The Hotchkiss School

Hotchkiss is a prestigious century-old boarding school that emphasizes rigorous academic training, a global perspective, and a sense of social responsibility, fostering students' ability to "lead through service."
School Highlights: Offers over 200 courses, including more than 60 advanced electives (covering STEM, humanities, visual arts, social sciences, etc.), encouraging students to engage in interdisciplinary learning and independent research.
Provides 6 world language courses and features a Global Initiatives Program, allowing students to study abroad, intern, or participate in sustainable development projects.
Leading in Sustainable Development Practices: The campus hosts a farm and environmental projects, where students can participate in agricultural planting, environmental issue discussions, and environmental technology practices, making it one of the first "green boarding schools" in the US.
Strong Arts and Music Programs: Features a professional-grade music building (Ely Hall), a student orchestra, a drama season, and abundant resources for art students.
Excellent University Placement Resources: Hotchkiss consistently sends students to top universities like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, etc. annually. The college counseling team is experienced and dedicated to students' individual growth.
Recommended for:
Excellent students who wish to grow through global issues, academic challenges, and social practices, possessing critical thinking and a spirit of service.

The Hotchkiss School was founded in 1891 in Lakeville, Connecticut. Initially established to prepare students for Yale, it was known as “Yale's backyard.” Hotchkiss is a member of the Eight Schools Association, the Ten Schools Admissions Organization, and a former G20 schools member. To this day, it continues to send around 10 students to Yale each year.

The school offers a rich and diverse curriculum, including STEM programs with specialized equipment labs inspired by MIT, allowing students to develop expertise in scientific research, digital modeling, computer science, and robotics. It also features a Scientific Entrepreneurship program, a rigorous, capstone thesis project where students lead the process from inspiration to a final product. This program also trains students in public speaking, developing original proposals, and analyzing community needs. The school also has a dedicated observatory with four telescopes, where astronomy students can use the Ayer Observatory to observe and study celestial bodies.

Throughout its over one hundred-year history, The Hotchkiss School has maintained an excellent academic tradition. The school's educational philosophy is to cultivate lifelong learners, socially responsible citizens, and individuals with integrity and honesty. Under this educational philosophy, the campus is filled with an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. Students from various states across the U.S. and 33 countries worldwide make this school a small but highly diverse community.

Dean Zhan's Review: As a top boarding school in the US, Hotchkiss has created a free, diverse, and highly inclusive community, offering abundant opportunities for students. This atmosphere is particularly suitable for Chinese students with open minds and clear goals, enabling them to fully utilize all school resources and receive more support.
Regarding cultural heritage, Hotchkiss students from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, religious, philosophical, and political backgrounds live, learn, create, and grow together. Furthermore, Hotchkiss embraces a wide array of religious and spiritual traditions.
In terms of academic development, Hotchkiss maintains rigorous standards, offers a rich selection of courses, and boasts comprehensively equipped research facilities. The school's average TOEFL score is above 110. Students meet weekly with counseling groups to address academic issues and plan their future paths. The school also arranges homeroom teachers to supervise and accompany students throughout their studies.
Regarding community building, Hotchkiss fosters an inclusive and friendly community where alumni support each other; the school also offers over 60 clubs and student-run organizations to help students develop their interests and hobbies. 96% of students live on campus, with at least one year arranged in double rooms for students to expand their social circles. The school is committed to creating a safe and respectful community.
For emotional support, the school has a professional medical team on call 24/7, ready to provide emotional crisis assessment and counseling at any time. The inclusive and warm community culture, friendly classmates, and ever-present mentors and homeroom teachers continuously help and protect the students.

7. Round Square: Round Square is an association of over 160 schools in 39 countries that promotes an ideal curriculum (intercultural understanding, democracy, environmental awareness, adventure, leadership, and service). During the academic year, Hotchkiss hosts students from Round Square member schools for exchange marking periods or semesters, as well as short visits for teachers. Hotchkiss students can choose to participate in marking periods and summer exchanges at Round Square schools around the world and can work at these schools during a gap year. In the summer, Hotchkiss students can contribute to service projects in countries such as Peru, South Africa, and Romania.

8. CITYTERM: Hotchkiss is a member of CITYTERM, an interdisciplinary, one-semester program organized around an in-depth study of New York City. Students complete a three-credit, honors-level study of New York, including its history, literature, and built environment, bringing classroom instruction to life on field trips throughout New York City. Students can also take math, language, or science courses, ensuring a smooth return to Hotchkiss at the end of the semester. The 30 students participating in the program live on the campus of The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and commute to New York City four to five times a week by train.