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Boarding School 101

Why Boarding?

Because it brings on a whole new life.

Boarding School offers one of the most direct paths to a great university outcome.

First thing first, boarding school does what any great high school is supposed to achieve: spectacular university placement. It does so simply because its education engine consistently churns out great products, year after year. And for international families, boarding school is simply the most direct path to a top university of the same country, bar none.

Boarding School allows your child to grow and mature at turbo speed.

Boarding school is not just a fancy day school with a cafeteria and a dorm room. It is a whole new way of life for your child. While there are great day schools that can also offer impressive academics and activities, boarding schools take them to a whole next level with its 24×7 intensity of living independently with others. Outside of one’s comfort zone, your child will get to grow at turbo speed. Boarding is the secret fuel.

Boarding School adds a further dimension to parenting.

With modern technologies like FaceTime, parents no longer have to worry about losing contact with their boarding school children. Daily communication within boarding school families is nowadays absolutely common. What’s more, at boarding school, your child gains additional adult role models: faculty advisors and dorm parents who look after your child’s academic and social-emotional needs throughout his/her entire stay. And in the process, you also gain additional professional parenting partners.

Boarding School builds critical life skills much early on.

Though boarding schools offer facilities that are unparalleled, it is their ecosystems that are magical. Through constant group work, teenagers quickly learn to advocate, collaborate, and lead. Living with others drives relationship and character building and an understanding of our place in the world. While these life skills could all eventually be picked up, through boarding school your child will be way ahead of the game.

Boarding School fosters strategic lifelong bonds and connections.

Community is everything at boarding school. Boarding schools are very deliberate about their admission decisions to ensure they let in only the right type of members. At boarding school, your child will get to live and breathe daily alongside other equally resilient and driven peers to learn to celebrate honor, kindness, and truth. These strategic bonds go life-deep and will serve your child well throughout his/her career.

Boarding School allows your child to grow and mature at turbo speed.

First things first, boarding school does what any great high school is supposed to achieve: spectacular university placement. It does so simply because its education engine consistently churns out great products, year after year. And for international families, boarding school is simply the most direct path to a top university of the same country, bar none.

Boarding School allows your child to grow and mature at turbo speed.

Boarding school is not just a fancy day school with a cafeteria and a dorm room. It is a whole new way of life for your child. While there are great day schools that can also offer impressive academics and activities, boarding schools take them to a whole next level with their 24/7 intensity of living independently with others. Outside of one’s comfort zone, your child will get to grow at turbo speed. Boarding is the secret fuel.

Boarding School builds critical life skills much early on.

Though boarding schools offer facilities that are unparalleled, it is their ecosystems that are magical. Through constant group work, teenagers quickly learn to advocate, collaborate, and lead. Living with others drives relationship and character building and an understanding of our place in the world. While these life skills could all eventually be picked up, through boarding school your child will be way ahead of the game.

Boarding School fosters strategic lifelong bonds and connections.

Community is everything at boarding school. Boarding schools are very deliberate about their admission decisions to ensure they let in only the right type of members. At boarding school, your child will get to live and breathe daily alongside other equally resilient and driven peers to learn to celebrate honor, kindness, and truth. These strategic bonds go life-deep and will serve your child well throughout his/her career.

Boarding School adds a further dimension to parenting.

With modern technologies like FaceTime, parents no longer have to worry about losing contact with their boarding school children. Daily communication within boarding school families is nowadays absolutely common. What’s more, at boarding school, your child gains additional adult role models: faculty advisors and dorm parents who look after your child’s academic and social-emotional needs throughout his/her entire stay. And in the process, you also gain additional professional parenting partners.

How to Apply?

Straightforward, yet not so straightforward.

Main Application Elements

1. Academics

School transcripts

  • Current Fall term
  • Previous 2 academic years
Standardized tests

  • SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test)
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

2. Activities

Showcase your child’s participation and achievements in these 8 categories:

Athletics

Music

Performing Arts

Visual Arts

Clubs & Associations

School Leadership

Community Service

Others

3. References

School

  • Current English teacher
  • Current Math teacher
  • Current Principal/Counselor
Parents

4. Self Advocacy

Interview

Personal statements

Key Milestones

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January-April

Apply for summer program

June -August

Summer program + campus tours (optional)

September - October

Start boarding school research

September - October

Attend school fairs and receptions (sampling)

November - December

Summer program + campus tours (optional)

January-April

Apply for summer program

June -August

Summer program + campus tours (optional)

September - October

Start boarding school research

September - October

Attend school fairs and receptions (sampling)

November - December

Summer program + campus tours (optional)

January-April

Apply for summer program

June -August

Summer program + campus tours (optional)

September - October

Start boarding school research

September - October

Attend school fairs and receptions (sampling)

November - December

Summer program + campus tours (optional)

Key Milestones

Senior & Junior Boarding Schools

*Approximate timeline for reference only: exact deadlines differ from school to school.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Why Consultant?

Because a good consultant makes
all the difference.

Though the application requirements are quite straightforward and fairly standard across schools, this is where the similarities end. Every boarding school is a unique community and looks for slightly different qualities from its incoming members, and you will soon hear stories from friends where their child was admitted by one school but denied by another seemingly “same-level” school.

Therefore, a good consultant should not only know the application process well but also understand what to focus on for each school. A good consultant should know the schools well to come up with the right fit but should equally know the parents well to craft the right plan. A good consultant should know the child well to equip him/her for success, but equally importantly, should know the admissions offices well to place the child in.

The boarding school application game is hyper-competitive, and the stakes are high for both the child and the parents. It pays to have a good consultant around to advise you every step of the way. What is good? Professional and trustworthy: professional in the sense that they know their stuff; trustworthy in the sense that they truly care about the future of your child.

There are good consultants around, though you will unlikely find many, for the boarding school world is a very niche field. There are simply not that many experienced players in the world. We would certainly like to see ourselves as one of the more capable ones, and we would love to help.

Discover More

Everything Boarding School

Hear what experts have to share.

Admission Essentials

Learn the tips & tricks for a successful boarding school application.

Play Video

What Do American Boarding Schools Look For in Their Candidates?

Our work in boarding education consulting involves a comprehensive and holistic approach to providing that guidance. First,

Play Video

The Role of Academics, Activities, and References in The Assessment Process

Our work in boarding education consulting involves a comprehensive and holistic approach to providing that guidance. First,

Play Video

What A Good Personal Statement Should Reflect About The Applicant?

Our work in boarding education consulting involves a comprehensive and holistic approach to providing that guidance. First,

Admission Essentials EP 4
Play Video about Admission Essentials EP 4

What Makes A Good Interview in The Assessment Process?

Our work in boarding education consulting involves a comprehensive and holistic approach to providing that guidance. First,

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