<p>Hi All ~ Brand new to this site. Not even sure where to post, but this section seemed appropriate. I have a daughter currently enrolled in 10th grade at a California public high school. Her father and I are divorced, and every summer for the past three years she has traveled to Maine to visit her aunt and uncle for one week each summer. During these visits, she became good friends with a nice circle of what we both call
her "east coast friends." . This summer she was out in Maine for six weeks. Upon returning home she told me that she absolutely had to go to boarding school. That boarding school was the only way she could "achieve her dream of attending a college like Dartmouth or Georgetown." School started back on 8/14 and she is now telling me the teachers are horrible, the kids at her school don't want to learn, and that she HAS to apply to boarding school in order to succeed.</p>
<p>My daughter attended a private school K-8 and chose to go to this public school where almost all of her private school classmates were going. She is a great student and athlete. 9th grade year in high school was very normal. She made new friends, did amazing with her grades and played a varsity sport. But after the extended stay in Maine with a group of kids that all attend boarding school, she has come back a changed kid. Her dreams can only be achieved if she attends a boarding school on the east coast. Her uncle is a graduate of this boarding school and he spoke with her about it, even emailing her links to various schools on the east coast and offering to speak to both her dad and I about the subject.</p>
<p>I am hesitant to act on her request, as I still want to be an integral part in her daily life for the next 2-3 years. In addition I feel that if her end goal is to simply guarantee entry into a prestigious college, that in and of itself is not a good enough reason to want to move across the country for 11th and 12th grades. Can anyone please offer some insight and guidance? I am struggling with this one. I would be so very thankful for any input. </p>
<p>Welcome to the CC BS sub forum Bluegoldgirl.</p>
<p>I am burning the midnight oil on some client work, but needed a break and thought I’d comment on your post.</p>
<p>“if her end goal is to simply guarantee entry into a prestigious college, that in and of itself is not a good enough reason”</p>
<p>I agree 1000% with this statement. I feel that many people new to the BS scene think that going to one (or perhaps a specific one) is a guaranteed key to unlocking an Ivy/super selective college admit. You only need to look at the college matriculation info for even one of the most prestigious, most rigorous, most selective schools to see that while a much higher percentage of the senior class attends Ivies than your average LPS (local public school), the majority attend less prestigious (though sometimes just as selective), “normal” colleges.</p>
<p>I have always been of the opinion that a kid who is a good candidate for Ivies/HYP+M/S would be a good candidate regardless of the high school they attend. I just looked at the MIT site, and 69% of their frosh class are from PUBLIC high schools…and only 21% from independent or religious schools (the balance are internationals and home schoolers). So that stat alone should say to your daughter…look, the majority of kids going to these “dream” schools are from public school.</p>
<p>That said, as the parent of two kids at BS, I believe in the value of a BS education above and beyond college matric data. I also believe that securing an 11th grade slot is going to be tough at most of the BSs mentioned with any frequency on this site. If your daughter is an outstanding athlete (read “impact player”) with good grades, ECs, and test scores…then perhaps her odds are better than average if you can find a school that needs someone in the position she plays.</p>
<p>There are a few parents on the forum with kids who started as upper classmen, so I would wait to see if they chime in on the merits of going to BS for only 2 years.</p>
<p>To add to my response on the other thread, if your daughter likes schools like “Dartmouth and Georgetown,” that at least gives you a start on a college list. Next year, no matter where she is, you should consider visiting such colleges as Colby, Bowdoin, Williams, the University of Vermont and Middlebury.</p>
<p>You also have to consider your DD’s strong desire to go to boarding school. she clearly has put some thought into this. Why not allow her to apply, take a look at the schools and see what they have to offer? The schools themselves are quite different and each has its own feel.</p>
<p>Going to a boarding school will definitely not guarantee admission to Dartmouth or Georgetown, but if she is motivated and does well, the track record that many of these boarding schools have at elite colleges is pretty impressive.</p>
<p>My D2 started BS a year ago as a junior, just started senior year. She’s at what we call a “hidden gem” school–rather than one of the more well known schools. Our local public school is highly rated and has great academics but was a lousy social fit. She wanted to move from an environment where people do work for the sake of grades to one in which people do work for the sake of learning. For her it has been wonderful–she has excelled academically in challenging AP and IB classes, socially is much happier. But be aware that kids don’t always make the academic transition to BS as easily, and for many their grades may drop. And starting junior year means you need to hit the ground running. Frankly, her chance of admission to a highly competitive college may drop by going to one of the highly selective boarding schools–she’d be surrounded by similar academically talented kids. By no means would it guarantee admission.</p>
<p>There are many fewer spots in the later years so admission is competitive. You haven’t mentioned finances, would she be full-pay or need financial aid?</p>
<p>A successful 10th grader playing varsity with excellent grades may be better off remaining in public school and graduating top of their class if the goal is a highly selective college. Start by visiting Dartmouth and Georgetown this year. </p>
<p>However, if the goal is more academic challenge, an encompassing community and peers from many different locations, boarding school is a reasonable option. Repeating 10th grade would most likely be the smartest choice, because jumping in to a boarding school for junior year gives one little time to adapt before big stakes grades and tests happen, and there are precious few new students admitted to 11th grade. Grades may take a big hit too, depending on strength of current school. </p>
<p>Sgopal2 - I understand she has a strong desire. But I feel that desire is stoked by summertime friendships with kids she sees one time a year, and that live lives very different than ours out here on the West Coast. My daughter is easily influenced…much more a follower than a leader (outside of the soccer field). Interstingly enough, one of her closest summer friends just got accepted to Groton. Now my daugher comes home from vacation and says the only way to succeed academically is to attend a board school - and she specifically mentioned Groton </p>
<p>She’s wrong about succeeding. My D is a case in point. She’s now a Harvard freshie, but she went through a terrible public school system in rural Utah. She was able to supplement her curriculum by taking classes at the local community college, but she succeeded because she was bright and driven and stood out from the crowd.</p>
<p>Getting into college is not a good reason to go to boarding school, but boarding school is a wonderful, growing experience for a certain type of kid. If possible, I’d suggest you pick a handful of schools and go out and visit with her, while letting her know that you aren’t committing to anything. You may be surprised at what you experience. We went to a parent open house when my son was in 8th grade and all came away thinking how much better boarding school would fit his needs and personalities than anything near our home. And it has - it has truly made him a better, more responsible, harder working, more thoughtful, and more independent person. His day to day interactions and relationships with teachers, coaches, and other mentors has matured him in a way that being at home would not. So, I’d say you should keep an open mind, but you both need to be on board (no pun intended) if she were to go. </p>
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