Students Revisit Schools, Finalize Decisions

After the excitement of acceptances on March 10th has passed, students have had one month to commit to a secondary school. By going on multiple revisits in the past two weeks as well as discussing with teachers, parents and friends, students have tried to select the school where they thought they would like to be for the next three or four years. Students explain why they decided to commit to their school of choice, and what the most important element of any school was for them.

“Revisits have helped me decide which school I am most fitted to be at, and it helped me reflect on who I was as a person and student, and where I would thrive the most according to this identity,” said Cherie '17, who chose to attend Concord Academy.

Another to-be Concord student, Mika '17, added that “The moment I stepped onto their campus, I felt that I was at home, even though I was unfamiliar of the surroundings. The students greeted and welcomed me to the admissions office when I went for the tour and interview. There are around 382 students: because it is such a small school, it has a very close-knit community where everyone knows each other well. Besides, many of my friends are going and I know a few people who are already students there.”

Sevilla '18, deciding to attend Middlesex School in the fall, said that she chose the school because “it's a very small school, so you can develop really close relationships with your teachers and friends.”

Also choosing Middlesex, Jillian R. '18 said that she loved the “really nice campus, the welcoming and smart people, and most importantly, the friendly and academic environment.”

Rama '17 said that “NMH [Northfield Mount Hermon School] has great food. Really good food. (laughs) They even have their own ice cream machine!”

Himeno '17, also attending NMH beginning in the fall, listened, then added that “My interviewer was extremely nice, and after our conversation it was clear that she remembered even small details from what we had discussed. And the desserts tasted really good too. There were many vegetarian options, so I felt happy for Rama (who is a vegetarian) as well.”

Hien '17, explaining why he chose Kent School, said that “I really liked their motto about the lifestyle there: ‘Simplicity of Life, Self-Reliance, Directness of Purpose.’ Because the school is religiously affiliated and spiritual, I felt that I could explore and discover about life and self-identity here. I also love the mascot, the lion. I didn't even go on revisits because just from the tour and interview, I knew that this was my favorite school where I belonged. And although the school is academically competitive, the atmosphere is more mellow and 'chill,' which I really liked. My other option is also a great school, but it felt too competitive for me, not offering enough academic support programs, unlike Kent.”

When asked to describe why she chose PEA over her other acceptances in three words, Bona '17 answered, “Harkness. Challenge. Opportunity.” (note: the Harkness method is PEA's unique system of pedagogy, used in every class including mathematics and science, where 12 students and one teacher sit around a circular table and learn from each other, rather than a lecture-based class.)

Also choosing PA, Niya '18 said that “Andover is very diverse, and everything they do such as the clubs, how teachers get involved in the students' life, and how the students support each other even in such a competitive environment in instills inclusion.”

“I like the dorms, and I felt that I would do well academically,” responded Ivan '18 when asked why he decided to enroll at Suffield.

Robyn '18 added that “I went to a lacrosse game at another school, but I felt unwelcomed, and people didn't really talk to me. But at Suffield Academy [which she has committed to], parents and students were very inclusive and made me feel a part of the community. The one thing that really made me commit was that one student that I had never seen before tried to convince me to come to Suffield. How genuine and kind everyone in that community was what made me finalize my decision.”

“I committed to Lawrenceville School because I felt like it's a place where I could challenge myself both academically and socially,” said Rachel A. '17, “and where I could have new opportunities that I would never have here at Fay. Most importantly, I feel like I am going to have a good time there.”

“What made me choose my school [Deerfield Academy] was the fact that it was small, but not too small, and that this was the place where I could better stand out as a college applicant,” explained Maddie '17. “Sure, I had other options, but my gut feeling told me that I would do better at the school I chose.”

Throughout the applications and decisions, I learned so much from the mature thinking of everyone around me going through the same process. From them, I realized that the truly important factor in choosing a school was not its name value, but the experience that I would have there for the entirety of my high school career. When revisiting PEA, the admissions director Bill Leahy told the participants “not to choose the school where you would be comfortable in September, but where you would be happy graduating.” Of course, the school I have chosen will not be easy for me, but I am beyond excited for its unique method of learning, approach to service, endless academic and extracurricular opportunities, and the general atmosphere of open discussion. Only recently did I drop my rather shallow obsession for a certain school and begin to genuinely consider my possible life at each of my options. And hearing what people loved about their school truly broadened my perspective even after I made my decision.

So to everyone who provided their valuable input for this article or in a completely separate conversation, thank you for shaping my decision in all the best ways and developing my viewpoint to be more mature. I wish everyone the best of luck in the school they chose, and to those who are making decisions next year, I hope this compilation guides you in choosing the right fit for you.

Erin '18