<p>With regard to weather, there is a modest difference between central New Jersey and western Connecticut. The past two winters have been quite snowy in both places. Neither place gets as cold as the schools in Massachusetts or NH.</p>
<p>I’m originally from NJ and Trenton would never be a destination. Unless an urban renaissance has occurred in the decade plus since I’ve left the state.</p>
<p>The area around Hotchkiss is very popular for country houses because of its natural beauty. The area around L’ville/Princeton is more suburban, but not urban.</p>
<p>@flowers: That’s what I thought, but I didn’t want to be indelicate! ;)</p>
<p>Kraordrawoh,</p>
<p>You showed a great sense of delicacy. Isn’t Hotchkiss within Litchfield Country — I yearn (and yearn) for a country house there :), next best thing I guess was to visit C there, unfortunately he was WL’d.</p>
<p>Vivsters, first of all, Choate may have been the biggest party school back in the 80s, but that has changed! As creative1 said on a post back in 2009, “Bottom line, some kids will party, the majority will not, and no one will force you to do so nor will you even be exposed to it unless you choose to be.” All schools, private or public, day or boarding, will have issues, but what you need to show your mom is the way Choate had dealt with the issue, because that is really the mark of a good school. If I were you, I would pick Choate, as you seem far from satisfied with the others, Lawrenceville and Hotchkiss. Peddie doesn’t seem like a bad option, but then again I don’t know much about it.</p>
<p>Here is a summary of each school from privateschool.about.com</p>
<p>Peddie: Peddie is a very selective school. You will need what the school is looking for in order to be accepted. Once there you will enjoy a state of the art campus, exciting academic courses, a rich arts program together with some of the best sports programs anywhere.</p>
<p>Hotchkiss: If your child has what it takes to get into this very selective boarding school, he or she will be presented with a veritable feast of academic, athletic and extracurricular offerings. The location of the school a mere 2 hours north of New York City makes it easily accessible from all parts of the globe.</p>
<p>Lawrenceville: The Lawrenceville School is a remarkable institution in so many ways. It was late admitting girls, doing so only in 1987. Now the school has a female Head Master. If you have the right stuff to get into this grand old school, do it. The location midway between Philadelphia and Newark affords several travel options as well. Princeton University is only a few miles up the road too.</p>
<p>Choate: Choate Rosemary Hall is a large coed school located in Wallingford, Connecticut just north of New Haven. The school offers superb academics, an I.M. Pei-designed arts center, 32 sports and alumni including such notables as Edward Albee, President John F. Kennedy and Adlai Stevenson.</p>
<p>Hope this helps - good luck with your descision!!</p>
<p>Transportation: There is a difference in trains though. Choate and Lawrenceville are basically right on the metroliner train routes, with significantly more service and options. Hotchkiss is 25 min away from Wassaic which is the last station on the harlem river line. During big weekends/long breaks, the school provides a bus (you pay for it) to the station or also a bus to 3 airports (Bradley in Hartford is 2 hours away and $30, LGA in NYC is 3 hours and $35 and JFK in NYC is 3.5 hours and $35). Taxi to and from Wassaic is expensive as it is just one local guy – and gas has gone up.</p>
<p>Weather: Lakeville is significantly colder and the snow is on the ground longer. But both had bad winters this year. It is going to snow this week in Lakeville with lows expected at 19 degrees F whereas in princeton it will be 60 degrees today and then in the 40s the rest of the week, only dipping to the 30s overnight. Check weather.com for average snowfall and temperatures.</p>
<p>Medical: Both have an infirmary with nurses and doctor(s). Hotchkiss has one doctor on staff and if there is anything really wrong, there is a full hospital in Sharon about 30 minutes away. Lawrenceville would have closer options for anything serious, but this should not be a deciding factor. Lots of kids actually go home when really sick. They tend to live in NY or MA though.</p>
<p>Environment: I wouldn’t say Lville is urban. People have country homes there too as Pirnceton and that part of NJ is actually beautiful. But it is less “remote” than Lakeville. There is a little bit more to do given the proximity to Princeton. Hotchkiss has a sunday shuttle to Millerton NY, which has a few restaurants, a movie theater, a grocery store and a mcdonalds. But it is a small town and the only destination really. You can’t go away every weekend to NYC as you can’t leave for every weekend (saturday classes, plus closed weekends and plus preps can only go away one weekend anyway). </p>
<p>Drugs: Kafka might not know about everything as there have been drug problems this year at Hotchkiss. But there are drugs at every school. The only difference is Lville has a 2 strikes policy while Hotchkiss has a one strike policy (but kids somehow manage to never get caught).</p>
<p>Dress code: schools are different here. we though Lville was very low key, kids wearing collared shirts and flip flops, totally casual. hotchkiss was much more preppy and formal. depend what you like. Choate was like Lville.</p>
<p>Another difference (besides the house system): Lville has the freshman dine together in a separate room to promote class unity.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your help! I really appreciate it =)</p>
<p>PS: I have decided to go to Hotchkiss!
PPS: And my mom has agreed!</p>
<p>vivsters, most excellent decision. Welcome to the Hotchkiss family!</p>