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 Opting
for Prep School
by Max Murphy
December 2003
When I completed my junior year at Needham High School, I realized
that I had screwed up big time. My grades were not good enough to get
me into the type of college that I wanted to go to. I had the SAT scores
and I had the lacrosse potential, but I lacked the grades in the classroom.
That is why I transferred to the Northfield Mount Hermon prep school.
At Needham, I went through the motions because I could. I has some
great teaches such as my English teacher who stayed after school for
hours each day to help all of us. Northfield Mount Hermon is like nothing
I have experienced! The teachers are all very friendly and accessible.
It helps that you live in dorms with them and interact with them on
a daily basis. We also only have about 15 kids per class, so it is impossible
to become "forgotten" or "drift". The schedule here
also helps a lot. We take two classes per term. Once the term ends,
you are done with your class for the year. I am in the last week of
my first two classes, English and War. They are both excellent classes.
The social life at Northfield Mount Hermon is also very different than
Needham. Seeing that we live with each other, it forces you to become
close to many of your peers. For example, today I woke up late (It’s
a Sunday), showered and walked to brunch. After returning, I walked
down the hall and asked a couple of kids if they wanted to watch football.
At 1 o’clock we went downstairs to watch the games. I brought
the chips, someone else brought the salsa, and a third kid brought the
soda.
At 7:30 our study hall begins. Study hall is a two-hour period where
we must be in our rooms doing homework. It really isn’t that bad.
It makes us get our work done. This is the first time that I can remember
that I have consistently gotten all of my homework done every single
night. When study hall ends, a local Chinese food restaurant usually
sends over a mini-van and for $5 we can buy some Chinese as a late night
snack. Dominos also sends over a car loaded with pizzas. We have until
11:00pm before we have to go back to our rooms. Usually, I will stay
up until midnight or so finishing my homework and conclude the day by
checking ESPN.com before I shut off the computer. At midnight, I go
to bed and another day ends.
Going to prep school was the greatest thing I ever did! My grades have
risen from low B’s to a solid B+/A- average. By repeating my junior
year, I am able to pull my grades up, take harder classes, and get an
extra year on the field!
This past fall, I played JV football as a way of keeping in shape.
After the first practice the coach went up to me to ask if I wanted
to play quarterback! I had never even dreamed of doing something like
leading my team as the focal player, but prep school made it happen.
This is just typical of what people can do. I find myself hanging out
with prized basketball recruits, awesome football players and even a
potential NHL prospect. It is the experience of a lifetime and I would
highly recommend that anybody with the opportunity to do so take part
in the prep school experience, assuming of course, you don’t mind
spending 2-4 hours a night on homework!
A Glance at Our Guest: Max Murphy
17 years old
Needham High School and Northfield Mount Hermon
3 Years Played – Goalie
2003 Massachusetts Division 2 State Champions (Needham)
Undefeated 17-0 JV season sophomore year
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