Fountain Valley School of Colorado review by Dartmouth College student.
Fountain Valley School of Colorado (FVS)prepared me very well for the challenges of a competitive university. I attribute this success to two important aspects of the school. Firstly, the student body consists of very bright and motivated students. They are engaged learners both inside and outside of the classroom. They challenge each other 24/7 by talking about politics, social issues, athletics, and global perspectives. All of this occurs in an atmosphere of friendly competition, where excelling at school is everyone's goal, but achieved through teamwork. That isn't to say that some students do not want to be there and are reluctant to take advantage of the opportunities of the school. They manage to coast by, but often not because alcohol and drug use is not tolerated by the school. These types of students are rare, however. Secondly, the teachers want the students to be successful. They are extremely invested and available all the time. Relationships with teachers extend beyond the walls of the classroom because they are also houseparents, athletic coaches, and academic advisors. Whether you want it to happen or not, they become your mentors and friends. They refuse to let students fall through the cracks. At first it can be hard to always be accountable, especially if you come from a public school background where you can easily disappear into the corner. At FVS, there is no where to hide in a classroom with 13 other students. Eventually you come to realize that the perpetual challenges are a direct result of the faculty's care for and commitment to every student. This intellectually engaging atmosphere results in little free time. There are outlined limits to the amount of homework freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors receive, although often the more dedicated will go above and beyond the 3 or 4 hours of work assigned each night. There is a rotating schedule so that you don't have the same class at the same time everyday. Students who have a hard time waking up will find this very helpful because the first class of the day is never the same. Typically there is only free time on the weekends, as every student is required to participate in an extracurricular activity everyday after class in addition to homework. These activities include athletics, equine sports, and drama. Practices are 1 hour and 45 minutes.
The Fountain Valley School college counseling office is absolutely a strength of the school. .... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Fountain Valley School of Colorado as experienced by former pupil and Dartmouth College 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...
Fountain Valley School looks for students who are eager to learn, and would add something.... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Fountain Valley School of Colorado by former pupil and Dartmouth College 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...
Fountain Valley School has a beautiful 1,100 acre campus to the East of Colorado Springs. It offers a secluded oasis where horses can be seen frolicking on the prairie, while students are out playing on some of the best playing fields in the state. One side of campus holds the administration building, gym, library, and dining hall. The other side of campus consists of the 9 dormitories. At the heart of FVS are the Chapel, where all-school meetings are held every other day, the campus center, where day students have their lockers and students can been seen.... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Fountain Valley School of Colorado as experienced by former pupil and Dartmouth College student — Login or Sign Up to access full review