Featured: Winchendon SchoolAlumni Review #3, Class of 2002
About the Author:
College Enrolled
The College of the Holy Cross
Home Town, State (Country)
Albany, NY
Years Attended Boarding School
2
Activities During Boarding School
Varsity Ski Team
Varsity Tennis Team (captain)
Discipline Committee
Citybridge (a tutoring program for Boston middle schoolers)
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
The classes at CA are amazing. I learned more there than I have learned at college so far, and my fellow CA graduates feel the same way at their schools. Before going to Concord, I went to public high school, where I was not challenged at all. CA's workload was a bit much at first, but I began to work with it and became very enthusiastic about my classes.
CA's student body is extremely diverse. For such a small school, any kind of person you can imagine goes to CA. The students and faculty share very liberal political beliefs, which is sometimes hard to be around when you are a conservative (like me). However, I would have never met some of these types of people had I not gone to CA. I'm glad I decided to go there.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
Going to Concord made me a more mature person as I learned to deal with things I did not have to deal with in high school. When I went to college, the workload was miniscule compared to CA, and I was used to living in the dorms. I feel that after graduating CA, my mind has developed, and I can think on many different levels.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
I would have gone to CA my freshman year instead of my junior year.
4.) What would you never want to change about your school?
I would never want to change the relationships between teachers and students. We called most teachers by their first names, and it was very common to go out to lunch with teachers. I went over to a few of my teachers' houses for dinners. We all knew their families. It was great, because it seemed like we had several dozen parents.
5.) What things could be improved about your school?
The athletics program.
6.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
Make sure to keep an open mind, and make sure to hit the ground running, don't fall behind.
1.) What did you like best about your school’s academics?
One of my favorite things about the school was its academics. The class selection was diverse, the professors were incredible, and the environment wasn't too competitve. It is clear that everyone who goes to CA is very intelligent, but grades are not talked about, and college acceptances are kept quiet.
2.) What did you like least about the academics in your school?
The workload was constantly huge, and if you fell behind in a class, it was very hard to bounce back. Looking back, I'm glad that I was able to have such an intense workload.
1.) What did you like best about your school’s athletics?
If you are relatively good at any sport, you will be #1 on the team at CA.
2.) What did you like least about the athletics in your school?
None of the teams are very good, except for both tennis teams, and a few others.
1.) What did you like best about your school’s art program?
We had a very strong art program. I took several art classes and enjoyed all of them. We have a huge selection of classes availible and the professers are top of the notch. Many of CA's students go on to pursue the arts in college.
2.) What did you like least about your school’s art program?
Our arts programs seemed as though it would be hard to be a beginner in any of the arts classes as they were all very advanced.
1.) What did you like most about the extracurricular activities offered at your school?
Student participation in extracurriculars was very high, and I met a lot of my good friends through these activites. Also, the faculty knew what everyone was involved in, and would be understanding if you had an important extracurricular committment and were not prepared for class.
2.) What did you like least about the extracurricular activities offered at your school?
I was very happy with the extracurricular activies.
1.) What was the best thing about dorm life in your school?
The friends made through the dorms. The dorms are very nice compared to any other dorm I have been in. They each house about 25 students, and they have three dorm parents. The number of singles is high, so if you want one as a senior you will probably get one. The houseparents also cook food for you about 3-4 times a week, which is the best thing about the dorms.
2.) What did you like least about dorm life?
Depending on your houseparents, rules can be very strict. You must have permission to be up after 11pm and if you are late back to the dorm (10pm on weekdays, 11pm on weekends) there is serious trouble.
1.) What was the best thing about your dining arrangements?
The food was great, especially compared to college. No assigned seating. Also Vespers were held about once a month, which is a formal dinner with entertainment where they make very good food.
2.) What did you like least about your dining arrangements?
Lots of pasta. I had pasta at least once or twice a day. Also, they are very strict about not letting students in after 8am, which is just the time everyone is getting to breakfast. Not eating breakfast can make for a very sad day at CA.
1.) How welcome did you feel by the other students when you first arrived at the school
Students were very welcoming when I arrived. I found a group of diverse friends, who I became very happy with. However, different student cliques did not get along.
2.) Describe the level of diversity and integration of students in your school:
We had a very high level of diversity, and it was very important to be politically correct, however, the different groups of students rarely mixed.
3.) Describe typical fun activities you did on a weekend:
Went into Boston, spent the night at a friends house, or went out to eat in Concord. And, of course, homework.
4.) What was the town like?
Concord is the best town you could be in for boarding school. There are lots of shops and restaurants within walking distance. Students were always going into town, you do not have to have permission from anyone. There are a couple of great pizza places where students can go out to lunch during school, and CVS and Brooks Pharmacy are right nearby. Also, the train to Boston is within walking distance, and CA students went in to Boston very frequently.
Weekday
| 7:00 AM | Wake up |
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:30 AM | Announcements or Chapel |
| 9:00 AM | AP Biology |
| 10:00 AM | Introduction to Law |
| 11:00 AM | Free period |
| 12:00 AM | Lunch |
| 12:30 AM | The Bible |
| 2:00 PM | AP Statistics |
| 3:00 PM | Tennis Practice |
| 5:30 PM | Dinner |
| 6:00 PM | Relax in Room |
| 7:30 PM | Study Hall in dorm or library |
| 10:00 PM | Back in the dorms, relaxed with food and friends |
| 11:00 PM | Lights out |
Weekend
| 11:00 AM | Brunch |
| 12:00 AM | Studying |
| 7:00 PM | Out to dinner |
| 11:00 PM | Must be back in dorms |
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