<p>I heard that it used to be a “party school”, but now is at much the same level as Deerfield or Andover.When my brother went to interview there, I met a really nice guy while waiting for the tour to begin. I was so surprised by how able he was to speak elequently and naturally to people he didn’t know! Is Choate filled with people like this, and is it a nice place in which to live your high school years? Be honest please :)</p>
<p>hi futureboarder! I am currently a new sophomore at Choate so I think I can help answer your question. Before I do that though, there is a thread going on about Choate right now if you would like to read that too. Here’s the link:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1094532-im-here-help-ask-away.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1094532-im-here-help-ask-away.html</a></p>
<p>I remember on my tour last year how everyone was so welcoming and generally enthusiastic about my interest of Choate. They really made me feel like I fit into the school’s atmosphere but I wasn’t sure if it was just an act that the students were putting on for prospective students. Every school that I toured was like this and I had a hard time believing that everyone could truly be that nice. After March 10th when I went for revisits at my top 3 schools, Choate was the only school who’s students were still an genuine as I remembered them to be. I was actually shocked at the 2 other schools at how different they made their school seem while applying. So without a doubt I chose Choate and still to this day the student body is impressing me. Choate students come from every background ethnically, socioeconomically, religiously, etc. so everyone is extremely accepting but also willing to learn about other people and how to create friendships with people that you may have thought you had nothing in common with. I’ve met people this year just while doing my laundry and had some of the most amazing conversations with these people just because we happened to be at the same place at the same time. </p>
<p>As to your second question, yes! I love living on campus. Within your first month here you really get a sense for your dorm and connect with the other students in your dorm. All of the dorms are very well kept and every year and we are always making improvements to them in a ‘green’ way. We have brand new 10th grade dorms which are non-arguably the best dorms on campus. They are completely eco-friendly and are just a great place to live during your 4th form year if you choose that dorm. The advisors in all of your dorms have lived there for years so they have standing traditions that make each dorm unique and they really make the dorm feel like a positive living space and furthermore, home. </p>
<p>Hope this helped!</p>
<p>From a prospective parent perspective (say that three times quickly!), I will say that the personable nature of the kids we met at Choate is probably the #1 factor in my daughter’s decision to apply there for the Jan 2011 applicant class. We visited twice, in the summer (with a local day student tour guide) and in the early winter for an extended visit (where we met several kids and even ate dinner with one of our guides)…both times the kids seemed very genuine, enthusiastic, and engaged in the school. </p>
<p>Whatever the opposite of cool and aloof is, the Choate kids were. Super sincere, warm, welcoming.</p>
<p>i am in love with choate! i am a current student and everyone is so helpful and kind. choate is known for being the most family-like out of boarding schools and I’d completely agree. my high school years have been amazing from my choate experience so far. the academics are also great and i’ve learned so many things. hope this helped! :)</p>
<p>I agree with 0511december completely. It is an amazing learning environment and everyone truly prospers from it</p>
<p>thanks guys!! this helped a lot, and if my brother gets in, i will tell him without a doubt to take the oppurtunity!!!</p>
<p>Although I think yellow22 has done a great job of capturing what it’s like at Choate, I will add my two cents as the parent of a senior who is now in his fourth year at Choate. My child is not someone who I would describe as wildly extroverted. He is a very nice kid, but kind of quiet and reserved.</p>
<p>Yet he has been extremely happy at Choate. He likes and gets along with almost all of his classmates. He also confirms that Choate does not have a lot of cliques. The student body is very diverse, with lots of international students. Kids also come from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Some students come from VERY wealthy families. A significant portion of the student body receive some kind of financial aid. Yet, everyone is treated pretty much equally and seems to get along.</p>
<p>prpdd – Choate seems like that ideal school! Thanks for this insight!</p>
<p>I will admit that I am somewhat biased and something of a Choate cheerleader on this board. However, if you do a search of past threads you will see that Choate has a deserved reputation for having a genuinely friendly student body. It really does seem to be the case that athletes, nerds, theater kids, etc. all seem to be friends and get along with each other.</p>
<p>Of course no school is a utopia and I am certain that Choate is not a perfect fit for everyone. Like most top schools, the work load can be daunting. And some kids have an easier time than others adjusting to being away from home.</p>