Categories
Admissions Applications Campus Visits Students

Top 10 Questions Asked During Boarding School Interviews

Preparing for a Boarding School Interview?

Here’s a list of the top 10 questions most frequently asked during boarding school interviews. Proper preparation can help you ace your entrance interview. Let’s get started!

Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tennessee)

We rounded up some of our favorite boarding school students and asked them what they remembered from their entrance interviews. Use this list and our helpful admission tips to put yourself in position to nail your boarding school interview. Though each school has its own criteria, there are a few questions you can expect walking into any interview. Here are the top 10 boarding school interview questions.

  1. Why are you pursuing a boarding school education?
    Schools are going to be curious about what you’re looking to get out of a boarding education. Be prepared to explain how you think their particular school will enable you to achieve your goals.

  2. What is the most important thing you can learn in school?
    You may want to think outside the box about this one. Yes, academics are critical to educational success, but what else? How can boarding school prepare you, completely, for future success?

  3. What is your current school like? What do you like about it and what would you change?
    Showing that you’re invested in your education, wherever it is, demonstrates the kind of dedication for which boarding schools are looking. Be honest and let them know what you value.

  4. Describe your personal strengths and weaknesses.
    This is a question you’ll hear time and time again throughout your adult life. From boarding schools to potential employers, people are always curious about your levels of self-awareness.

  5. Are you involved with extracurricular activities?
    Chances are, if you’re pursuing boarding school, you’re an active and engaged individual! From athletics and the arts to more niche hobbies, it’s important to show how you spend your time and that you’re skilled at managing it.

  6. Tell us about an accomplishment that has made you feel especially proud.
    This can certainly be academic-related, but it doesn’t have to be. Perhaps you’ve coordinated a fundraising or volunteer effort, written your own music, or helped a family member in need—the important thing here is passion.

  7. Tell us about a time where you’ve demonstrated leadership.
    Again, this is a great opportunity to showcase how you are able to take initiative whether in the classroom, on the field, or in a lab. Boarding school is a place where leaders are created, show them your potential.

  8. What do you think you might study in college?
    You may not know, and that’s okay. This question is more to show that you’ve at least considered what your future may look like and what might like to learn. Don’t dwell on the details, but be sure to have some aspirations to share.

  9. Tell us about your family and personal life.
    Just as important as your education and future goals, boarding schools want to see a well-rounded person who values community. This is a chance to show your personality and talk about people and places that are important to you.

  10. What questions do you have for us?
    And you better have some! This will show that you’ve done the research and have a point-of-view about your educational future. They will want to see that you have your own criteria for success.

As you read through these and begin to brainstorm, remember, there is no right or wrong answer to any of these. Rather, focus on how your responses can highlight all of the aspects of your personality and habits that make you a prime candidate for their school.

Whether you’re interviewing for a school soon or just starting to explore your options, we’re dedicated to helping you find the right boarding school. Visit us at readyformore.com/students to learn more.

Categories
College Parents

Transitioning to College Can Be Easy—if You’re a Boarding School Kid

Boarding School is the Best College Prep

A proud 2018 Midland School graduate shares how his boarding school experience prepared him to thrive after finishing his freshman year at University of California Pomona.

In his four years at Midland School, David D’Attile spent his days on a campus inspired by the concept that it’s each citizen’s responsibility to keep the community running. From tending gardens to stocking the furnaces with freshly chopped firewood, this experience defined a work ethic that can’t be ignored.

The opportunity to take on multiple leadership roles was abundant, and he took advantage of those opportunities as they arose. In a small community, you make your mark by your contributions, and it’s those moments that build the skills your children really need to succeed in college.

David and his dog at boarding school

David reflected on how boarding school contributed to a seamless college transition:

“I learned in high school how to be a member of a community, how to think, how to organize my time and how to express myself. I realized at college that not everyone gained those skills in high school—that many smart kids here had parents who managed almost every aspect of their lives for them when they were in high school.

“So, my transition in terms of time management, handling new social settings and understanding how to react to stressful situations was pretty smooth. It’s been really nice to focus on my academics here in college, and really dig deeper into the computer science and technology topics that interest me. I’ve had some amazing professors this year and been introduced to some really cool coursework.”

High school is a time of formative change. How will your student be challenged, supported and inspired? Find out how boarding school can prepare your child for the future they deserve.

Categories
Parents

How an All-Girls Education Can Make All the Difference

Is An All Girls’ Education the Answer?

When we think about our daughters’ futures, we can all agree that we’ll do whatever we can to empower them. All girls’ boarding schools just might be the perfect place to do that.
The stats are stacking up and the verdict is in, women are staking their claim in spaces long dominated by men and demanding equality. How do we prepare our own daughters to position themselves at the head of the table? While it may seem counterintuitive to remove males from the equation, we believe that the power of a female-first education is the best first step on the road to professional success. North America is home to some of the world’s leading girls’ boarding schools, providing a learning environment that is equal parts challenging and supportive. Want proof? Here are nine compelling reasons that an all-girls education can set your daughter up for the job she wants with the pay and opportunity she deserves.
  1. Girls’ school graduates are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science and technology compared to girls who attend coed schools.1
  2. Women make up half of the total U.S. college-educated workforce, but only 29% of the science and engineering workforce.2
  3. Almost 80% of all girls’ school students believe their classes challenge them to achieve their full academic potential compared to 72.3% of girls at coed independent and just 44.3% at coed public schools.1
  4. When asked about their ability to work and live in a diverse society, alumnae from all-girls schools are nearly 10% more likely than female graduates of coed schools to have the goal of helping promote racial understanding.3
  5. 90% of those attending girls’ schools report belonging to a community organization such as a charitable, civic or educational group or arts association.1
  6. 3/4 of girls’ school grads consider college a stepping stone to graduate school.1
  7. 93% of girls’ school grads say they were offered greater leadership opportunities than peers at coed schools.1
  8. 80% have held leadership positions since graduating from high school.1
  9. 64.2% of girls’ school graduates assess their writing as high, while just 58.8% of women graduates of coed schools consider themselves skilled writers.1
Explore All-Girls’ Boarding Schools These numbers make it easy to see why choosing an all girls experience may be the right one, especially for your daughters’ future goals. What they don’t address are the emotional and interpersonal advantages of this kind of education, of which there are many. Girls are empowered to become confident young women without the distraction or judgment of adolescent boys. They are enabled to take positions of leadership, on everything from student government to flag football and they rarely, if ever, miss the boys. After all, they have their whole lives ahead of them. Let’s make sure they’re ready to make them the best lives possible. Are you considering whether boarding school is right for your daughter? Check out our FAQs, explore the uncovered truth about boarding school, or listen to the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools PEP Talks: Podcast on Educational Possibilities.

1 National Coalition of Girls’ Schools, including a 2000 and 2005 study conducted for NCGS by the Goodman Research Group of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Women Graduates of Single-Sex and Coeducational High Schools: Differences in their Characteristics and the Transition to College, Linda J. Sax, Ph.D., UCLA and Dr. Richard A. Holmgren, Allegheny College; Steeped in Learning: The Student Experience at All-Girls Schools

2 National Girls Collaborative Project, Finding STEM’s ‘Gone Girls’: Why Women Innovators Need a New Deal

3 NCGS commissioned study, Fostering Academic and Social Engagement: An Investigation into the Effects of All-Girls Education in the Transition to University

Categories
Parents

Boarding Schools Build the Resilience that Your Child Needs

Building Resilience at Boarding School

It’s more than an education. It’s a 360 degree experience that provides a world of difference.

The real world can be a scary concept—and place—especially when we consider our precious children entering it someday. You’ve considered their academic future, but what other steps can you take to prepare your son or daughter for how to handle real life? The good news? Boarding school can help you cultivate your child’s skills both in and out of the classroom.

It’s hard to put a finger on what, exactly, it takes for a person to thrive in their setting. However, we can all agree that resilience is one of the most important traits someone can have in their arsenal. The capacity to bounce back from even the most minor setbacks can make the difference between trying that one extra time, and sometimes all it takes is that one extra time.

How does a boarding school experience help create the courage and confidence needed to be willing to try new things? Here are the three ways that boarding schools are uniquely designed to instill these lifelong skills.

Independence and Autonomy Meet Cohabitation

Boarding students see more of their peers than those in a traditional school setting. It’s imperative that they learn how to maintain their own schedule while living, learning and residing among friends. Learning to adjust their behavior and even make small shifts can set them up to thrive in an eclectic work environment.

Critical thinking and decision making is something adults are bombarded with every hour of every day. From what we choose to fuel our bodies with to how we prioritize our housekeeping chores, it’s practice that makes as close to perfection as possible. Your student will practice these life skills each day among students with whom they’re forging life-long friendships.

Responsibility and Self-Discipline with Support

The boarding school experience is, in a word, immersive. From academics and extracurriculars to the sense of social community, your child will have real-life responsibilities with real-life consequences. It’s not a coincidence that many boarding school alumni go on to positions of leadership and experience professional success.

Because students are engaged with their community by design; they’re predisposed to paying attention to the way these communities succeed. They experience, first hand, how decisions can impact those around them and are encouraged to participate in finding solutions.

Risks, Rewards and Finding the Right Balance

Studies are emerging almost daily detailing how critical it is for children to practice risk-taking and pushing themselves. The best way to build resilience isn’t always a comfortable one. Boarding school presents opportunities for students to test their boundaries in a supportive environment.

Living away from home is already a risk. Making the choice to take that leap shows that you and your students value experience. Boarding school is full of chances to try new things and, in fact, often times it’s required. But there’s always the safety net of passionate experts to guide them through these experiences. Developing in this appropriate space arms your student with resilience he or she will need to take risks at the right moments in adulthood.

Are you ready to take that step? Are you ready for more? If you have more questions, try our Why Boarding School webinar or explore the FAQs on our site.

Categories
Parents

Why Middle Schoolers’ Brains Need Junior Boarding School

Junior Boarding Works for Tween Brains

We all want what’s best for our middle schoolers. And that just may be boarding school. Here’s why it works for their rapidly developing brains.  

As mysterious as other galaxies and as beautiful as an original Monet, the brains of our tweens often make us scratch our own heads. These quickly maturing creatures are starting to decide what kind of academic life may suit them best. So, what do we know about middle schoolers that may help us set them in the right direction? And is that right direction by way of junior boarding school? It just might be!

 

Risks and Rewards

Hormonal fluctuations and the burgeoning limbic system are wreaking havoc on the reward centers of tweens’ brains. They’re more likely to act impulsively and less likely to think critically. Junior boarding environments provide the right amount of structure while also fostering the independence necessary to create responsible young adults.

Indian Mountain School (Lakeville, Connecticut)

 

Positive Peer Pressure

An obsession with the “in group” is never quite as strong as it is in those early adolescent years. We can’t avoid the concept of peer pressure, but we can work to ensure that the influential community is one of acceptable encouragement and support. Highly specialized staff and like-minded students create a safe space for students to celebrate their diversity while sharing their commonalities.

Fay School (Southborough, Massachusetts)

 

Enriched Extracurriculars

There are a number of reasons you may be considering junior boarding school, and if the incredible access to sports, arts and activities isn’t one of them, it should be! It’s too early for our young children to devote their hearts and energy to one activity, and junior boarding schools allow them to explore all of their options. Additionally, boarding schools often boast top-caliber extracurricular programs, so if your young teen has identified a talent, they can truly dive into an exceptional learning environment.

Cardigan Mountain School (Canaan, New Hampshire)

 

A Sense of Citizenship

It’s never too early to impart the importance of stewardship to our children. Teenagers are often accused of being lazy or ambivalent, and perhaps we have some evidence to support that perception, but we believe that they’ll rise to meet the standards which are set for them. We also believe it may be easier for adults who aren’t mom or dad to encourage that kind of citizenship. (It’s not your fault, parents! It’s their brain’s aversion to doing what they’re told.) Boarding schools are known for an emphasis on building community, and each student is an integral component of a successful school campus.

Bement School (Deerfield, Massachusetts)

 

Academics, Obviously

We can all agree that the only thing changing faster than our teenagers’ minds are, well, their brains. Entering a rigorous academic curriculum at an early age will set them up for success not just in high school or college, but in all of their future endeavors. At junior boarding school, they’ll be surrounded by motivated, bright students and brilliant, supportive educators helping them reach their full potential—and then some.

Hillside School (Marlborough, Massachusetts)

 

If the age-old adage, “If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?” is apropos for any group, it’s young adults. Putting your tween in a place where you can trust that their futures will be fostered is one way to use that premise to your advantage. After all, learning is contagious.

Discover junior boarding schools near you: readyformore.com/find-a-school

Categories
Students

How to Tell Your Parents You Want to Go to Boarding School

Get Your Parents on Board with Boarding School

Not sure how your parents will react? Here’s everything you need to talk about boarding school with your parents.

Talking to your parents, or any adult, really, isn’t always easy. It would be great if you could slide into their DMs or @ them with your thoughts and feelings but, let’s face it, Candy Crush on Facebook is a little more their speed. So, how do you bring up the fact that you’d really like to attend a boarding school?

Shawnigan Lake School (Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia)

 

Let’s Talk

First, relax, there is nothing your mom and dad want more than to have a conversation (any conversation!) with you. All it takes is you saying, “Mom and Dad, I’d like to talk to you about something,” and they’ll be here for it. Sometimes it helps to let them know how important it is to you that they listen. Parents are humans, too, and sometimes listening is hard.

The Webb School (Bell Buckle, Tennessee)

 

Come Prepared

Do your homework! (It’s good practice for the independence you’ll experience at boarding school.) Here’s a good checklist of talking points and here’s a boarding school locator to help you determine where you may fit in best. Are sports programs or outdoor opportunities important to you? Rigorous STEM curriculum options or military academies? Preparing your talking points can also help you decide what kind of education you want. Your parents will take you seriously if you take your future seriously.

Groton School (Groton, Massachusetts)

 

Become an Expert

You know your parents and can probably guess the kinds of questions they’ll have. We’ve also talked to a lot of moms and dads to determine the most frequently asked topics they have in deciding boarding school is right for their family. From the emotional to the academic, your parents always want the best for you. They may wonder how involved they can be from a distance—the answer is a lot! And, of course, they will want to know how boarding school will prepare you for the future. Be patient and ready to address these with the people who love you most.

It won’t hurt to share some boarding school success stories with your parents either.

Boarding school is a big decision, and your parents will ultimately help you know whether it’s the right one for you. Ready For More? Visit Contact TABS.

Categories
Military Schools Parents

The Structure to Succeed: How Military Schools are Creating Future Leaders

Learning to Lead at Military Academy

Military boarding schools are known for their structure, but some other advantages may surprise you.

Military boarding schools have a distinct reputation for building character, instilling discipline and demanding structure; all critical life skills. But it’s more than that. These schools go far beyond grooming soldiers, they’re cultivating a well-rounded citizen of the world to whom others can look to for leadership.

 

Discipline & Structure

The natural hierarchy in military schools allows students to understand the importance of a chain of command and respecting authority. It also provides opportunities for your child to experience true leadership opportunities. Guided along the way, military boarding school students are required to lead their peers in a responsible and respectful way.

“The opportunities I’ve had here are unreal. I learned how to follow, I learned how to lead, and those leadership skills will translate anywhere.” —Patrick Shanahan, Culver Academies in Indiana.

 

Time Management & Accountability

Sure, all boarding schools require their students to independently manage their schedules, but not all of them offer the rigor of a military academy. With dedicated daily itineraries and the required morning and evening formations, students quickly learn how to be where they’re supposed to be, when they’re supposed to be.

“It was here that I learned to carry myself like a man should, to accept responsibility for all my actions, and to appreciate everything and everyone around me as the valuable and unique entity they are.” —Scott Briggs, Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia.

 

Citizenship and Character

A constant theme in military academies, these students are taught, above all, that respect is a requirement of every day and every interaction.

“The academics and college prep aspect here are phenomenal, but above all the academy helps these young men and women build self-confidence. Any child after two years at Farragut can walk up to any adult and look them straight in the eye and shake their hands. This firm foundation of being able to show respect, integrity and high self-esteem is embodied in the military values taught to our children here.”— Dr. Majed Fackih, Admiral Farragut Academy in Florida.

 

Honor and Courage

Every military story has a common theme: one of honor and courage. Unbelievable bravery in the face of intense (often dangerous) adversity. Learning to stand strong, especially in the hardest moments, requires a great amount of guidance and practice. Students at military boarding schools are held to the highest standards and are mentored to maintain those standards even in the pressures of the real world.

“We feel good knowing that our son is in a place that teaches strong values and work ethic. The teachers encourage curiosity and exploring ideas. The service aspect is one that will carry our boy throughout his whole life; serving others in humility makes us all one.” —Annie Rosser Snider, TMI The Episcopal School of Texas

To learn more about the boarding school experience, visit testimonials.

Categories
Parents Students

Boarding Schools Are Nothing Like You See on TV. (And That’s a Good Thing.)

Boarding School in the Media

Is boarding school really like what you see on TV? We tackle the most common (and untrue) myth about boarding schools.

Okay, so the campuses may be just as beautiful with lush ivy adorning brick and limestone architecture. But, without the wizarding curricula or throngs of contemptuous, gossipy teens, what is boarding school really like, anyway? Who roams the halls? What is campus life like in and out of the classroom? And, most importantly, is it a safe, enriched environment that will help your child grow?

We’re here to cut out the guesswork and tackle the most common (and untrue) myth about boarding schools. 

 

Boarding schools are not “just for” any one kind of student—boarding schools are for everyone.

Whether you’re looking to expand your child’s cultural horizons, empower them to focus on STEM, or introduce them to independent life before college, there is a boarding school out there suited to meet your family’s needs. We compiled a list of the top five advantages of boarding school—no surprise, they’re all centered on the premise of opportunity.

Simply stated, the dated and inaccurate perceptions that boarding schools are made up solely of troubled kids or very wealthy families couldn’t be further from the truth. Inclusivity is at the heart of boarding school. After all, it is the only high school experience where a student lives, works, learns and plays among a community of their peers.

Boarding schools encourage collaboration and understanding in a supportive and challenging environment—for every student who walks through the doors. The sense of community doesn’t just serve students well on a personal level, it prepares them to be successful as they enter a diverse real world. Many of North America’s top executives and most forward-thinking minds got their start in a boarding school.

Vimeo’s chief executive officer, Anjali Sud, was a student at Phillips Andover Academy before she went on to study finance and management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Sud then received her MBA from Harvard Business School and has been blazing trails ever since.

 

“I think that when you are pushed outside of your comfort zone, you get off that learning curve so much faster and you develop as a leader so much faster,” Sud says.

 

Sud and many others like her are proof that it doesn’t matter from where you come, it matters where you’re going. The Association of Boarding Schools is here to help your child get there.

Find the school that’s right for your family. 

Categories
Students

Boarding school is the “weird social experiment gone amazingly right” you need—and eight students’ reasons why.

Is Boarding School Really Like What You See In the Movies?

Eight students tell it like it really is.

Boarding schools can be a mysterious place to those without an inside view. Instead of telling you, in our words, what sort of impact a boarding school can have, we’ll let actual boarding school students speak for themselves.

 

1. It’s the push you need to go where you may not have gone on your own.

“Millions of opportunities are offered to you here, you just have to take the step to go for it and get it.” —Emily, Trinity College School

 

2. Boarding school doesn’t rely on the classroom to teach you things.

“I’ve always valued my education and strived to learn as much as I can, but this place has taught me many lessons that have proven invaluable, and most of them haven’t even taken place in the classroom.” — Zach Jennings, Hyde School

 

3. But the classroom is a powerful place. It’s a fast track to the best colleges in the nation.

“Culver Academy opened the doors for the top colleges for her and full scholarships to Ivy League. The education is outstanding.” —Canterina Conti, Culver Academy

 

4. You’ll learn who you really are…and why you’re amazing.

“I came here to find my independence and self-confidence. I really feel that I opened up as a person here.” —Joli, Westover School

 

5. And you’ll learn how to embrace others for who they are.

“Porter’s is what I needed…being here has allowed me to grow confident, strong and, most importantly, kind.” —Christina T., Miss Porter’s School

 

6. You’ll broaden your horizons for all of the right reasons.

“Be a servant of the world because it’s your responsibility as a human…not a box to check off for college.” —Kyle Mason, Cate School

 

7. It’s not all fun and games…but a lot of it is!

“Field courses, outdoorsy adventure sports, small classes, extracurricular activities help shape this diverse yet connected learning environment. Where else can you kayak, rock climb, mountain bike, ski, do robotics, or hike as your required sports activities?” —Elizabeth Cadwell, The White Mountain School

 

8. It’s weird and amazing and perfect—just like you.

“Boarding is like a really weird social experiment gone amazingly right. You get to know people really well. You get to meet people you never would have met before.” —Max Winebrenner, Asheville School

 

Ready to experience it for yourself? Find the school that’s right for you. 

Categories
Parents

Letting Her Go

How Can You Set Your Child Up for Success in School and In Life?

With a one-of-a-kind education. You know their potential, we help them find their purpose.

By Trish Fogarty

I dropped her off at boarding school for her 8th-grade year, knowing she would be there for two years. She was 13 and we were both soaked with tears by the time we said our goodbyes.

In the weeks that followed, many friends and acquaintances asked me why I would send her away. So many women said, “I would never send my daughter away.”

I understood how puzzling it may have seemed to other people, and I spent many conversations talking about why and how, and I realized I was making excuses, as if I had to defend myself. I think I worried that people would think less of me, they would think it must have been easy for me to do, or they would think I was a bad Mom.

After too much time making excuses my response became this:

“Don’t ever say you would NEVER do something, because the very thing you said you would never do, could be the EXACT thing that your child needs.”

Each and every day she was gone I missed her. Each and every time we were together was great, until we had to say goodbye, and then we cried. We spent time on the phone just about every day, the number of text messages we exchanged over the past two years must be in the millions! I made many trips to see her, to watch her play in her sports and to see her on stage. I brought her home for every holiday and vacation, and many an extra weekend or day, here and there, just because!

On her first day, I dreamed of the day she would graduate from the 9th grade at Rectory and knew that I would be so proud of her. That day would be my payoff. I told myself that on that day, I would know that I had made the right decision. Thinking of graduation day always made the days without her at home seem bearable.

Tomorrow is graduation day and the funny thing is, I figured out a long time ago that I had made the right decision.

Daughter graduating from boarding school

I knew when she got her first A, and I knew when she made the honor roll her first time. I knew when I went to Parents’ Weekend and she scored the goals in soccer. I knew when she was voted captain of her basketball team, as an 8th grader. I knew each time she called to tell me something that she just couldn’t wait to tell me! I knew when she was asked to be a proctor for the summer program and was voted by her teachers to proctor a girls’ dorm this year. I knew when she signed up for her African drumming class, and I knew when she read The Perfect Pebble and was so impressed to have the author come to speak at school. I knew when she decided to learn to play the guitar, and I knew when she was excited to write her reflection paper for her final exam in literature class.

When my child, who could not read until the 5th grade, who was afraid to be called on by her teachers or asked to read, and never wanted to have anything to do with the written word, called to tell me she had auditioned to be the narrator and a part of the chorus in the spring musical and then took the stage with such poise and confidence, I knew.

 

I knew I had made the right decision.

Tomorrow is a big day for me and for her. I will be sad to watch her say goodbye to friends and teachers, but will be so happy to move her and her things back home! I am not sure where she will be come September, but I am sure that wherever she goes she will be strong and confident and I know that she will succeed!

I let her go because I love her.

Ready to learn more? Get started at Contact TABS.

Editor’s Note: Trish Fogarty posted this story to her Facebook page the night before her daughter Margaret graduated from The Rectory School. Since then her son Patrick and daughter Kathleen have also joined Rectory’s family. Rectory shared this story with Trish’s permission; TABS is pleased to re-post with Trish’s permission as well.