@neuroticmama I am the mother of a 3rd former day student. She loves it at Choate and has found it to be a mixture of fun and lots of hard work. Parents definitely go to sports events. My DD is a swimmer and almost the whole team had parents stay overnight in MA for the New England Championships. The other swim meets were well attended, especially the ones on Saturdays. Parents drive in from NYC, NJ, and other parts of CT to catch a meet and cheer the team on. Lots of school spirit.
Wallingford is safe and has restaurants, ice cream places, etc. The WalMart is kind of far, but a shuttle is provided. Movie theater also on shuttle route. Trips to big malls are set up frequently and there is always something going on at the PMAC (large auditorium) or the small stage under the chapel (improv, slam poetry, etc.)
DD has more day students friends than boarders, but she has a few very close boarder friends, as well. Her sports teams are a mixture of day/boarders. She is currently away on a crew training trip, so she may bond well with a couple of new kids on the team.
There is a CC site called “everything about Choate.” Check it out.
As a current 6th former (12th grader) at Choate, I can give some insight on what it has been like being a student here for the past 4 years. Thank you @Penguins75 for creating this thread and showing prospective students on what truly makes Choate Rosemary Hall a special place!
I’ve been wait-listed. What can I do to increase my chances of being accepted? I’m already writing a letter, and what are they looking foir?
I unfortunately cannot tell you what the school is looking for this year based on the fact that it changes year to year. Write the letter,make sure that you show that you are still interested in the school, and ask them why you got waitlisted. Do not sound pushy or anything like that,but just ask out of curiosity. I mean, there is nothing you can really do to increase your chances of getting off the waitlist per say,but the school will definitely appreciate all of these things. Whatever happens will happen. No matter what, getting into or going to this school won’t define you and what kind of student you are,so just keep this in mind. @swimmsarah
I’m just really nervous. this school is my top choice. I really loved it!
@swimmsarah It okay to be really nervous about it! Did you apply to other schools? Is there a fall back plan?
I got in to another school, and I felt kinda happy about it. But not like I did at Choate. It was so great and I felt perfectly here!!
This was very helpful. Thank you @prepschoolhopes
@mexusa this is great. Thank you. The other CC site is useful.
I understand there is a laundry plan. Do most students do that or their own? Any thoughts on what a student needs for their room outside of sheets?
@neuroticmama It depends. Some students do their own laundry and then others get laundry service. the laundry service costs $800 so keep that in mind. Doing laundry on my own is not very hard and requires about two hours of you time on the weekend ( or if I find time during the school week). I would recommend outside of sheets a mattress pad, a comforter, and a lamp. Also remember to bring hangers and those stick on hooks to hang things off of. Theses are just some of the basic things that you need to make things more organized in the room. You can also put a bin for more storage on top of the closet which is definitely suggested especially if you live far away, so summer/fall/spring/winter clothing can be switched out as things get colder and then warmer.
Hey y’all! Keep the questions coming!
Thanks for answering! Choate is my top choice and I have a couple friends there so I’m going to keep trying to get off the wait list!
@neuroticmama Plenty of students do their own laundry, and plenty of students use E&R. In terms of other things to bring, I recommend decorative options. Make sure your child’s room can feel as much like home as possible. This will be very helpful when they feel homesick in the first few weeks. I also recommend anything that can maximize storage. From under-the-bed bins to triple-hook hangers, you can never have enough space.
First of all, congratulations to everyone who applied to boarding schools during this admissions cycle! The process involves a lot of effort and dedication from both students and parents; regardless of whether or not you (or your child) will be attending a boarding school next year, you have certainly learned a lot. The boarding school application process is a wonderful preparation for the college admissions process!
In light of the decisions that came out March 10th, I thought it would be helpful to both students and parents if I opened this thread. As a Gold Key Tour Guide and Choate student, I feel the need to be helpful to families who are facing difficult decisions right now. Therefore, I will try my best to answer all of your questions – whether they are about boarding school life in general or Choate in specific.
Here is a brief description of me, so that we can make this thread as efficient as possible:
I am a three year senior at Choate and an international student. I have extensive experience with several Choate signature programs, specifically the Global Programs (Spring Break trips, Study Abroad) and American Studies (interdisciplinary humanities offering for juniors). I have many friends who are involved with the Arts Concentration Program, the Science Research Program (SRP), and the Kohler Enviornmental Centar (KEC) so I could be helpful in those areas as well.
If you do not feel comfortable asking something on this public thread, please feel free to message me individually!
Go Choate!
Does Choate offer extra time for kids with attention issues? Will the school support adhd meds?
@neuroticmama: That is not something that a student would be able to answer. As a mother to a 3rd former day student, I have had the chance to talk to quite a few faculty and administration and to read the printed and online materials extensively. I have never seen anything written or heard anyone mention during orientation, casual conversation, meetings with faculty, etc., an offer of extra time for kids with attention issues. That does not mean it does not happen, but it is not built into the school curriculum or program. Best bet is to ask admissions.
Call the Health Center to get info about adhd meds and how they are administered/stored for student.
There are several schools out there that have programs designed to help or at least can be modified to help students with attention issues.
Good luck!
@ChoatieMom what is a nice place to stay in in the area? I’m not usually a big hotel chain fan, so even a b&b or vrbo rental or inn? Thank you
Actually @mexusa , most students on campus have some idea of how extra-time works because it is pretty freely discuseed during finals week. Extra-time is offered on everything from in-class quizzes to tests. There is even a special time-slot built into the finals schedule to allot time for students who need it. There is information about it available in some school material, but as @mexusa said, you can always call the school to request more information about it. I also think that her previous comments tells a lot about the discretion with which the school handles this issue. Teachers and administrators know that some students may want to keep this more private for their own personal reasons, so you don’t usually know when someone is being offered extra-time. @neuroticmama
@neuroticmama: We almost always stayed at the Hilton in Hartford because that is where DH was staying while he worked there for two years. We stayed at the Homewood Suites right off the highway near Choate a few times, but never any B&Bs or VRBOs, sorry. It is a big regret of ours that we never stayed at the Sally Hart Lodge on campus. Don’t be us.