[Hundreds of] Thousands of students across the globe are applying to prep schools - day and boarding - each and every year. One reason can be the arts or science program these schools offer. Perhaps these schools are powerhouses in these sports. Whatever our reasons may be, it always brings us to one and only reason: “To be the best we can be.” We want to have the best opportunity we can get to be who we want to be.
Some students choose to be in the “best of the best” whilst some choose to be “the big fish in a small pond.” Each one of us sets certain criteria when selecting schools, ranging from academics and athletics to student life, and affordability*.
What are you looking for in a school? Is it their academic programs? Is it an athletic powerhouse? Do they offer generous financial aid? Is it solely because of the [boarding] school experience, or perhaps to show off to your peers?
Share your thoughts down below!
A little bit of everything for me. I want to get the best education I can, and I also want to expand my horizons on all fronts. While my current private school is adequate and certainly gives many chances for me to succeed, it is nothing compared to the advantages of going to a boarding school. Plus, it has always been something of a fantasy for me to attend a boarding school. Just the independency and overall surrealness of the whole experience has always seemed so appealing to me. And another reason is definitely the athletics. My current school is back to back high school national champions in football, and last year finished #4 in the nation in baseball (which I play). So going to a boarding school would allow me to stand out in baseball, rather than just being another good player at one of the most competitive schools in the nation. So I guess my answer is a little bit of everything. But in the end, it is just like you said. I want to go to boarding school because it gives me the best opportunity to succeed in life and develop as a person. I’d love to hear your reasoning as well, hope this answer was what you were looking for!
@grant1509
It is also a little of everything to me.
My current private day school is a regional top school and an athletic powerhouse (a national contender on 3 to 5 sports). However, I don’t find the overall community, most esp. academic courses, diverse and challenging enough. This is the reason why I take college-level courses in a university, which is around 18 miles away from home, and plays college-level sports in a university around 11 miles away; whereas my regular day school is just around the corner (about a hundred steps). Despite being in at least 24 organisations and as an executive committee on each, doing at least 7 sports (I can only play two athletic events per year though), taking advance level courses, doing at least 20 hours of volunteer work per week, etc., I still don’t feel challenged at all. I don’t know if I am just used onto doing these or it is not just challenging enough of an environment to me.
It is proven that prep schools, most esp. boarding schools, really challenge its students not only in academics and athletics but also in other aspects (i.e. community services). I also want to be in a very diverse community where I can learn more about other people, their beliefs and cultures, that books do not necessarily teach us. I always wanted to live alone, without living in the same household with either my parents or relatives at least. Being in a boarding school is not jut for me, but for my family. It will help me grow more and more and more and more and more and more (apologies for the redundancy). I want to feel challenged in everything that I do.
Overall, I just want to learn more and more and do a lot more.