The Capstone Program
The Capstone Program is designed to provide an opportunity for talented students to explore an area of the curriculum in depth. While the program is open to all sixth formers, it is especially intended for students who are capable of working independently for a sustained time in a curricular area about which they feel passionate. Building on the existing curriculum, the Capstone Program has three distinctive features: 1) the concentrated program of study each student undertakes; (2) the final project the student builds toward and completes in the spring term; and (3) the selective nature of the process.
A student in the Capstone Program must be enrolled for credit in at least five courses in the curriculum that focus on a topic, theme, or area of curricular interest. Capstone Programs may be designed either by the department or by an individual student, though student-initiated programs are inevitably subject to the staffing capacity of the school and the course offerings of the academic departments. Interdisciplinary programs ranging across a number of departments may also be proposed. Each program is under the direct supervision of a teacher (the Capstone adviser), usually from the department most directly connected with the proposed area of concentration. All programs must culminate in a capstone, i.e., a final project, presentation, portfolio, paper, or other appropriate final product. Capstones are evaluated by the department(s) involved and each department determines the manner in which the individual capstone projects are recognized. Students are also expected to document their achievements in web sites or hard copy so that their work can serve as examples for future projects.
The recommended sequence of study is two courses in the fall, two courses in the winter, and the Capstone Project – the equivalent of a course – in the spring, but other patterns may be proposed. The Capstone Program may involve extra work after the regular class day, which may be done as an “approved project” or an “alternate activity” for a term. Capstone participants are expected to be in residence at Choate for the entire year, but students participating in an international study program may still apply if the program abroad has some connection to the final Capstone Project.
A Capstone Program may be ended if it is not going well in the judgment of the Capstone adviser, the coordinator of the Capstone Program, or the student. Therefore, there are checkpoints throughout the year, and a “parachute” is available for the student who cannot complete the project. Care is taken at the start to ensure the number of courses/credits that participants have in case they cannot complete their proposed program. Should students not complete their Capstone Programs, they will still receive a diploma if they have satisfied the school's graduation requirements, which include passing all spring term courses.
Capstone Application Process
Students interested in participating in the Capstone Program should begin thinking about a possible course of study early in the fifth form year. They should initiate preliminary discussions of their proposal with the teacher they hope to work with to insure the feasibility of the proposal and the willingness of the teacher to work with the student as the Capstone adviser. They should also consult the appropriate department head to make sure the courses they would like to take are being offered the following year and to confirm the availability of the Capstone adviser.
Capstone applications must be officially submitted by the beginning of the spring term. The application forms are available from the Registrar's Office or on Choate’s intranet site CHIP. A committee consisting of the Dean of Academic Affairs, the Registrar, the Director of College Counseling, the Coordinator of the Capstone Program, the fifth form deans, and the head(s) of the department(s) most directly involved with the area of study will evaluate each capstone proposal.
Capstone and the College Process
A written description of the Capstone Program is included in the college application materials, and the college counselor refers to the specific Capstone in the letter of recommendation. In addition, the College Counseling Office communicates the value of the Capstone Program to our external constituencies. The Director of College Counseling also serves on the committee that approves all individual programs, and students are given feedback about the suitability of their proposal. All capstone courses are identified as such on the transcript, and if a student fails to complete the proposed capstone program, a letter is sent to the colleges indicating this change.