What People Say

Students Say…
 “I come from a very hard school.  [The Woolman Semester] is rigorous on another level, it’s not about busy work the way a lot of high schools are. We read amazing authors and we have discussions, in depth conversations, instead of just filling out pointless answer sheets. So, we have tons of reading every night and we're constantly busy, but at the same time, it’s so much more rewarding than my public school experience.”

“I needed an escape from the town where I grew up. I needed to reach out into a different time and place and let myself grow and learn about the world community of which I am a member. I could never have imagined the extent to which I’ve been pushed emotionally, physically, intellectually, by the loving guidance of my teachers. After an intense training period, I am ready to change the world by being that pebble that drops into the stagnant pool sending ripples out forever, touching everything in its path.”

 “I come from Berkeley High, the classic factory model school with 3000 other students. So I got stuck in a rut of being able to coast through school without really having to do very much work at all.....it's [The Woolman Semester] really changed me beneficially because,….. I'm doing the work because I want to do it, so I have a lot of self-motivation.” 

“The amount I've learned in this short period of time… is really amazing when reflecting upon how much I normally learned in public schools. I feel that I'm learning because I want to learn instead of learning to prove what I have learned to teachers. I think in the long run that's going to make a difference as to what I remember and that's important."

“I am more outgoing and less likely to wait for the other person to start a conversation.  I also am better at getting the information I need and asking the right questions.” “I always had a clear idea of where I want to go, but I now have a more solid idea of how I want to get there.”

To correspond directly with a Woolman graduate, click here to contact Kristen.

Parents Say…

“Graduation was amazing and very moving and we all feel blessed and thankful for the loving care and fantastic education and sense of community given to these kids.  We can't thank you enough!”

"The Woolman Semester encourages critical evaluation of controversial
topics-not just taking the ‘party line’, but actually checking the resources and developing an individual approach."

“Woolman is a place where the individual is honored and becomes a part of a greater community.  The learning is rigorous, yet the students receive support for their ideas and contributions and learn that their learning is truly up to themselves. There is a deep compassion for learning there among all the residents and this is expressed with love and caring, each striving to walk the talk.  Wonderful mentors, teachers, administrators and community.”

“Our daughter is motivated to complete her high school studies and has taken on a larger work load. She is talking about different choices for college.”

"We are grateful every day for Woolman and what it has meant for our daughter's life. She was already a great person with lots of strength. But clearly she has grown, matured, further developed and supported her worldview. Her self-confidence is now warmer and deeper and can help her to move through the world with conviction and grace."

Colleges Say….
“Your program has been of great interest to me, as I have worked with one of your graduates in his application to Guilford, so have heard wonderful stories about it. Colin…. is a great spokesperson for The Woolman Semester! Guilford would be fortunate to have more Woolman graduates and I think has opportunities that they would appreciate…As I work with students seeking pre-college opportunites, I will definitely send them your way.”

-Susan Bagley
Associate Director of Admission
Guilford College, Greensboro, NC

College Admissions officers have a difficult job these days. Many students applying for admission have a greater than 4.0 GPA, high SAT scores and AP course credits in multiple subjects.  Now they must look beyond the numbers to what makes a student unique and a semester program does just that. More importantly admissions officers must find a way to determine whether a student is ready to thrive academically away from home. Students who have successfully navigated a semester program demonstrate that ability. Therefore, they are more certain to excel in what for others is often a precarious freshman year. 

With curriculum that is geared toward the early college level and high expectations for personal responsibility, the Woolman Semester is truly college preparatory. The level of independence expected of students is coupled with a small, interdependent community that serves the supportive role of an extended family as the student begins the transition from nuclear family life toward independent living.