You think you’re too late to apply to a boarding school in July. You’re wrong. You can still apply.

Applying late, or, coming to the admission process late, doesn’t mean “don’t apply.”

It simply requires some different thinking and processes a little different from the traditional admission calendar.

Your family’s education choices don’t end at the end of the school year and boarding school admission didn’t end with graduation. Many great schools continue accepting applications and admitting students throughout the summer.

A number of admission offices work through June, July, August, and September

Our new reference book is designed to help families understand what coming late to the admission process means and helps each family craft a shortened admission plan.

Topics covered include:

• Where to find a list of boarding school still considering and admitting applicants
• Admission testing
• What not to do or expect in the late admission process

Applying to Private School After the Deadline will provide families with a plan and process for a successful summer admission.

We hope this book helps answer many of the questions that we receive from families every day and a ‘thank you’ to the families who send their questions and make us think, and write, about their questions.

Why confused? They are confused because, it was not their decision to be in my office in the first place!   They are there because their son or daughter has insisted that they visit our school.  Why?  Because a larger percentage of young adults are deciding that a boarding school offers them everything they need and desire, all in one convenient location.  Students themselves are doing the research and they are savvy consumers.  Students get it; many parents are a little slower off the mark.

Why guilty? Parents feel guilty because, to some, there is still a stigma attached to boarding schools.  There is discomfort in telling their friends and extended family that they are looking at a boarding school for their child; they know that ‘back in the day’, many boarding schools were … you know… for students who couldn’t cut it a regular schools.  It is hard to convince people on the block that your son or daughter has ‘chosen’ to go to a boarding school because it is the best possible education they could every hope to have.

In the end, I really admire parents who are willing to stand up to the potential scrutiny of their neighbors and the oft unspoken disapproval of relatives.  Until the naysayers themselves actually visit our campus (or the campus of any quality boarding school), they will never truly understand the value offered.   Ironically it is often the children of the naysayers who are applying the following year!  The more everyone learns, the easier it is to dispel the myth about boarding schools.

Stand tall parents.  Don’t worry about how it may ‘appear’ to others.  Listen to your children, because deep down they know what is best for their education.

Photo credit: BillRhodesPhoto via Creative Commons

Admissions people meet new students every day.  We love to meet prospective students, that’s why we work in Admissions.  We expect students to be nervous and a little anxious about their visit.  So if you are a little shaky, you are only like every other student we meet each day.  Don’t worry about it, it’s only natural.

Here is a simple hint for a first impression (you would be surprised on how many prospective students don’t do this!): what always gives me a positive first impression of a prospective student is if they immediately stand up, look me in the eye, and shake my hand firmly when I walk into the room.  Not sure why this impresses me so much, but it always makes me think that this student was well brought up, is keen to be there, has some semblance of confidence and manners, and is eager to make a good first impression.

The motion of standing, the eye contact, and the firm handshake: three simple gestures. If you can muster these, the rest should fall into place nicely.  Good luck!

Photo credit: Aidan Jones via Creative Commons

We recently posed this question to six boarding school admission counselors:

“What admission tips would you offer to a family considering a private school?”

Each offers a slightly different take in advising families. Some common themes ring loud and clear.

• Assessing fit- can you see yourself at the school?
• Ask lots of questions.
• Speak with people affiliated with the school to get a deeper sense of the community & offerings- do your research.
• Relax & have fun!

If you missed our first video with this group dedicated to financial aid advice, make sure to check out: Private School Financial Aid Insights From Six Directors

Our thanks to:
Christina Dotchin, Proctor Academy
Beth Skoglund, Tilton School
Sara Lynn Renda, The Forman School
Todd Orminston, Gould Academy
Jill Hutchins, Vermont Academy
Laura Volovski, Westover School

Making your school’s case to parents & students in 60 seconds is never easy, but in this short clip, Proctor Academy (Andover, NH) Head of School Mike Henriques nails a few of the important values that families should consider as they think about PA:

1. Breadth of offerings both on & off campus that differentiates PA from other schools
2. A learning center that’s at “the heart of the school”
3. Low faculty to student ratio that contributes to a connected community – a key attribute to PA’s success.

Flash forward twenty-two years and now I’m the Director of Admission and have conducted countless interviews but I often think back to being on the other side of the table. Why wasn’t I nervous? I felt prepared but what did I do?

The admission interview carries a different amount of weight in the admission process at each school to which you will apply but make no mistake, the interview is an important part of determining if you will be accepted to boarding school. Follow these 5 tips and you’ll be guaranteed to have a great interview: Research, Connect, Reverse, Complete, Breathe.

1. Research

I hope it goes without saying that you need to do some research about the school where you will be having your interview: scour their website, “Like” them on Facebook, follow their Twitter feed, and check out their pictures on Flickr. The purpose of research is really two-fold: 1. To give you some background about the school, and 2. Introduce you to the vernacular of the school. Each boarding school will have their own way of referring to buildings, people, and/or events and the more comfortable you are with this “foreign language” the better you will feel during your interview.

2. Connect

Most admission offices assign regions, countries, or territories to each admission counselor. The counselor is then responsible for each applicant from that region. After you request information and conduct some research about the school, I would encourage you to reach out and determine which admission counselor is responsible for the area in which you live and connect with them. The connection could be as simple as an email introducing yourself or engaging through a social media channel monitored by the admission office. Usually, the admission counselor responsible your region will also interview you which will help to alleviate some anxiety.

3. Reverse

The simple idea behind this tip is to reverse places with the person that is going to interview you. Hopefully you were able to determine the counselor responsible for your region and then you can reverse places with them and interview them. Ask a family member to “play” you and you assume the role of the admission counselor. Actually, the reversal could take many different forms and you could have your family member play the role of the admission counselor and you play yourself. The idea behind the role play dress rehearsal is to practice interviewing and being interviewed, which should make your “opening night”, or actually interview, that much easier.

4. Complete

Some people might disagree with this tip but I would recommend completing your application to the school where you are interviewing before your interview. I think this can help for a couple of reasons:

1. After completing the application you will have a general sense of what questions the school finds valuable and some of those questions might be asked during the interview

2. If your admission counselor reads the application prior to your interview it might help you stand out in their minds and make you more memorable.

3. It shows that you are serious about this particular school which again might allow you to stand out in the admission office.

5. Breathe

I hope this isn’t too simplistic or general but remember to breathe. Breathe before you go into the office. Breathe before you sit down. Most importantly, breathe before you answer each question which will make you slow down and think for a second before you begin your answer.

One final piece of advice, I tell all the students that I interview “that there are no right answers, there are no wrong answers, whatever you say is fine. Just be yourself.” I hope that by following these 5 tips you will be supremely prepared for your interview and that you can just be yourself.

I would love to hear if someone has additional tips on preparing for your admission interview. Please feel free to add your suggestions in the comments below.

Westover School head Ann Pollina joins us for short conversation covering “why should a family consider and an all girls’ boarding school?”

Pollina makes he case that the question requires two answers, one for the entire family, and the other for the student.

Pollina explores how a girls school provides an environment unlike any other. Yes, great academics are part of the story but a girls school experience is all encompassing. Students build life-long friendships, develop close relationships with faculty, and explore leadership and expression.

Listen closely and you’ll hear that the foundation on which the school and student experience lies is a safe environment in which the girls are comfortable enough to explore and think through issues and problems using the support of each other and a mentoring faculty.

As Pollina quotes an alumna, “What’s inside of me from my four years [at Westover] is what I’ve built my life on.”

Editor’s note:

The questions center on the unique situations and requirements that boarding present.  We hope the series will alleviate some concerns, help put families at ease, and help with admission planning.  Baylor is a competitive coeducational boarding school and day school of 1080 offering grades 6-12 with approximately 200 boarding students in grades 9-12.

Boarding school seems awfully expensive. My parents’ combined income is less than $90,000 a year. I am the oldest of 3 children. I have had a GPA through middle school and 9th grade of 3.9. I play intramural soccer, had the lead in the spring musical last year and want to be a physicist.

Should I even be thinking I can go to a boarding school?

Paying for a boarding school education does require some planning, but it can be manageable, and the investment is invaluable. When considering the cost of boarding school, it is important to know that need-based financial aid, which is based on a family’s income and assets is available at most schools. For example, last year Baylor School awarded more than $2 million in financial aid. Other schools, including Baylor, offer other merit scholarships as well. Most schools offer monthly payment plans (administered either by the school or by an outside agency) that allow families to spread their tuition payments over eight to ten months. One helpful resource is the School and Student Service for Financial Aid, a service of the National Association of Independent Schools, which objectively assesses a family’s ability to contribute to their child’s educational costs. From their website, you can access the forms needed to apply for financial aid. For the most reliable information, though, you should work closely with the admission office and/or financial aid office of the school you are considering.

Will my daughter have any free time at boarding school or is every minute of her day regimented and organized?

The learning process at boarding schools extends beyond the class room and into sports fields, theater stages and the local community just to name a few of the experiences students can take advantage of. However, each student can decide for themselves which, if any, opportunities are right for them. Some may decide they are able to accomplish more on their own than taking part in an organized activity or school sport.

Although not every minute of a student’s day is regimented, many boarding schools do require students to participate in a sport or other school sponsored activities, and chances are no matter what interests your daughter, there will be something for her to enjoy.

Most students enter boarding school apprehensive due to being surrounded in a new environment and not knowing any of the other students. The best way to acclimate new boarding students is to encourage them to engage in some sort of activity outside of the class room so they can get to know their peers beyond the academic environment.

Being involved with school sponsored activities or becoming a member of a sports team can help make the transition into boarding school a smooth one. This also leads to better relationships with other boarding students so their free time, outside of the class room and away from sports and activities, can be enjoyed with newly formed friendships.

Boarding schools not only provide excellent academic opportunities, but they equip students with life changing experiences and relationships that extend beyond their time at boarding school. Remember that there are countless opportunities for boarding students to get to know their peers through school sponsored activities, but students do have ample free time to grow as individuals so that they are prepared to succeed in life beyond boarding school.

I have heard that sports are compulsory at boarding school. My son isn’t good at contact sports but he’s a very able tennis player.

What kind of sports opportunities awaits him at boarding school?

Not all boarding schools require their students to play a sport, but there are certainly excellent opportunities for students if they have an interest in a sport such as tennis. And if you are a student, or parent, thinking about college, athletic scholarships can be obtained due to many boarding schools being able to provide top of the line facilities, coaches and resources.

Other than tennis, there is a plethora of athletic opportunities at boarding schools including:

Football
Basketball
Softball
Tennis
Golf
Crew
Track and Field Soccer
Cross Country
Volleyball
Swimming and Diving
Fencing
Equestrian
Baseball
Lacrosse
Wrestling
Cheerleading
Field Hockey
Ice Hockey

As you can see, there is a little something for anyone that has an interest in contact or non-contact sports. Furthermore, there are different levels of competition in each sport so that your son or daughter can compete against their peers with similar athletic abilities.

Look into the boarding schools athletic history before you decide on a school for your son. Get to know the coaches and find out what potential opportunities your son may have in participating on a sports team such as tennis. It may be a good idea to also see what kind of experience the school has in sending their boarding school graduates to college on athletic scholarships.

When I visit a boarding school, what should my son and I be looking for?

There are a number of factors to consider and it is important that you are thorough in your search. Location, facilities, cost, extracurricular activities, college counseling, facilities, and the experience of the residential life faculty are all very important.

Of course, the quality of the academic program is paramount. Boarding schools routinely offer a one hundred percent college acceptance rate, which is an important return on your investment. Small classes, an innovative curriculum, and individual attention from teachers and advisers in the boarding program create a structured learning environment that supports students living away from home while challenging them to reach their full potential. The most important thing you can do in researching schools is to visit campus and develop a relationship with your admission counselor, who should be able to answer the many questions you and your son will have throughout the search process.

To create the best outcome for your son, you should choose the boarding school that you both feel best combines academic and extracurricular opportunities that match his personal interests.

Does your son like to play sports? Make sure there are a variety of athletic options that offer competitive outlets. Are there a variety of clubs, off-campus excursions, and travel opportunities? Is the atmosphere within the dorms friendly and supportive? Is the campus well-maintained with above average facilities? Do the students appear to be happy and engaged in their classes? Do you want your son in an all-male environment, or would a co-ed boarding school be more beneficial?

Has your son ever lived away from home for an extended period? The move to a boarding school will be a transition for everyone in your family, so it’s key to look for a nurturing environment with a residential life staff that communicates well. Some boarding schools even offer to match students with families living in the area to act as a support for students and to provide a “home away from home” on occasional weekends and school breaks.

Finally, tuition and boarding fees are always a factor, and boarding schools can be a strain on many family budgets. Many schools offer scholarships, financial aid, flexible payment options, and third-party loans to help alleviate the expenses. There are many factors that must be thoroughly considered, and you will discover that each school has a unique culture. If you and your son are diligent in your research and in understanding his individual goals and talents, you will likely be successful in making the best choice possible and he will be well on his way toward making the most of an exciting new experience.

In looking back at the boarding school campus video tours that I shot over the last academic year, I found segments from each that offer quick, tight insights into why my guides genuinely value their schools.

We pulled snippets from each in case you missed them when they were originally published.

First up, Tabor Academy. Hear Debby ’10 explain why her four years at Tabor are so near & dear to her heart.

Sean Brennan, Vermont Academy‘s Head of School talks about the strengths and underlying values of VA that he has come to understand during his first year as head.

Relationships knit VA into a tight community. VA students benefit from healthy relationships with involved adults. Everyone helps; kids help; adults help. Paraphrasing Brennan- Everyone working hard, everyone playing hard, gives everyone the opportunity to succeed.

Brennan also talks about one of his own strengths that he’s brought to VA- communication. He writes a blog “Brennan Bits” from the head’s point of view through which he observes and communicates VA’s life and happenings.