Middlesex Q&A / Discussion

Does the packet have information about dress code? And what should be worn for revisit day?

@MistyMorning

This year’s guidebook and handbook will probably be in the packet but it’s usually the same as the last years. You can find the handbook here: https://www.mxschool.edu/parents/guides-and-policies/
The student handbook covers it :wink:

Stick to dress code for revisit day, though you might want to go a bit semi formal (what you wore to interviews is fine). But basically no blue jeans, no leggings, stay away from tube tops and spaghetti straps and you’ll be good :wink:
And if you are under/overdressed it’ll be fine and nothing to worry about (you can laugh at it later :slight_smile: )

HI!

Would you happen to know the average class size?

@Atria Thank you so much for pointing me to the school handbook, it is very informative! For the footwear, it says there are no specific guidelines. What kind of footwear is common for class dress? Is it OK to wear sneakers?

@MomentoMemento
Basic facts can be found at : https://www.mxschool.edu/about-mx/facts-and-figures/
What do you mean by class size, as in an actual class setting (about 8-9 kids, some classes like art can have more or less) or as in the grade (about a 100 kids per grade)

@MistyMorning
You are talking to a girl who solely wears sneakers :wink:
Technically you can wear anything and anything for footwear. By that I mean yes I have seen kids wear flip flops in the snow and with blazers. And I confess to having walked barefoot one day for the fun of it (just kidding my shoes were soaked and I was feeling lazy and did not want to go back to dorm) :wink:

Most kids wear vans, sneakers, converse, oooh LLb boots are common as are hiking boots. It depends on you style.

I would not recommend stilettos :smiley:

@Atria Really appreciate your help so far! A few more questions: 1. Does school have specific requirement for laptop? 2. If I do chamber music ensemble, will that be counted in the five (and half) courses I take as a freshman, or I can take it in addition to the five (and half) courses? 3. Is it uncommon to skip history course for freshman year but take a second science course? Thank you!

My son was waitlisted. Is there any sense of how often students are admitted from the waitlist.

At the moment it looks like he will go to Saint Paul’s, but Middlesex remains his first choice. We are not sure best way to improve his chances without seeming too fawning.

@MistyMorning

  1. Wdym exactly, like should you have a laptop in general or what type. I think it would be very hard to survive without a laptop, it’s just so much more convenient. Though a majority (and I mean majority) of students have Macbooks, there are kids with Microsoft, dell, hp , etc. If you are not looking to get a Mac Chromebooks (they are like what $200 something dollars in costco) are a great option. I would recommend asking more about alternatives on revisit day if you are still curious.
  2. Not sure what you mean by 5.5 classes. You can take a maximum of 6 classes every semester. Chamber is a separate class (out of curiosity what instrument do you play), and there are specific distributional credits that you need to complete too. Questions like these are what your advisor can help you with (if you decide to attend) and otherwise, you can go to the MX website, find the directory and email the head of the department (they are super nice trust me)
  3. I’m not too clear on freshman history requirements (have you checked the handbook, it’s quite clear). For sophomore year I know many kids who dropped history and took computer science. I know a specific history course is technically only required in junior year (all juniors must take either US history or AP US history).

@mothere
I know a couple of kids who got off the waitlist but it honestly depends on the year and no one can actually give you a good idea. I myself was waitlisted the first time I applied and never got off (I applied the next year and got in).

I can’t actually comment on improving his chances or anything, but maybe check out the waitlist thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1300302-the-wait-list-p1.html

I meant class. Thx for the info!

Class setting*

Any idea of the number of recruited players in the girls basketball varsity team?

@learning266 are you a recruited basketball player or just someone hoping to make the team? I doubt the school acknowledges this statistic so not sure the OP can answer this for you. Have you been to a game?

I am curious to know about your experience/success with the student-advisor relationship. How meaningful/impactful is this for your peers in general.

How about the role of the health- wellness staff in helping students through difficult issues?

Any opinions you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

@bostonbloke Did you see what an amazing season the Middlesex boys soccer team had?

@learning266
As @dogsmama1997 said I wouldn’t know the actual statistics or whether someone was recruited just for BB. I will say that many recruited players here are multi varsity players since this is a small school and everyone wears many hats, from athletics to academics. And the girls BB team is competitive but I don’t know nearly enough to give you an informed guess even.

Hey @bostonbloke
I absolutely love the advising program. It’s honestly one of the best programs here. Everyone has an advisor, and I can’t think of anyone who is dissatisfied with their advisor for beyond a semester (because you can change advisors after a semester ends). It’s inevitable that you’ll have more teachers that you will develop a relationship with and rely on for advice but your advisor is the person who is always checking in on you. They meet with you weekly, listen to all that’s happened in your wee, voice any concerns, or perhaps get excited for you, or cheer you up. There are also advisee lunches that are awesome (so about 5-6 people are under one advisor and we all gather at times for a nice, non dining hall lunch). If you have any specific questions/concerns feel free to ask further but yea…

I think our health team is great (ahaha I’m starting to sound so biased)… in fact there was a period last year where I got really sick and my advisor and the health center were great pillars of support. As for mental support, we have an in house counselor and I believe a consultant who comes on certain days… Actually, if you are still curious about this feel free to PM me, the health center was truly amazing in helping me last year but I don’t really want to post exact specifics here on a public forum :wink:

@Atria: Can you please talk about the policy on cell phone and internet use and the required lights out time (respectively) at MX? I heard some kids play video game over night and was not able to go to class and complete study work. Have you ever heard anything about that?

Hey @mmao123

Cell phone usage rules in specific can be found in the handbook, but in general, underclassmen leave phones in a bin during study hours and pick them up after. It is enforced, but most kids don’t mind (also if you are determined to text/call/etc its easily done on other devices but that’s not really the point of study hours). By the time you are upperclassmen, you can sign out of your dorms and there is no cell phone rule, however, I know a couple of kids who still prefer to leave their phones somewhere out of reach while studying. In general, there is a ‘don’t use a mobile while you are mobile’ rule where you should not use your phone while walking around campus if you need to take a call step to the side and be stationary. The idea is not only for safety (and good habits) but to create engagement with the community. Since people aren’t looking down they always say hi and how was your day. Required lights out is for freshman I believe and yea dorm parents will know to see that you are off to bed, etc. After freshman year there isn’t lights out, but other restrictions, in room, or in the dorm by a certain time. I haven’t actually heard of the video game all-nighter but it sounds like a couple of guys who weren’t thinking ahead :wink: There was fortnight craze for a little bit but it died down in a week or two… I mean all that sounds like individual bad decisions… All nighters due to academics are fairly rare :smiley: