<p>I want my daughter to attend BS; however, she's lukewarm to the idea. She says that she want to go, but I know she's only parroting what I have said "4 years in one location, great education, friends you'll keep for life, consistent sports & club activities (as opposed to changing countries and not being able to do the same activity in the next country).</p>
<p>We live overseas and we move every few years. We have one more assignment together before the decision to board or not must be determined.</p>
<p>Did you tour some schools early? (Not for the interview, but merely to show the child what they look like?) Did you encourage them to read this forum? I don't want her to feel like she must go because she doesn't have to go. In my heart, I'd think she's potentially going to be losing a lot of opportunities if she doesn't take attend some BS in the States or England.</p>
<p>If you as the parents led the idea, how did you convince your children it was a good idea? Aside from here, are there other electronic forums for the prospective student?</p>
<p>I got my d interested in bs when she was a little one–lol, kindergarten. </p>
<p>BS is a very strange concept her in the midwest of the United States and we are african-american. Most people that don’t know me well think that I am getting rid of her, but those that know me and ask about my decision honestly find that I believe it is the best place for her to grow. </p>
<p>In my case, I think it is the best gift I could give her is the gift of learning. She is currently in the 9th grade, regular public school-she “wanted regular” and hates it. She complains that students don’t want to learn, don’t do their homework and the teaches give so much extra credit that students that do nothing but extra credit can still get a B-not fair. She sees clearly that she doesn’t fit in :-(.</p>
<p>I home-schooled her for 6-8 grades and she not only did work 3 years above her level she was able to audit some classes at our community college.</p>
<p>I give you the above information for one main reason, </p>
<p>BS is not for every student, nor every family. </p>
<p>Let your child, visit and chat with some kids that attend some of the schools that interest you both. </p>
<p>My daughter felt like the kids at bs were “like her” and that she could “fit in”</p>
<p>Talking theory/ideas/concepts to a young kid is not going to do it. Visits are everything. Order a bunch of viewbooks to whet the appetite. Then go for a walkabout.</p>
<p>Yes, I took the lead for my son into BS. That said, our path was an odd one. In May of 2008, he suffered two hair line fractures in his lower back and lost his entire school year in 2008-09 athletically. In order to recapture that year in sports, he discovered that he had to transfer to a BS outside our home state and then repeat his sophomore year. Once he realized that he had to leave his private day school, the task for us was to find for him quickly the best BS’s and then apply to and visit them ASAP, all of which we did in a frenzied rush beginning Nov. 2008 through January 2009. Don’t do as we did. We had too much madness in not much time.</p>
<p>I learned about BS about four years prior to admission season (when my son was in 4th grade). When my son was in 7th grade we went to a Ten Schools Admissions Organization reception. His interest was peaked but he was still undecided. After receiving tons of mail from a variety of boarding schools, he narrowed his applications down to three schools. We toured and interviewed at the 3 schools in December 2008. He understood that if he was not accepted into boarding school, he would be just as happy continuing on to the local public (magnet) high school. He was rejected at one school, wait listed at the second school and accepted at the third school. Incidentally, the school he was accepted at was his favorite.</p>
<p>My child wanted to change schools. Boarding school was one step further, conceptually. The enthusiasm came from the child. I would have preferred a day school, although I can see how much my child loves her school.</p>
<p>The application process is draining. At many schools, most applicants will be rejected. Boarding is difficult for many students, as well, particularly if their homes are far away. A child who is miserable can find lots of trouble easily. In my opinion, if your D does not want to board, it would not be right to force her.</p>
<p>Start with viewbooks and get some ideas what BS’s are about; attend an academically intense summer camp that needs her to live away from home for a few weeks, so she has a feel of what it is like; visit schools. Listen to her all the way. She and you will know if that’s something she wants.</p>
<p>I second Benley’s idea of an academically intense summer program, if you can afford it. My daughter’s experience at CTY was what convinced her that she would like the total immersion of boarding school. Even then, she had a lot of ambivalence about it, and it was a very hard decision for her to make to try it.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone who has responded. I will take her to some boarding schools over the summer just to see the campus and walk around. I know it won’t be the real thing, but we will be stateside. </p>
<p>I was thinking that we could return to us for a practice interview at Groton for 8th grade. At the same time, she could see other schools in action. </p>
<p>By the time that she was in 8th grade, she’d be able to choose better which schools to apply at and have had an “practice” interview already. </p>
<p>I doubt that I’d let her go to Groton as an 8th grader, but I might change my mind. I think it would simply be the experience of the interview. </p>
<p>I will order viewbooks and let her start looking through those.</p>
<p>In the end, the decision is hers. I’m just leading the way to a better education, but I won’t make her go.</p>
<p>I agree with Benley and Lemonade. When my son went to CTY the summer between 7th and 8th grade, it made a huge impact. When we picked him up after three weeks he said “I wish school could be like that all the time.” If CTY is not in the cards then see if you can find another academic camp. </p>
<p>I think that the three week duration makes a difference because in week one, it’s new and scary, yet exciting. In week two, most kids feel comfortable with their new friends and enjoy the experience but start to feel the weight of the schoolwork. In week three, they are enjoying themselves but also looking forward to sleeping in their own beds and seeing their friends at home. In that span of time they also learn to make (or not make) wise decisions about things like nutrition and time management and learn to do their own laundry, if they aren’t doing so already. If they want to go back a second year, boarding school will definitely appeal to them.</p>
<p>Thank you for the ideas of summer camp. She already spends each summer with her grandparents. Making the switch and spending it in summer camp will be very doable.</p>
<p>we are from the midwest but my d went to SIG (summer institute for the gifted) for the last 2 summers at vassar college and loved it, grandma is paying for this summer :-)</p>
<p>she loved it so much it is what made bs such an idea, kids like this all the time.</p>
<p>for the first time since kindergarten, my d felt she “fit” in with the kids–for us it has always been about her “fit”</p>
<p>My son announced he was going to BS in the second grade. He was reading Harry Potter. We laughed and said Boarding School is not like Hogwarts. The idea never really went away, alot of kids at his day school go. I thought it was a great idea, he’s an only child, I thought communal living would be great for him. He loves it, he’s a senior now. He is very prepared academically, socially and emotionally for college. The school community is supportive and accepting of each other. It’s cool for the jock to try out for the musical, It’s more diverse then our local public and private schools. It has been wonderful.</p>