The Hotchkiss School - Student Review #4

The Hotchkiss School

Alumni Review #4, Class of 2002

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1. Class of 2005, enrolled at Williams College
2. Class of 2003, enrolled at Brown University
3. Class of 2003, enrolled at Williams College
4. Class of 2002, enrolled at Brown University
5. Class of 2001, enrolled at Brown University

View reviews: 1-5 \| 6-10 \|

College Enrolled

Brown University

Home Town, State (Country)

Brielle,NJ

Years Attended Boarding School

Activities During Boarding School

softball (team captain) study abroad (Italy, senior year)

1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?

Classes are taught using the Harkness method. Each class is situated around a round table, which promotes discussion among the whole class. Classes are never lecture format. Every student is required to participate in school service, a volunteer job of your choice on campus.

2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?

Becoming independent was the best thing for me. Living away from home and functioning by yourself for the first time. I have grown amazingly intellectually as well. Hotchkiss also provided me with the opportunity to live in Italy for a year. And Hotchkiss prepared me amazingly well for an ivy league education.

3.) What would you have done differently during your boarding school experience?

I would not change anything about my boarding school experience.

4.) What would you never want to change about your school?

the academic program

5.) What things could be improved about your school?

the social elitist atmosphere. the dress code is also ridiculous

6.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?

lawrence burgers at the snack bar are the best. The lake down by the headmaster's house is great in the spring. The best girl's dorm on campus is by far whieler.

1.) What did you like best about your school’s academics?

Academics were extremely challenging. On average, homework took up around six hours per day. I liked that such a high standard was set for academic work. Hotchkiss is definitely not for everyone, but if you are willing to devote your life to academic achievment, there is no better place. Hotchkiss provides an incredible number of classes for the size of school that it is and offers students a wide range of flexibility in the curriculum to take classes one is interested in.

2.) What did you like least about the academics in your school?

The academic program at Hotchkiss could not have been better. The competitive environment of the school, however, could sometimes get too intense for my liking.

1.) What did you like best about your school’s athletics?

The Hotchkiss athletic program is very good. A huge variety of sports are offered at both the varsity, jv, thirds and intramural club levels. Coaches are very knowledgable. Hotchkiss competes against a lot of the other major New England boarding schools and does extremely well, especially given its smaller than average size.

2.) What did you like least about the athletics in your school?

I did not like that sports were mandatory for each season. Team sports take up a huge chunk of your time. However, for people not so interested in sports, other, less time consuming opportunities were available such as club sports or special projects in art, music, etc.

1.) What did you like best about your school’s art program?

I never took an art class while at Hotchkiss.

2.) What did you like least about your school’s art program?

I never took an art class

1.) What did you like most about the extracurricular activities offered at your school?

A huge variety of student organizations were available. Volunteer opportunities on the other hand, were scarce because lakeville, ct is such a tiny town.

2.) What did you like least about the extracurricular activities offered at your school?

Extracurricular activities at Hotchkiss are mainly made up of people who are looking to add something to their college applications. Not many people participate for their own sake, just to look better than others.

1.) What was the best thing about dorm life in your school?

Being able to choose what dorm you lived in was great because you always got to live near your friends. Faculty on every hall was a good thing too. Proctors were also an essential part of dorm life.

2.) What did you like least about dorm life?

Study hall was by far the worst thing. For freshman and sophomores, every night there was study hall from 7:30 to 9:30 in which you had to be STUDYING in your room. It was awful and strictly enforced. Curfew was also too early, 10 PM and lights out was 11, impossible with the Hotchkiss workload.

1.) What was the best thing about your dining arrangements?

Excellent food, snack bar was open when dining hall wasn't. Provided good variety of food.

2.) What did you like least about your dining arrangements?

Workers were not friendly AT ALL.

1.) How welcome did you feel by the other students when you first arrived at the school?

Very welcome. Orientation provided a good chance to meet everyone. Fitting in often takes more time for people such as myself who attend on scholarship. Hotchkiss is an extremely elitist school and very often people who do not have a ton of money do not fit in to the cliquey atmosphere quite as well.

2.) Describe the level of diversity and integration of students in your school:

Diversity is not really all that great at Hotchkiss. It does have its few international and scholarship students but the vast majority of the students are rich and white from either connecticut or new york city.

3.) Describe typical fun activities you did on a weekend:

Concerts, dances, movies in auditorium, sleepovers in other dorms, etc.

4.) What was the town like?

Students often venture into town if only to eat at local restaurants or shop (maybe 6 stores in town, if that). Movies were close by in Millerton, NY and a shuttle service ran to Lakeville and millerton on weekends and taxis were available during the week.

Weekday