<p>Hello. I'm interested in applying to boarding school or college prep. I'm currently debating whether to go to school in the US or in Europe.</p>
<p>For the US schools, I'm interested in Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, St. Paul's and Dwight. </p>
<p>For Europe, I'm choosing over Le Rosey, TASIS, Giggleswick and Marlborough.</p>
<p>Any help, suggestions, and comments?</p>
<p>Well, the best advice I can give you is to go to Andover if you get in. </p>
<p>Hahaha just kidding (kind of). Make sure to spend a lot of time on your applications, and make sure everything you write down makes the admissions officers think: wow I want this kid at my school. So that means brag! Tell them about yourself, don't be afraid to hide your achievements. </p>
<p>Also, don't sleep on that essay they give you, that might be the most important part of the process (fabulous grades and test scores won't get you in everywhere, but a fabulous essay might!). </p>
<p>P.S. What about Eaton? I hear it's wonderful.</p>
<p>Which TASIS?</p>
<p>Haha, I'm leaning into Andover actually. From what I've heard, it's academically challenging and I like that.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! I have no problem with bragging and being a show-off so that ought to be easy. Essays, yeah I'm not too brilliant at them but I'll have to try my best, don't I?</p>
<p>As for Eton, I'd LOVE to go there as it's a brilliant school but it's unfortunately for boys only.</p>
<p>TASIS in Switzerland.</p>
<p>Oh cool. That's an awesome school. I have some friends who go to that one and we play sports against the one in England.</p>
<p>Do you go to any of the TASIS schools?</p>
<p>No I just go to a regular international school. When I first moved here I looked at TASIS and a couple other Swiss schools because I was really unhappy. But in the end I chose to stay here. I didn't really like TASIS.</p>
<p>Oh ok. How come you didn't like TASIS? It might be of help to me :)</p>
<p>I visited two TASIS, the one in Switzerland and the one in England. I saw a couple classes and the campus. I just didn't like the feeling I got when I was there and hanging out with the students. It's a great school I just didn't see myself enjoying it there at the time. I think the main reasons I didn't like it were because I wasn't ready to go away from home.</p>
<p>Eton is really overrated and is currently riding on the strength of it's name, however, getting to wear white tie with tails everyday is kind of sweet. There are serious drug and alcohol problems there. Harrow is much better.</p>
<p>Um, just that they're all like, waaay different.</p>
<p>For the US schools, Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, and SPS are similar enough in terms of the NE prep school experience. Never heard of Dwight.</p>
<p>But the European schools are in a different class entirely. Everything in terms of atmosphere to school rules to academic focus is more... European.</p>
<p>So I guess my only advice is you should do some research so you won't have any surprises once you end up there.</p>
<p>That's because Dwight is in NYC, I don't understand why you're considering Dwight with all these other great boardign schools like SPS, Exeter, Andover, Groton, DA, Hottie etc. I've heard Dwight isn't very good, hence the acronym Dumb White Idiots Getting High Together.</p>
<p>That's funny about Dwight. Love the acronym.</p>
<p>Actually, I really want to study in Europe just because it'll be really different, but I think I'll get a major culture shock once I get there. </p>
<p>Anyway, do you think the academic program is better in the US or in Europe?</p>
<p>I can tell you the academic programs are very different, teaching has a different philosophy. If you go to England you do a completely different program, depending on the school. If you go to main land Europe you might have the choice of IB or a version of the local curriculum. </p>
<p>Let me warn you there will be a huge culture shock if you go to main land Europe, not so much for England. A lot of Americans visit Europe and think its not so different and that they can handle it. It is very different, coming from an American who has lived here for many years. The people you run into school are very different, and depending where you go not so pro-American. The social situations are very different, in many places there are nationality cliques or divisions based on money and power.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm a bit intimidated actually. Especially if I do go to Switzerland.. with all the sons and daughters of world leaders studying in Le Rosey.</p>
<p>BTW, thanks for all your help.</p>
<p>No problem. I'm assuming you are American. If you do choose to go to Switzerland, you should go for an extended visit, stay at the school for a couple days and figure out if you would be comfortable. At all the top schools of Europe you will run into people who intimidate you. Even at just regular international school you run into diplomats and royalty. When you visit you should be able to figure out if you would fit in and enjoy yourself. There's no point in going to a school you hate.</p>
<p>if ur looking at those schools in the US- just remember, the students are smart, their parents have money, and they KNOW it. the air of competition is intense. . of the schools ur looking at. i looked at and applied to st. pauls and deerfield. i applied to 4 others, st. pauls was the only school that rejected me and deerfield waitlisted me.</p>
<p>i go to Berkshire now, (berkshireschool.org) and i love it. the kids are all incredibly smart and the campus is beautiful. plus the athletics are great. it is smaller and the teachers give u great attention.</p>
<p>either way, gooood luck. (deerfield was my favorite- i strongly encourage u to look into it!)</p>
<p>Well, if you're a girl, you need to come to Miss Porter's School. </p>
<p>I applied to all the U.S. boarding schools you mentioned,except Dwight, and all of them are great schools that will challenge you academically. It's really depends on what you are looking for in your school. If you want a larger school that is more cut-throat and competitive, I'd say, go with Andover or Exeter. However, if you want a smaller, closely-knit, nurturing school, go with St.Paul's. Again, I'm not quite sure on Dwight, but all those schools are wonderful, so it depends on what you want. Also, for Deerfield Academy, I used to live in South Deerfield, MA where DA is, and I went to a feeding school for DA right across the street and met a lot of Deerfield students. I personally don't think DA is worth it. This, of course, is just my personal opinion, but seeing the students who attend DA, I just feel like the school is all about students with money and compared to other prep schools, they lack diversity because all their students are practically the same, being white, rich and pompous. It's the type of school where when you look around, not everybody is going to be brilliant. I felt like Andover, Exeter and SPS were the type of schools where everybody is talented and not everybody is rich and from the same socio-economic stauts, which adds diversity to the school. It really depends on what you are looking for, but for me, DA completley turned me off.</p>
<p>However, best of luck to you in your boarding school search! Boarding school in Europe sounds like a great opportunity.</p>
<p>i agree with runawaywithme on most of her points. (except if your a girl, go to westover...haha im partial because my sister is a senior there. :) )</p>
<p>However regardless of what her and i say, EVERY school is different and you will find some sort of pompous and snooty student at each school. Some more than others. For example, i didnt feel it at Deerfield, i didnt feel it at St. Pauls, but my friend's mom works in admissions at Hotckhkiss and she says that the students think they are HOT stuff. </p>
<p>I have a friend at Exeter and she says a load of the kids know they are smart and arent afraid to show it. It is all a matter of visiting and really envisioning yourself in that environment. I loved Deerfield, however i ended up finding the school that had the oppurtunities for me to be academically challenged, while knowing almost EVERYONE by face or name at the school. When you find your match, you will know. Good luck!</p>