<p>Boarding School is not a right but a privilege, nor is it an entitlement for the privileged, but a privilege for those deserving as much. Unfortunately, there are so many more willing and able students than there are well known boarding schools. The same holds true for faculty. The endowments are still larger than 35 years ago and the facilities coupled with seasoned faculty have made the less prominently known schools extremely appealing to those that have truly taken the time and energy to investigate. So many tangible schools are available than what are commonly mentioned here on CC. Before one partakes in this extremely competitive and expensive endeavor, it is essential that they fully comprehend the economics or their lack of. There are plenty of those that obtain 4 years of full or partial financial aid and rightfully earned as there are those whose parent(s) pay the entire tuition. There are others just as deserving but for one reason or another and usually unbeknownst to them, who don't get that opportunity but don't have the right to hold in contempt those who have been fortunate enough to obtain admission with or without financial aid. The percentage of aid available and given is enormous, the pool of students requesting financial aid even higher. So assuming your going to get in the race, don't be surprised that there are those paying the full boat and can only expect others to understand the freight as well. The full tuition of some boarding schools does not even cover the full expense of one student, it in fact takes on average an additional 5-10k more per student. It is partially obtained from the Annual Fund, which revenue is acquired from the unsparing full paying parents, the unstinting financial aided parents, the struggling young alumni and the enormously generous friends and senior alumni.</p>
<p>I don’t really understand the benefit of boarding school… If your goal is to get into a top college, you can do just as well at a public school…</p>
<p>Boarding school definitely is not for everyone. No where is guaranteed that you’re going to get into a so called top college by going to boarding school.</p>
<p>It is sooo overwhelming for me to realize that so many people believe that bs is the only road to the top colleges. What is even more amazing is that people think all bs students WANT the ivies.</p>
<p>As my d and I plan our summer trip east, from Chicago here, we are deciding to visit a couple of colleges. I thought that since we were going to Boston, visiting the Harvard campus would be right in step. ( I have only seen the campus online or on tv/movies). But my d says we are going to be in western mass she wants to see Smith and Amherst. After going through the bs process my d realizes that a small Liberal Arts School is what she is attracted to, so be it. My mom and dad didnt get to walk the campus of Harvard until their mid-sixes. Was it wonderful --Yep!!! But it is like site seeing, a museum of sorts.</p>
<p>Some people may not be challenged at public school, though. Also, boarding school may better prepare you for college and help you more with college admissions. At my local public high school, very little emphasis is put on getting into a top college, or getting into college at all. They don’t have any “college counselors” either; if you want to apply, you’re pretty much on your own.</p>
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<p>People go to boarding school for way more than reasons than getting into a top college. As surprising as it may be, not everyone makes every choice that they do because they think they’ll have a better chance of getting into a top college.</p>
<p>Alexz825Mom, as you travel through western Massachusetts, you should also plan a stop at Williams College.</p>
<p>AlexzMOm! NO AMHERST BAD! BAD BAD BAD! while you’re at it why not Mt. Holyoke or even better WILLIAMS!!! Nice area: Mass MoCA, bunch of berksire-y type stuff, cool people, etc. Amherst: >[ I don’t even like the town of Amherst. It’s like the people to pretentious for Northampton. [Though, I’ll admit there are SOME nice ones] Plus the campus is tiny and cramped, also who wants their mascot to be a guy who was famous for giving n. ams. small pox? i could go on but won’t…</p>
<p>Good Job Periwinkle, I knew I always liked you. haha ;)</p>
<p>Per-thanks for the addition…we will surely do the research. </p>
<p>Rad–remember–different taste for different people. My choices for me were soooooo totally different than my d’s. I respect those things that she feels are important in a college choice. We have 3 years so we are just looking.</p>
<p>Hey hey, I know. Just warning you, the people of the town of Amherst [and the school itself] have a local reputation that’s not very flattering. Plus I like my flagrant biases get to people. 
jk Good: They have a great Science museum Bad: Cramped v.v.cramped</p>
<p>it’s funny how the first post aimed to enlighten us on annual fund, which invisibly covers a part of tuition cost, but then everyone talks about something else 
Just saying</p>
<p>I’ve seen endless threads on “love it-hate it”, “boarding school/no boarding school???” and somewhat bored by posts like “I don’t know why people love boarding school”, and the next one “I don’t know why you don’t know why people love boarding school”, and the next one “I don’t get it…”, and on and on… Is that just me or anyone feel the same?</p>
<p>Thank you boardingschool. Firstly and most importantly, I’m trying to bring to light the numerous schools that are out there. That there is F/A for those deserving as much. Tired of the negativity directed to those students whose parents pay the full tab and are just as worthy to attend. Finally, the importance of giving to the Annual Fund.</p>