Kent School - Review #1

The freedom Kent offers its students is truly unparalleled, and with freedom comes responsibility: Students quickly learn how to look after themselves and one another. If you're looking for a place to learn independence, and self-reliance, have mutually beneficial relationships with faculty/coaches, and prepare for a 4-year college, Kent is the place for you. Also, Kent's campus is ridiculously gorgeous. It's set in a valley surrounded by hundreds of acres of school property yet is only a 10-minute walk from a quaint yet developed town which has basically anything you could want. I wouldn't trade my 4 years here for anything.

Cliche, but definitely my friends. I made friends for life who I know I can literally go to after not speaking for years and they'll have my back and I can reach out anytime. But you probably are going to miss your friends so much after you graduate that you'll end up texting fairly regularly! I still make time to facetime/visit with friends after graduating. Also, the alumni network is super open and supportive!

Don't be afraid to sign up for a bunch of stuff that you don't know how to do. Don't be afraid to explore and make the most of your options. Don't be afraid to stand out. Don't limit yourself. I only started seeing what Kent had to offer my junior year, and I regret not taking advantage of those first 2 years really often ;(

Location. It was beautiful. Nature is super important to me, so having access to such a beautiful area was a dream for me.

In the wintertime, if the lake behind the hockey rink freezes over, go skate on it with friends! I never got the chance and regret it to this day.

I loved that my teachers respected their students. I felt heard. When students raise concerns or praise, teachers listen and respond appropriately. Teachers are always willing to make time to meet outside of class if you request and do their best to make it as enjoyable of an experience as they possibly can. Teachers are accomodating to disabilities and don't make a fuss. High level of professionalism in faculty.There are so many electives you can take! Look at the course offering on the school website. They update all the time :)

I loved that we had to do athletics. However, it was basically every day except for Sunday which could get a little tiring. However, it's always a team effort and is nice to not go back to your room to lay around until dinner. You get outside, have fun, workout, make friends, and feel refreshed after a day of class.

Even if you weren't a theatre kid, you go to musicals and dance shows. They are so sick, and it's super fun supporting your classmates/friends performing!

You can start a club for anything, you just can't be afraid to advocate for it at the club fair at the beginning of the year! The clubs kind of change every year depending on how strong the followings are, but the offering are super diverse. Check the website

I lived in the same dorm all 4 years and absolutely loved it! Every year there are the dorm wars where you compete against other dorms in various competitions. Also, it's can be really a unique experience to go downstairs in your pajamas to get a snack from the vending machine, see your calculus teacher monitoring study hall, and realize you need their help solving a homework problem!

There are soooo many options. Panini bar, dessert bar, salad bar, stir fry bar, pancake bar, hot food bar, pizza bar, pasta bar, deli bar, fruit juices, fruits, cereal... There is never a shortage of options! Also, you can order from the restaurants in town.

The twon is a 10 minute walk away. It has pizza, salads, book stores, hardware stores, grocery stores, cheese store.... the list goes on

What I loved most about the social life at Kent was the absence of stereotypical cliques. Sure, you separate off into friend groups, but it's not usually based on what sport you play/what you look like/where you're from. There are always exceptions, but for the most part, your friend group is going to consist of people from various backgrounds/nationalities/interests.