<p>@jhortomply,</p>
<p>One more thing you need to be aware of about U.S. prep schools is many (maybe most?) do not offer the international baccalaureate (IB).</p>
<p>Re: Post #15, GMTplus7, you’re correct. I am referring to people being so profoundly unfamiliar with boarding school as the OP who seems to have no knowledge beyond an awareness of this option and the parents who seem to have even less familiarity of what a U.S. boarding school experience is about. This is the stage to be exploring and learning more, not madly rushing for a placement, somewhere, anywhere.</p>
<p>
You are on a roll, stop commenting on my threads please.</p>
<p>
You sound like you are a racist. Correct me if I am wrong.
Is there any way to “block” an user as one can “block” an user on facebook?</p>
<p>To hide a user, go to “My control panel” and click “edit ignore list.” Add a username to the list and that person’s posts will be hidden.
I’m puzzled that there is so much animosity toward the idea of your brother’s attending BS in the US. I think it would be a fine option if he can get in to a decent one. Not likely, though, since the other thread says he needs full FA.</p>
<p>What do you think it means when a relatively new poster tells a relatively established/trusted poster where they can go? </p>
<p>Feel free to add me to your ignore list, but I generally give D’yer Maker the benefit of the doubt.</p>
<p>Thanks, SevenDad, because in this case I think I need lots of that benefit!</p>
<p>I was reading this as though it were a fire drill for the upcoming school year. Now, I’ve picked up lots of apparent inconsistencies in the posts here, but I’m not sure where I got that idea. And it was my impression that this was a fire drill that largely shaped my comments.</p>
<p>So, okay, it’s the beginning of the admission season. Lots of people are just now exploring the idea of boarding school and getting educated on what it’s all about. I think it’s an option to explore. For an international ORM seeking full FA, it’s not an option to explore without also exploring back-up plans…but in terms of it being one of a number of options to be checked out and explored so that someone can make an informed decision, I should not have been so adamant about dissuading the OP from that endeavor (for reasons GMTplus7 stated).</p>
<p>Edit: Also, for an international student living abroad, it is later in the game than it is for local applicants. Speaking from experience in terms of the college process, the timetable is compressed or accelerated or…well, just not very friendly if you want to visit schools and plan your travel so that you’re not paying premium rates for air fare. Then again, helping to make up for that lost time should be something this forum can assist with…so it was no reason to be dismissive. It is, however, a reality that needs to be reckoned with.</p>
<p>@jhortomply,
I think it’s a bit difficult for an international student to receive FA from US boarding schools. I did PM you w/ a few suggestions.
I’m also aware of the difficulties when investigating BS in Europe.(been there done that, it’s not fun) CC is one way of researching schools another is boardingschoolreview.com. The later is good for North American schools. Good luck.</p>
<p>
I don’t remember saying that, but it is true that he needs a certain amount of FA. Thank you. I never really understood why.</p>
<p>
Thank you, I understood your point. But this part really got me mad:
We are a proud family, and this really hurt my pride.
Thank you D’yer Maker for contributing your opinion on this issue. I will make sure to follow your advice.</p>
<p>Understood. That was my bad. It was phrased poorly…and it came across as though it was directed at you, and it was understandably interpreted that way by you, but it was intended as a general commentary (that I should have kept to myself) on the way things tend to roll. And don’t follow my advice. Take it into consideration…but find your own way. One of the reasons I enjoy posting my opinions on this particular message board is because I usually learn something new when other people also weigh in. Going back through this thread, I think you’ve been handed a custom manual by GMTplus7 at post number 4. There’s good stuff in that one post that some people pay lots of money to hear. Anyway, good luck as you work this through.</p>
<p>
Thank you for your speedy feedback and earnest post.
I apologize as well. </p>
<p>Also, just for clarification: I applied to many US schools so I am very familiar with the process. I figured out something interesting; even if someone attends a “feeder” school (sorry for my neologism), this does not * guarantee * top education. Andover has full of bloody brilliant kids. Since colleges are looking for diversity, they won’t be able to take every Andover students. Hence, we were seeking for a perfect medium where we can enjoy top quality education, but easier ranking (hence my ** very ** poorly worded phrase: bad prep school). </p>
<p>Thank you again! Also, I sincerely thank you for your detailed post on the FAQ: I began to treat my privacy on the internet forums very carefully. Best of luck to your family, cheers mate.</p>
<p>@jhortomptly,</p>
<p>In regards to the issue of it being rather late-in-the-game for an int’l applicant to start. It’s still do-able, if you are intent on applying to U.S. schools. </p>
<p>Our experience as int’ls:<br>
We were starting completely from scratch in Dec 2010, where our knowledge of BS extended only as far as images of child-labor sweatshops in Dickens and Bronte literature. We learned a heck of a lot in a very short amount of time.</p>
<p>Son took SSAT, completed essays & interviews for all the schools in the period of less than 1 month (it was grueling–I don’t recommend compressing the timeframe like this). Interviews were all conducted abroad w school alumni. Because of our very late start, we were unable to arrange on-campus visits and interviews. Only AFTER the schools made their admissions decisions did we visit the schools on the REVISIT days and make the decision on which school to enroll in. </p>
<p>It’s only August. You have time. Don’t be discouraged.</p>
<p>Wow. SO much unfortunate misunderstanding going on here. It’d be funny if OP wasn’t so nice in replying. It’d be censor cussing people out…people are so quick to judge when you say you are “international”. </p>
<p>Anyway, as an expat and intl school student during my middle school years who currently attends said “top” boarding school, I say - with most minimal bias - that boarding school for your bro is a good choice. As a lot of your original questions have been addressed, I want to add that you should not rule out top boarding schools. Believe me, students at Andover or Exeter are not all brilliant. The biggest challenge at A/E is NOT the academics but rather developing and juggling a personal system of time management, work and interests compared to nothing your bro has ever faced at international school. It took me until this past year (I am a rising senior) to figure out a way of doing things that works for me, but my school has done its job in preparing me for college and the rest of my life. Take it from me that while 'A’s may require a bit of genius at A/E, 'A-'s do come with working hard. And 'A-'s are good enough, in terms of GPA of course, to be at the top of the class. I know this because my school sends a quantitative scale of the whole school’s GPA by class year.</p>
<p>Your bro has a decent shot at getting in if he keeps working hard on grades and extra activities he has interest in. Everything else is quite straightforward. Study for the SSATs, schedule an interview with an overseas alum (I can safely say that my interview played a very large part in helping my application), and write app essays that offer insight into the passions, goals and personality of the applicant. You’re a good brother ha. Make your bro read this and good luck to him ;)</p>