The Admissions Office hosted its annual Greenwich admissions reception at the Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT on Thursday, October 25th. All prospective students living in the greater Greenwich area were invited to attend.

Approximately 75 families submitted their RSVPs for the event, but “several more just showed up,” according to Director of Admission Ray Diffley. About 175 people attended the reception in the posh country club. In addition to the prospective students and admission officers, select students and Choate faculty members from every academic department attended the reception to help “bring Choate to them,” as Diffley put it.

The Greenwich reception is just one of many receptions held in different cities in the United States and abroad. The receptions are held in cities from which numerous students apply to Choate every year.

Mr. Diffley said, “Certain places such as Greenwich, New York City, Boston, and Hong Kong are on our map every year to go and hold an event that can give people a deeper understanding of the school.” The main purpose of these receptions, according to Mr. Diffley, is to help prospective students discover if anything attracts them to Choate, in a non-threatening and convenient setting.

Founding the Event

The annual Greenwich reception finds its roots in Associate Director of Admission Joanne Bailey, who first organized the event about ten years ago. Mr. Diffley explained, “She coordinated finding a space for the event when it first began.”

The event was first held in a local home where only ten to twelve families attended, recalled Diffley. “This year there were over 75 families in a large country club, which indicates that it is a growing event.”

Reception Agenda

The event began at 6:30 pm, and the Choate students, parents, faculty and alumni at the event greeted the prospective students and their families. During an initial, 30 minute meet-and-greet session, families had a chance to connect with the Choate representatives.

Mr. Diffley served as the master of ceremonies of the short program which began at 7:00 pm. Said Diffley, “I introduced the notion of why we were there and the purpose of bringing Choate to them.”

Following Mr. Diffley’s brief introductory remarks, Dean of Academic Affairs Kathleen Wallace spoke about the unique academic opportunities at Choate. She then introduced students to talk about athletics opportunities and the specific academic programs at Choate.

Lauren Provini ’08 spoke on the Science Research Program, Loren Olsen ’08 explained Arts Concentration, Ben Firke ’08 spoke about Arts Concentration and the Capstone Program, Marla Spivack ’08 spoke about the Capstone Program, and John Whitney ’08 explained Term Abroad.

Mr. Diffley reflects, “The students spoke about what they are doing on campus, some through the unique programs and others through their regular engagement of Choate life, so families can talk with them and know a little bit more about them after their short presentations.”

Lauren Provini ’08 says, “I think that hearing about the programs directly from the students reveals much more than reading about them in any literature can. For example, I explained my experience of working in a lab over the summer, an integral component of SRP. I revealed how this experience changed my life, and this can not be understood from reading any excerpt on SRP from the Admission Office literature.”

Headmaster Shanahan spoke after the students, about the Choate’s tuition and the school’s promise to Choate families about what they can expect. He explained the five principles outlined in the Choate Rosemary Hall view book.

The final speaker in the program was Mr. Diffley, who returned to outline the admission process.

After the program, prospective students and their families were given the opportunity to ask any questions and engage in conversations with the Choate representatives at the program. Mr. Diffley said, “After the short program we made further connections, kicked back, and called it a night.”

Community Speaks Out

Jin Ha ’08, a student representative at the reception, said, “The students and their families were able to interact with current Choate students and ask them questions that only students can truly answer as opposed to Admissions Officers.”

Department Head of Languages Scott Mattoon, a faculty representative at the reception, said: “As a future parent of high-school-aged children myself, I would definitely want to attend this kind of gathering with my own family, to meet people face-to-face and get a feel for the members of the school community.”

Very few of Choate’s peer schools send students and faculty members to their receptions. Said Diffley, “[Other schools] might send a couple of people to talk about their schools, but no one to our knowledge sends buses of Choate students and faculty to give up a better part of their night so that prospective families can learn more about the school.”

There is a reason for Choate’s extra efforts in bringing members of the Choate community to admission receptions. The presence of students and faculty at the receptions gives prospective students and their families a unique opportunity that they can’t receive if they simply came for a tour and interview.

Families have a chance to meet 25 to 30 Choate faces, which they cannot do in their short visits to the campus. They hear about specific programs unique to the school directly from participants, which they can not truly learn about when they come for the tour. Mr. Diffley said, “Most importantly, [families] get a flavor for the place. If you hear 20 people take the microphone and speak about themselves and the school you get a distinct flavor for the place after that. They are truly blown away, the parents and their kids.”

Mr. Diffley concluded: “We hope that prospective students and their families take away the essence of Choate through the eyes and voices of the 25 to 30 community members.”