Questions for Boarding School Students (Current or Former)

Prep School Admissions
1

Hello all boarding students, as a person who is interested in applying to boarding school I would like to ask you so questions:

  1. What time of year do people normally visit schools? What time of year do you recommend visiting?
  2. Do people ever do their interview when visiting?
  3. Is it better to do your interview on campus, off campus, or on Skype?
  4. Should I bring anything to my interviews?
  5. What time of year are interviews usually done? (If not done while visiting)
2

*some

3

Fall is the best season so you can see schools before applying.

Yes, most interview while on campus. A visit to campus typically includes a tour of the school with a current student and an interview with a member of the admissions team.

On campus is best. You can see the school in person and face to face is always an advantage over skype. But if the distance is too far for you, it is not a necessity.

Bring at least 3 well-thought out questions to ask, questions you can’t find the answer to on the school’s website.

4

Are tours on weekdays? Weekends?

5

Some have tours on Saturday mornings but definitely M thru F. Never Sunday to my knowledge. You can usually find info on the school’s website or feel free to call.

6

Weekdays and most schools also schedule Saturday mornings in the fall. Saturday’s fill up quickly, so if you have schools in mind, call early to schedule. I think we arranged our Saturday visits for the fall back in May or June. The weather starts to get dicey and unpredictable after late October ( in New England) … And the campuses are prettiest in Sept/ Oct!

7

You should bring some questions 2-4 that are specific to that school. For example if they had an interesting program that is special at the school, ask about it. Also, when I was applying my consultant told me that it is better to visit in September/Oct than November/December. The later you visit, the busier and more crammed in interviews and tours get and so the AO doesn’t have as much time with you or to remember you. Good luck!

8

Boarding schools don’t get weekday holidays off, so Veteran’s Day - or any random day that your school is closed, for teacher conferences or the like - is a good choice for interviews, if you plan early.

9

I myself interviewed in the early spring which was way late, but still managed to snag myself a place in the class of 1985 at Kent. My daughters, i was a little more prepared for. The eldest we only really liked at one and it was on MLK holiday in January. The next, applied to 6-7 schools and we never left the house. She did all of her interviews over the phone, Skype or some school representatives came to town (helps to live in a big city). She hadn’t seen the school until after she had been accepted and we had made a decision (in April). The youngest, we are going to be a little bit more organized, and start this fall (helps that a lot of the schools she wants to see are near her sister’s school in Virginia). In other words, with today’s technology, it doesn’t matter as much. There are websites, Skype, forums like this where you can ask both school officials and others about their experience, etc.

10

Do you mind naming the VA school your daughter attends, @lestouffer ? PM is fine.