The Differentiators Of Boarding School

Finding Your Authentic Voice

As a new ninth-grader at Westtown—a 14-hour plane ride from his home—Yiheng Xie was once told his accent was hard to define. In this (abridged) reflection delivered at graduation, Yiheng explores the connection between voice and family history—the “grit and sand” in his words—and how every person and experience we carry with us, can leave its […]

Tags: Authentic, independence, students, Voice, Westtown School

7 Signs You’re Boarding School Material

High school is around the corner, and you’re wondering what it will be like. You may be thinking about whether it will help you get into the college of your dreams, or allow you to learn about the things that really interest you. There are a lot of unknowns about high school, but you’re sure […]

What’s Boarding School Like IRL?

So, you’re thinking about boarding school. Is it right for you? Sure, the exciting adventures, leading academic programs and independence sound great—but what is going away for school really like—in real life? See and hear it from actual students. The world is your classroom. Real learning doesn’t need to happen in a stuffy room. In […]

Tags: academics, arts, athletics, campus life, independence, life prep, residence life, social life, students

What It Takes To Get Into The Best Colleges

You played classical music for them while they were in the womb. You read to them each night and let them read to you early, and often. You encouraged and motivated, edited and assured, and before you could blink, high school appeared on the horizon. And, just beyond that, college looms, foreboding and important. While […]

Tags: academics, college, college admissions, college prep, Extracurriculars, independence, life prep, parents

10 Myths About Boarding School Debunked

Where and how your child learns can greatly impact their chances for success. A boarding school education can be a superior alternative when considering schools. Here, we’ve compiled the most common misperceptions about boarding school from parents. Browse through them to learn the truth and discover more about boarding school. MYTH: Boarding schools are very rigid […]

Tags: campus life, independence, life prep, myth, social life at boarding school, truth, weekend fun

5 Advantages of #BoardingSchoolLife

1. Find Your Path and Passion Gone are the days of defining yourself by a single activity. Here, you’re encouraged to try everything. From arts to athletics to off-campus explorations, you’ll have countless opportunities to have fun with your classmates, pursue your passions and discover new ones. And when you have everything right on campus, […]

Where You Should Be in the Application Process by Mid-December

The traditional application deadline is about a month away. Again, know your admission application and financial aid application deadlines. Deadlines could be anywhere from January 10, January 15, February 1, or rolling admission. Each school has its own admission and financial aid application deadlines. Make sure you know them. Have them in writing, or, in […]

​Applying to Private Schools After The Deadline

As a family, choosing an independent school for the coming fall may not have been in your plans when the school year began, but circumstances change and needs change with them. This time of year, you may be thinking about a school change.

​Applying Late to Boarding School

Applying late to boarding school can be a stressful endeavor. Our advice – relax, breathe and create a plan. Even with uncertainty about space availability, you quite possibly may have several options. While it is true that the most selective schools will be full and have only waiting lists by spring time, many good schools […]

​​11 Questions to Ask An Educational Consultant Before Hiring Them

The many “to do” items that you need to check off during the private school admission process can be daunting, especially for families new to school search. It leads some to turn to placement advisors for help in navigating the admission waters. But how do you find the right independent educational consultant? And what questions […]