usually, underclassmen and juniors need to follow lights out policies: 10:30 for underclassmen and 11:00 for juniors.
2. Are there classes on Saturday and Sunday?
No classes on the weekends!
3. Since Milton’s day and boarding population is 50/50, how vibrant is the boarding life at Milton?
I was really worried about that before saying yes to Milton, but it turned out to be very vibrant. Around 350-400 people live at one of our nine dorms, and dorm life is fun: our house monitors (seniors) work with each other to organize fun events (dodgeball tournament, movie nights, ping pong tournaments, parties etc.) within the dorms and with other dorms. Also, housing at Milton is vertical, so we stay at our dorms all 4 years. On the weekends, our Student Activities Association works really hard to provide a good variety of on-campus and off-campus events, and I truly have fun. Personally, I feel deeply connected with my dorm. It’s honestly like a second family. Let me know if you have more questions about dorm life!
4. How is the student support like at Milton?
I wouldn’t say that Milton is NOT a swim-or-sink school, but they are really good at teaching everyone how to ask for help, and we have useful help resources.
2-3 weeks before classes start, Milton campus is already full of students participating in our orientation programs. The program starts with the International Students Orientation Program: it’s a 3-day-long program focused on international students and their parents. They come earlier to campus than everyone else, get to hang out with each other, meet older international students, participate in a bunch of fun activities, and get the support necessary to adapt to the US before classes start (they take international students to buy stuff, and they help them setting everything up, like phone numbers, bank accounts etc). It’s a really helpful start for foreign students.
After the International Students Program, Milton hosts the Transitions Program. It’s a five-days-long orientation program for new students of color to get ready to join the community. All of the new students of color come to campus earlier, and everyone has to board for five days/one week (including day students). New student of colors get paired with mentors (that are also people of color, of course) and family groups, and it’s an amazing opportunity to bond with each other. We participate in discussions, fun activities, and learn a lot about identity and diversity at Milton. I’ve talked to A LOT of people about this orientation, and we all deem it transformative.
Following the Transitions program, we have the New Student Orientation Program. This one focus on everyone that is joining the upper school for the first time. We are paired with mentors and family groups too, and we participate in more fun activities and important discussions on identity, diversity, academics, and available resources on campus.
Parents also have their versions of the programs above (I don’t know a lot about what it feels like though)
Those 2 weeks before classes start are essential, and they emphasize how important asking for help is, and Milton adults focus a lot on teaching us how to ask for help. We learned a lot about it from personal stories, student mentors, and speakers. And after the program ends, the school year officially starts.
Regarding student support throughout the year, we have a bunch of resources. Academically, we have an Academic Skills Center. It’s a great option when students are struggling with procrastination, heavy workload, learning etc. Together with the Academic Skills Center, the Student Tutors Program is also very helpful. We have Student Tutors for all of our courses and writing in general, and students can be put in contact with them whenever they need. Also, if students need, they can schedule meetings with one of our school’s counselors. I’ve never scheduled one before, but I know some friends that have, and they have good things to say about them! Teachers are also good resources: whenever you are struggling with a class, your teacher will be happy to meet with you as many times as needed to help you.
In general, I feel like student support on campus is really good, and adults work hard to teach us how to ask for help.
5. General campus culture? (collaborative/competitive/relaxed, etc.)
I guess it’s a really collaborative community. I won’t say that we do not have competition, because we do! But, from what I’ve got to experience, it’a a healthy one. People on campus are collaborative, and I love that about Milton. It feels natural too. It’s such a fun community with many uplifiting members, and so far I’m so happy I chose Milton to be my home for the next 4.
(sorry for any grammar mistakes or sentences that don’t make sense; I wrote this whole thing on my phone on my way to the airport)