Campus Tour
All families who visit us for an interview take a guided tour of our campus.
Applicants to Choate are required to visit campus for a tour and an interview when school is in session. This process takes about two hours. If a campus visit is really not possible, off-campus interviews are available across the United States and around the globe. Applicants must first submit the required Pre-Interview Information Form online and may then request an off campus interview with a member of our Volunteer Admission Network of alumni and parents.
To schedule your tour and interview, contact the Admission Office at 203-697-2239 or admission@choate.edu. On-campus accommodations are available at The Sally Hart Lodge. For more information on visiting the Wallingford area, please refer to our Area Guide.
About the Campus Tour
When you arrive at Choate you will be welcomed to Archbold, home of the Admission Office. You’ll have a chance to chat informally with some of the students who will be guiding the tours — and perhaps meet other families who are applying to Choate.
Each prospective student is assigned a student guide and enjoys a personal tour of the campus, including the:
- Academic Buildings
- Dining Hall
- Library
- Athletic Facilities
- Student Activities Center
Since parents often have a different perspective, they typically will have their own guided tour and the opportunity to have their particular questions answered.
Tours are led by members of the Gold Key Society, founded in 1953. There are about 150+ Gold Key guides, and they are a diverse group — boarders, day students, international students, artists, musicians, athletes.
As you tour the campus, feel free to ask questions about Choate in general and about your guide's personal experiences as well. Our guides are among the best sources of information about Choate that you will ever find!
For an online look at our campus, view photos and descriptions in our Campus Photo Gallery.
About the Interview
Upon returning from their respective tours, parents will have an opportunity to relax while the applicant meets with one of the admission officers or committee interviewers.
What should you expect during the interview?
The interview is an opportunity for you to offer a more complete picture of yourself than is possible on a paper application.
Interviewers don’t have a pre-determined script, but they tend to ask questions that require a bit of self-reflection ― about your interests, motivations, and personality traits. You should also remember that what you wear and how you present yourself will affect the interviewer’s perception of you and your seriousness of purpose. Finally, you should bring or be prepared to ask any questions that you may have about Choate.
After the interview is finished, the applicant will have a chance to relax while parents are invited for a conversation with the interviewer. Again, questions are welcome.