Jasper ’24

Day Student, Cambridge, MA

Annie McGarry poses for her headshot during the "Annual Head Tour Guide Photoshoot" outside the Chapel on Sep. 13, 2021. (Photo by Nicholas Pfosi)

Why did you choose CA?

CA’s academics seemed strong to me, but that is not what set it apart from other schools I looked at. Instead, the school’s core values of common trust and love of learning, as well as the overall friendly environment, gave me the feeling that as a student I’d have more freedom than at most schools. I knew that I would be able to express myself easily and not even have to think about it, which set CA apart for me.

What makes CA unique?

What makes CA unique is how much it values its students as people. There are few other schools that trust their students as much; CA students can go off campus into “extended campus” without having to check in or out, leave their valuables around the school, and are trusted to manage their schedules and workloads. This unique freedom means students can start or join any club they want, and just generally be the people they want to be without fear of repercussions from other students or the administration.

How would you describe common trust? 

While the most visible and most commonly used example of common trust is the piles of backpacks left in the main school lobby, common trust really boils down to the concept that CA students are responsible for their actions, and have enough respect for the community that they wouldn’t do anything to harm it.