Insitut Le Rosey.

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>From wikipedia:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Institut Le Rosey, established in 1880, is the oldest private boarding school in Switzerland and one of the most exclusive private education institutions in the world. It offers a bilingual and bicultural education with studies in French or English to the students (ages 9 through 18) who come from dozens of different countries. While still quite exclusive, in recent years Le Rosey has begun to offer scholarships and admit more Swiss students. Attendees of this school generally guard their privacy.</p>

<p>Le Rosey runs two campuses. In spring and autumn, classes are held at the Château du Rosey facilities in the village of Rolle in the Vaud canton, located between Geneva and Lausanne. For the winter term, the entire student body moves to a group of Chalets in Gstaad in the Bern canton, home to a world class ski resort. Academics and sports are both emphasized for every student. Academics are rigorous and class sizes are small. Extra curricular activities are encouraged, including social and political activities. Daily sport participation is compulsory for all age groups. In the fall students play soccer, in the winter they ski, and in the spring crew and track are the major options. Swimming, tennis and basketball are also available.</p>

<p>As of 2006, the annual boarding and academic fees are CHF 77,400 (around USD 61,920 at a 0.8 exchange rate) and other services charged separately add up to around CHF 20,000.</p>

<p>The students can choose to follow the internationally observed International Baccalaureate diploma program, or the francophone oriented French Baccalaureate program. The high level of academic programs provided by Institut Le Rosey is of considerable value. Moreover, as adults, having a worldwide network of former classmates through the AIAR (Association Internationale des Anciens Roséens) at the highest levels of industry or government can be priceless.</p>

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<p>This seems like an AWESOME school. They offer TWELVE foreign languages, including Arabic, which I am very interested in. This school seems like the ULTIMATE international experience. I'm interested in doing a summer program over there next summer, and if I like it, perhaps I could apply there or spend a term there or something. My question is, has anyone heard anything about Le Rosey? What are you coments about the school, etc? </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.rosey.ch/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.rosey.ch/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

2

<p>I think the ultimate international experience would be to be exposed to a diverse group of international students in an international environment, like the UWCs. This sounds like attending a ski resort with a rather undiverse group of international elite.</p>

<p>That said--sorry, can't help. Never heard of it. But I'll ask a friend who taught at Oakham and Uppingham in the UK, since she probably has a better sense of the European schools.</p>

3

<p>I've never heard of it...how did you hear of it?</p>

4

<p>Ouch! With those extra fees you'd pay close to $80K a year!</p>

5

<p>Yeah, it is very expensive. I'd definitely have to be on some sort of FA.</p>

<p>Naoka, over 50 countries are represented in the Le Rosey student body. It says that there are no more than 10% of the student body from one country.</p>

<p>frenchvanilla, I've heard of it from one of the old CC threads.</p>

6

<p>JK, diversity is not just about where people come from geographically. That school's website says nothing about financial aid. Given the exorbitant fees even for a boarding school and the expectation that students will participate in expensive sports, that suggests that the student body consists of the children of the international elite. This is a surprisingly culturally and socioeconomically homogenous group of people (see Meyer's excellent work on the globalization of elite culture and the emerging world polity). Academic work on the subject aside, I can tell you from experience at my own high school and college, as well as 2 years as an expat in Europe and Asia, that the superrich elites of developing countries and those of developed countries probably have more in common with each other than the different classes within the U.S.</p>

<p>I think it's a great idea to go to an international school, and I think that pursuing an IB programme is a very respectable decision. This is why I am so positive about the UWC program. But going to school with mainly rich Europeans and the Saudi ARAMCO set is only going to expose you to a very narrow social group. (This is not meant to be an indictment of either of those two groups, who you also see in American boarding schools and many of whom are incredibly interesting people. My point is about the fallacy of thinking that "international" automatically means diversity, something increasingly untrue. I think it is a point my friends from bs hailing from elite families in places like Costa Rica, India, and Saudi would agree with.)</p>

<p>On another note, why are you looking at schools in Switzerland when you couldn't get your parents on board for much closer, better known, and affordable schools in North America?</p>

7

<p>It's pretty famous. I had a classmate who went there for a year after high school. I think it is primarily for international wealthy/royalty/titled/show business set. As I recall from many years ago, former CIA Chief Richard Helms went there for one year before going on to become THE big man on campus at Williams. At Le Rosey he became friends with a classmate who went on to become the Shah of Iran - a connection that was of great importance to him in his career. (He was also our ambassador to Iran). Google Le Rosey and you will see a list of their famous graduates of all stripes.</p>

8

<p>Naoka, I'm not necessarily interested in attending the school for all four years of high school. First, I would like to go there for a month during the summer to study French. If I like it, maybe I could spend a semester there during the school year. </p>

<p>I want to be exposed to a diverse, international community. I agree that it does seem as if Le Rosey is overwhelmingly stocked with the international elite, however it would be only be for a summer, so hopefully the other students would be a little more economically diverse. </p>

<p>I'm also looking at the TASIS summer programs. This school seems a little more diverse.</p>

<p>Eli, could you share some more information about Le Rosey?</p>

9

<p>Know several who have done the summer program but it's very expensive and no aid. Supposedly beautiful campus and great sailing instruction! Maid service too!!</p>

10

<p>Suze, what have they thought of the summer prorgam?</p>

<p>I read on wikipedia that the school is starting to offer scholarships, but I am starting to become less interested in actually attending the school due to the face that it's known for only the super wealthy.</p>

<p>I'm still interested in attending the French program. It seems great. :)</p>

<p>I'm pretty sure I could raise money for the program. I think it's about $5,000 not including airfare, so with spending money and airfare, it would probably cost around $7,000.</p>

<p>I raised $4,000 last summer to go to Japan, so hopefully I could do that again. lol.</p>

11

<p>I've heard that Le Rosey is full of overpriviledged brats who were sent away from their parents because they were trouble. A girl in my grade went to a similar institution where her sister went for some rehab.</p>

12

<p>Isn't Le Rosey a finishing school?</p>

13

<p>Although Switzerland is famous for several of its finishing schools, Le Rosey is a traditional prep school. </p>

<p>To me, it seems like it would be a really awesome place to do a summer program due to the location. Also, the school seems to be well-regarded academically, so I would guess that they offer a good French program. Honestly, I really don't know much about the school, but the website is impressive and the location/facilities look excellent...I would guess that many of the students even in the summer program would be well off and homogenous, but I don't think that is a huge issue especially if you're only going to spend a month there.</p>

14

<p>Thanks, bigblue.</p>

<p>Yeah, I was looking at there academic program and you are able to take private lessons in over FIFTEEN languages. (Arabic, Dutch, Romanian, German, Modern Greek, Hebrew, Italian, etc.)</p>

15

<p>If you're looking for a good summer program in Switzerland, you should try International Summer Camp Montana in Crans-Montana. I went there for a summer when I was 13, and it is pretty elite, I guess (there were a few princes and princesses, and a lot of the kids were heirs and heiresses and stuff) but it's definitely a lot cheaper than 80,000 dollars (btw- did you check to see if those were dollars or swiss francs?) and I'm sure it's a lot more fun. </p>

<p>It's a really great international camp. I'd go if I had time this summer, but I have so many other things I want to do that I just can't. You should google it. They have a website.</p>

16

<p>Purpoise Pal, the tuition is about $61,000 USD per year, but they say that additional fees can add up to another $20,000 per year.</p>

<p>They offer scholarships, though, which is great. (But not for the summer camps. :()</p>

<p>I'll take a look at that camp. :)</p>

17

<p>I looked at it and it doesn't seem like they put much emphasis on the language programs.</p>

<p>Learning French would be the main reason for going, which is why I am leaning towards the TASIS/Le Rosie programs.</p>

18

<p>You learn your specified language for one hour a day.</p>

<p>It's really fun, and actually held on a higher level than TASIS. I don't know about Le Rosey, but ISCM is actually considered to be one of the best summer camps in the world.</p>

19

<p>I would want to learn a language for at least three hours per day. TASIS offers 4-5 hours of language classes per day, and Le Rosey offers three.</p>

<p>What are some of the activities that you participated in at ISCM? Any travelling?</p>

20

<p>At ISCM (aka La Moubra) you go on what they call "excursions" like once a week to different places around Switzerland. You can go summer skiing, I went to Zermatt (sp?), Lausanne, Geneva, to name a few (I went for 2 sessions- 6 weeks). You also go on an overnight to the mountains where you stay in a chalet and make raclette and stuff. You also go hiking. </p>

<p>Activities: there are a ton of activities, so I won't name them all, but here are a few off the top of my head: trampoline, bungee trampoline, rock climbing, sailing, cricket, soccer, hockey, basketball, tennis, art, horseback riding, mountain biking, aerobics (for girls only, I think), and more.</p>

<p>I should warn you, though, that the kids that go here are not nerds (in any sense whatsoever). They're smart and educated (obviously, if they come from some of the best families), but they're not like nerdy in the least bit. TASIS, from what I've heard (from friends) is not as "elite" (it's actually pretty hard to get into La Moubra. You get interviewed and everything. I got interviewed over tea at The Pierre- 5 star hotel in NYC) but it has the same kinds of kids (aka kids who travel, but don't act nerdy). The kids are really cool and awesome and sweet and stuff, but if you're looking for cty-type kids, you won't find that there. (Just a little warning!)</p>