When our kids applied to east coast prep schools while living on the west coast, we didn’t visit any schools until our kids were admitted. The same held true for many colleges our kids applied to. We simply didn’t think it made sense for our family for 2 reasons. First, it seemed like a ton of time and expense and second we didn’t see the value in visiting schools our kids might not gain acceptance to. It felt like when you look at houses or cars and look above your price range- easy to fall in love and be diasapointed when it wasn’t an option. Of course we did visit some colleges when it was convenient for us, but our son is currently attending a college that he never saw until revisit day.
I’d add that while you will have more flexibility in scheduling the trips in the fall (most schools do only 2-3 re-visit days for admitted students), schools generally provide you with more information and more “access” as an admitted student than as a prospective applicant. This is not due to anything nefarious, but simply to numbers. At the re-visit, you can look at fit with not only the students who are there but also the ones who will be your classmates. I know at our school, kids at re-visits can practice with spring sports teams if they play a spring sport, play their instruments with the orchestra, and otherwise “try on” their own day as a student. (Of course, they also attended classes and slept in the dorms.) Even on a highly personalized tour in the fall, they’re more likely to be shown the athletic facilities and music facilities if those things are of interest, but not invited to participate. And also, as a parent, with admission behind you, you’re in a better position to ask those questions that you might feel shy about as an applicant if you feel that they might put the school on the defensive.
Excellent points, @gardenstategal … Thank you
I don’t think interviewing on campus will make or break the admissions decisions. We could narrow down the list of schools from afar based on a particular sport/programs. Then we ‘stalked’ the schools online- have them send their catalogs/DVDs now. Go to schools parent or admissions Facebook pages, Twitter, even utube. You will be surprised what you can find out @ academics, culture, activities, what they do for fun! Look for your schools on this cc board- there are some amazing cc parents/students. These ‘been there/seen that’ warriors really helped our family throughout the process. I think the key is to show a lot of interest in the school and be able to answer ‘why boarding school’. You don’t need a campus visit for that. Earlier someone mentioned going to a local event. Yes! Some schools will even have an open house at a current students home. Once on their radar schools send invites. My kids favorite AO was one met off campus
Great point… From afar, she has already decided she would prefer a school with less than 600 kids. That narrows the field somewhat. She also has asked which schools provide more structure for 9th graders to help them as they learn better time management skills. That should reduce the # of possibilities, too…
Fwiw in our search Groton, Mercersburg, St Andrews (de), Cate, Thacher and Episcopal High School all had regulated study hall for underclassmen and were under 600
Thank you, @copperboom !!!
@copperboom … what about SPS? Any special supports or structure for incoming 9th graders?
Well, we will see in the Fall
Sorry I wrote more and it just disappeared! Poof…
SPS is known for “Freedom with Responsibility”. Maybe a current parent can comment. I can tell you what our AO said during our interview: (paraphrasing)
He and his family live in a boys dorm. The boys must check in at their dorm by a certain time by form. There are no set study halls or bedtimes. The idea is for the students to learn what works best for them. To allow them to develope time management and good judgement. However, teenagers will make mistakes. For example, boys dorms can have problems with video gaming. The first night he walks by a group of young men playing video games on a school night he will ask them ‘Hey, have you all done your homework?’ When later on, a fellow teacher talks to him about one of those boys who is struggling in his class, the AO will seek the studen out. AO will remind boy that learning not gaming is why they are all at SPS. The third time the AO walks by the boy gaming during study hours or late into the night he will unplug the Play Station and put it in his personal residence. The play station can be “earned back” and the student might be required to attend a supervised study hall until his grades improve.
My husband listened to the AO and then laughed,’ You’re a parent. She has only two of us now, at SPS she will have a whole set!" I’m not sure how next year will go. Realistically, I know there will be an adjustment and that our daughter will stumble. But we have complete faith in her and with the help of the staff/ older students she will be able to find her way. DD has worked extremely hard to get to SPS. St Pauls is an amazing opportunity that she can not mirror here at home- she calls SPS a gift. SPS might not have the structure that other BS have - however, I believe that there is a network in place. DD might THINK she’s free to do what she wants, but honestly, I think the structure is just a little more covert.
I think @copperboom sums up the SPS approach pretty well. Students do have more freedom and less structure than many BSs but its not totally hands off and definitely not sink or swim. A parent or an advisor can put a student into study hall at any time they choose. If a student shows that they can’t get their work done efficiently during evening hours, they will be placed into study hall.
Thanks doschicos! Glad to know we aren’t completely blind going into the SPS Unknown…