firstly- they are both amazing schools. As someone who had spent a lot of time at hotchkiss as well as choate, I feel like I have a pretty well-rounded view of them. These are more scathing reviews, so take them with a grain of salt! For the negative I put on both- they’re not a big thing, just what I’ve noticed each is more prone to.
Hotchkiss: VERY rural- not much around. Amazing facilities- especially for sports (2 hockey rinks!). On a lake, so they have a great sailing program. Definitely some snotty people, not so much of a kind vibe.
Choate: Potentially a little bit more progressive, but up for debate. Not in the middle of nowhere! Also amazing facilities, but I would argue it is a bit less pretty. A bit bigger and it seems like you can get a bit lost/ not known.
This is pretty general, but feel free to reach out with more questions. I think the most important thing, if possible, is to revisit. I did not know where I wanted to go in the slightest, but during my deerfield revisit day, it just felt right. I think they will be your biggest asset, and I strongly encourage you to try to revisit.