Frequently Asked Questions - Admission How to Apply

 Mark Twain once said of our weather, "Yes, one of the brightest gems in the New England weather is the dazzling uncertainty of it. There is only one thing certain about it: you are certain there is going to be plenty of it..."

Massachusetts, where NMH is located, has weather that varies with its four seasons. Summer is hot and humid, with temperatures reaching 80 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and this weather may last into August or early September.

In spring and fall the temperature averages between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and you will need sweaters, sweatshirts, fleece jackets, and rainwear during these two seasons.

Winters can be very cold and snowy, averaging 28 degrees, so jackets that can withstand temperatures below zero are necessary, as are snow boots, warm socks, gloves, and hats. Because they take up so much space in suitcases, these items can be purchased once students are here. The school offers buses and vans to local shopping areas.

 We ask admitted students to complete a short questionnaire and use their answers to try and match roommates of approximately the same age who have compatible habits and interests. However, we also want to have a good mix of students of different ages and backgrounds in each house, so we make no guarantees about assignments.

New students who know each other from home are not allowed to live together. International students who are in the English as a Second Language program cannot room with someone who speaks their native language. If you are in the English as a Second Language program, we will make every effort to room you with an English-speaking roommate.

 About 20 percent of NMH students are from countries other than the United States.

 No. All international students who do not have a US passport or a US green card must apply to their local US consulate or embassy to obtain an entry visa.

 Yes.

 The Center for International Education can provide help with immigration for both parents and students.

 One weekend each term the school hosts Family Days, when parents are invited to come to campus, visit classes, attend athletic activities, and meet with teachers and advisors. These are scheduled at the beginning of the year, so international parents have plenty of time to schedule flights. Here is a link to the NMH calendar.

 What if they don’t have a relative or guardian to stay with in the area? During winter and spring midterm breaks, international students can stay in their rooms. However, they must leave the campus during major school breaks. If a student is unsure about making plans during breaks, he or she should contact the international education office, which will help find the best options.

 No. Because NMH is a boarding campus, the majority of students are on campus during weekends. Popular dances are well attended. Movies play in Grandin Auditorium. "After-hours" events occur in houses when they invite other houses to participate in an activity after house closing. On Saturdays there are usually sporting events, and an FRTA bus leaves for Greenfield every Saturday at 1:15 pm.

Religious services and meetings are offered on the weekends as well, with Shabbat services held on Friday nights, church services held in Memorial Chapel every Sunday morning, and transportation available to other religious affiliations.

 Because we are located in a rural area and not in a big city, NMH can better oversee and protect its students. People are not allowed to trespass on our campuses and security officers patrol the campus around the clock. In addtion, students must have written permission from their parents as well as from the parents of anyone they want to visit in order to leave campus.

 NMH’s Center for International Education provides special assistance to international students and their families throughout the year. Advisors (DLs) and house directors are there to give individual support. Special activities, social groups, and meals help students remain connected with those who share their culture.

 Because we are an American boarding school, everything from living with students from across the United States to participating in one or more of the 30 clubs and activities groups helps students learn about American culture from their peers.

Field trips taken by classes as well as weekend trips to neighboring cities like Boston or New York City further their knowledge of culture.

 The ESL program at NMH provides an alternative to the humanities program for ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders. Students for whom English is a second language are tested after their arrival at NMH and are placed in courses according to their grade level as well as their skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Courses include Culture and Communication, Intermediate Reading and Writing, Advanced Reading and Writing, and English for Special Purposes (for sophomores and juniors).

 Each student has an advisor (which we call a DL) who answers questions and guides him or her in selecting classes. Class teachers are also available outside of the classroom for advice and to answer questions. If necessary, tutors are available (for a small hourly cost) to assist students in particular subjects.

Students are required to be in study hall, in their houses, from 8 to 10 pm Monday through Friday and from 7:30 to 9:30 pm on Sundays. During these hours, they must study quietly in the rooms without television, radios, stereos, or phone calls.

 Yes. NMH offers courses that prepare students to enter any of the United States colleges and universities. (See a list of selected colleges our graduates attend.)

Also, NMH students can take one of 23 advanced placement (AP) courses. If a student takes an AP course and passes the test in that subject, he or she can receive college credit for it. This can help both admission to colleges and universities and also help students take higher-level courses once there.

Beginning in junior year, each student is assigned a college counselor who works with him or her through senior year. Students also participate in a class that helps them select and apply to colleges and universities.

 The student should bring an openness to learn, a respect for education, a commitment to excellence, a goal of advancing themselves, and a desire to contribute to the community. The results can last a lifetime.

 Students who are intrigued with the personal and academic advantages that come from a postgraduate year should assess programs of interest: What academic, athletic, and creative resources will further your passions? Does a particular school have the programs, support structures, and relationships outside the school that can give you an edge in reaching your goals? Can the school help you meet any gaps in your profile as you make the most of your talents?

The NMH postgraduate program offers these advantages:

• Building a good academic profile into a stronger one
• Building maturity to handle the independence of college life
• Building readiness to engage one’s talents and skills into the opportunities of college
• Building activity skills— arts, athletics, leaderships to take on competitive rolls in college

College counseling starts the first day students arrive on campus; there is no time to lose. As part of orientation, college counselors meet with families about the process. These experts help families to plan; they share specific tactics that will position an applicant to the best strategic advantage.

NMH increases a student's chance of admission to competitive colleges because competitive institutions know our school and understand the difference it makes in college readiness. Our college counseling is personal. If you are positioning yourself for a four-year competitive college by seeking an extra year, a strong postgraduate program adds tremendous value to the candidate’s profile.

 With the high admission standards of all students enrolled at NMH, postgraduates find themselves among a motivated circle of friends. This positive peer group enhances the experience of all the postgraduates; the environment further inspires and motivates the one-year student to develop as a student and a person.

 The NMH postgraduate program positions students to be more competitive in the application process than other options. The placement of our seniors in college and the success of NMH postgraduate alumni give NMH a far stronger brand than a community college option. Our postgraduate program offers a competitive level of college freshman-equivalent courses for advanced students or an extended senior curriculum for those postgraduate students who need a fifth year to develop advanced critical thinking, qualitative analysis, and other academic skills. Our SAT score averages are higher than virtually all community colleges, demonstrating a higher level of enrolled students’ aptitude. One hundred percent of our post graduates move on to a four-year competitive college experience.

 Colleges welcome students who are ready. Colleges make decision based on a student's ability to contribute to a community and to flourish in an academic and social program. The most competitive colleges in the country routinely direct students to NMH, so that the students might be better prepared to matriculate to college and continue rigorous academic work. Some students have already been offered acceptance, pending success in their NMH experience. NMH’s high-caliber academics, athletics, arts, and affective development give colleges confidence in our program; college admission counselors and coaches understand that a year in the postgraduate program at NMH can make a substantive difference. Postgraduates from NMH routinely get into the most competitive schools in the country and excel once they arrive.

 No; it is much more. All postgraduates have met the requirements of their high school and earned a diploma. This milestone gives them great flexibility in designing their postgraduate experience at NMH.

Postgraduates often have developed an area of expertise that allows them to be immediate leaders among their peers. Sharing their academic, cocurricular, or social/emotional talents gives them an immediate way to connect with the community. Postgraduates contribute to the texture of the campus, while they gain from the complexity of our energetic and intellectually engaged community.

 Postgraduates and advanced seniors at NMH have access to academic, athletic, and arts programs typical of college-level offerings. NMH's breadth and depth of resources allow students to build upon their strengths and address weaknesses. Our postgraduate program pays particular attention to building on competence in writing, an essential skill for success in college and beyond. Three levels of PG English are available to develop or enhance writing skills. In math, a variety of options can likewise serve either a gifted math student or one who needs an extra boost in calculus prior to the college application process.

 A postgraduate year is a gap year—a break between completing high school and beginning college—that allows a student access to the exceptional resources and academic preparation of a top New England boarding school. NMH's postgraduate (PG) program is thoughtfully designed, and it is supported by a dedicated advisor and a class academic dean who helps postgraduates meet their academic and other goals. A postgraduate year allows for an additional year of skill-building and maturation, which makes students more competitive in the college admission process.