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Parents

5 Things That Give Boarding School Students an Edge in College

Two boarding school students working together at a computer

Should You Choose Boarding School for Your Child?

Here are 5 things to consider when setting them up for success in college—and beyond.

Thinking about sending your son or daughter off into the real world can be a bit scary.

The good news is that you’ve already started considering a future in which they will thrive. The better news is that we’ve put together a quick checklist of things you can do now that will set them up for success as they head to the best colleges in the country.

How will they manage? Who will wash their laundry or make their lunch? Who will balance their budget or help with their resume? Who will make sure their stuffed animal makes its way into their bed each night? Spoiler alert: them! They can, will and want to be independent.

Fostering this innate independence at every level is at the core of a boarding school education. Whether it’s getting to class on time, self-managing a busy school and extracurricular schedule, or cohabitating with a group of their peers, students who spend their high school experience in a boarding school setting are 78 percent more likely to feel confident in college and beyond, compared to only 36 percent of private day students and just 23 percent of public school students. Establishing independence early is critical for future success.

 

1. Budgeting Basics

According to a 2018 study by T. Rowe Price, 88 percent of young adults rely on the financial education they received in high school to make decisions in adulthood. Eighty-six percent feel it should be taught in all schools, and 84 percent are glad they received financial education when they were younger. Those are numbers that don’t lie.

Not only are boarding schools more likely to have a robust economic curriculum, the low teacher-to-student ratio (1:12) will ensure that your student is not only exposed to these important money lessons but comprehends and retains them. Your child will also get to put these skills into practice by budgeting for solo shopping excursions. They may even teach you how to save a few dollars at Target (though we know that’s nearly impossible).

Two boarding school students working together at a computer

 

2. Cultural Consciousness

Developing a worldview isn’t an accident. You’ve spent their youth teaching them about different cultures; maybe traveling to other countries, tasting exotic cuisines, learning new languages. But there’s no match for an experience that is at once immersive, inclusive and diverse.

American boarding schools offer a variety of curricula to suit the social activist, the culturally curious, the student who is ready to change the world. It starts by learning and living among a diverse student body and is extended by providing unique opportunities to participate in culturally relevant activities. Most boarding schools have students from 30+ countries. So students are encouraged to have open and honest dialogues while being mentored by teachers and administrators.

Two boarding school students laughing together

 

3. Healthy Habits

It’s no secret that the earlier a child adopts a healthy habit, the more likely they are to maintain it into adulthood. From a well-balanced diet and personal hygiene to a good night’s sleep and fitness regimen, countless studies have been conducted about the importance of establishing a foundation early on in life.

Boarding school environments ease the transition into college by offering autonomous daily living with the support of a knowledgeable staff to guide students in a healthy direction. Schools are well equipped with health and wellness facilities, nutritious dining options and, most importantly, the space for a child to grow into these habits naturally.

Boarding school student playing tennis

 

4. Time Management

College can present a rude awakening to students who are used to having parental reminders for important dates you know, like, college application deadlines. One’s ability to succeed is undeniably linked to one’s ability to properly plan and execute. Time management is perhaps the most crucial skill teens must acquire before heading into the real world.

In a self-regulated space, like a boarding school, students quickly learn how to manage their days and nights. Living among their friends and peers will help them learn how to prioritize their time in a way that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

Two boarding school students working in the classroom

 

5. Relationship Building

The social pressures for teens are mounting at record speed. With constant connectivity through technology, teens talk to each other all day but rarely seem to communicate. According to Pew Research, 95 percent of teens have access to a smartphone, with half being online “almost constantly.”

While teens are advancing their technological prowess, they’re losing the ability to connect on an empathic, personal level. Worse, they don’t understand how critical those skills are to creating healthy personal and professional relationships. Boarding schools allow students to live within their society, not just viewing it from behind a glowing screen.

Group of boarding school students hanging out together

Learn more or kick-start your student’s boarding school journey at Contact TABS.

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Students

Finding Your Authentic Voice

What’s going away for school really like—in real life?

Hear from Westtown School student Yiheng Xie on how he was able to find his voice, and sense of purpose, at boarding school.

As a new ninth-grader at Westtown—a 14-hour plane ride from his home—Yiheng Xie was once told his accent was hard to define. In this (abridged) reflection delivered at graduation, Yiheng explores the connection between voice and family history—the “grit and sand” in his words—and how every person and experience we carry with us, can leave its mark.

My freshman-year proctor once said, “You have a unique accent.” It couldn’t be easily defined—it wasn’t simply Chinese or American, refined or crude. Puzzling over why, I decided to trace its origin.

Ever since I was a kid, I have been collecting snippets of my parents’ childhood to complete this giant puzzle of where I came from. For every summer I could remember, my parents would take me to our hometown. When the asphalt highway gives way to gravel roads, and finally bumpy dirt paths, we would be back in rural Anhui and Jiangsu, where unassuming homes are scattered among canola fields and rice paddies.

When Mom was young, she would spend nights studying under the kerosene lamp, and wake up with a nose filled with soot. On rainy mornings, my father’s shoes would be caked with mud, and his walk to school on a near-empty stomach would become a trudge. Somehow they became the first college students in their village.

My parents were first-generation immigrants in the city of Shanghai, and Shanghainese take great pride in their refined vernacular. I never learned to speak Shanghainese as a kid. Instead, I spoke a mixture of rural dialect and Mandarin—raw and inelegant. I faced scrutiny when I answered teachers’ questions. I felt different, and took note that language was the key into a community.

When I came to Westtown, the shifting of context yet again highlighted the thickness in my tone, this time in English. My accent was gritty. But it was in the freshmen English course, TheOutsider in Literature—the very role I occupied both in literature and in this foreign land—when I realized my voice mattered. I wasn’t just encouraged to contribute to discussions but was expected to; yet, I stumbled, messily stringing words together to share my ideas. I was determined to speak with an authentic American accent.

Luckily, I’ve been surrounded by many authentic voices. At Westtown, we gather weekly in the Meeting House in purposeful silence, which is broken only when messages are shared. Through listening closely to the stories in our community, I’ve realized the authentic American accent is impossible to define, and the importance of our words lies far less in how we say them than in the meanings they hold.

I have come closer to understanding both the grit and sand in my accent, and the soot and mud in my family’s memory. At this place where my difference was valued, I have finally unpacked the gift my parents have left me. My accent really isn’t my accent after all. It is the mixture of every person I have ever talked to. I pick up small phrases and intonations from my friends and teachers, and they’ve merged.

In these fleeting moments we share, it is reassuring to know that I will be carrying bits and pieces of each of us—in my accent, my habits, and the way that I think.  Although these marks are sometimes confusing for me, and unexpected to strangers, they are my story.

Learn more about boarding school or kick-start your journey at Contact TABS.

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Students

7 Signs You’re Boarding School Material

Do You Have What It Takes?

You know what you’re capable of. So do we. Boarding school puts the focus on YOU so that you can discover just how far you can go. Are you Ready for More?

High school is around the corner, and you’re wondering what it will be like. You may be thinking about whether it will help you get into the college of your dreams, or allow you to learn about the things that really interest you.

There are a lot of unknowns about high school, but you’re sure of one thing—you have big plans for yourself, and you want to be in the right place. If you’ve ever considered a boarding school, take a look at these seven signs that you’re Ready for More.

 

1. You have big goals.

It’s no secret that boarding schools are a great way to build the resume, report card and character required for top tier colleges. With classes designed to prepare you for whatever you may want to do, and the staff for support, you’ll have advantages at every turn.

 

2. You’re passionate about something. Or everything!

You’ll find the best of the best at boarding school, and be able to grow in a supportive learning environment. From STEAM to “extra” extracurriculars, you can study everything from foraging and mountain climbing to musical theater and microeconomics.

“There you are, 11 years old and a total weirdo back home, and you get to spend eight weeks with a handful of other weirdos just as passionate, talented, and freakishly informed about a single art form as you are.” — Alexandra Silber, Playbill

3. You’re independent. Or would really like to be!

Boarding school gives you the chance to manage your own schedule. Sure, it may sound a little scary to be in charge of when you study, socialize and sleep, but you’re never far from a supportive mentor who will help you build smart habits that will follow you into adulthood.

“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, ’17

4. You love the outdoors.

Bringing education outdoors – in the country’s most breathtaking places – is one of the coolest things about boarding school. Imagine starting your day on the slopes, or finishing with a sunset hike. Now imagine that every day.

 

5. You’re curious about the world.

Satisfy your adventurous side while you kick-start your education. By attending boarding school away from home, you’ll be able to explore other parts of the country, and even the world, meeting people from, and in, other cultures.

6. You’re interested in other people.

Boarding school is like living with your best friends because, well, it is living with your best friends. Even better, you’re surrounded by people who are so beautifully different, but share the same passion and appreciation for learning.

“They won’t think the same things about religion, or about politics, or about a wide range of life contexts, but they will have excitement, curiosity and character in common.” — Peter Quinn, Headmaster, The Peddie School

7. You’re YOU.

Independent. Curious. Passionate. Interested and Interesting—YOU. Boarding school celebrates your “you-ness.”

Learn more about boarding school or kick-start your journey at Contact TABS.

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Students

What’s Boarding School Like IRL?

Photo courtesy of Tristin Sienkiewicz, Hawaii Preparatory Academy '17

What’s Boarding School Like IRL?

Here, you’ll experience more, do more and be more—because the experience of a lifetime is the everyday at boarding school. What are you waiting for?
So, you’re thinking about boarding school. Is it right for you? Sure, the exciting adventures, leading academic programs and independence sound great—but what is going away for school really like—in real life? See and hear it from actual students. The world is your classroom. Real learning doesn’t need to happen in a stuffy room. In fact, some of the best lessons are found high atop a mountain or rafting down a rapid or, you know, riding a wave.
Photo courtesy of: Tristin Sienkiewicz, Hawaii Preparatory Academy ’17

The experience of a lifetime is every day at boarding school. With campuses throughout the US and Canada, boarding schools provide a really great education in a really beautiful world.

Your day is your own. Why wait until college to have a say in how you spend your time? After all, nothing really prepares you for the future like practice. In boarding school, you can coordinate a schedule that best suits your academic, extracurricular and personal goals.

The Association of Boarding Schools conducted a study that showed boarding school students were 78% more likely to feel prepared for the independence, social aspect and time management needed in college than just 23% of their public school peers.

The best academics. Period. All of the important classes are still there, but the teachers are able to focus specifically on how you learn best. From cultivating your writing skills to solving complex equations, traditional academics are way more engaging than at regular and private-day high school. Plus, you’re surrounded by friends and students who motivate you to do your best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=Vwt2X4NOkuc

Not just a school—it’s your school. High school can be exciting and a little bit scary to think about. Boarding schools emphasize growth while offering the right amount of guidance for you to become the best student, athlete, scientist, researcher, rock star, friend…and human…you can be. You’re able to live on your own, but you don’t have to feel lonely.

“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.”

IRL, boarding school sets you up for the future you deserve. Learn more about boarding school or kickstart your journey at Contact TABS.

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Parents

What It Takes To Get Into The Best Colleges

Does Your Student Have What it Takes?

Preparation for college and beyond starts with innovative curricula, a personalized learning experience and real-world challenges. Ready For More?

You played classical music for them while they were in the womb. You read to them each night and let them read to you early, and often. You encouraged and motivated, edited and assured, and before you could blink, high school appeared on the horizon. And, just beyond that, college looms, foreboding and important.

While the future may be uncertain, you know one thing for sure, your children have the power to do big, great, amazing things—and they know it. A new study by Junior Achievement and Ernst & Young revealed that 91% of teens know what they want to do in the future or, at least, they think they do.

So, how do you set them up for success in education and in life?

More than a number

The first thing to do is recognize that getting into college isn’t just about a GPA and exemplary test scores. Your student will need to demonstrate a passion and the dedication to pursue that passion. Their resume might start in the classroom, but it needs to extend far beyond school walls and reflect a willingness to learn.

Well-rounded—and then some

The best way to position your child to both have the space to explore their passions and get a well-rounded education is to find a school that serves their goals without neglecting their educational foundation. North America’s boarding schools boast some of the best focused programs in the world. From athletics and the arts to science, technology and politics—it’s never too early to start honing professional skills.

“World-class academics, amazing teachers, and like-minded students set your child up for an incredible future in whatever area they want to pursue.”

The importance of independence

Beyond the endless opportunities that a boarding school education provides is a foundation that is rooted in self-motivation, regulation and independence. In fact, in The Association of Boarding Schools study, 78% of boarding students reported feeling prepared for the social, independence and time management rigors of college. Contrast that with just 23% of public school students and 36% of private-day students, and it’s an overwhelming competitive edge.

 

Parents know best

At the end of the day, nobody knows your child or what they need better than you do. A boarding school experience could be the boost they need to flourish into the student—and adult—that will do big, great, amazing things.

Explore boarding school or jumpstart their future at readyformore.com/connect.

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Parents

10 Myths About Boarding School Debunked

Myth Vs. Fact

More engaged. More empowered. More than ready to take on the world. Here’s the truth about boarding school.

Where and how your child learns can greatly impact their chances for success. A boarding school education can be a superior alternative when considering schools. Here, we’ve compiled the most common misperceptions about boarding school from parents. Browse through them to learn the truth and discover more about boarding school.

MYTH: Boarding schools are very rigid and formal, and my son/daughter will have to wear a uniform every day.

FACT: Each school has a unique campus look and feel, and level of formality. Not all schools require uniforms. Some schools maintain a level of formality because it’s a special tradition on campus. For instance, dining together for “family style” meals, where students serve their table of peers and faculty, just like they would at home. Visiting several school campuses will be critically important to get a glimpse of what campus life would look like and feel like for you and your child.

MYTH: Parents only send their kids to school because they have an unhappy home, or are punishing them.

FACT: Boarding school presents an alternative learning environment where happy, well-adjusted kids thrive. A loving home life is a wonderful springboard to boarding school, and allows each student to grow and learn in a new environment, becoming more independent and confident. Kids who are looking for more challenges academically, more diverse friends and more opportunities to try new sports or activities see boarding school as the opportunity of a lifetime.

MYTH: My child will get into an Ivy League university if they attend boarding school.

FACT: No school – private or otherwise – can guarantee that. While many boarding school graduates do attend Ivy League schools and other prestigious schools, there are no promises for Ivy League acceptance. What we can guarantee is that the character, independence and critical thinking skills that a boarding school education instills allow students to adjust more quickly and seamlessly to university life.

MYTH: Without parental supervision, boarding school students are more likely to get involved in drinking and drugs than kids who live at home.

FACT: Not according to research. In fact, 95 percent of boarding school students say that their social lives do not revolve around drugs and alcohol, compared to 82 percent of private day and public school students. Along with having ethics standards and codes of honor, your child will be surrounded by like-minded peers who care about education and being the best student/person they can be.

MYTH: There is little to no free time each day for students to relax and just hang out with their friends at boarding school.

FACT: Each school is unique, and while most weekdays are fairly structured, there is typically an hour or two of free time each evening. Some schools have Saturday morning classes. But there are many opportunities and events in dorms and classes as well for students to just be teenagers and relax among friends.

MYTH: Boarding schools that have “chapel” are forcing students to adopt a faith.

FACT: At most boarding schools, there are students from all over the world, and from many faiths. Time during chapel is a tradition at most boarding schools, but it is not necessarily religious in nature. Chapel is a class period during which faculty and students gather to talk about the week ahead, listen to guest speakers, present talks to the group, or be uplifted by programming that is intended to educate and inspire.

MYTH: Parents of boarding school students can’t be involved because they’re so far away.

FACT: Not true. Each school has different programs for parental involvement and interaction, but all schools recognize the critical role that parents play in their child’s development during their school years. There are typically many opportunities to visit campus and catch up with your child. While some schools do have policies against cell phone and social media usage, we find that those students quickly adapt to a new schedule full of interesting activities and rarely miss their devices.

MYTH: In our 21st-century world of technology, modern classrooms and real-world learning, boarding schools can’t provide anything that the local high school can’t.

FACT: Along with having all-day access to the latest technology, boarding school students receive more access to their teachers (who spend every day with your child, and often represent their dorm family) and are afforded more hands-on, real-world learning opportunities, like mission trips abroad to provide water to communities, composing the score for the school musical, or chopping wood to heat living quarters.

MYTH: Boarding school students have no one advocating for them, or helping them resolve issues when they are so far away from their parents.

FACT: Actually, most schools have a full-time school counselor or psychologist on campus to meet the needs of all students on a confidential basis. Additionally, schools offer a wide network of other resources ranging from faculty leadership, student advisers, dorm parent, peer-led honor councils and off-site counselors who are willing and able to help a student in need, anytime, regardless of topic.

MYTH: Boarding school is one big party that doesn’t really prepare kids for the future.

FACT: Our research shows that boarding school alumni succeed at a higher rate than their public- or private-school peers. In addition, the resourcefulness and self-confidence that boarding school students build is directly tied to their ability to learn independent living skills and lead happier, more productive lives.

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Students

5 Advantages of #BoardingSchoolLife

Ready For More from Your Education?

From living on campus with best friends to going kayaking with classmates, a boarding school education is an adventure like no other.

1. Find Your Path and Passion

Gone are the days of defining yourself by a single activity. Here, you’re encouraged to try everything. From arts to athletics to off-campus explorations, you’ll have countless opportunities to have fun with your classmates, pursue your passions and discover new ones. And when you have everything right on campus, you’re only limited by your imagination!

 

2. More Than a Number

Unlike traditional schools, classes at boarding school are focused, fun and interactive. You’ll get to discuss topics in-depth, share your point of view and learn from one another in an engaging class setting. World-class curricula, the best teachers in the biz and like-minded students set you up for an incredible future in whatever area you want to pursue. Plus, you’ll get the personal attention you need for your academics to flourish.

 

3. Lovin’ that #CampusLife

Boarding school campuses rival the best college campuses. Whether you’re studying under a tree, riding your bike to class or taking an impromptu mountain hike, life on campus is both inspiring and fun. Plus, having dining halls, not cafeterias, is like having your favorite restaurant right at school! Not only do you get to eat with your best friends and teachers in a cool dining hall, all of your meals are prepared by professional chefs.

 

4. Spread those Wings

The independence to live how you like and the support to be successful—that’s what you can expect from the amazing students and teachers surrounding you at boarding school. Enjoy weeknight hangs and weekend outings with your besties and never worry about being home by curfew! You’ll be an integral part of your community, giving you an opportunity to lead and to follow.

 

5. Make an Impact

All boarding school students participate in community service. Whether it’s helping your local community, or traveling around the world to help others, you’ll get amazing opportunities to give back and grow as a person.

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

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Applications

Where You Should Be in the Application Process by Mid-December

Stay On Track

Each school has its own application process and financial aid deadlines. Stay organized with our checklist.
The traditional application deadline is about a month away. Again, know your admission application and financial aid application deadlines. Deadlines could be anywhere from January 10, January 15, February 1, or rolling admission. Each school has its own admission and financial aid application deadlines. Make sure you know them. Have them in writing, or, in a spreadsheet.
  • Make sure you’ve narrowed your school list to a reasonable number.
  • Each school should be a good fit for your student – a great place for your child to grow and learn.
  • If you require a substantial financial aid package to make attendance possible, make sure your student is in the stronger end of the school’s applicant pool.
  • Make sure you’re keeping track of what each school requires for a complete application – a completed application, transcripts, teacher recommendations, writing samples/essays, parent essay, portfolio, etc.
  • Update and organize your files. Know what you’ve submitted to each school and what you still need to finish. Many schools provide a checklist as part of their application material. These are really helpful tools, and following these guides can give a picture of exactly what you need to do for each school. If your school doesn’t provide an admission application check sheet, make one.
  • Take the SSAT if you still need to, or a second test if it might improve your score. You may need to take a Flex SSAT administration if you’ve waited until now to take the exam.
  • Make sure that you know how your school wants application pieces submitted – and by what dates. Schools may accept some pieces of your application at a later date.
  • Make sure that your recommending teachers have their directions and/or forms in hand, and that they know how to submit them to your schools. Ask them if they have any questions, or need anything from you.
  • Complete and submit your applications ahead of the deadlines.
  • If you have any questions, this is a great time to call the admission officer working with you and ask.
  • Talk with private school friends at home on break, especially if you have friends or family members attending any of your potential schools. This is a great way to get a feel for schools – for both students and parents.
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Applications

​Applying to Private Schools After The Deadline

Past The Deadline? It May Not Be Too Late

When your school plan changes, you need to know what’s available. Consider that many boarding schools will still have room even past the posted application deadline.

As a family, choosing an independent school for the coming fall may not have been in your plans when the school year began, but circumstances change and needs change with them. This time of year, you may be thinking about a school change.

 

While it is true that the most selective schools are full and have only waiting lists by the spring time, many good schools will have openings.

 

Moving, family dynamics, a need for a more personal , challenging or structured academic environment can lead to considering a boarding or independent day school for the coming fall.

If you are considering a late spring-early summer school change, relax. The first thing to keep in mind is that you will have options. You are not alone, nor the first to work through this process. While it is true that the most selective schools are full and have only waiting lists by the spring time, many good schools have openings, and as a result, they offer rolling admission programs throughout the summer.

Schools with Available Spaces

If you’ve already checked our School Finder list and can’t find schools with openings beyond the typical deadlines, SSATB (Secondary School Admission Test Board) publishes a list of private schools that have post-deadline openings. Visit www.ssat.org/member-search and look for Schools Currently Considering Applicants (SCCA) to find links to schools with openings.

Financial Aid Realities for the Late Applicant
Before embarking on the late application process, families need to know a blunt fact. At almost every school, financial aid is not available to late applicants. Financial aid deadlines are firm and aid was awarded earlier in the school year. If you need aid, check with each school you are interested in prior to completing an admission application.

How to Begin the Search?
How does a family arriving late to the admission process approach a late spring or summer application?

Process is key.

As we explain, the usual and systematic approach for the late applicant-albeit with compressed and accelerated steps -works best. Before beginning the application process, ask yourself these questions:

  1. Can we, as a family, work through this process successfully and comfortably on our own?
  2. Can we reasonably complete each step and will we have enough information to make good decisions?
  3. Are we comfortable with the process from beginning to end?

Families familiar with independent schools may answer “yes” to all of these preliminary questions.

Short Notice Application Resources
However, even for a family familiar with private schools, a compressed admission time frame presents challenges.
Do we have time to learn about each school?
Can we build a complete picture of our child quickly?
How can we focus on schools that will be appropriate places for our child?
We don’t have time to waste.

Begin by reading Mastering the Private School Admissions Process, which provides a reference backbone for the application process.

Admission Testing
Admission tests will be a required part of any admission application. You will need to check with each admission office as to which test the school requires and when they want you to take the required exam(s).

The SSAT (Secondary Schools Admission Test) and the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) are the two primary entrance exams. Each test’s respective web site provides the most up-to-date information regarding testing dates and fees. Access them here:

SSAT: https://ssat.org/
ISEE: https://www.erblearn.org/parents/admissions-testing-isee

Keep in mind that in a pinch, the testing companies may offer non-standard test administration – meaning that you can take the test privately, on short notice, to facilitate a compressed or fast moving admission timeline. Preparation for your test is key. Each test offers preparation materials for sale on their web sites. By all means, purchase a test prep guide to practice the exams.

Additionally, many reputable private testing and tutoring services offer classes and/or curricula designed to prepare students and improve their test scores. Time permitting, these services are worth exploring.

Schools for students with learning differences or special needs may require additional educational testing such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and or the Woodcock Johnson Test for Cognitive Abilities (WJIII). In these situations, the school’s Admission Office will make the requirement clear. However, as a family, you can be preemptive and ask about the testing requirements early in the process.

Consider an Educational Consultant
Families new to the independent school world, as well as those not completely comfortable with their ability to assess their child, should consider working with an educational consultant. A professional educational consultant can help a family with all phases of student assessment and school planning. Consultant services are not inexpensive, but they can prove crucial when time is of the essence.

We recommend starting your consultant search by visiting our Educational Consultant partners.

Working Through a Compressed Application Period
Whether working independently or with an educational consultant, using our admission process framework can help you systematically address each step in the application process.

The following is a compressed version of our Admission Timeline:

1. Know your child and your family. Schools may ask about your late arrival to the admission cycle. Be honest if asked.
2. Have student information such as grades, test scores and report cards ready for submission.
3. Build a profile of your child. In what type of school might your child have the greatest chance of success? What types of schools and activities interest your son or daughter?
4. Consider an academic summer program or another type of growth program to strengthen candidacy and to demonstrate seriousness. A summer boarding experience can introduce and prepare a student for school in the fall.
5. Contact schools that look like good fits. Ask the admission officers about “school fits” and their opinions in relation to your child’s academic and personal profile. If not their school, can the office make any suggestions?
6. Contact recommendation authors (teachers, school administrators, etc.) Ask each to thoughtfully complete a recommendation. Prepare transcript requests.
7. Schedule campus visits and interviews.
8. Complete applications and essays. Submit the applications. Follow submitted applications with telephone calls to confirm that each school has all required information.

Even though a compressed time frame accelerates events and decisions, do not shortchange your analysis and information. Examine each step carefully and move forward with deliberation.

Through all of the steps, use admission officers, teachers, administrators and if using one, your educational consultant as resources. These professionals can help you make good decisions you move through the process.

Pitfalls – Issues and Actions That Can Jeopardize Your Child’s Admission Process

Dismissal from the previous school – admission officers will want to know why. In this case, a parent should be ready to present a compelling, honest story and be prepared for the new school to call the previous school for their perspective on what occurred.

A student and family shopping for a better offer – admission officers and schools do not look kindly at a family currently enrolled in one school but shopping for another. If in this position, make sure that you can explain your situation and reasons for looking elsewhere.
Admissions directors and their schools make a commitment to each family and student accepted. They expect and deserve a similar commitment from each family and student.

Overreaching – insisting on applying to the most popular, most selective schools so late in the process is a fool’s game. Only the most supremely, multi-talented students should even endeavor into this area. And, even then, the probability of a best-fit, positive outcome is low.

Most importantly, slowing down your admission process with the folly of an unrealistic application could cause you to lose a great opportunity at another school.

Best School Fit
Keep in mind that, as a parent, you’re not looking for the ‘best’ school. You’re looking for the school that best fits your child – the school that can meet your son or daughter in terms of who he/she is and help him/her grow the furthest and fastest.

Success results from programs that truly fit a student’s individual interests and abilities and thereby encourage best effort to be put forward.

Categories
Applications

​Applying Late to Boarding School

Many Schools May Still Have Openings

If you’re researching boarding schools well after the application deadline, don’t stress. Many wonderful options may still be available.

Applying late to boarding school can be a stressful endeavor. Our advice – relax, breathe and create a plan. Even with uncertainty about space availability, you quite possibly may have several options. While it is true that the most selective schools will be full and have only waiting lists by spring time, many good schools will still have openings.

Explore our School Finder Tool to learn about all the different boarding schools there are. Once you’ve combed through our website and visited each school profile, we can point you to one more resource to help you narrow your search, especially if time is tight.

SSAT is the Secondary School Admissions Test provided by the Enrollment Management Association. They update their Open Seat List of schools dynamically, so be sure to check it out regularly to see which schools have openings this fall, or the following winter/spring semester. This feature is found within their school search tool in the left hand column.