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Time management, obviously. anything else?

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 12:53 am: Edit

Where are you going? Whatever the temptations, do not stray off the righteous path. Since your on campus pretty much 24 7 with faculty members nothing is ever secret. Big Brother (the faculty) are always observing your every move.

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 12:25 pm: Edit

do not get involved in too many activities...after 7 months or so, you're going to get burnt out

By Madness (Madness) on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 09:34 am: Edit

privacy, privacy, privacy.

hold onto it as long as possible, you'll miss it.

also, select & procure 5000000000000000 polo shirts in pastels. even if you're a guy. pink is the IT color.

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 10:11 am: Edit

Who wears pink at a prep school? It's white, blue, black, and brown maybe. Get a lot of white shirts. However, the other part is true. Privacy is something you will rarely have. There are kids that will walk into your room at 2 am just because they can't sleep and are bored.

By Bigblue04 (Bigblue04) on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 03:11 pm: Edit

EVERYONE wears pink at prep school. Guys wear pink polos, sometimes pink shorts with alligators (no joke). And girls wear pink skirts, especially when it's nice outside like today.

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 06:58 pm: Edit

that's very true

By Djkid (Djkid) on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 09:24 pm: Edit

Well maybe at your prep school then...

By Joanna180 (Joanna180) on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 11:41 pm: Edit

Just wondering, what schools do yall go to? And do they have a dress code? If so, is it strict?

By Queenrosie17 (Queenrosie17) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 06:40 pm: Edit

more please!

By Anticatalyst (Anticatalyst) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 08:45 pm: Edit

Oh god, the guys in the pink shirts.

Wear two polos at a time, with both collars flipped up, then blame my school's sailing team. (I go to Milton Academy, by the way, Joanna.)

I agree with Gian; don't join too much stuff. I did the opposite, but I have friends who are beginning to feel the heat.

Don't stress too too much about your grades. I mean, try for good ones, but if you don't get straight A's don't shoot yourself. It's tougher than in most other places.

Try to make friends with really random people, because most of the people you'll want to meet are NOT the ones who draw attention to themselves.

We don't have a dress code, Joanna, which is nice. I have friends at Tabor who have to wear shirts and ties every day...grrr.

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 08:53 pm: Edit

anticatalyst- you go to milton?!! which class are you in and have we spoken before?! i'm excited to find a fellow miltonian on this forum

By Anticatalyst (Anticatalyst) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 09:03 pm: Edit

I do indeed. I am a freshman. I do not know if we've talked before--are you Goodwin Gian or Forbes Gian?

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 09:10 pm: Edit

forbes (the other one is from wolcott, not goodwin, i believe). funny how two Gian's exist at milton and we also share the same middle name. which dorm are you in?

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 09:12 pm: Edit

not to mention there are about five other kids with "gian" as part of their last name. weird!

oh can you log on the conference right now?

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 09:16 pm: Edit

i am confused...you stated in your other post that you are a rising junior and yet you're a freshman? lol please pick one

By Anticatalyst (Anticatalyst) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 09:43 pm: Edit

Haha, no, I'm a freshman. I was probably referring to something that may happen WHEN I'm a rising junior. Also, I'm rather grammatically challenged. So it's entirely possible that I said I was a rising junior this year.

Other Gian is in Wolcott? Odd. I could have sworn he was a Goodwinite. As for what dorm I'm in, I'm one of those pernicious day students...

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 09:48 pm: Edit

ah sorry i just looked at the facebook and the other gian is indeed from goodwin. as you can tell, i'm not very knowledgeable about the people around here

By Exonian04 (Exonian04) on Tuesday, May 04, 2004 - 11:04 am: Edit

1. Don't try to be perfect. I don't care if you got all A's in middle school, it's really not the same here. Devote most of your time and effort to your favorite classes (A/A-), save a little for your least favorite (B/B-). The average should give you a decent GPA and you won't kill yourself in the process.

2. Don't join too many clubs, but become involved in every aspect of the clubs you do choose to join. Colleges like engaged students and you'll maintain some sanity. Also, found a meaningful club if you're not satisfied with the current offerings.

3. Don't stay in your room all day and night. You really DO NOT need to study that long. Concentrate when you are studying, then take it easy. This sounds like an obvious suggestion, but avoid procrastination at all costs. It's difficult, but will make your experience that much more enjoyable.

4. If you can hand something in early as a "first draft," do it. Teachers love that and you'll learn more from their individual attention to your paper or project.

5. As far as college applications go, don't have a set plan from the day to set foot on campus. While admittance to HYP or other top colleges is a good goal, it’s not worth ruining your 4 high school years for.

6. Use any and all contacts that you make at school. Write down the names and occupations of your friends' parents, speakers...anyone you happen to meet. This is one of the primary benefits of attending a prep school. As trite as it may seem, the people you meet now can help you immensely.

Exonian04
4-Year Senior | Phillips Exeter Academy

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Tuesday, May 04, 2004 - 03:33 pm: Edit

Haha, Exonian almost sounds like a robot. However, all those make sense. Don't worry too much about grades, it's going to be much harder than your old school, unless your transfering in from another prep school. Make contacts but don't shove a pen and paper in everyone's face and make them give them their information. Just make friends, number 6 sounds kind of weird. Do not stay in your room 24 7 but do not not stay in your ever. I mean you should spend at least some time in your room. That's my problem and other's, we don't like to stay in our rooms haha. Also, don't overexcessively brag about going to some elite prep school to people from your hometown.

By Pinkflamingo (Pinkflamingo) on Tuesday, May 04, 2004 - 06:57 pm: Edit

haha, all this stuff is so true. At groton you must wear your polo collars up at all time and you must always wear flip flops...even in january!

By Pinkflamingo (Pinkflamingo) on Tuesday, May 04, 2004 - 06:57 pm: Edit

haha, all this stuff is so true. At groton you must have your polo collar up at all times and you must always wear flip flops...even in january!

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Tuesday, May 04, 2004 - 09:07 pm: Edit

do any of you kno about the "customs" at taft?

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Tuesday, May 04, 2004 - 09:18 pm: Edit

Taft did a really dumb prank this year. So pathetic, they sent everyone at my school a fake invoice that stated that our principal had bought all the merchandise that the Taft bookstore sells. Some Rhino dolls and Chairs and whatnot. That was really kind of pathetic.

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Wednesday, May 05, 2004 - 09:11 am: Edit

Crazyyykid, what school do you go to?

By Bruceconti (Bruceconti) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 05:26 pm: Edit

He goes to Hotchkiss

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 05:29 pm: Edit

Bruceconti is a smart boy? Know the rivals do u? Where do u go?

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 05:39 pm: Edit

Oops I meant to say. Bruceconti is a smart boy! He knows the rivals! He's done his research! Where do u go? Now that I read over the previous post, it sounds kind of negative. That was not the intention.

By Bruceconti (Bruceconti) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 05:40 pm: Edit

St. Paul'ssss babbyyy

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 05:43 pm: Edit

Great School

By Cubfan (Cubfan) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 06:46 pm: Edit

Crazyyykid,

What do you not like about hotchkiss? Man, that place looks like the emerald city in the wizard of Oz. That new gym is wicked. sweet coeds too. what's not to like?

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 08:30 pm: Edit

Cubfan,

Did I say that I did not like it? I may have said there may be some negative aspects to it. But that does not mean that I'm a pessimist that does not like something about my school.

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 08:44 pm: Edit

Cubfan,

Where do you go to school? I should not be saying this because people may get mad. But my school has a severe drinking problem even with the no chance policy, you get caught your out. About 25-30 kids were expelled last SPRING alone for drinking. There, that's one negative aspect. This issue makes me like the administration less, not the school. I find it unfair that you get expelled immediately if you drink even once. As high schoolers, some of us like to experiment once in a while. Have some beer, if it tastes bad, not drink it again. However, if it tastes good, we like it. High school is a period of trial and error for me, many may disagree. If you want to drink, go ahead. I personally do not drink though, because I just don't like to. However, we should not condemn people for indulging in their temptations.

By Jujubextc33 (Jujubextc33) on Friday, May 07, 2004 - 09:04 pm: Edit

o man o man.. 30 people??? hotchkiss is a small school too isn't it?

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Friday, May 07, 2004 - 10:20 pm: Edit

Yea, 500 total. Where do u go Juju? It's medium. Andover/Exeter is HUGE, more than double us and deerfield.

By Bigblue04 (Bigblue04) on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 12:34 am: Edit

I agree, Crazyyykid. Kicking students out of school for one drinking incident seems harsh to me. My school uses a "second-chance policy" that allows students to stay at school (on probation) even after being caught once. You can also call Sanctuary where, if you recognize you have a drinking/drug problem yourself, you can go to a counselor and tell them your problems with no disciplinary action.

By Victimofapathy (Victimofapathy) on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 12:41 am: Edit

Does anyone know anything about Northfield Mount Hermon's down-sizing? I've been hearing about it, and supposedly a lot of students are pissed about it.

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 10:07 am: Edit

yea i've heard that the administration is getting rid of one of their campuses to promote cohesiveness among the student body. i can imagine it being hard to have to take a shuttle bus from one campus to another

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 04:36 pm: Edit

wow. you would think that the hotchkiss administration would rethink the nochance policy if they're losing so many kids.

By Jujubextc33 (Jujubextc33) on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 04:49 pm: Edit

crazyyykid,
I will be attending Andover next year as a new lower; I was waitlisted at Hotchkiss.

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 06:17 pm: Edit

They don't rethink the policy because they are dickass strict on every single rule. There is no leniancy. They feel that those kids are worth losing because they tarnish the school's name. Sadly, these happen to be the very best students, athletes a lot of the time. It must be hard to lose the best kids. Juju, Andover is a great school, better than my school. Good luck there, where else did you get in?

By Annakat (Annakat) on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 12:49 am: Edit

prep school sounds like a lot of fun

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 03:46 pm: Edit

was there anything that any of you attending prep school didn't think to bring with you your first year and really regretted not bringing? was there anything that you thought you'd really need but you really didn't?

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 04:14 pm: Edit

Get a doctor's note for a refrigerator if your not allowed to have on in your room. Also, bring video games. You don't want to be stuck playing mario kart all the time, need some variety.

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 04:29 pm: Edit

what kind of doctor's note gets you a refrigerator?

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 04:47 pm: Edit

Say your got medicine for allergies that needs to be kept really cool. Make something up and make it good. I personally felt this was unethical and I'm lazy, so I just use my friend's frigdge. He got it from some •••••••• disorder.

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 06:53 pm: Edit

anything else you all recommend to bring?

By Goonberg (Goonberg) on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 09:21 pm: Edit

Bring nail clippers and scissors and keep them hidden well. People will often ask you to borrow them and you will never see them again.

By Jujubextc33 (Jujubextc33) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 05:54 pm: Edit

crazyyykid,
man i went through hell this year filling out boarding school applications.. six in total! Lawrenceville was actually my first-choice school but it looks like I will be heading to Andover. I was accepted at Andover and Exeter (gahh i don't like big schools), and waitlisted at Hotchkiss, Choate Rosemary, Lawrenceville, and, Peddie, and no rejections.

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 07:35 pm: Edit

Yea, it's hell. But I heard that boarding schools now have a common application, so you did not go through that intense hell, lucky. I think I applied to about 5 so I had to handwrite 7-10 major essays because some required more than 1. What are your stats? I'm very interested, Andover and Exeter are one of the two hardest to gain acceptance to. 22% 23% something like that. suprised you got waitlisted elsewhere.

By Jujubextc33 (Jujubextc33) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 07:58 pm: Edit

i was surprised myself, but Lawrenceville goes for applicants with $$. a filthy rich friend of mine who had a straight C and no extracurricular activities was accepted last year. and plus, andover and exeter are big schools. they accept about 70 new lowers each year. well who knows, maybe they were in need of musicians (music was a prominent factor in my apps)

SSAT:
95% percentile overall

Middle school grades
Straight A's, bunch of A-'s

Recs
3 good ones

EC's
Flute (Regional band/orchestra, prep division at MSM which's a second to Juilliard) i sent in a CD
Community service (local hospital, nursing homes, traveling ensemble performing at nursing homes)
Math (mathcounts, math contest awards)
Newspaper
Softball (3 years)

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 09:22 pm: Edit

Oh MSM, great music school, one girl from my school goes down there every weekend for violin. I mean if you are going to continue going to MSM every weekend why bother going to a school far far away? It's too much of a hassle for her mom. She also got into Horace Mann, so I'm confused. We are about equals I guess. Did you make national mathcounts? states?

Exeter has an excellent, superb math team. It is probably one of the best in the nation along with TJHSS and AAST. Why didn't you choose to go there over Andover? Great SSATs, did you take them at Columbia University? That was where I took mine. How long have you've been playing the flute?

By Bigblue04 (Bigblue04) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 09:32 pm: Edit

Jujubextc33, I've posted it before but sometimes prep schools- particularly those considered "second-tier" by some- reject their most qualified applicants because the applicants usually end up going to Andover or Exeter anyways. They want to up their yield rate. Colleges do this too- it's called the "Tufts Syndrome."

And why don't you like big schools? Just curious

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 09:33 pm: Edit

Oh yea that reminds me, you probably were waitlisted at my school because this year there seemed to be a lot of siblings of older students getting accepted. Basically, if your older brother or sister already goes here, it's easier to get in. One girl, who is not really the brightest kid in the world, had a sister that got in. I don't know her sister, but from what I hear, she was getting pretty much a B average in public school, which although is not bad, usually won't get you into some of these schools. Another girl's brother got accepted. Few other siblings got accepted.

By Jujubextc33 (Jujubextc33) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 07:50 am: Edit

but i made it clear in all my apps that lawrenceville was my first-choice.. ahh that just confuses me

crazyyykid, i will have to discontinue my studies at MSM.. it would be insane to take 5-hour train ride every week just to take lessons there

i like small schools because i want more academic attention and not too much competition

By Crazyyykid (Crazyyykid) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 04:46 pm: Edit

Lawrencevill would have been the best school for you if you wanted to continue your studies at MSM. It's really near New York compared to many other East Coast boarding schools. Maybe Masters is nearer, but then I do not know much about it. I'm pretty sure Andover/Exeter offers this... You could take cityTerm later on in your high school life and this may give you a chance to study at MSM for a semester or so.

By Victimofapathy (Victimofapathy) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 06:29 pm: Edit

Juju....six applications? Man, I did three this year, and I was stressed out. I was accepted at two of the schools (NMH and a school in Illinois called Lake Forest Academy that I only applied to because my aunt really wanted me to), and was wait-listed at Deerfield, which I think is mostly a result of not having enough extracurriculars in the past year, because my SSATs were very high, good recs, good essay, ect.

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 06:46 pm: Edit

current prep schoolers - is there anything you wish you had done differently in, say, your first 24-72 hours of prep school? what would you advise a new student to do in that time period?

By Momstheword (Momstheword) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 12:30 pm: Edit

Not a student, but a mom of prep schoolers. FWIW, I've heard it said: Be quick to make acquaintances, be slower to make close friends. Now that my D is a senior, I can see that this is good advice for boarding school kids. Within your first 24-72 hrs., make a point to get know lots of people, but consider that deep friendships take time and be willing to give your friendships time to develop. I'd also think twice about taking on the problems of your friends. Since you all live together, it's natural to want to be supportive. But at some point, you might need to step back and remember your purpose for being at school. Remind yourself that you're a 14,15,16,17-year-old kid, not a trained psychologist--that sometimes it's better to urge your friend to talk things over with their parents or appropriate people at school.
Also, it might help your frame of mind to avoid falling into the complaint and cynicism trap. You are what you surround yourself with. Prep school is a marathon, not a sprint. It's challenging enough without carrying the extra burden of gloomy, complaining noise in your head.
These are a few things I've gleaned from watching my two go through school. I hope you find some of it useful.

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 10:50 pm: Edit

Thanks, that definetely was useful.

By Jujubextc33 (Jujubextc33) on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 11:27 am: Edit

MSM wasn't too great.. other than the awesome private teacher I had. I don't think I will miss waking up at 6 every saturday morning to travel to Nyc to study music theories, but I will definitely miss my teacher. Where am i going to find one as good as her?

does anyone know anything about flute teachers in Boston area?

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 06:07 pm: Edit

bump

By Queenrosie17 (Queenrosie17) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 08:44 pm: Edit

bump it

By Bruceconti (Bruceconti) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 08:56 pm: Edit

Does CC blurt out swears automatically?

(random)

••••

By Bruceconti (Bruceconti) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 08:57 pm: Edit

niceee

By Boundbyhonour (Boundbyhonour) on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 12:25 pm: Edit

Just don't get caught up in the meldrama. And rumors... don't believe everything you hear. In a small environment, people get bored easily and news travels fast. I go to Kent in CT.