<p>And…if you still need to get spanked, you’ll get spanked. Glad this “decision” in no way impacts my DC’s class composition. Has vivsters been talking to Lebron’s people?</p>
<p>I have weathered a few Exie storms. jk. Exie is a nice lady though she has the MIT way of saying things. :D</p>
<p>DC is on WL at Hotchkiss & I have not felt the slightest distress at vivsters posts, I think she is trying to figure out her options and the fact that others don’t have those options at this point is not her fault. I think this forum is a place for her to air her dilemma. And I am very aware that she is 13/14 years old. Also, it does not make her immature that she has to deal with her mother’s opinions because given the fact that she is a minor, she needs her mother’s support in order to go to school. I have seen her posts as airing these concerns, looking for information that she can relay to her mother…</p>
<p>Frankly, vivsters I wish you the best, there seems to have been good info. given on the transportation concerns you aired, go Hotchkiss!! Good luck :)</p>
<p>Where are all the Lawrentians? I think Lawrenceville has a pretty campus and Princeton nearby is a nice bonus even not counting on being able to hop on a train and be in NYC in a heartbeat or two. Their house system is great and they have an IM Pei or some famous architect designed famous circle that is a National Historical Landmark. The people I met there are extra-nice. They have the Harkness for Humanities and have an awesome college placement. :)</p>
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<p>Now Pulsar - if you’re going to estimate the age of a cranky elder, estimate younger not older. I know where to find you now and we alums have friends ALL OVER. Revenge is best served cold. Be afraid, be very afraid! bwa ha ha.</p>
<p>(plus - I’m only copying your unique sardonic wit in my posts). </p>
<p>My comment still stands, however. The original poster is not presenting him/herself like an ideal BS candidate - age not withstanding. Asking for a spot then thinking about not taking it, asking for advice, then throwing it back when he/she gets it - gives me pause that the student should stay home and make those spots available for student more able to take advantage of the opportunity.</p>
<p>IMHO.</p>
<p>Signed Exie (who has survived many a Pulsar tornado herself and lived to tell the tale) :-)</p>
<p>Pulsar is running faster than the speed of light. Pulsar doesn’t believe in Einstein’s theories anymore, even if s(he) did s(he) had no choice but to run. Oh, this place looks like Kansas, I’ll stop for a break. No omg run I just saw Exie…</p>
<p>Not Kansas - but now that I know where to look for you…ooops - just saw you run by. </p>
<p>Okay - I really need to stop procrastinating on these boards. Have work deadlines.</p>
<p>But Pulsar - you’ve been my favorite adversary of them all and I’m super proud you landed at a great school. They’re lucky to have you! Congrats - the school isn’t going to know what hit them (but they’ll be better off for having you on their team.)</p>
<p>Exie - at which school are you an Admcom?</p>
<p>It’s sad that you ruled out Choate, considering we probably have the best visual arts program out of the four schools you’re looking at. As for drugs, it happens everywhere…</p>
<p>@itshelenmelon</p>
<p>I did want to go to Choate (I guess it was originally my first choice school), and I was really excited when they accepted me, but my mom just doesn’t agree…</p>
<p>Do you know if the drug problem is big at L’ville and Hotchkiss?</p>
<p>Right now I really want to go to Hotchkiss, but my mom is worried about transportation issues. She is also worried that when I get sick or injured, there will be no one to take care of me. I told her I’ll be old enough to take care of myself, but she’s still very hesitant about sending me to Hotchkiss (since it’s in the middle of nowhere). Any thoughts about this?</p>
<p>Hotchkiss has a no chance policy. If you get caught drinking or doing drugs you get kicked out, so nobody risks it. in my years there only two brand new students got kicked out for drinking. So no, there is no drug problem here.</p>
<p>There is also a local very well equipped hospital in sharon that is really close so that is not an issue. And as i said, NY is a 10 min cab and a train ride away. And hotchkiss teachers gladly drive you places.</p>
<p>best,
Omar</p>
<p>We weighed the day student population size pretty heavily in considering schools for our kids. L’ville is over 30% which is among the highest of the major boarding schools. I think only Loomis and Milton (which is 50/50) are higher. We’re from NYC and frankly I don’t think the airport or NYC commute is that bad for Hotchkiss. If you’re international, it’s closer than most schools in Central CT, western MA, or NH.</p>
<p>My son, who is an upper mid at THS, is very active on two varsity teams. He is injuried from time to time playing his sports. When hurt, he receives quickly all due medical care and attention on campus and/or at local clinics and hospitals. No problem.</p>
<p>Lawrenceville is a great Boarding School that has a close relationship with Princeton. Transportation is good and you can escape the Campus bubble and go Downtown Princeton and hang out as it’s one of cleanest City’s I’ve ever seen with nice shops and Restauarants. It also has a very progressive vibe. Hotchkiss is in the middle of nowhere and very isolated. The Academics are great but the isolation can be stifling. Lawrenceville all the way!</p>
<p>A big mistake to rule out Choate. Google Helicopter Moms and show an article to your mother. Maybe she’ll let you choose where you want to go as you’re the one that will be attending there and it should be “mostly” your decision. I’m saying from experience that a Parent shouldn’t be too overbearing because to impose a decision on your kid and if things don’t quite work out, then the guilt factor may come into play. I did not want that and allowed D to make her own choice.</p>
<p>Vivsters: You should never choose a School based on College Matriculations as there are a lot of variables behind who gets in where. All the top B Schools you applied to have great College matriculations and watch out for the old dreaded “status” obssession. It’s about the intellectual and social experience providing life long friendships and lessons. Hotchkiss is great and so is Lawrenceville. My D chose a School similar to Hotchkiss but I suggested Lawrenceville instead. It was her choice and Deerfield was picked instead.</p>
<p>vivsters-I would not worry so much about the transportation. For every single break Hotchkiss has one bus that goes to both LaGuardia and JFK and another bus that goes to Bradley. They also have a bus that goes to the local train station. Tickets are usually about $30 to go on the airport buses and a bit cheaper (I can’t remember) to go on the bus to the train. If for some reason you need a cab (you need to go to another airport or want to leave earlier or later) there is a local car service that has very reasonable prices. My roommate is from China and she’s never had an issue with transportation to get to her flights and she goes home for every break. </p>
<p>If you have any questions, just feel free to PM me!</p>
<p>Does it get really cold in the winter, at Hotchkiss? My mom says L’ville will be warmer, but… when we visited the schools (around early January, school had just started), it was during the snow and I didn’t find it extremely cold.</p>
<p>At Hotchkiss, if I became really sick or broke my leg and had to go to he hospital, would I stay there until I was better, or come back to campus for classes? (I believe L’ville has on-campus nurses and medical facilities…?)</p>
<p>As for transportation, do the Chinese students usually get together and travel together in the same cab, same plane, etc, or does everyone just go their own way?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, about the country-side vs. city situation.</p>
<p>I’ve lived in a city for my whole life, and I can’t say that I love it or hate it, I’m just ‘used’ to it. I’m used to seeing McDonalds and Starbucks everywhere, used to cars, the noise, etc. Life in the city is pretty convenient (especially transportation), but it’s not like I have to go shopping everyday (in fact I dislike shopping, it’s a big waste of time…) Would it be a better idea to go to L’ville with a more urban environment, where I wouldn’t have to adapt as much, or go to Hotchkiss in the country-side, where I would have a very different lifestyle? (Also at L’ville the entire feel seems similar to my current school with casual dress code and everything… at Hochkiss it was more formal (dress code), and much more lively.)</p>
<p>Another question (if anyone knows). How does the city/town around Lawrenceville compare to big cities here in China like Beijing and Hong Kong? We drove around Princeton and it was really beautiful, but we didn’t see many ‘people’ at all… plus the L’ville campus seemed very big and spread out, and we didn’t see a lot of students/classes/activities, while at Hotchkiss there were so many students (probably because almost all the classes are in one main building)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Princeton is a town. It’s a lovely town, but it’s not a city. There are a few small restaurants and shops across the street from the L’ville campus, and I believe they’re considered part of campus. If you want a slice of pizza, maybe that’s where you’d go. As far as cities, you can take the train to NYC. It will take you 60-90 minutes each way. That saves you maybe half an hour compared to Hotchkiss. I have no idea whether L’ville kids would go to Trenton.</p>