My oldest is applying to a few junior boarding schools, and our family will be taking a road trip in a few weeks to see the two schools she’s interested in that are 5+ hours away. We also have two younger children. I would never take them to the interview/tour at a day school, but what other choice do I have when we’re on the road as a family? The only alternative is for my husband and I to pick which of us gets to tour the school, and which stays with the younger two, and neither of us want to do that.
To add: they are 8 and 9, and will happily sit in the admissions office reading quietly. We don’t have anyone we can leave them with while we go away. And I know that some hotels have sitters, but I don’t think the areas we’re going to are exactly the kind of fancy resort areas where that’s common?
My youngest was with us for all of our BS visits. She went on the tour with us and waited quietly in the reception area during the interviews. It wasn’t as issue at all! (She was 10 at the time)
Good to know! I was assuming that we can’t possibly be the only family for whom this is an issue. I’ll give the schools a heads up, though, that we’ll also be bringing the younger ones.
Buuznkid2 was with us at a few visits. She was 9, read a book and sat in the parlors/waiting areas without a peep. She actually asked some insightful questions on the tour…and of course, the schools asked her when she’d be applying. I think y’all will be just fine. Schools more than us at times realize this decision affects the whole family.
Ditto @westcoastmom987 and @buuzn03. Our youngest travelled to all interviews and simply read a book in the waiting room. I never felt like it was awkward for anyone.
We had an 8 year old with us who would NOT sit quietly in the admissions waiting room, so we flipped a coin and one of us explored the grounds with him, played with faculty dogs, etc…
I personally would have a real problem with any school that would have issues with bringing siblings along to wait in the reception area during the interview or to tag along during the tour. Just mention it to the school in advance to make sure it’s ok.
Siblings seemed very welcome on all the group tours/open houses we attended.
When my DS was at Groton I would volunteer as a current parent in the admissions waiting room. It was very common for families to have younger children who were in the waiting area while parents were interviewing. Worst case scenario is that only one parent goes in to interview or the child can go out with the sibling who was interviewing. It’s totally fine.
Agree with above posters. Kiddo is a tour guide and tells us that very often younger siblings come along for the school visits/interviews. Totally fine.