<p>I've been looking at top-tier schools like Andover, Hotchkiss, and either Choate or Deerfield. Also Emma Willard, which isn't as high up there, but it's local. However, I'm very put off about the amount of homework they give. I go to a public high school and I usually only get about an hour of homework at most, and then maybe an hour of studying (my school is not exactly challenging me).</p>
<p>I just think I'd be really stressed if I had more than 2-3 hours of homework that had to be completed nightly. And, I've heard you have to stay up really late (like 1-3 am) to finish everything. Can't do that. Sorry. Not healthy. I have to have my sleep, or I'll just be horrible to spend time with. And the school can't start the day before 7 a.m.! lol.</p>
<p>Basically, I need to find a school that challenges me but doesn't stress me out. And I need to find it fast, because I only have 2 months to finish up all the applications, get my recs in, interview, etc. etc... I appreciate all the help you can give :)</p>
<p>P.S. Should I apply to Choate or Deerfield? Vote!</p>
<p>Deerfield and Choate are very different schools, it depends on what you are looking for. </p>
<p>In terms of school work, any of the named schools are going to consist of lots of work. How much often depends on the type of student you are, your study habit and your time management skills. If you put good use of your time, free periods, no tv and very little face book, the load can be managed by many students. </p>
<p>If you want more challenge but not all the work, then maybe you are considering the wrong schools. There are bs’s that are great schools but not as stressful.</p>
<p>You need to make a list and think about what you want out of a bs experience and then find schools that match those desires.</p>
<p>If you do not want to do more than 2-3 hours of homework/night, then do not go to Choate or Deerfield. Or Hotchkiss, Andover or Exeter. Loomis should come off of your list, and probably Taft as well. Those are the schools that I have knowledge from my children, extended family and their friends. Others should feel free to chime in! And don’t forget, the workload increases exponentially at the beginning of junior year. What grade would you be applying for?</p>
<p>I am applying for 10th grade. I have made a list… However, it’s very hard to tell what the workload is like from perusing the websites, and I have neither time nor resources to visit all potential schools. I only just decided that I wanted to go to boarding school in October, so I’m in a bit of a rush. This is why I posted; I’m hoping that some people can give me suggestions.</p>
<p>Please don’t take it the wrong way when I say I’m not into loads of homework. It’s not that I’m lazy. It’s two things: I have to be able to sleep for at least 8 hours, and I don’t react to lots of stress or pressure very well. I would perhaps be able to complete 4 hours of homework nightly if it was interesting, engaging homework, and if my teachers didn’t put pressure on me.</p>
<p>Background on time management skills, study habits etc.: I generally consider myself able to complete assignments pretty efficiently, because even if I’m tempted to procrastinate, I know that I’ll have more fun if I can feel good about my homework situation. I do know that I tend to get things done faster than some of my peers. I’m capable of independent work, having been homeschooled for 99% of my school-aged life. I just don’t know if that’s really enough.</p>
<p>Lack of sleep/exhaustion/illness due to work overload and pressure is my biggest complaint about boarding school. If you need a good night’s sleep, I would talk directly to a few students at the school to get an accurate picture of what it’s really like. I’m sure there are some good schools out there where the students get adequate sleep, but you need to do your research!</p>
<p>baystateresident: Yeah, it seems like some schools think sleep it optional… Although I’ve been looking at Deerfield, and although there is definitely a workload, they seem to have made sincere efforts to increase the amount of sleep students are able to get. Hopefully I’ll be able to speak to someone who can confirm that it’s actually being enforced! :)</p>
<p>AudreyH: Hadn’t really heard of Brooks, but I’m looking at it right now. It looks like a good school. Sad that it doesn’t offer as wide a range of courses, which was my main reason for looking at boarding schools, but I guess that’s the trade-off. Thank you for the suggestion :)</p>
<p>Does anyone know what “tier” Emma Willard would be considered?</p>
<p>If you’re living on campus, you don’t have to budget time to commute to and from school. Your meals are provided, so you don’t need to spend time cooking. </p>
<p>Homework expectations increase with grade level. I presume the expectations at your local public school increase as well. If they don’t, how will you segue from 1 hour of homework a night to college?</p>
<p>Periwinkle: You make a good point about living on campus, hadn’t thought about that Would you say that when schools state that the standard workload is 4-5 hours a night, they’re talking about actual assignments, or assignments plus studying time? I wouldn’t mind 4-5 hours quite so much if 1-2 of the hours were studying. It’s deadlines that get to me lol.</p>
<p>heps-I still think you are missing the point–tier is not the most important factor in boarding school choice. Check out boardingschoolreview.com. If you take the time to review some of the factors you will get a better overall view of the bs experience.</p>
<p>Tier doesnt matter when you find the right fit.</p>
<p>As a parent of a DA student, new sophomore, my d tells me that many students struggle and stress. The courses are tough and much is expected. She feels it depends on how you are prepared. In her view, much stress comes from parents and that students dont manage their time well. She is committed to going to bed when lights are out, regardless of work being left undone. My d comes from a home where grades are not the end all be all. I want her to do well, but just as much want her to enjoy being 15.</p>
<p>“heps-I still think you are missing the point–tier is not the most important factor in boarding school choice. Check out boardingschoolreview.com. If you take the time to review some of the factors you will get a better overall view of the bs experience.”</p>
<p>I’ve been using that site And I know tier isn’t the most important factor, but I was just wondering because a previous poster mentioned that I should avoid 1st and 2nd tier schools, and I was curious as to where Emma Willard would be on that scale.</p>
<p>Heps1996, when a school states that the workload is 4-5 hours a night, I would assume that that means that students spend, on average, 4-5 hours a night on academic work. I would not assume that it would mean 4-5 hours a night of work on papers, and then 2 hours of studying for a test. If you look on the school’s websites, many of them explain the academic expectations for homework. If a student takes 5 courses, and each teacher can assign an hour of work per class, that adds up to 5 hours. </p>
<p>However, there may be a “standard workload,” but there may not be a “standard student.” Something which takes a classmate an hour might take you 30 minutes, or vice versa. </p>
<p>At Boarding School Review, remember to look at the reviews from former students. A school whose alumni state they begin homework at 10 PM is probably not what you’re looking for.</p>
<p>Speaking only in general terms – specific schools may not operate this way – one of the biggest advantages to boarding school is that – often – there are faculty members living in the residence halls. Not only can they be a resource, but there are no teachers who have a better read on the pulse of the student body and the academic workload than boarding school teachers. They can see firsthand whether the students are being deluged with assignments and it is far more effective to have concerns raised by the biology teacher living in Snoozy Residence Hall than a concerned mother who can be dismissed as nagging, overly protective or…well, whatever. And it is done privately and without anyone having to know, so there’s no worry that the teacher is caving in to the will of a particular parent.</p>
<p>Plus, some boarding schools provide study assistance in the evenings. Some have study halls. The library is right there. Someone else on the hall has the book you left at the gym. And the assignment you forgot to write down. And, best of all for parents and students alike: at boarding school you’re not going to be assigned inane projects where the parent has to beat the other parents to Michael’s crafts store, Bath and Body Works and Ernie’s Collision and Automotive Painting in order to get all the materials necessary to depict correctly paired nucleotides for a full test grade credit.</p>
<p>Some boarding schools may suck at this…but I think, with all of these inherent advantages, a boarding school has to be intentional about inundating its students with unrealistic workloads in the evenings and on weekends.</p>
<p>Mr. and Mrs. Snoozy Residence Hall may be old and tired after doing this for many years and may not notice that all of the lights are still on at 2:00 AM! Just saying…Also, at some schools, they seem to monitor their older students much less than their younger students. That has been our experience.</p>
<p>I think schools are starting to be a little more concerned about their students’ sleep patterns. Exeter is trying out a new schedule next term that will start 30 minutes later. They will then monitor student fatigue and hours slept during that time to see if it makes a difference. </p>
<p>Stress is largely determined by the student so I don’t know if the school is what you need to examine as much as what tends to stress you out. If you want challenge, know that some amount of discomfort is inherent in that, otherwise it wouldn’t be a challenge! Sure, some schools are more intense than others but even Exeter has peer tutoring and a learning center. Of course, it’s up to YOU to find your way there. Nobody will force you there.</p>
<p>The workload can be “brutal” at some of these schools. Unless you are used to it or are willing to embrace the challenge, I’d suggest you stay away from them. Why do you want to go to a boarding school？If it’s just because you are exhausting the course offerings of your school, note that you can take courses online, in a community college, find a private tutor, etc. In other words, you have options other than going to a boarding school to take more advanced courses.</p>
Would you say that when schools state that the standard workload is 4-5 hours a night, they’re talking about actual assignments, or assignments plus studying time? I wouldn’t mind 4-5 hours quite so much if 1-2 of the hours were studying. It’s deadlines that get to me lol.</p>