Choate Rosemary Hall - Review #8

Choate is quite simply one of the best schools in America and my years there count among the happiest of my life. Obviously, is not just the beautiful campus and the pedigree of excellence that make Choate such a wonderful place. It is the people: the fabulously interesting, nurturing teachers; the brilliant, talented, motivated students.

I feel I've always been the same person since I was a kid, but Choate helped me realize what only a potential before. All my interests and experiences culminated in the form I took at Choate - a place where I finally felt real belonging.

I made some of my best friends in the first week of school - perhaps I was very lucky. But I would say that everyone is new, everyone is open, and everyone is looking to belong, so don't be afraid to introduce yourself, put yourself out there, and make new friends.

The other students, who became my colleagues and friends, and gave me a sense of belonging.

Take advantage of the countryside as well as the school. It's such a beautiful place to explore.

Classes are taught in the Harkness Method, like at most boarding schools - seminars, essentially. The workload was heavy, with readings and weekly essays in most classes. But what was most satisfying was the high quality of conversation and debate had during class. Every student had something to add, and every student wanted to add something.

There were dozens of athletic options, with students encouraged to participate in new ones as well as developing their talents in sports they already played. Participation was mandatory 2/3 trimesters.

Choate has an exceptional art and performance program. Bands and orchestras, a capella groups, painting and pottery, theater, theater tech, and art history were all popular programs.I performed in several plays, but playwrighting and teching were equally popular.

There were dozens of clubs to participate in. I enjoyed political ones like Young Democrats and Model UN especially, but others provided the legendary Daily News, or volunteering organizations like Big Brother/Big Sister.

Dorm life was congenial. Prefects were the enforcers of rules, the leaders in hi-jinx, and the dorms I lived always felt like home.

The dining hall had good food (better than my college food). We had sit down meals on Wednesday lunch. Thirty years before, there had been sit down dinners every weeknight.

To the north, Wallingford was a grungy rust-belt town, although there was a very nice street by the school, with cafes and bars. To the south, it was the woods and fields and direct access to truly beautiful New England scenery.

Everyone was friendly, tolerant, and there was never any bullying or hazing to my knowledge - certainly not any that I observed. It was a politically a very liberal school to me. Coming from a conservative rural region, it was a wonderful relief.