<p>I really, really want to go to boarding school. However, I'm not positive I would love it I got there. I'm very shy, quiet, introverted, private, etc, and I'm afraid I won't have very much alone-time there, and also that everyone else there will be super extroverted and talkative. I'm worried about making friends and doing okay in such a social environment. Also, I wouldn't be able to enroll in boarding school until junior year as I'm a freshman now and the application deadlines are in
January. How would that affect my adaptation, as well as my chances of getting in? (I want to go to a very good east coast school, preferably in the 10 schools association-Exeter, Choate, Andover, etc).<br>
I really want to excel and reach my
full potential, which I cannot do at
my current public school. I want to be independent and away from home and learn and challenge myself. From what I've told you, please give me your opinion whether or not boarding school is right for me. Thank you so much for taking the time (I know it's long, sorry) and for your input.</p>
<p>moonbeamstarlite, boarding schools, especially the top ones, are extremely diverse in their student body. It is not correct to generalize the students who go to boarding schools as super extroverted and talkative. I’m sure at boarding schools, there are people who are even more distinctly introverted than you. If you choose wisely, you will enroll in which boarding school is the right fit for you.</p>
<p>I’m hardly speaking from a wealth of experience, but it’s extremely competitive to get in as a junior. Middlesex (which is on the same caliber as the schools you mentioned) received 70 apps for 11th grade this year and accepted 2. My advice is if you really have your heart set on boarding school, apply to a wide range of schools. It is very risky applying only to the Big 10 for 11th grade while you may have better chance at lower tier schools who can also ensure quality education.</p>
<p>Sorry, Assign, I didn’t mean to generalize. It’s just that I think many of the people at a top boarding school are quite social, or else why would they go to a place where you are with other people 24/7?</p>
<p>A few more things…
I know it will be extremely hard to get into a top boarding school, but that’s the only way I can pay for it as those schools offer almost full financial aid to most students. What do you think my chances are of getting in? I am a straight A student, very dedicated, good in writing and math, artistic, I play one sport. I don’t have many extracurriculars though. </p>
<p>Also, would I get any “alone time” at all, like maybe if I got a single dorm? </p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>Moonbeam, would you consider applying as a repeat sophomore ? Not because your shy, but because you will have a better chance of admittance.</p>
<p>No need to say sorry, Moonbeam :D. I’m not an introvert so I don’t know, but there’s a CC user called BlueRaven1 (she’s on here quite often) who’s distinctly introverted and is so excited about going to Groton this year. BlueRaven1, care to share your experience?</p>
<p>When I was at Groton, our class was distinctly 50/50. I was one of the extroverts, so I am not the best person to talk about this, but I do want to let you know that no one was ever trying to force the introverts out of their shell. Everyone has different interests, different methods, and different comfort levels. Groton definitely understood that. The introverts balance out the class. Can you imagine life if everyone was peppy and outgoing (<em>eye roll</em>)? I am not sure which schools you are looking at attending, but Groton is a pretty small school, so if we didn’t have any problems, I can’t imagine the larger schools did either.
Everyone is welcome to attend/participate in anything they want to, but no one is going to harass you if you want to spend your evening reading instead of attending a dance. Remember that there are plenty of quiet brilliant students at all of these schools and you may connect with other boarders in a way that you never did in your public school. The environment is so incredibly different. You could very well end up feeling more comfortable than you think since you will be surrounded by so many cool, interesting, intelligent peers. Sure, you may not want to start a conversation with the jock that sits next to you in health class right now, but if he was a concert pianist working on a paper about how music influences world religion, you may be much more inclined to strike up a conversation. </p>
<p>Even though you may feel “shy” now, you may open up quite a bit once you have lived with everyone for a year, and you all get to know each other. I would definitely take the chance & not be afraid that you won’t be accepted.</p>
<p>And yes, you can always request a single room.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your great input, everyone. It’s very helpful =)</p>
<p>I really appreciate the advice, everyone. Thank you.
And now I have a couple of more specific questions…
How much financial aid do you think I could get if I went to a good school? Groton, for example, gives full financial aid to families with a gross income of 75,000 or less. My family is not quite that, but we are middle class. How much do you think would my parents end up paying?
And-I know it’s petty-but I’ve heard the “freshman 15” is common in boarding schools. Your experience, input, advice on avoiding it?<br>
Again, thank you very much.</p>
<p>As Assign said I’m pretty introverted although my post count wouldn’t tell you that. I"m not very shy and can be talkative when with people I like/trust but definitely need the alone time because people tire me. People who really, really don’t know me also can think I’m extroverted because when I’m feeling insecure it’s like my shield. I can’t speak about what it’s like yet as I’m yet to attend but I think it’ll be ok, you have so much work anyway and people will know you better than at your local public school. I know at my school the idea of ‘alone time’ is a fairly foreign one . If your family needs it then FA is generous particularly at the top schools who have big budgets, clearly needing FA isn’t an advantage but for the majority of applicants its part of the proccess. I got significant FA from Groton and my family makes much much more than 75k, that’s just for a full ride. I think depending on circumstance one can get FA with incomes of up to 200K and even higher. Don’t know much about ‘freshman 15’ myself with weight never having been a personal issue but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as bad as college.</p>
<p>Here it is!
[Groton</a> School :: Admission :: 2009-2010 Financial Aid Distribution](<a href=“http://www.groton.org/contentPage.aspx?pageId=45467§ionId=404]Groton”>http://www.groton.org/contentPage.aspx?pageId=45467§ionId=404)
Say, if your family income is 80-100k, you’ll get at least about 50% aid. Also, when you fill out the PFS SSS thing (<a href=“https://www8.student-1.com/SSS/[/url]”>https://www8.student-1.com/SSS/</a>), it’ll tell you your expected contribution.</p>