Is Boarding School Worth It?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Perhaps I have missed the true point of boarding school, but I seem to be under the impression that the ultimate reason for attending a boarding school is for a brighter future...and this usually involves Harvard, Princeton, Yale, or some other Ivy. </p>

<p>My older sister has recieved an early decision acceptance to Harvard, albeit the facts that 1) she attends a school in Arkansas (the 49th state in public education quality), and it's only a top 400 high school 2) she's Asian and 3) her SAT scores were basically 50th percentile at a school like Harvard. Keep in mind that neither of us have any Ivy legacies (well, I will, but she didn't). Because of this, my parents seem convinced that I shouldn't attend boarding school when I can get into the same college without spending an extra 200K. Their philosophy is, if she can do it, I can, too, although we are quite different. </p>

<p>So, my question stands: is there an aspect of boarding school that I've forgotten?</p>

2

<p>It's an end, not a means.</p>

<p>If you look at BS as a means to some other end, then -- no -- it's not likely to be worth the financial cost or the separation. Why would you do that? If money is a consideration, then you might very well be limiting your college options by blowing the money on a BS education. Plus, you lose the benefit of living at home with your family who, regardless of how wonderful and attentive your BS advisors and dorm fac members are, should be better equipped to address your peculiar needs and advocate for you, individually.</p>

<p>If the idea is to get into a better college, then just put your nose to the grindstone and do it from home; save the money; enjoy your family.</p>

<p>If, however, you think that BS is itself a terrific experience...the balance of the equation shifts. Considerably. This is morbid, but it's the best way I can think of to zero in on the issue. Ask yourself if you knew, for whatever reason, that you were going to die the day after you graduated from high school...would it be worth it to go to BS. (Actually, it's a cruddy question because I wouldn't let my child leave home for four years if I thought that...but work with me.) Do you think, in that situation, that a BS would be valuable in some way? </p>

<p>Now, ON TOP OF THAT, add in some of the benefits a BS education might give you in terms of preparedness for college and beyond. Is there something that you get from BS that's of value to you after your college acceptance letters have been opened?</p>

<p>Now compare that to what you could get from your local situation. I really don't care what the scores are from your state...because nobody goes to the average school in their state. You have to weigh the value of BS against the actual, specific education you'd receive in Arkansas. It sounds like it's a public school, so the price margin is the cost of BS, the family separation margin is 9 months X 3 or 4 years, and the quality delta of the education is impossible for me to guess.</p>

<p>Your family makes some good points for you to stay home. Whether BS is worth it depends on who you are, what your needs are, what your goals are, and what's available to you at home. It's a very personal choice...but I hope this helps you see one possible decision matrix to sort through it.</p>

3

<p>If a top college is your goal, stay in Arkansas. You will have a much better chance at HYPS from a public there by being it's top student than you will at a top BS.</p>

4

<p>cant agree more with suze....as one of my teachers once said...if you want to get into a top college, your best bet is, go to an easy public school and be top of that class....if you want to however, be prepared for college and have a top notch education, go to Hotchkiss[or fill in the blank] ...If you want to have both, be prepared to work your @ss off at Hotchkiss[or fill in the blank] and have luck behind you back that you get relatively easier graders every year..</p>

<p>my econ teacher, who's been in the teaching circle for 35 years, also happens to be the head of consulting unit of the biggest bank nearby, had related going to Hotchkiss [or fill in the blank] with economic laws..... In life, you have to make trade offs. either you stay home, get better grades, not get that easy 4.0, or you come to hotchkiss [or fill in the blank], give up that 4.0, give up that easy admission path, for an education of unmatched quality...different people have different ideals...and should choose what's the most important to them accordingly</p>

5

<p>I don't know about getting into a good college, but here are some of my reasons:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I want to be independent. I want to be in a place in which I can get up when I want in the morning, eat what I want, and develop my own schedule.</p></li>
<li><p>I want to be surrounded by people. I want to have a roommate and develop longer-lasting relationships with dormmates and roommates than I would at my school at home.</p></li>
<li><p>I want a great education. Minus going to a good college, I want to have a great high school education around motivated people who aren't totally obsessed with getting high, drunk, etc. I operate well around competition.</p></li>
<li><p>I want to live up North. This may sound silly, but I love the snow and the cold and the ability to wear five layers, get in bed with tea, etc. I live in Florida now, so I think I'm deprived of that. :D</p></li>
<li><p>I want to be one of those cool high school kids who come home with a sweatshirt with the school's name on its front and act really boarding-school-ish. :D </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Those are just my reasons. If you want to go to HYPSM (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT), then you have many options. Boarding schools just feed those schools; they don't guarantee them.</p>

6

<p>"4. I want to live up North. This may sound silly, but I love the snow and the cold and the ability to wear five layers, get in bed with tea, etc. I live in Florida now, so I think I'm deprived of that"</p>

<p>oh no no no ...you arent silly, you are CRAZY..it's FREEZING UP HERE and i wish i dont live like 5 minutes away from main building...(i live in the farthest dorm on campus !@#!#@!#@!#!@#@!)...just kidding...snow is cool..sledding is fun XD</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
4. I want to live up North. This may sound silly, but I love the snow and the cold and the ability to wear five layers, get in bed with tea, etc. I live in Florida now, so I think I'm deprived of that.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>My daughter missed the snow when we moved to a warmer climate a few years ago. She has officially gotton over that now. LOL</p>

8

<p>Yes, I live up north. I hate it sometimes, but when we go away in the winter, I miss the snow so much! For example we went to the Bahamas for 2 WEEKS and I was already homesick.</p>