Blair Academy - Review #6

Read more details about Blair Academy on their 2023 profile page.
Blair Academy
5

About the Author:

Years Attended Boarding School:
1998-2002
Sports and Activities:
Field hockey Basketball Lacrosse
College Enrolled:
Bowdoin college
Home Town, State:
Hopatcong, NJ

Reflections and Advice:

1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
Blair isn't unique among boarding schools, and anyone who went to a mainstream boarding school who tries to tell you that theirs is different is full of it. What's unique about their school is that it's a boarding school and it's a privilege to study and live amongst your peers and teachers on beautiful campuses. The same is true for Blair and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have studied at such a beautiful school, to have competed with such great athletes, and to have learned from such wonderful teachers.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
Everything. Boarding school was such a privilege and a wonderful experience that I'll always be grateful for. I met lifelong friends and learned lifelong lessons and got into a college with peers who were far beyond my intellectual level.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
Drink it in.
4.) What did you like most about your school?
That it was not affected. It was every person's boarding school. You didn't have to look any one way to fit in there.
5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
West hall, all the way.

Academics:

1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?
I learned. I learned how to learn and I learned how to live. I found out that I was really smart but I had to be pushed, and I was pushed. I got feedback, early and often and the message was received - I was smart but lazy and I needed to work hard to be successful. No message has ever had a more life changing impact.

Athletics:

1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?
I was an athlete. 3 seasons. I had some coaches who were life changing and some who just coached games. Sports were a big part of my high school experience and I'm not sure what it would have been like if I hadn't been involved, although I know other people were more involved in things like the arts and theater. I loved being an athlete. There was never a question about it.

Art, Music, and Theatre:

1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?
I really came into my own with visual arts my senior year. There were lots of opportunities to explore the arts, you just had to choose them. At Blair, I took theater, I played around in the ceramics studio, and I really embraced drawing.

Extracurricular Opportunities:

1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?
I totally dropped the ball here. I over committed to sports and didn't spend much time volunteering.

Dorm Life:

1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?
My dorm rooms were consistently awesome. Always on the guided tours for prospective students. As far as dorms go, Blair nails it.

Dining:

1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.
The food was great. My college has consistently been voted number 1 in the country for food and I still thought it paled in comparison to Blair. Formal dinners were not my favorite but in retrospect I understand why they were important.

Social and Town Life:

1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.
There's not much opportunity to take advantage of town, at least there wasn't in my experience. But it is a cute town and if you have the opportunity to get off campus, blairs town is beautiful and the Delaware water gap is gorgeous.
2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?
Again, it's all about maximizing your opportunities. With all of the time that is scheduled for classes, sports, formal dinners and study halls, you have to make the most of your free time.

Daily Schedule:

Weekday
8:00 AM
Classes
3:30 PM
Practice
6:00 PM
Formal dinner
7:00 PM
Free time
8:00 PM
Study hall
10:00 PM
Free time
10:30 PM
Report in
11:00 PM
Lights out
Weekend
8:00 AM
Classes
1:00 PM
Games
3:30 PM
Leave for weekend
Read more details about Blair Academy on their 2023 profile page.

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review
Description
Blair Academy Alumni #1
Class of 2018
5.00 10/12/2020
University of Southern California
Blair's emphasis on community made it stand out. For me, that started on my tour, when everyone seemed to know everyone else as we walked around the 400-acre campus. The friendly atmosphere and. . .
Blair Academy Alumni #2
Class of 2015
5.00 10/23/2017
Columbia University in the City of New York
Consistent with its relatively small student body as compared to many other boarding schools, Blair is a place that knows the value of both its community and the relationships cultivated therein. From the moment I. . .
Blair Academy Alumni #3
Class of 2015
5.00 10/24/2017
Williams College
The amazing student-faculty relationships definitely made Blair special for me; the faculty are not only your teachers but also your coaches and mentors and dorm-parents, and all of that inter-relatedness allows the students and faculty. . .
Show more reviews (6 reviews)

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Quick Stats (2023)

  • Enrollment: 465 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $66,500
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $46,500
  • Acceptance rate: 18%
  • Average class size: 11 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update