<p>I think boarding school is a great option for me, because public school education doesn't work for me. Price isn't the biggest issue, but my parents don't yet know that i want to go to boarding school. I'm spending a LOT of time researching schools, comparing them, finding pros and cons, and deciding if it is the best option for me. I'm looking at schools in California and the west. For anyone that convinced their parents to let them go to boarding school, how did you do it? And for anyone at boarding school, what are some pros and cons of it? Thanks</p>
<p>You should complete the application and show them how independent you are as well as step up your game this year. Then just convince them to let you go on the tour, but that’s just my way. Depending on your parents, you should come up with a unique and creative solution.</p>
<p>you can make a powerpoint slide to tell them how great bs is and how it compares next to public school 
sounds strange, but trust me!</p>
<p>I pointed a knife in my neck and theatened to kill myself…no, it was them who convinced me, and after some growing up I agreed BS is probably the best option for me.</p>
<p>I’m the parent of a student going off to boarding school next week. I think we were just discussing high school in general. Our daughter is already in private school and we began the conversation of high school which led to the discussion of boarding school as an option. I think as a parent I knew she was ready and could handle it, so it wasn’t really an issue as to whether we would allow it, it was just a matter of where to look. It was a steep learning curve for parents who didn’t have the first clue about where to start, so if you are thinking about it, you’d better get on with your plan, take your SSAT’s and start narrowing down schools. All that being said, if you feel they would resist the idea, then prove to them why it is such a good thing for you and how you could thrive in the boarding school environment, make it clear why you want to go and what your goals are, then indicate how you plan to achieve them. Make it really clear you are ready, and ready for all the right reasons.</p>
<p>Good luck…</p>
<p>Back up. You don’t need to convince them to let you go to boarding school yet. </p>
<p>Tell them you are interested in exploring BS as an option. Come up with a list of benefits to the process of applying. (It is a great warm up for the college application process: a tremendous amount of introspection to complete the essays; organization and prioritization to manage the application and visit process; preparation for the SSAT; and research and analysis to determine what schools you’ll apply to.)</p>
<p>Ask them to embark on this journey with you. </p>
<p>If you get in, that school is telling you and your parents that they believe you have what it takes to succeed there. </p>
<p>By this time, you may or many not have to “convince them to let you go to boarding school” ~ they may already see that it is a great opportunity for you. If they don’t, and you have spearheaded the application process and received some acceptance letters, you’ve presented your case for BS as best you can.</p>
<p>What I did was start slowly. I sat my parents down and told them that I was unhappy with my situation at school, academically and socially. They were surprised, considering that I attend a fairly well-renowned private school. However, they listened to my thoughts respectfully, as I’m sure yours will, too. I told them that the academics weren’t challenging me, and I felt bored, dreading school. That caught them off guard as well, because I love to learn! I also told them how my friends at school would make fun of me for, say, reading for pleasure, doing my homework, getting good grades, and actually trying to be good in school. Where I live, it’s considered a social crime to actually try.</p>
<p>My parents asked me what other options I would like to consider. They brought up public school, and I told them I would look into it, which I did. However, my local public school is VERY bad. I think one of the best things for you to do is listen to your parents ideas and actually research them. That shows your maturity. Who knows? Their ideas could be very good.</p>
<p>Next, they brought up other local private schools. I visited applied to, a local, private, all-girls school. It’s a very good school, and I was actually accepted there, but it just didn’t fee like a good fit when I visited.</p>
<p>Lastly, I said, “I’ve also been looking at boarding schools. I know it’s probably not your ideal, but the academics are amazing, and I feel that it could be very beneficial to me.” I remember my parents looking back at me blankly, as if I were speaking in German. I added, “You don’t have to agree to anything now, but I would love it if you would both come with me to visit at least one boarding school. If you guys come see the school, read about it, and still don’t think it’s a good idea for me to go, then I won’t.” My parents were impressed by my maturity, and agreed to go on visits with me. And, of course, they fell in love with the idea, as well. (Hint: It’s practically impossible for your parents to forbid you to apply once they actually visit a school.)</p>
<p>My advice is to approach your parents as an adult, and bring up the idea. Ask them to visit, and let them know that you’ve done your research and have been studying for the SSATs and beginning your applications. They will, no doubt, be impressed by your independence. And if your parents still say no, the worst thing to do is to kick and scream. Maybe you can strike up a deal - finish your applications, get them all in on time, then once March 10th comes around, you can see where you were accepted and go from there.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Listen to ballerina22. That’s exactly what I did, except it was to early to visit schools so I showed them the website of my favorite school and, seeing how happy I was just explaining to them how great the school was, agreed. Your parents just want you to be happy (well, they should).
I wouldn’t skip around the idea of telling them though. The longer you wait, the less time they have to make their decision. If there’s anything I’ve learned about all this, it’s that adults take time to make big decisions, and you need to give them as much time as they need.</p>
<p>Thank you guys so much!
ballerina22, great reply!
How you convinced them to let you go is similar to how I was planning on doing it. I need to go slowly because my parents don’t take drastic ideas well. Thank you again, your reply REALLY helped, especially the visiting a school idea.</p>
<p>I was always going to a private school, and I was actually half way through applying for boarding schools (this is for next year, we have to apply early here) when I realised my mum didn’t know I was applying to boarding schools because I’d been doing most of the stuff just with my dad. My mum freaked out, but I just kept telling her how much I wanted to do it and how much better it would be for me not to commute, and eventually she relented. She’s still not happy with it but she says it’s my decision. My dad’s cool with it, probably because he boarded from age 8-18.</p>
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<p>What, exactly, does THAT mean? </p>
<p>Are you working hard and getting good grades, but not finding yourself challenged (as ballerina22 described her situation, above)? Or are you not motivated and not even trying? It makes a big difference! Unless you’re willing to put in quite a bit of hard work - and maintain good grades - boarding school isn’t going to “work” for you either.</p>
<p>Whether you’re in public school or boarding school, it’s still up to YOU to make things work. Take the most challenging classes you can find, get involved in activities you’re interested in, and find worthwhile endeavors OUTSIDE of school that interest you also. If you’re doing all of this, but still find you want more, then boarding school might be a good option.</p>
<p>Working hard and taking initiative is part of what you need to do to convince both your parents AND the boarding schools that you’re ready to go away to school. If you’re already doing that, then you’re more than halfway there!</p>
<p>For some people public school education is an issue because of teaching styles or class sizes, or maybe it’s type of classes on offer. I know quite a lot of people with these problems.</p>
<p>I go to public school, and I have the same problem.
Class sizes and, most importantly, people think I’m weird because I actually care a lot about getting good grades. I want to go to a school that I can ask someone something about the lesson and NOT look like a freak for talking about a class outside of class.</p>
<p>I’m going to dust off my “debbie downer” hat (only trotted out for selected special occasions) and say (from a parent’s perspective) that if you have to “convince” your parents to let you explore going to boarding school at this point in the process (the exploratory phase)…you are facing an uphill and possibly rocky road from now until April 10th.</p>
<p>Here’s why: Unless you are a very intrepid and resourceful individual AND/OR have a drivers license and access to a car, you are going to depend on your folks to take you visits/interviews.</p>
<p>Another reason: Unless you have a few hundred dollars and/or a credit card at your disposal, you are going to have to get your parents to pay for application and testing fees. Of course you can apply for waivers for all of this, but again…that’s another hurdle for you to overcome.</p>
<p>Another reason: Generally, the AOs want to talk to your parents at the tour/interview…and if they give off the impression that they are not supportive of the idea, I think that will hurt your chances of admission. Because the schools need to keep in mind their “yield”…meaning, if they admit a kid, will they matriculate? </p>
<p>Another reason: Many applications require parents to fill out some portion of the forms…like parent essays/short responses. If your parents are against BS, that’s going to come out in their answers.</p>
<p>A final reason: Unless you are going to be a 100% FA student, your parents are going to have to pay something out of pocket. This could be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Have they ever bought you anything that costs thousands of dollars that they were not totally in support of? My gut says “Probably not.”</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally pro-BS. I just know that the process will go a whole lot more smoothly if your parents don’t have to be “convinced”.</p>