Western Reserve Academy - Student Review #4

Featured: McCallie School

Western Reserve Academy

Alumni Review #4, Class of 2001

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College Enrolled

Saint Joseph's

Home Town, State (Country)

Years Attended Boarding School

Activities During Boarding School

Lacrosse Prom committee Football manager Volunteer work Basketball Tennis

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

Reserve is a very small, tight-knit community. Over the four years at Reserve this becomes your family away from home. Teachers bring their dogs to class and you play soccer with the faculty kids after dinner. When you arrive at Reserve you get an advisor who will help you through your years at Reserve. They watch out for you, make sure that you are doing well in school and provide a family-like atmosphere. Reserve is academically challeging. Senior year you have a senior seminar class in which you will write a paper on a topic of your choice. I have found college much easier than my Reserve years. Reserve perpared me to work hard to attain my goals.

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

Boarding school was a great way to teach me time management. It was a unique experience.

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

I would have tried not to be so homesick (we moved to Hudson my freshman year from NJ).

4.) What did you like most about your school?

The teachers, they cared so much about their students.

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

Take a walk down brick row, you'll know the feeling. It's were you'll first arrive at the school and it's where you will march down to get your diploma in green and white. All of the buildings are gorgeous. Sit on a leather couch in the Wrap (the student lounge). This is were you will spend time hanging out with new friends. Oh, and make sure to pet Meiko (a golden reteiver), my favorite campus Dog. Check out the new science building, athletic building, and girls dorm. These have all been built since I graduated.

1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?

Classes are very small at Reserve. The teacher to student ratio is less than 1:12. My senior year I had a class that had 2 students in it. It was great; we learned so much and created our own curriculum.

1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?

Students must participate in 3 sports a year. It's great if you like sports, but if you don't there are other options Dance, Team manager, Sports trainer(injuries), conditioning, volunteerwork, art study

1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?

There are 2 plays a year, an excellent dance program (with fabulous dance performances that the whole school would attend.) There are 2 art studios: one for 2D and one for 3D. Each student must take two Art Classes of 2 different kinds of Art or 3 classes of one art. Moose gallery showcases student and local art throughout the year

1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?

There are tons of different activites.

1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?

I lived at home. Dorm life is strict, but reasonable. The dorms are nicer then at my college. Day students are welcome on campus anytime. Lights out is 11pm. Internet goes out then too!

1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.

Dining is family style with 7 students and 1 teacher at each table. Students take turns doing jobs at the table. It is assigned seating that changes throughout the year. The food is better than we get at college, but we still complained a lot.

1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.

Hudson is cute but there's not much to do. There is a GAP, a few resturants, bookstore, Acme, Panera breads, McDonalds, and Starbucks. Reserve kids are allowed to walk downtown (a few blocks away). You must ask permission to get in a car with a day student. Reserve provides transportation to movies, bowling at the mall and other activities on the weekends. Six Flags and Sea wWrld is 15 mins away by car.

2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?

There are lots of things to do but no time to do them. Reserve takes up a lot of time academically and athletically (Saturday school). On the weekends, kids like to relax or play sports. Not many kids go home-- most stay around Hudson or at day students' houses.

Weekday