<p>Hi :)
I'm thinking about applying for boarding school next year. I'm a freshman now, and am home schooled. I have tried public school, Christian private school, and home schooling. So far, I think the private school was the best. However, when my parents got a divorce, my dad made things ugly and wouldn't pay for private school anymore, and my mom doesn't make enough money. I know that most top schools offer a lot of financial aid so that is important to me, because my mom can't pay for it and my dad won't. So that is one of the things that I'm looking for in a school.
Another thing that is big for me is environment. I'm really insecure and have social anxiety. I read that boarding school could help that, but my mom isn't sure. Last year, it was so bad that some days I couldn't even get out of bed and missed almost a third of the year. I think I'm doing better now but I'm also home schooled so honestly, I wouldn't know! I need a comforting, small environment with really nice, and supportive teachers and peers. If the school is too formal, it would make me uncomfortable.
I'm not a sporty person. Like AT ALL. I have seen a lot of schools that are based on outdoor stuff, and that's really not my strong suit. I have awful asthma, and it would really suck to almost die and get sent home the first week.
If a school has a lot of rooms with bathrooms attached to them, PLEASE TELL ME. I have always had a bathroom and a walk in closet in my bedroom, and well I'm willing to give up my closet space, I really can't give up my private bathroom. I don't mind sharing a room at all with one other person, but more than one and I might get annoyed. Also, do you think that any school would even consider giving a private bathroom to a first year student?
Some things that I like are photography, marine biology sounds fun, I would love to learn how to ride a horse, baking, I would love to learn to play the guitar or piano, and I would love to be in a choir or have voice lessons. (but I won't preform unless it's with a big group so preforming arts schools won't be good) So any school that has a focus on any of those would be great!
I live on the west coast right now, and my mom would prefer me to be in like Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, etc... But I wouldn't mind going a little bit farther, as long as I don't think I would freak out. I was looking at Andover and it looks like a great school, it just seems so far away. I mean, I'm 14 years old! 3000 miles is a long way to go for me. It seems though like all the great boarding schools are on the east coast and in Switzerland.
One other school I was looking at was Ackworth academy in England. Is that a good school? I know that England is way more than 3000 miles away, but I really want to study abroad for a semester in high school anyway, so I don't know if it would be that big of a deal.
Please tell me some schools that might be good. I have no idea what I'm looking for or what I want right now.
Thank you so much.
I'm sorry this was so long! :-@ </p>
<p>You make me think of Concord Academy… I was just waitlisted, but check it out. Good luck!</p>
<p>Hey, I go to Concord Academy and I am a boarder there as well. I can answer some of your concerns:
Financial Aid: I’m currently on full aid and I know some kids are on aid. I think about 23 percent of kids are on aid here. I would say Concord is average in terms of FA
Environment: The reason a lot of kids choose to come here is the environment. The houses were the most comfortable out of all the ones I visited and all the girls are really tight with their house (based on a guys perspective). The guys are really playful with each other to say the least and the rooms are really homey. Concord really instills common trust which means that we respect others people stuff and it just makes it that much friendlier. My teachers are actually so amazing and we have a ton of different classes. Our school is only 320 kids and 150 boarding so it is a small community. Trust me, you’ll have a ton of friends in the house before the first week of school. That’s one of the advantages of being a boarder over a day student where day students don’t really know eahc other initially but boarders are around each other all the time. Our school isn’t the greatest at sports and we do have sports requirements but you can replace it with theatre, community service, etc.
Rooming: Most new boarders are paired with a roommate of two at the beginning of the year and some triples do have private bathrooms. We have like closets but their nothing fancy lol. We are known as an art school. Our photo program is amazing along with all our other arts. Don’t worry about having to do that stuff, I’m strictly a sports guy but you do have course requirements. All the intro courses are great too so you don’t have to be serious about art at all. Concord Academy is in Massachusetts as well as a lot of the schools mentioned in the forums. To be quite honest, I feel like you would fit in great here. </p>
<p>As for your interest in marine biology, Tabor has a really good program but I think there is some sort of dress code there. I would help you recommend more schools based on other stuff you do as well. I think it’s a great community and I hope you apply this/next year. </p>
<p>I commend you for wanting to move outside of your comfort zone, but based on your initial post, I am concerned because while you are frank about your challenges, you might not realize just how difficult the adjustment to a prep school might be for you. Yes, the environment is supportive, more so at some schools than others. But for someone with extreme social anxiety, it could be very, very difficult. While these schools foster independence and self confidence, they expect students to already have a bit of those attributes when they arrive. They are supportive, but not there to hold students’ hands at every turn. Academic environment can be competitive and certainly intense at some schools. The fact that you have struggled so and were unable to get out of bed and attend class is concerning. My heart goes out to you. I encourage you to work through those difficulties and apply to prep school when you are on firmer ground. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, there is another problem with your situation: you say your dad won’t pay any of the tuition so you need FA. Schools look at the income of both parents, and expect them both to contribute. They won’t give you financial aid if your dad has a high income and can afford the tuition.</p>
<p>Christchurch School (an Episcopal school) in Virgina is a “hidden gem” that I really liked. They’re on the Rappahannock River and are into a lot of marine biology stuff. They try to incorporate “the river” into almost everything they do, and are into a hands on approach in the classroom. They have a band and a chorus; it’s not a highly developed arts program but there’s something. I’m pretty sure they offer vocal and instrument lessons. It’s a small school and seems really close knit. The school had a laid back feel to it and the teachers all seemed really involved and supportive. They have a learning disabilities program (it’s like help for kids with ADD, ADHD, etc,) which I thought was nice because it extends the “everyone’s accepting of one another” thing. As far as the dorms, there’s a bathroom or two on each hallway. The good news, however, is (I’m assuming you’re a girl,) their girls boarding program just started in the 2012-2013 school year. There’s only about 30 girl boarders currently (I think they’re spread out on two hallways but I’m not positive) so you wouldn’t be sharing a bathroom with like 50 other girls. They’ve had girl day students for a couple decades, so there’s still a fair amount of girls that attend.</p>
<p>Being from California would be an advantage, as a large amount of their boarders come from other parts of Virginia or are international students (most from China) and you would add to their diversity. They’re generous with their financial aid and they told us that they are “need blind.” Their admissions are also rolling, so you could still apply for your sophomore year (2014-2015 school year.) It’s a lot harder to get into some schools for junior year. The acceptance rate is around 60%, so it’s not insanely competitive like schools in New England like Andover. Look them up on Boarding School Review or their website. It should be <a href=“http://www.christchurchschool.org”>www.christchurchschool.org</a> .</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>While schools expect both parents to contribute even if divorced, some schools will consider the income from only the custodial parent if the other parent has no contact with the child (not sure if this is the case for you). Concord is one of these schools; you can see more details about this in the financial aid FAQ.</p>
<p>Concord does seem to have a lot of what you’re looking for; the students are very supportive of each other. It also has an excellent counseling program. It doesn’t have rolling admissions, so you’d be looking at applying for the year after next. Admissions as a junior is extremely difficult (last year they had 49 applications for 2 junior spots); a possible alternative would be to apply as a repeat sophomore.</p>
<p>I would recommend Concord Academy as many already have,</p>