Rowland Hall-St. Mark's School review by Harvard University student.
In my opinion, Rowland Hall-St. Mark's exemplifies the concept of "quality, not quantity." Though the class selection is quite admirable for such a small institution (my graduating class had 63 students), with a whole host of Advanced Placement options including less common classes such as AP Statistics and Psychology, the best part of RHSM is the high standard to which they hold every single class. The same is true for the workload; though many students earn good grades (A's and B's) putting in 10-15 hours of homework per week, the quality expected in that work is generally very high. Extremely small classes - my AP Calculus class had 7 students - allows for a very intimate relationship between teachers and students. The teachers are comfortable to step beyond the typical boundaries, getting to know students' families, sports and volunteer activities, and often becoming familiar with the students' plans and dreams for the future.
Bruce Hunter, the head of college counseling at RHSM, is widely recognized as a leader.... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Rowland Hall-St. Mark's School as experienced by former pupil and Harvard University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on college counseling
They have contacts at most of the major universities and feel perfectly comfortable picking up the phone and advocating for a student to get accepted somewhere they feel is a good fit for that student. However, these counselors are certainly not magic bullets. They cannot guarantee that a student will get into an Ivy League university...
For those wishing to move on to Oxford or Cambridge, the provision is second-to-none. In the months running up to application and interview, every subject faculty offers classes (often run by former Oxbridge tutors) exploring further areas of their subject as well as offering advice on personal statements, interview technique and more...
The admissions process at RHSM is very holistic. While strong performance in school is.... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Rowland Hall-St. Mark's School by former pupil and Harvard University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on admissions
For the interview, dress conservatively. Try to be very clean and put together. Also, I was a tour guide for two years and at the end of every tour, we were asked to evaluate the candidate so if you think the tour is not apart of the process, you are very wrong. Ask questions and be interested. Also, tip for the parents: the kids speak on the tour. Do not ask their questions for them...
Most younger siblings have an easy time in the admissions process. I can only think of one case of a younger sibling not being admitted. About half of the students who entered with me had come from public schools. The remainder came from private K-6 schools, or had transferred from other New York private schools The Elizabeth Morrow School and St. Bernard were two of the larger feeder schools...
RHSM is primarily a day school, but some students (usually Rowmark skiers or exchange students) live with host families in the area. The cafeteria is extremely affordable but many students go off-campus for lunch. The neighborhood, like much of Salt Lake City, is generally quite safe. The social events that RHSM holds are typically well-attended, despite early hours and strict no-alcohol policies, which indicates the strong sense of community that most students feel. The very small environment truly does not allow for "cliques" as seen at other high schools; there is barely any stratification of the.... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Rowland Hall-St. Mark's School as experienced by former pupil and Harvard University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review