<p>More specifically, Chicago. I did a summer program at Choate this summer and I am applying to there and MX for HS. I was wondering, if I went, what do people there (and on the east coast in general) think of us Chicagoans? Not to brag, but I live on the North Shore, and that’s one of the wealthiest areas of Chicago. I was just wondering, will people think I’m some hick from the midwest or just what will they think of me based on where I’m from? Help!</p>
<p>They’ll probably think you’re a hick, with a lot of missing teeth, a bunch of junked cars in your yard, a gun rack on top of your truck, and a penchant for squirrel meat.</p>
<p>BS kids come from all over the place and from all socio-economic backgrounds. No one’s going to blink an eye at Chicago…but you may find you’ll need to broaden your own view of Midwesterners outside of Chicago. Most bs’s these days value diversity, not wealth and social standing, though you’ll find a small crew at any school for whom that kind of stuff still matters. </p>
<p>(says the mama of a child from the Midwestern boondocks, just a tad defensively 
)</p>
<p>Defensiveness not necessary. I always associate honesty, modesty and strong values with people I know from the midwest. Plus, my all time favorite comedian was a midwesterner: Johnny Carson. I think being from the midwest is a huge plus in east and west coast boarding school applications. Having said all that, while Chicago is in the midwest, it hardly qualifies as midwestern. Saying you’re from the North Shore is not a plus. It’s no different than coming from Greenwich, Bryn Mawr or a host of other high fallutin’ suburbs.</p>
<p>Ever seen the famous “dueling banjo’s” scene from the movie Deliverence?
They’ll think you’re the kid on the porch.</p>
<p>Ryork-From my experience, people in New England are wonderful to wonderful people. My d attends Deerfield Academy and has been welcomed with open arms. Midwesterners bring a type of diversity to east or west coast schools that can enhance the bs experience for all the students. </p>
<p>We are from Chicago, inner city, southside, middle, middle class, the other end of your north shore.</p>
<p>As an AO from Andover told a group of students and parents, we are looking for “kind” children who can contribute the the community. I believe that is what most schools are looking for.</p>
<p>no one will care and if they do, you should not. I would bite my lip about being from the wealthy part of anywhere if I were you. I would find it odd to mention $ to fellow students. Let people decide to like you for who you are, not where you come from or how much $ you may or may not have.</p>
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<p>I agree with Maddog (statement above). </p>
<p>RYork15, Not only will that attitude isolate you from many of the BS students, but it may get you rejected by Adcoms not wanting to deal with the ego. Let’s be clear, chances are even if you’re from the “North Shore” you’ll meet kids who make your income look like poverty level. No one knows who has what (specifically), and even if they do most don’t care. </p>
<p>So as someone who lives in the midwest, let me tell you that I hope you’ll go with an open mind and represent your part of the country in a positive light. </p>
<p>Besides, if you’ve already done a summer program at Choate you pretty much know what you’re in for (times 5).</p>
<p>So unless you want BS’s taking you ONLY because they’re desparate for a full pay - I’d become a little less impressed with how much money your parents have. After Boarding school tuition it’s likely to be a lot less anyway.</p>
<p>After the first week, no ones cares where you are from. Chicago certainly isn’t “foreign”. We have kids at our school from China, Vietnam, Bahamas, Isreal, Korea, Kenya…So if you can drive, not that you want to drive 12 hours, but you can…you are almost local!</p>
<p>I didn’t mean it in a bad way, but I’ve heard that kids at boarding school are really, I don’t know, judgemental towards kids who aren’t from the East coast. I mean, I’d have to get FA anyways. I’m not that rich. I was just asking, what do East Coasters think of midwesterners?</p>
<p>I didn’t mean to bring money into it either. I was just thinking, at most of the private schools in my area money is a big deal so I didn’t know if it was as big of a deal at boarding school.</p>
<p>Sorry if I offended anyone, I really didn’t mean to.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think, if anything, kids find it interesting if you’re from some place different, whether that’s the Midwest or the Phillipines. My son hasn’t said a word about anyone saying anything negative to him about where he lives…and believe me, we’re a lot boondockier than Chicago! Your hometown should be the least of your worries.</p>
<p>Hey… there are “boondocks” here on the East Coast too - and we love 'em! The loudest things we hear at our modest house are sounds of the surf, the putt-putt-putt of lobster boats early in the mornings, and occasionally the call of coyotes. No gun shots and hardly ever a siren.</p>
<p>Are you from Maine? I love Maine! My mom’s from Maine!
haha sorry random and off topic but whatever</p>
<p>Mainer95…you’re too funny with your faux boondocks claim from the southern coast! A little bit inland maybe, central Maine definitely, but hardly the Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth-like areas…etc etc. Even “modest” houses don’t come with modest price tags if you’re close enough to the ocean to “hear the surf and the lobster boats.” Crack me up!</p>
<p>Still, having teased you back to an admission of reality, you do live in one of the most beautiful states that I’ve ever visited in my life. Just stunning.</p>
<p>My daughter comes from a large midwestern city. A classmate was excited about visiting our home (also large) because she’d never been to a small town before. Sigh. </p>
<p>You’ll get a few of them. But very few. For the most part, no one really cares who is from where. They only care who you are as a person. Once on campus, the distinctions tend to blur. More often than not, no one keeps track beyond travel arrangements when its time to visit someone or go home.</p>
<p>Don’t sweat it.</p>
<p>Ry- I would agree with you. The few private day schools in Chicago are mostly filled with rich children. Their parents do not wish to have their children in classes with poor urban students. But remember at bs the kids dont go home at night. Students are living with each other and not seeing each others home lives. At bs kids are judged on who they are not what their parents have.</p>
<p>Most Chicago day school do not have the diversity that bs have. From personal experience the day schools offered so little FA it was clear to me that they had no desire to to have diversity.</p>
<p>Well Alexz it depends how a school defines diversity. I had an interesting conversation with a headmaster who made it clear that “poor” did not meet the definition of diverse for their school. They only looked at ethnicity. So they didn’t offer much FA as long as the school population was diverse by their definition.</p>
<p>Alex825Mom-thank you! yes you are absolutely correct about chicago day schools, whether in the city or the burbs. While I am white, there isn’t much diversity at my school, or the other day schools for that matter. My class has about 45 people in it, and only 3 of them are black, one girl is half black half white, and there are two indian kids. There is also one girl who is half pakistani, and that’s about it. We have more diversity than the other classes too.</p>
<p>the ones who even give a care about such a thing are extremely immature. Get over yourself and get over what anyone says or thinks about you based on where you come from. Treat it like a big issue and it will bug you. Or you can choose to keep your mind busy with more important things.</p>