Northfield Mount Hermon School

Northfield Mount Hermon School, founded in 1879, is located in the town of Gill in western Massachusetts. It spans 1353 acres, including a 34-acre farm. The school offers a total of 208 courses, including 28 AP courses. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is recognized as a model school by the U.S. Department of Education.

School Features:

1. As a renowned sports school and a member of the Eight Schools Association, Northfield Mount Hermon's athletic facilities and level are among the best in the nation. The school has a total of 67 interscholastic sports teams, 19 sports programs, and one outdoor program.

2. The school has its own farm and equestrian center, offering a Farm Program: Approximately 35 students each semester are required to spend 4 hours per week working on the farm. Students who do not wish to participate in farm work will be required to participate in other campus work, with each student expected to complete 4 hours of work per week.

3. Students can study for 60 minutes weekly with an academic mentor for free. CASA (Center for Academic Support and Achievement) focuses on strategic guidance to enhance exam preparation, note-taking, reading comprehension, and written expression, with special attention to executive skills including time management, organization, and goal setting.

4. Northfield Mount Hermon School uses the College-Model Academic Program (CMAP) university curriculum model, where each class session is 80 minutes long, presenting a certain academic challenge. It is also a renowned sports school and strong in arts and humanities.

Financially robust NMH this year again received $50 million in donations to support diverse academic and activity resources. The school completed a new dormitory in 2023 and a new science and math center in 2021. The average tenure of NMH teachers at the school is 20 years, which demonstrates the strong approval from everyone. After speaking with over a dozen local and Chinese students, the overall feedback focused on two key words: Community and Food. Everyone loves the school's food and feels that the school's atmosphere is excellent – both among students and between students and teachers. The school has a work-job program, allowing students to work in the dining hall, dormitories, or the school farm during their free time (from planting carrots to cutting carrots). The school also provides students with diverse leadership opportunities. The school's forest is also a great place for learning and exercise; students can have English and biology classes outdoors, and also enjoy mountain biking, running, etc. The sports facilities are beyond mention, with wrestling (producing many excellent athletes) and ultimate frisbee becoming popular in recent years. The principal mentioned during the discussion that the school has invested a lot of funds in students and staff over the past five years, and the vision for the next five years is to further "Invest on People."

Northfield Mount Hermon School was founded in 1879, located in the town of Gill in western Massachusetts. The school is built on a hillside, bordering the Connecticut River, making it a typical suburban school. It covers 1353 acres, including a core campus area of 215 acres and a 34-acre farm. With 36 buildings spread across the vast campus, the buildings are quite far apart. The school is approximately a 2-hour drive from Boston.
The school offers a total of 208 courses, including 28 AP courses. Each class at Northfield Mount Hermon is 80 minutes long. This course structure allows students to engage in deeper discussions in class. On the other hand, it also better prepares students to adapt to college-level learning in the future. As a renowned sports school and a member of the Eight Schools Association, Northfield Mount Hermon's athletic facilities and standards rank among the best nationwide. The school has a total of 67 interscholastic sports teams, 19 sports programs, and one outdoor program. Sports facilities include an all-weather 400-meter track, two artificial turf soccer fields, two volleyball courts, three basketball courts, 15 tennis courts, two on-campus Nordic ski trails, a six-lane swimming pool, two fitness centers, an indoor baseball training facility, an ice rink, and a 9-hole golf course.
The school has its own farm and equestrian center, hence the "Farm Program": Each semester, approximately 35 students are required to spend 4 hours a week working on the farm. Students who do not wish to participate in farm work are required to engage in other campus work. Every student is required to complete 4 hours of work tasks per week.

Principal Zhan's review: This is a school with a strong personality and a focus on school community culture. Each semester requires in-depth study of three academic courses, with a wide range of extracurricular activities and sports programs to choose from, and children have plenty of free time.
NMH is more suitable for students with strong self-management and self-learning abilities, and good athletic performance. During the interview, admissions officers will pay special attention to students' self-management skills and understanding of the school's unique characteristics.
In terms of cultural heritage, nearly 150 years of history have endowed NMH with rich traditions, such as The Bemis-Forslund Pie Race, Mountain Day, Hogolympics, and other events. These precious activities connect generations of students and alumni.
In terms of academic development, NMH adopts CMAP (College Model Academic Program), which emulates a university curriculum system to arrange students' studies, and requires students to study topics deeply and thoroughly. This learning model provides more opportunities for students to interact with teachers, allowing them to receive more attention and help from teachers.
In terms of community building, Work Job is a major feature of NMH. The school requires every student to participate in a school work position each semester, which not only helps children fully integrate and understand NMH, but also cultivates their sense of responsibility and social integration.
In terms of emotional support, the O'Connor Health Center provides students with short-term and long-term psychological counseling services. Four independently licensed counselors are on standby at the school from Monday to Friday.

The school maintains rigorous academics, featuring its own College-Model Academic Program (CMAP). Each class session is 80 minutes long, which is longer than typical American high schools. This provides an advantage in college admissions while also helping students develop self-discipline. The school has established a Social Entrepreneurship program designed to cultivate students' entrepreneurial skills. This program includes academics, public speaking, and guest lectures from external scholars. Through this course, 11th-grade students learn the essential skills needed to start their own business and cultivate a social entrepreneurial spirit.

Northfield Mount Hermon High School (NMH) utilizes the College-Model Academic Program (CMAP), with each class lasting 80 minutes, presenting a certain academic challenge. It is also a renowned school for sports, and strong in arts and humanities.

The school has the Center for Academic Strategies and Achievement (CASA), where students can receive 60 minutes of free weekly one-on-one study with an academic mentor. CASA focuses on strategic guidance to enhance exam preparation, note-taking, reading comprehension, and written expression, with special attention to executive skills including time management, organization, and goal setting. Through this work, CASA helps students better understand how they learn and what they need to become more efficient, successful scholars.

Whether living with local host families or participating in international service programs, students gain new perspectives on their own culture and the world as a whole. These programs are designed around themes such as environment, socioeconomics, politics, arts, literature, history, and religion. Examples include visiting favelas (Brazilian slum towns), learning to drum in Uruguay, or visiting the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul. Students might attend classes at local schools, keep a journal for the course, or undertake an independent research project.

Data for Northwood School: student body of 667, student-teacher ratio of 1:6, 26% international students, 83% boarding students, 67% of teachers hold advanced degrees, offering 28 AP and honors courses. Founded in 1879, Northwood School is one of the most prestigious private schools in the United States, and a world-renowned boarding university preparatory school. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is recognized as a model school by the U.S. Department of Education. The school boasts innovative teaching methods and world-class educational resources, providing students with an excellent learning environment to enhance their future competitiveness.

Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH), founded in 1879, is one of the most prestigious private schools in the United States and is also known as a strong sports school. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is recognized as a model school by the U.S. Department of Education. NMH uses 80-minute classes, fostering deep interaction between teachers and students. Students can complete two years of coursework in one year. Students can take a maximum of 4 AP courses per year, with a total of 208 academic courses available. The school values diverse education and an inclusive culture. Both faculty and students are very friendly towards international students. In addition to its prominent sports programs, often overlooked art courses are also a distinctive feature of NMH, with students winning awards in numerous music competitions at both state and national levels. The school offers multiple AP courses related to music and fine arts, and its graduates have been admitted to renowned music institutions such as Berkeley College of Music and The Juilliard School.

Two weeks ago, I visited Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH) and had a very productive conversation with Metta Dael, the Director of Admissions. She is an NMH alumna herself and attended an international school in Hong Kong before coming to a U.S. high school. She shared a lot of the latest school information and advice for Asian students applying to NMH:
1. The school has rigorous academics with its own College-Model Academic Program (CMAP). Each class session is 80 minutes long, which is longer than other U.S. high schools. Students take 3 courses per semester, totaling 6 courses per year, and the workload for each class is comparable to a university course. The purpose of this curriculum design is to help students adapt more smoothly to university learning models in the future.
2. Precisely because the school's curriculum design is similar to that of a university, its difficulty is also higher than other U.S. high schools. In addition to requiring students' academic abilities, it also requires students to have good adaptability and open-mindedness. A parent once asked me: 'If a student is admitted and wants to focus solely on academics, can they be exempt from participating in a sport or extracurricular activity?' – The answer is NO! The school requires students to be interested in extracurricular activities and willing to try them.
3. When it comes to dance, most people think of ballet, jazz, etc., but the school has a very renowned dance program in contemporary/modern dance. If a student has this particular talent, it will be a significant advantage in their application!

Northfield Mount Hermon School's dance program aims to cultivate artistically gifted students into artists, dancers, and critical thinkers. NMH's rich curriculum is designed to inspire students to express themselves through physical movement in the studio and on stage. Whether pursuing dance as a potential college major or an enjoyable activity, NMH students delight in these trainings and strive to become skilled, versatile dancers. NMH offers a wide array of courses to meet the diverse needs of dancers at all levels. Experienced dancers in the school's two dance companies rehearse six days a week and participate in three formal concerts annually, choreographed by faculty, guest artists, and students. Outstanding ballet dancers within the dance companies can also enroll in the school's year-long advanced ballet course to further enhance their technique. Students at beginner or intermediate levels also have numerous course options, such as ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, and hip-hop, as well as a one-semester foundational course in modern dance.

Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH) is located in Western Massachusetts, a 2-hour drive from Boston. The campus is situated on a hillside, bordering the Connecticut River, and spans 1100 acres, making it one of the top and largest high schools in the United States. NMH is renowned for its college-preparatory academic program. The campus also features its own farm and equestrian center. The campus farm includes greenhouses, a sugar house, and a cider house. It not only ensures healthy, nutritious, and diverse meals for students but also serves as a science laboratory and a work program, offering students lessons on farm labor. Since 1879, NMH's farm has been an integral part of students' school life. Students grow green vegetables and herbs here, and produce cider, jams, and maple products. Maple sugaring is one of the students' biggest undertakings. During spring break, students collect thousands of gallons of sap from the maple trees on campus and boil it down into syrup, which is then sold along with other farm products to raise funds for the school.

Share:

Northwood School's community service projects are also quite unique. Could you tell us a bit about them?

Admissions Officer:
Yes, at Northwood, we have a program called "workjob." Our school has a farm, where students can participate in various community service activities. They can join this program right from the start, dedicating about 5 hours per week. This includes tasks in the dining hall, mailroom, or even in the gym and dormitories. Additionally, they can become teaching assistants for different subjects, or apply to be leaders of language corners, such as organizing students to study Chinese in the evenings. The school provides these opportunities with the aim of helping students better integrate into the school community.

Sharer:
Could you specifically tell us about the growth stories of Chinese students at Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH)?

Admissions Officer:
We previously had a student representative who graduated and went to Harvard University. This year's student representative, from Shenzhen, is about to go to Stanford University after graduation. She didn't participate in many sports or play musical instruments, but she is a world debate champion, very strong, and very good at using her eloquence. She is very short but showed amazing leadership skills, which I believe is why she was admitted to Stanford. We also have students who went to the University of Chicago. Another student from mainland China was admitted to Carnegie Mellon University. Last year, he and his current teacher completed a research project on microorganisms, and he will major in microbiology in the future. So, overall, I think the characteristic of Chinese students is that they are generally well-rounded while also able to show their unique side and fully utilize their high school years to further develop their strengths. For example, Laura, the student admitted to Stanford, started debating in 8th grade, but it was during her high school years at NMH that she became a debate master.

Share:

Besides being a sports powerhouse, Northfield Mount Hermon is also known as the "singing school" and has excellent drama programs. Could you tell us more about them in detail?

Admissions Officer:
I'm truly happy to hear you mention the "singing school" because many people don't remember that. Our school sings whenever it has the chance, and the vocal programs are vibrant. Most schools only have a choir, and that's it, just one choir. But we have a general choir suitable for excellent girls and anyone can join; we have audition groups; we have an excellent girls' choir, junior singers, and mixed-gender auditions; we have women's, men's, and mixed-gender a cappella groups; we have 16 different vocal programs for students to choose from. Northfield Mount Hermon also has a wealth of instrumental music programs. There are orchestras that everyone can join, chamber orchestras, concert bands, bands, stage bands, and a world jazz ensemble. We offer many opportunities in music. Every year, we hold 40 performances. During popular times, students fly to countries like Belize and Italy to perform, and they also perform in Boston and New York. So, there are many opportunities here for children to engage in music.

Sharing:
Advantages in extracurricular activities:

Admissions Officer:
Northfield Mount Hermon's sports programs are very strong, and we also have many unique sports. Our women's field hockey is not very strong, but our women's soccer is very strong. Our men's basketball team is ranked third in the United States. Our students go on to play at different schools or become professional athletes. We've historically had only one Asian boy who participated in competitive cycling. He was the captain of the Japanese national team and is currently continuing this sport at the University of North Carolina. Our men's sports programs are very strong. Our rowing program is also very strong. Many students have no prior experience with rowing before coming to Northfield Mount Hermon; they can progress from a complete amateur level to later participating in Olympic events. This is a sport that doesn't require much experience, and through our training, students can become very proficient. For students who are not star athletes but enjoy sports and competition, we form teams of different levels, for example, our soccer team has 3 levels, basketball has 4 levels, and wrestling has 2 levels. We have many sports teams at different levels. If students want to try something new, we are happy to provide it for them. Dance is also a sport; if students have been practicing dance for many years, we offer vibrant athletic programs. Students can learn pickleball – I don't know if you know what pickleball is – and they can also practice yoga. In summary, Northfield Mount Hermon provides sports at different levels for students of varying abilities.

Mr. Lu interviews the school's admissions officer:
Northfield Mount Hermon School is located in Massachusetts. The school currently has over 650 students from 56 different countries. Our first Chinese international student in history came from the Qing Dynasty. Our first Chinese graduate was admitted to Harvard University.
Northfield Mount Hermon's main programs include: We maintain close cooperation with 12th-grade students, which means most students have their own advisors. Additionally, we have 11 adults providing various forms of support; parents can call the school to inquire about all aspects of their child's performance from their teachers. We strongly believe that raising a child requires a lot of dedication. We also have a College-Model academic program. Although our courses are semester-based, in this program, students take three courses per semester. They take three courses in the first semester and another three in the second, and grades can accumulate. For example, a student can take pre-calculus in the first semester and then calculus BC in the second semester. This program is strong across all subjects. Many students and parents are familiar with our math and science programs. Our science curriculum has 4 levels. After completing Calculus BC, there are 4 options: multivariable calculus, number theory, linear algebra, and graphical paths. These are very high-level courses. Most schools only offer courses up to Calculus BC. These are the courses we can provide.

NMH is a strong sports school, and the South Field of Peller Family Fields is home to one of the best boys' soccer programs in the Northeast. As a member of the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association, NMH has achieved excellent results. In the past, NMH has won six New England Class A League championships, more than any other school in the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association.

At NMH, 30% of students are international, and the campus is home to many Asians, Latin Americans, and African Americans. Class sizes are generally small. The largest classes are typically freshmen and sophomore humanities classes, with about a dozen students, while the smallest classes might have only five students.
The overall atmosphere among students is friendly, but students are also ambitious and driven, leading to intense academic competition as they all strive to outperform one another. The school's teaching philosophy encourages students to explore and ask questions through discussion. This requires students to look beyond the surface and observe things more deeply.
NMH encourages students to participate actively in community activities to discover what they enjoy doing.
Every student at NMH actively participates in extracurricular activities, whether it's sports, arts, or various clubs. The best part is that the school highly values all students, whether they are 'athletes' or art enthusiasts.

Founded in 1879 and located in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, the school is large, offers many activities, and excels in sports. Its basketball, track and field, and wrestling teams have won numerous state and national championships, making it a strong athletic program. The school's music and art programs are also very strong, with many performances each year. The campus atmosphere is very warm, and teachers and students are very friendly. The Global Studies Program is one of its major distinguishing features, primarily aimed at 10th and 11th-grade students. It focuses on countries such as Spain, Morocco, Brazil, Qatar, and South Africa, enabling students to gain an in-depth understanding of world literature, history, art, religion, and more. In recent years, Chinese students have achieved excellent university admissions outcomes, with some attending Harvard and Stanford. In 2020, one student simultaneously received offers from universities such as the University of Chicago, University of Toronto, Emory, WUSTL, UCLA, and NYU (Stern). Northfield Mount Hermon prefers students with good personalities and international backgrounds.

### Overall Situation:
- Unlike most other American high schools (where core subjects are studied for a full year), NMH divides the academic year into two semesters. Except for Wednesdays, there are usually 3 class blocks per day. Therefore, although students take 6 courses a year, they are split into 3 courses per semester.
- 9th graders are required to take Humanities 1, which includes English and Religion. The religion component can be challenging for Chinese students. In 10th grade, students can continue with Humanities 2, which includes World History and World Religions. This allows them to fulfill the religion graduation requirement. Alternatively, they can choose to take World History and World Religions separately, taking history in 10th grade and World Religions in 11th or 12th grade.

### Academic Advantages/Features:
- Global Studies Program: Aimed at 10th and 11th graders. Students need to submit an application and be accepted to participate. The program includes mandatory courses and arranges study tours and other activities to help students better understand textbook and classroom knowledge through field trips. For example, in the 2020-21 academic year, 10th-grade students were originally scheduled to go to Spain and Morocco to gain an in-depth understanding of World History, World Religions, and World Literature. 11th-grade students were originally scheduled to go to New Mexico in the United States to gain an in-depth understanding of American History and American Literature. This program is demanding, requiring students to read a lot of materials and participate in many discussions, but the rewards are substantial.
- Independent Study: For 11th and 12th graders who have already taken advanced courses and are deeply interested in a particular field, they can apply to conduct an independent study in that area.
- Interdisciplinary Courses: NMH offers a certain number of interdisciplinary courses across different departments, combining knowledge from two or more fields. This helps develop students' thinking and broaden their perspectives. For example, there is an English course called Literature and Environment, which integrates English literature and environmental studies.

### Shangxue Mingde Student Feedback:
- Studying different subjects in two semesters is a great arrangement, allowing for efficient and focused completion of one subject before switching perspectives to another.
- Studying different subjects in two semesters, instead of core subjects for a full year like other schools, has some drawbacks. For example, when learning a second foreign language, there might be several months between the courses in one academic year and the next, leading to some forgetting when resuming study. However, this also depends on the individual.

NMH's study abroad programs are distributed in places like Brazil, China, South Africa, and Qatar. When students participate in an overseas study program, they can travel for one to five weeks. Whether participating in a language immersion experience with a local family or engaging in service-learning projects, students will gain new perspectives on themselves, culture, and the world at large. These programs are designed around themes such as environmental, socioeconomic, and political issues, including art, literature, history, and religion.
In non-English speaking countries/regions, students will also improve their language proficiency.
For interdisciplinary overseas study programs, travel will be combined with a portion of on-campus coursework during the same semester, and these programs can be enhanced through reading and writing assignments. Activities that can be undertaken while traveling abroad include visiting favelas (Brazilian shantytowns), learning to drum in Uruguay, or visiting the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul. Students might attend classes at local schools, keep journals for the course, or conduct independent research projects. Moreover, whether writing critical analyses or personal narratives, or exploring Māori political issues or the role of Islamic art, students are sure to gain new insights.

Northfield Mount Hermon's extensive curriculum is designed to inspire students to express themselves through movement in the studio and on stage. Whether preparing for college dance programs or participating in dance for recreation, students are committed to becoming skilled and versatile dancers. The school offers a wide variety of classes and extracurricular activities to meet the needs of dancers at all levels. For experienced dancers, the school provides training and rehearsals six days a week and hosts three formal choreographic concerts annually, featuring faculty, guest, and student choreographers. Advanced ballet students in the dance company may also audition for our highly selective, year-long advanced ballet program, 'Accelerated Dance Technique.' Students at the beginner or intermediate level can choose from the school's many extracurricular activities, such as ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip-hop, as well as the one-semester course 'Foundations of Contemporary Dance.'

I visited Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH) in Boston, Massachusetts, three times. It's a very warm school. On each of the three occasions, students from Shanghai, China, Hong Kong, and Africa respectively guided me around the school. All of them spoke highly of the school, emphasizing its strength in liberal arts, music, visual arts, and sports.

The school's geographical location is a bit remote; if you're visiting, I highly recommend driving. One parent once spent an hour trying to hail a taxi without success; I had to drive them to another location before they could get one. The Chinese restaurants near NMH are quite good. The school employs a block schedule, offering 6 courses a year, mimicking the university class model. The school's environment and hardware facilities are first-class, and students who appreciate nature would particularly love it. The school has its own farm, providing vegetables and achieving self-sufficiency.

What impressed me most was NMH's music and visual arts programs, with many performances held annually. In recent years, Chinese students' postgraduate destinations have been excellent, with some going to universities like Harvard and Stanford.

NMH's basketball, track and field, and wrestling teams have all won state championships, and some sports teams have even won national championships. Students studying through Liuxuewang (an education consulting service) have provided feedback that the school is generally very good.

Allow international students unable to return home after spring break to return to campus, where the school will provide online courses and meet their basic food and accommodation needs.

NMH helps students define their own identities. The school's classroom teaching model is discussion-based. Teachers pay special attention to the specific projects and activities students discuss, thereby guiding and helping them better master the knowledge learned. At NMH, the average weekly homework load entirely depends on your own requirements. Students taking multiple AP courses might have up to 5 hours of homework per night, while students who don't want such a rigorous study schedule might only have 2 hours of homework. On weekends, homework might exceed 6 hours. Commendably, the school provides guidance for writing, science, and math homework every evening. Under the demanding coursework at NMH, students are able to develop excellent self-time management skills.

This year, students at Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) come from 58 different countries with diverse backgrounds. In such an environment, students will bring unique insights to every discussion and activity. They will live and learn alongside national scholars, amateur astronomers, ultimate frisbee champions, award-winning musicians and debaters, and future Broadway stars. At NMH, it's not about where you come from or what you've achieved, but about who you might become. Within NMH's rigorous academics, competitive athletics, creative arts, and other activities, all NMH students can find their highlight – a place where they can integrate their talents, passions, and developing skills. The school's academic programs emphasize collaboration over competition. Here, individual achievement and community responsibility are valued. NMH students work together with well-trained faculty and staff, ensuring that everyone in the class can succeed. NMH's college-preparatory academics are rigorous and require strong skills, but creative collaboration is a key component of the classroom experience. Through the school's College Model Academic Program (CMAP), students can delve deeper into each subject.

This school has won many state and national championships in sports and can be called a sports powerhouse.
1. Curriculum: The school adopts a university-style class model, with each class lasting 80 minutes. The school's goal is to focus on cultivating students' concentration.
2. The school's music and art programs are very strong. During the visit, there were art paintings displayed everywhere on the walls. The music courses are also excellent, with many private music lessons available for students to choose from, and several large performances held annually.
3. The school's location is a bit remote, about a 2-hour drive from Boston Airport. On the day I took students for a visit, the student needed to return to New York but couldn't get a taxi, so transportation is not very convenient. The Chinese restaurant in the small town, however, tasted pretty good.
4. Students reported that the recent graduation destinations for Chinese students have been very good, with some going to Harvard and Stanford Universities.
5. The Hong Kong student who gave us the tour mentioned that he was also admitted to Choate at the time but ultimately chose Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) mainly because the students and teachers at this school are very friendly.