Yearning to go to Boarding School

Prep School Admissions
1

Hello! This is my first post here, so I don’t quite know what forum to put this in. I just have some concerns and questions on particular subjects in high school, specifically boarding school.

A bit about myself: I go to a public school in a rural area, and I’m in 8th grade. I LOVE physics and mathematics, and I read about those subjects daily. I am currently working through Stewart’s Calculus 6E (Great book for anyone who wants to teach themselves calculus). I hope to become a professor of physics and mathematics at some private research university, doing research in cosmology and string theory while there.
Despite my love of learning, I do not like the school I go to. We are lectured at by either grumpy or uninvolved teachers.We have laptops, and teachers sometimes just make us do work online, with no engagement. I’ve looked at the high school course catalog, and there is a distinct lack of good AP classes (No Calculus-based physics or AP calculus BC).
I’ve been researching into boarding schools like Andover. They look like heaven to me; discussion-based classes, endless extracurriculars, and beautiful campuses. I really want to go there. However, there are red flags in my brain.
First, the cost. $57,000 a year. That is over half of my family’s income. I know about the need-blind FA, however I don’t know if that would even apply to my family, us being middle-class folk. I have discussed the possibility with my parents, and my mother in particular thinks that it is too expensive. I don’t blame her. How would we be able to jump the money hurdle without my parents having to work a billion more jobs?
Second, distance. My parents aren’t too keen on the idea of me being 14 hours away from them, and I’m not either. At Andover, are you able to call your parents on a daily basis? Are you able to take a break on the weeks of important family holidays? Do students at boarding schools keep good relationships with their parents?
Third, my grades. I have a B+ in my English class (Rest are As). I hate that grade. Due to the lack of extracurriculars at our school, I’m not taking any currently (I do take band class; first chair, so that might be helpful). However, my learning mainly takes place at home. I read informational texts and work through textbooks all the time. Do you think,if I applied to a top-tier boarding school, that I would get rejected for my bad grade and low EC’s? Or would my love of learning save me? Also, I take geometry, and I have a 97%. Would that help my chances?
This is for Andover alumni: is Andover fun? Do students have free time, or is it constantly homework? Are people there extremely competitive or collaborative? Are the teachers good? Is the homework interesting, or just busywork? Are there a lot of racist people at these boarding schools like I sometimes hear? Is it harder to get into a good University, going to these schools?

I would highly appreciate it if somebody answered my questions. That’s all I got! Hope I didn’t come off as self-centered or anything, I swear I’m not. Bye!

2

You sound like a good candidate that could really benefit from boarding school. I would start some extracurriculars - or volunteer work - real soon. Also, do you know you should be starting to apply now for 9th? Have you taken the SSAT? Your grades are fine.

You may have a good chance of getting financial aid. Don’t focus only on the top, name brand schools. My son goes to a school rarely named here, and he is having an amazing experience. These schools all offer way more than most public schools, and are life changing. I would start by looking at which schools are within a reasonable radius of where you live.

3

Your “love of learning” is not something that will get you in and I advise you to not use phrases like that should you apply. Secondly, many of the teachers at Andover and Exeter are not better than the teachers you describe. If you love to learn and self teach -keep doing so. You dont need to go to Andover to get a good education. You are idealizing the school and it is far from “ideal” or perfect.

4

You sound like somebody who is passionate about their future and wants to be their own advocate- that’s really awesome. If you do have your heart set on going to boarding school AND you need FA, you should apply to at least 5+ more schools. Also, don’t just apply to a school because it has a big name. There are so many schools out there that are also amazing and can offer a great education.

Think about what type of school you want: Coed or single sex? Religious or non denominational? Formal dress or casual dress? More rural or more close to a city? Boarder to day student ratio? Distance to home? Distance to airport? There are many things to consider but if you truly have your heart set on boarding school(a great experience and awesome education) you for sure need to apply to just more than one big name school. Go to boardingschoolreview.com and you can search and filter through different schools. I was in your shoes a few years ago and I totally understand what you’re feeling. Feel free to pm me with any questions and I would be more than happy to talk with you!

5

If BS is something you want to do because of opportunities that are lacking at home, then do it. Go for it. My advice though is this:

  1. Although the big name schools look wonderful (which they are) don’t count out lesser marketed schools. You will get a great education at many schools that are not as well-known or publicized. They too, offer Harkness method of learning, STEM programs, small class sizes, open discussions and interactive projects. They too, have beautiful campuses and multiple ECs with diverse student bodies. Research many schools and find multiple with what you’re looking for
  2. When I say multiple, I mean multiple. Needing FA is a huge hurdle (although it is obviously doable) and need blind isn’t as blind as they make it seem. It usually = WL. So, if you need FA, cast a wide net. We applied to 11 schools. FA was needed by us…DS was a very qualified student and got 1 offer with FA.
  3. Although your parents may have reservations, it is very possible to get into a school with FA and them afford it. I’d cross the affordability bridge after you’ve been accepted with FA offers…the worst case scenario is that you would have to turn the acceptance down…but you’ll never win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.
  4. Being far from home is tough. My DS is 2500 miles from home. Before September, he had never even been to a sleepover…he’d always been at home with us. It has been fine. He FaceTimes us almost every day (every day is almost impossible due to time zone changes, work schedules, evening games and/or evening seated meal and chapel commitment). I’d say we at least talk to him for 15-20 minutes 5 times per week. He also sends random emails throughout the week. And seeing how happy he is, makes it much easier to have him there.
  5. If you are worried about stress levels, amount of homework, etc you may look at some of the less academically stressed schools. Not that they won’t all have a ton of homework and commitment…not that you won’t have to work hard at them…but usually the schools who still come out with above average SATs but aren’t labeled as the academic elitist schools have a much less competitive environment among students. The school DS is in is much more cooperative and less cutthroat. Students applaud others’ achievements and are less likely to see them as a threat. These schools still have plenty of students going to Harvard, Yale, etc.

I agree with the boarding school review.com suggestion. That is where we go to research schools and what they offer. Buuznkid2 is very different from kid1, so we are now researching a completely different list of schools for that application process. @cababe97 is right on the money, as are the others who’ve chimed in.

If you or your mom want to PM me with questions, I’ll be happy to give you our perspective…we came from an area where BS is a place you send kids for disciplinary reasons, we needed FA, no one in our families or really no one we knew had ever been to BS before, so it has been a very new experience for us.

Good luck!!!

6

About “need blind,” @buuzn03 is too kind. When a school says it is need blind, it is lying. It’s just a marketing ploy in order to get its number of applications higher so as to appear more selective. Needing FA is a big deal, and the advice above to apply to many, many places is spot on.

Now, as for substance, it is terrific that you want to be a mathematician and/or physicist. You are living in a time of access to information that those of us who grew up 30 and 40 years ago could only dream of! There is so much information online - and avenues to learn cheaply - that wherever you wind up in high school, there is no excuse not to go as far, as deeply, and as quickly as your intellect and motivation will allow.

For mathematics, I am going to be a broken record here, but I can’t recommend Art of Problem Solving highly enough, if you are not on there already. They have courses, of course, and these can cost $300-500 each with books, but they also have a terrific free program (Alcumus) that will challenge you at all levels of high school mathematics. They also have a great forum where you can meet (online) talented math students from all over the world. You will find 11 and 12 year olds on there who are already more accomplished than anyone at any boarding school. I’m not kidding.

For past high school mathematics, online the sky is the limit. Start with Khan Academy, supplement with Patrick JMT, and ask on the AoPS forums for advice on good textbooks post single variable calculus.

Physics is a little tougher, but Khan does a decent job with basic algebra-based physics, and The Physics Classroom is also useful. Once you are solid on calculus, MIT open courseware is terrific and free.

Definitely look into boarding school, but believe me if you cannot make it work, don’t fret. Being the very best you can be in whatever high school you wind up at will probably wind up being better in the long run, as it will be much easier for you to get into a great college. Like I said, you’ve got opportunities to learn that 99.99% of all kids who have ever lived could only have dreamed about. Take advantage of those opportunities.

7

I will just add one point about need-blind. The published admission rate for Andover is very low. But it includes very strong applicants - recruited athletes, legacy, super smart kids, URM, often full paying. So the chance for an average applicant with significant FA need is so small that it doesn’t even matter if it is truly need blind or not.

8

Apply broadly. Fall in love with the school only after they fall in love with you. Andover is only one of many great opportunities. I too taught myself Calculus and Physics in 8th grade. I used my Dad’s college texts and eventually went on to become a physical science major at an ivy university and study with a Nobel Prize Winner.

Never went to boarding school. Point is you can be successful from anywhere. I do believe your love of teaching and learning can be useful in a Harkness environment. I wouldn’t be afraid to mention it. Good Luck!

9

If even 5% of the best math and science students at CalTech, MIT and the Ivies went to boarding schools, I’d be shocked.

Haven’t been any Nobel Prize winners out of the GLADCHEMMS since before WW2 (by class year). Take a look here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_laureates_by_Secondary_School_affiliation.

10

More questions:

Is Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, IL a good school?

One of the comments here said that Andover’s teachers are just the same as the grumpy and uninvolved teachers I described. Is that true?

If I go to boarding school, will the heavy workload prevent me from my self-teaching? Would I perhaps lose my passion for physics/math?

Does going to boarding school make the chance of getting into a good University less?

Is boarding school depicted accurately in movies like The Dead Poets Society?

11

No - generally not like the movies - its no longer the 1950’s :)] - especially for the girls

12

I believe there is more of a movement to build a community of students from many different walks of life, and give opportunities to many kids who wouldn’t otherwise have them. Its a pretty diverse group at any of these BSs and its good if you can come up with a hook since competition is heavy for spots at top notch boarding schools. I don’t think any of them will take away your love for physics. Many give you more opportunities to explore applications for your passions and interests.

13

I disagree with @center’s cynical statement about not mentioning your love of learning. I think love of learning is one of the common qualities of students at my children’s school, indicating to me that the admissions office tries to select for that trait. A love of learning is a wonderful thing and not something to hide. Ever. You are also very adept at learning, and that, if combined with certain other attributes, might give you a chance at acceptance and financial aid at a fine boarding school. But don’t just look at Andover! Do your research and apply widely. For you, it is important to know that if you exhaust the math curriculum, there will still be someone to teach you and curricular flexibility to allow that to happen.

14

My son also reads constantly about Physics etc. You won’t “lose” that passion because you will finally (probably) have an inspiring teacher who you can talk to about your passion. This teacher will recognize it and support you in the college admissions process - because they know you (vs being a number as in many/most public schools) and can speak to your passion and ability. That said - my kid goes to a much smaller school than Exeter or Andover and the Physics teacher is also his Robotics coach and the Chem teacher is also the head of the Science dept.

And - it is true that you won’t have a lot of time to self-teach. They will keep you very busy with classes, studying, a sport each season (or other extracurricular), etc.

Going to a BS won’t make it harder to get into a top college, but it won’t make it easier either. Honestly I think it’s harder if you go to an acronym school. I have seen some lists of college matriculation from day schools that are much better than top boarding schools. I am sensing you would be happier at a school OTHER than Exeter or Andover – and it may be easier to stand out at a “lesser” school - but believe me, they are ALL good.

15

A young woman we know at one of the schools has been doing her Senior research project (she started it as a Junior) with a physics professor from a nearby university…the proximity of her BS to the university has afforded her the opportunity to become involved in physics research while attending school, as well as during the summer. Her research has strengthened her college applications and scholarship/award nomination. I’m sharing this because if you really have a passion for science, you may want to consider such opportunities at the various schools you are visiting.

16

You’ll be okay whether or not you go to one. There are a LOT of problems at BSs, namely the extreme privilege a lot fo students hold, and often “covered-up” scandals (check out Owen Labrie at St. Paul’s). A lot of my classmates come from extremely influential/privileged backgrounds, but there are also many whom are so smart and I’m so lucky to know them. Work hard to get into one (and have an open conversation with your parents about FA), but realize that you can and will succeed without a BS!

17

Andover is a great place. It’s the only boarding school that I’m aware of that still calls itself need blind. As others point out getting into BS needing financial aid is tough. Getting into Andover is no easy feat. Watch some of the videos from the Andover Math Team, simply amazing.

But you sound like a self learner. Apply to BS. But if you don’t get in, hold your head up high and keep learning on your own.

18

Although a ‘love of learning’ is a great thing, it won’t get you into Andover (it certainly won’t keep you out). How many applicants to Andover each year would have a 'love of learning’? That’s why people apply to Andover in the first place.

19

“For you, it is important to know that if you exhaust the math curriculum, there will still be someone to teach you and curricular flexibility to allow that to happen.”

This is a big question that anyone with aspirations of being a math professor needs to focus on. It is very hard for any boarding school to offer regular math classes past single variable calculus, although most will offer some cursory treatment of topics like multivariable calculus, elementary differential equations and linear algebra. I have some experience here. You might want to explore with any potential school how it would handle online courses or dual enrollment in a local college. Independent study with faculty sounds good in theory but our experience has been that many schools do not want to dedicate the resources. Although it is not really unusual any more for elementary school kids to have already taken and passed BC Calculus, most of these kids do not wind up at boarding school. If you get into Andover (or, better, Exeter) and you have the talent you will have no problem. That’s not true at the other boarding schools if you enter at or above single variable calculus.

20

I think the “love of learning” point is just that it sounds trite. But from my experience, most kids don’t truly love to learn - they do it because they have to - and they are more about the outcome (grades) than the learning (intrinsic value of learning). Now at BS the percentage is higher, but I do think sounding sincere - with examples like teaching oneself Physics because you love it and are so intrigued by it - is what they are looking for in cases of their academic admits (ie, kids that mostly bring high test scores and strong academic ability but not necessarily athletic ability).