Hello, I’m thinking about applying to some of the prestigious boarding schools in America. For instance, Hotchkiss, Loomis Chaffee, Choate Rosemary, St.Paul’s, Deerfield Academy, Groton. I’m really wondering what life is like at these boarding schools. Are the academics rigorous? Are the classrooms big? Is the food good? Do the teachers really care about you?
It would be great if anyone who went to these schools would give me a taste. Thank you.
Try boarding school review website. These schools admit less than 20% of applicants. And check around on these boards.
@2prepMom do you know and boarding school review websites? I’ve read most of the threads on CC.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.
I don’t attend a BS, but I applied to five of your schools, and they are all amazing.
If you really want insight, I would suggest reading through these boards and using the search tool. Many people have asked these questions before you. For starters, there are multiple Q and A threads for many of your schools. It would do you good to read through those threads. Also, do some research on your own. There is a ton of information on all of your schools’ websites. We cannot do the work for you.
If you want opinions from a student/parent, you can reach out to them via PM. There is a list of parents in the Parents section. There are also many current students that will be happy to answer your questions.
But really, the answers are all Yes to your questions. And if you’re thinking about applying, you should know the answers to those questions by now.
2prepmom means this site http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/
All these schools admit less than 15% of applicants. For international students, especially for Hong Kong, China, S. Korea where hundreds of students from each country apply to each school, the acceptance rate can be as low as 5%.
Here is a useful read but for an American student –
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-parents/1174214-one-family%C2%92s-bs-search-and-application-process-%C2%97-start-to-finish-p1.html
Never to early to consider “casting wider net,” that is to consider less selective, wonderful schools –
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/12527527/#Comment_12527527
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1687542-identifying-hidden-gem-schools-by-the-numbers-and-considerations-for-admissions-after-9th-grade.html
The Admissions Officers travel all over the world to market their schools. Look for Boarding School Fairs in your area and attend it to learn more about application process and talk to past students.
@gkim931 You’ve read most of the threads here and found little insight? I think that’s surprising. I say go with mathman’s advice,
@gkim931 Hi! Current boarding school junior here. Although I don’t attend any of the schools you mentioned, I do go to an amazing (in my opinion) all-girls boarding school, Emma Willard School, and can answer some of your general questions. Yes, the academics are rigorous, especially for juniors. I cannot remember the last night I had less than 4-5 hours of homework as a third-year. However, you are eased into it, and it doesn’t start at this level immediately. The classrooms at Emma are pretty small (my biggest class: AP Bio, with 16 students; my smallest: AP Latin with 6 students) and the food is a significant step up from that of my public school. And, YES the teachers love their students!!! They treat us with such great care and respect. I really couldn’t have asked for a better environment. They will give you whatever extra help you need, and go above and beyond that.
Thank you so much for the great insight! @amelia1987
+1 on Post #5 above.
“I’ve read most of the threads on CC”…apologies for being snarky, but if you had truly done this, I’m guessing you wouldn’t have felt the need to create this thread. The forum rewards people who do their homework vs. starting “tell me everything I need to know” type threads.
Bear in mind that when my older daughter was going through the process (our family’s first time through), I DID read every post on the SPS and SAS threads to date at that point. So I’ve been there, done that.
Oh yeah, and +1 on mathman’s Post #3 and payn4ward’s Post #4 above, too.