 | Frequently Asked Questions | Q. | How do you choose students?
| | A. | When New Hampton admission committee members review an applicant's file, we look at the whole child. We consider the student's potential as well as his or her accomplishments. We look for successful experiences in all areas of a student's life, not just in school. A student's character, interests, and desire to be a part of our community are as important as their grade point average or standardized test scores.
The application process includes a tour of our campus given by a current student plus a personal interview with both the student and parent (usually on campus, except in the case of international students who cannot make the trip). The student is then asked to complete a comprehensive application.
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| Q. | What are the benefits of boarding school?
| | A. | Boarding school students find school more challenging, work harder at school, participate more in extracurricular activities, are better at managing their time, feel much better prepared for college, attend better colleges, and once out of college, advance faster in their careers. Two extensive and very interesting studies that address this question were recently conducted by the Association of Boarding Schools and the National Association of Independent Schools. To see the full studies, click the following links:
TABS Survey and NAIS Survey.
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| Q. | How are day students integrated into the residential program?
| | A. | All day students are encouraged to attend weekly sit-down meals and evening community meetings. They are also invited to participate in weekend activities either on-campus or off. Day students may remain on campus in the library or in supervised study hall during the week on any school night. Finally, while day students are required to leave campus after curfew, they are allowed to stay over in the dormitories due to travel complications or more commonly, bad weather conditions.
The residential curriculum that has already been described takes place during the academic day, by design, so that the whole school community, including both students and faculty who live a long distance from campus, are able to be a part of the discussions, presentations, activities, or workshops.
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| Q. | What social events and/or special programs are offered?
| | A. | The student activities director organizes weekend activities. He has an office in a central location and there is a bulletin board with sign-up sheets posted each week for off-campus trips such as concerts, movies, dinner out, trips to the mall, bowling, or even an outdoor activity like rock-climbing. If there is a fee for an activity, such as a show in Boston, then the parents must provide permission for the student to withdraw the required amount from their student account. We also bring events and entertainers to campus including bands, magicians, hypnotists, dances with other prep schools, and more. The weekend events are promoted by flyers posted around campus and circulated throughout the dormitories or by announcements during the week at school meeting.
The dormitories also serve as a source of weekend social activities. Each dorm is allotted a dorm fund, which is to be used for promoting social interaction within the dorm. Typically, the funds are used for pizza parties, birthday parties, midnight snacks, dorm outings, movies, ice cream, or dinner.
The Parents Association sponsors a weekend carnival each February that includes games, contests, and competitions between randomly grouped teams. The Winter Carnival is open to the entire community and it occurs on a "closed weekend" during which boarding students must stay on campus.
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| Q. | What provision is made for travel to and from home?
| | A. | The Dean’s Office coordinates all travel plans for domestic and international students, either with the student directly or with the parents. The school also provides transportation to and from Boston's Logan Airport for a fee, and if necessary, will escort younger students directly to the terminal. The Dean’s Office will also arrange for limousine service upon request. All passports are kept in the Dean’s Office in a lockbox.
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| Q. | What is the availability of academic facilities on evenings and weekends?
| | A. | The library, including the computer lab in the downstairs level, is open each evening until 9:30 pm. Day students are allowed to use the library during the evening. The library is also open on Sunday afternoons and evenings.
There is also a computer lab in the Moore Center, which is adjacent to the dining hall. Occasionally, on the weekend, the lab is opened in order for students to check their e-mail or use the computers.
All campus buildings, including dormitories, are connected via campus-wide wireless that enables students to access e-mail, the Internet, and the "Hobbiton" file server.
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| Q. | What should my child bring to school?
| | A. | For a list of suggested items to bring to school (and what cannot be brought to school), please click below.
Suggested Items
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| Q. | What if I didn't see my question here?
| | A. | Please do not hesitate to contact the Admission Office if you have additional questions. Phone: 603-677-3401. Fax: 603-677-3481.
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| | "Our son is optimistic again..." Our son felt the warmth and the caring attitudes of New Hampton faculty and staff as soon as we stepped foot on campus. We think it gave him the feeling that, in such an environment, people would care about him. That he would count. As opposed to being an anonymous student left to sink or swim on his own–which is kind of how he felt in public high school. So thank you for making him feel comfortable–and for making him feel optimistic that school would once again be something that he could look forward to. NHS Mom & Dad
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