<p>My son is a 7th grader in a Manhattan private. He is thinking about applying to BS this fall to enter in 9th grade. Do you think it would be a good idea for him to get an idea of what BS life is like through a summer program. I have requested information from Andover, Exeter, Taft and LC. Any other ideas. I want him to be in a somewhat structured setting with organized sports for the summer.</p>
<p>Karen, this is just one data point, but we had the same idea and our son did a summer program at one of the schools you mention above. The overall experience was mixed. While it was somewhat helpful for him to get a feel for the typical boarding school schedule, the teachers and students weren’t very representative of that school. We found the teachers actually from that school were used mostly for the high school classes - my son didn’t have a single teacher who was from there. Not that the teachers were bad - just that you think you’re getting an XXX School experience and it’s not quite the same thing. The most disappointing part was the quality of the students. We found the bar to get into the summer program wasn’t very high, so that the quality of peers was all over the place. Our child is quite serious academically, but he found many of the summer kids to be unmotivated. In fact, he observed more bullying incidents than he did at his regular school. The proportion of international students at these programs is extremely high, which can be a + or - depending on your perspective (you get to meet interesting people but English standards not uniformly high). Overall, I think the schools operate these summer programs because they are huge money-makers - kids pay the same tuition (per week) as the regular programs, the teachers probably cost less since these are summer jobs for teachers from typically less prestigious programs, and the facilities are already there. I don’t think we would do it over again.</p>
<p>Choate’s writing program is supposed to be GREAT. I have several friends who did it as middle schoolers and loved it. The campus is really nice, especially in the summer, and in a town so you can go get pizza etc within minutes.<br>
I don’t know if there are organized sports in academic programs. I have gone to five residential prep school summer programs just for sports though and have made lasting friendships with the coaches and other students. Ask the questions that balding guy brought up when you inquire (bullying/international).
There is always Oxbridge or St Andrews or Le Rosey if you want academics plus sports.</p>
<p>My kids have done the CTY summer programs (5th and 6th grade) and have loved it. We are looking at the Exeter summer program for this summer but reading about Baldingguy’s child’s experience is making me think twice. Does anyone have any experience with both CTY and Exeter or a similar BS summer program. Does CTY maintain higher admission standards for the summer program or are the kids similar?</p>
<p>I have met several of the summer Explore Exeter students who matriculate at Exeter as regular students after the summer program. They say the summer program is a great deal of work, and they seem like great kids. This is a very small sample of summer students, however.</p>
<p>However, the summer program is NOT TAUGHT BY REGULAR EXETER faculty, does little to aid admission if the student is not already an admissable student, does not give any credit for work, and is very expensive.</p>
<p>I don’t know any further details on the Exeter summer students. There are several regular summer CTYers who go to Exeter during the school year (including my D). She thinks Exeter is much harder (and more rewarding) than CTY.</p>
<p>Calrenoma, our son did two summers of CTY, before doing a summer program at one of the boarding schools. From a purely educational standpoint, he felt the CTY experience was better in the sense that he was surrounded by a group of academically motivated and smart kids. I don’t recall the specifics of CTY’s standards, but you do need to take some form of the SAT, and those students willing to go through that, especially at a young age, are already a self-selecting group. I remember the boarding schools’ summer programs did require student essays and teacher recommendations, but it’s really not difficult to get in. The only real requirement is you need to be rich enough to pay $6-7k for the tuition, and believe me, there are plenty of academically mediocre kids who have rich parents.</p>
<p>My daughter did the Crime Scene Investigation module at Access Exeter and had a blast. I wanted her to test her theory that she was a fit for boarding school. Had to drag her off campus kicking and screaming at the end of the five weeks.</p>
<p>As someone above said - classes are not taught by Exeter faculty and although you can interview while on campus and request your grade reports be added to your file (it’s not automatic) the summer program does little to enhance your application. What it does tell other schools is that your student understands boarding school life and has already adjusted to that flow.</p>
<p>On the other hand, - even if the intent is not to test boarding school - I’d do it again in a heartbeat because she got so much out of the multicultural atmosphere, the chance to be independent, and now she has friends she stays in touch with from all over the world.</p>
<p>Thank you for your helpful responses. I agree that a summer BS program will not increase an applicants chance at admission. I just want my son to get an idea of what his lifestyle would be like at BS. He currently attends a top private day school that goes to 12th grade which he loves. The Exeter program sounds wonderful. I am also having him look at Choate, Andover and Taft because he can take an SSAT prep class there.</p>
<p>karen0: Exeter’s high school program also offers SAT prep as well as a soccer clinic and private music lessons. All of them cost extra though.</p>
<p>Just a thought; Eaglebrook (Pre-prep 6-9) has a Summer Program, also has rolling admissions. Apply for 8th grade, graduate 9th and go from there. Check out there website and their Prep School matriculation list and that should say it all. I can easily expand on the school but first check the website and ask around and trust you’ll see it is a viable alternative.</p>
<p>Thank you. My son goes to a top day school in NYC and loves the challenging academics. I spoke to a bunch of people about Eaglebrooke (including a trustee who knows my son). All agreed that while facilities and programs are fantastic but the academics are going to be a grade behind where he is right now. I also don’t want him to go through the admissions process two years in a row.</p>
<p>My son attended the Choate summer program in 2012 and loved it. He worked very hard but made great friends from all over the world. This made his decision to pursue boarding school much easier. And, I know that he did have some Choate faculty. Not only did he love them as teachers, they have also been helpful in his applications to other boarding schools (Choate is still one of his top choices but I was amazed at how helpful they were willing to be). One of the things that struck us about Choate was an emphasis on character in addition to strong academics.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your response. My son is looking into Choate’s program. Have you heard anything about the Taft Summer School?</p>
<p>Only good things about Taft. A good friend son went a couple of Summers ago. He enjoyed it so much that his parents were a little miffed that every weekend he elected to stay on campus. Regretfully he did not get accepted there the following year even though he appeared to have Taft stamped on his forehead.</p>
<p>Boarding schools are definitely the way to go. They really prepare you for college. As a prep schooler myself, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed boarding school. However, the work load is extremely intensive. The main question is, can your son handle it?</p>
<p>-orangesrule108</p>