Read more details about Steamboat Mountain School on their 2025 profile page.
Reflections and Advice:
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
The faculty's drive to push your limits physically and mentally is fantastic preparation for college and life. The small student body lets each faculty member get to know you personally, facilitating the overall learning experience.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
Being pushed. I came into the school a very shy person, not confident in my abilities generally. The school pushed me in every aspect of my life, academically, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. When I got to college, I found myself better prepared than my peers for the rigors of academic classes, both in my ability to manage my own time, and also in my ability to keep pushing myself harder until I had reached my goal. This served me well and enabled me to excel through college, a top-five law school, work at Colorado's supreme court, and work at a prestigious law firm.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
Be open to new things! At Steamboat Mountain School, you will have to.
4.) What did you like most about your school?
The people and adventures. Both went together for an unparalleled experience.
5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
Go for a hike with Margi as often as you can; check out the yurt and south pasture, both wonderful spots. Go adventuring at every opportunity—one day you won't be able to anymore, because of work or age.
Academics:
1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?
The school has a carefully crafted program that both challenges you, but provides you with a support network to make sure that you are not pushed beyond your abilities. A wide variety of classes are offered, and class sizes are small (in the 3-7 student range).
Athletics:
1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?
There are few schools with such exciting athletic programs. "Mandatory" skiing or snowboarding, or, in the fall and spring, biking, hiking, and climbing, provides a fun way to ensure physical fitness and provide you with skills that will last a lifetime.
Art, Music, and Theatre:
1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?
Art and theater classes are offered, and locally there are plenty of other artistic opportunities, even if not offered directly through school.
Extracurricular Opportunities:
1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?
Most of the activities that are extracurricular at some schools are actually curricular here. Examples include the physical education components of the program, including winter sports club, camping trips, and global immersion studies.
Dorm Life:
1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?
I enjoyed the rustic but well-maintained facilities and the caring dorm parents, as well as the carefully planned recreational opportunities both on and off campus. Living in a dorm in high school, in this smaller setting, prepared me for living in a much larger dorm in college without the shock that many of my peers experienced.
Dining:
1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.
There are a pretty extensive variety of meals. Meals are at set times. Food is usually served for 30 minutes to an hour (although you have longer to eat, of course). There is no assigned seating.
Social and Town Life:
1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.
As someone who has lived in Miami, Chicago, New York City, Denver, and San Francisco—it is not an exaggeration to say that Steamboat is still my favorite city to have lived in. There are so many things to do, extensive outdoors opportunities, a highly educated community, concerts, events, and, of course, skiing and snowboarding.
2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?
It is a very small, close-knit, community. Your dorm-mates, classmates, even teachers, inevitably become your friends.
Read more details about Steamboat Mountain School on their 2025 profile page.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
Steamboat Mountain School has two amazing programs International and competitive skiing. All students go through great outdoor experiences together to develop independence and build a strong bond between the students. Class sizes are under ten. . .
(NOTE: I attended SMS my Junior and Senior year of high school)
Not many teenagers can say they've traveled to Peru, Namibia, South Africa and Botswana before the age of 16 and not many high school. . .
The faculty's drive to push your limits physically and mentally is fantastic preparation for college and life. The small student body lets each faculty member get to know you personally, facilitating the overall learning experience. . .
Show more reviews (2 reviews)
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