Hotchkiss School Ranking for College Admissions

I’ve Read Dozens of Hotchkiss Applications. Here’s what I learned.

As a former admissions officer who read files from New England (including all the prep schools), I’ve reviewed many applications from The Hotchkiss School. Families often assume that going to Hotchkiss gives students a golden ticket to selective colleges. But here’s what I want you to know: simply attending Hotchkiss isn’t what sets students apart.

Selective colleges expect more from applicants at schools like Hotchkiss, not less. When Hotchkiss apps landed on our desks, we read them in the context of one of the most competitive academic environments in the country. That context shapes everything.

If your student is at—or considering—Hotchkiss, here’s how to think strategically about college admissions.

The Hotchkiss School Ranking

On Niche, Hotchkiss ranks as:

• #1 Best High School for STEM in Connecticut
  
  
• #2 Best Private High School in Connecticut
  
  
• #2 Best College Prep Private High School in Connecticut
  
  
• Overall Grade: A+
  
  

It’s easy to see why families are drawn in. Small classes and tons of resources. 

But admissions officers don’t look at Niche rankings. They care about your academic performance in the context of your high school, and that context comes directly from the school profile.

Hotchkiss School Profile

The 2024–25 Hotchkiss School Profile is the document admissions officers actually read. Your counselor sends it via the Common App along with your transcript.

Here’s what stands out:

• No class rank, no GPA weighting—but there is a precise letter-to-number GPA scale (e.g., 11.50–12.00 = A+) and a range of cumulative GPAs.
  
  
• Average senior GPA: around 10.16 on Hotchkiss’s 12-point scale (roughly a 93–94 average)
  
  
• Course rigor is tiered: honors courses are numbered 8–9, and departments tightly control access via applications and prerequisites
  
  
• High-end coursework includes: multivariable calculus, advanced science labs (e.g., the "Fly Lab"), and senior thesis programs (MacLeish and Hersey Scholars)
  
  
• Advanced electives instead of APs: Hotchkiss does not offer APs, which means colleges will benchmark students against the honors classes Hotchkiss offers

This is where context becomes critical. When we read a Hotchkiss transcript, we’re not asking, “Did they take AP Calc BC?” We’re asking, “Did they push toward the highest-level math Hotchkiss offers, and how did they perform relative to peers doing the same?”

How Admissions Officers Read Applications from Hotchkiss

The School Group Effect

Admissions officers read applications in “school groups.” That means we’d line up all the Hotchkiss applicants—Early and Regular—and sort them by academic performance and rigor.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• First sort: GPA and transcript review—are they in the top decile? Middle? Lower third?
  
  
• Rigor check: How many honors-level courses? Did they pursue the most challenging course pathways?
  
  
• Year-over-year benchmarking: How does this year’s applicant compare to last year’s admits from Hotchkiss?
  
  

At a school like Hotchkiss, this means:

• A 10.6 GPA with multiple 600-level STEM courses = academically strong
  
  
• A 9.8 GPA with few advanced electives = unlikely to stand out, even if that student would’ve been a star elsewhere
  
  
• A Hersey Scholar or Fly Lab participant = signal of intellectual initiative and community recognition
  
  

Put simply: AOs know how to identify standout Hotchkiss students.

Strategic Takeaways for Hotchkiss Families

For Prospective Families: Who Thrives at Hotchkiss?

Hotchkiss offers a rigorous academic culture and good faculty mentorship. Students who thrive here are:

• Self-motivated and collaborative
  
  
• Willing to take on academic challenges (like applying to the Hersey Scholars program or tackling multivariable calc)
  
  
• Excited to explore and take on challenges in their extracurriculars, too.

For Current Students: Building a Standout Application

If you’re already at Hotchkiss, here’s how to think strategically:

• Lean into your strengths early: Honors-level coursework by 11th grade is a must for selective college admissions
  
  
• Build a narrative that complements your transcript: Use your essays and ECs to add depth and dimension. Don’t rely on the Hotchkiss name to do the work
  
  
• Capitalize on internal opportunities: Selective programs like Fly Lab, Hersey, or MacLeish can show that you’ve stood out within your community.
  
  
• Benchmark yourself honestly & build your school list with that in mind: Where do you fall in the GPA distribution? How many advanced courses have you taken relative to your peers? Make sure you find reaches, targets, and safeties that align with your profile.

Your Application Strategy Has To Consider Your School Group

Standing out at a place like Hotchkiss requires really good stats, a really good story, or both.

That’s what we do at Sierra. We help families build intentional application strategies rooted in real admissions experience. Want to know how your student’s Hotchkiss application might read? Book a free consultation here.