<p>What is life like for day students at top boarding schools? My family is considering a move to the Boston area, and if we were to go through with it, I would be applying to a few area schools (Exeter, Andover, Milton, Middlesex, Groton) as a day student. I know that there are advantages to being a boarder, but if my family is going to be nearby, they want me to live at home while in high school. </p>
<p>Can you tell me anything about what the school experience is like for day students? Are they included in social activities? Would being a day student make it more difficult to become part of the school environment socially? </p>
<p>Also, applying for freshman year, would a B in Honors Geometry hinder my chances of being admitted? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance! :)</p>
<p>Hi! I’m not attending a “top boarding school” but I’m a day student at Westover, a boarding and day school for girls (which is WONDERFUL, by the way). Being a day student is actually pretty nice because it’s like the best of both worlds. At Westover, day students are included and welcomed to participate in all activities open to boarders. For example, mall trips on weekends are open to anyone who wants to go, whether they’re boarders or day students. I wish I could be of more help to you!</p>
<p>The day student experience varies dramatically from school to school. Mostly it depends on two things: the percentage of day vs boarder, and whether day students have a “room of their own” on campus. For example out in the Western MA hills: DA is probably less than 7% boarders who do not live on campus (ie faculty kids). Day students get a locker in an acdemic building, and do not get a dorm room. Usually they camp out with friends or in the dorm common rooms. You have to be a pretty organized, confident and outgoing individual to integrate smoothly into the boarder community. In contrast NMH is over 20% boarders. They all get assigned a dorm room (although shared with about 10 other day students). Being a day student is much more normal, and it is easier to integrate into th community. The third option is Williston with an even larger percentage of day students. However, there is a bit of segregation that develops between the day students and the boarders. </p>
<p>In the Boston area there are lots of good day schools as well as boarding schools. Consider all your options and find the school that feels right for you. Do talk to other day students at the particular school if you decide to go the BS route.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>The day student who escorted my son on a recent tour said he eats breakfast,lunch, and dinner on campus, and generally leaves at 8pm each night after activities and studying. He sleeps at home, but that’s about it. That might work fine for a very local kid, but for anyone with over a 15 minute commute, it seems nuts. </p>
<p>Of course this is just one kid, but I found it interesting.</p>
<p>Some boarders don’t even realize that their teammate/classmate/etc is a day student. Essentially seamless. To carry it to an extreme, apparently there is a day student at DA that spends more overnights at the school than at home.</p>