More To Know About Boarding Schools

University Placement Counseling

Each school has a placement counselor whose job it is to help you in the process of applying to a college or university. This counselor will assist you in choosing several appropriate institutions for application and then will advise you in filling out the application and preparing the essay.

In addition, many universities seek strong students from boarding schools and send an admissions representative to visit the campuses each year to speak to students about their programs. This is an opportunity for students to get to know the U.S. university system before they begin making campus visits.

Financial Aid

Some schools do offer financial aid to international students. Financial aid is a reduction in the annual tuition based on the financial need of the family. If you feel that you cannot afford to go to boarding school or summer camp in the U.S.A., contact the schools you are interested in to see if they will award foreign students financial assistance. If so, you will be required to fill out a financial aid application that will help the school determine how much aid you need in order to make it possible for you to attend. Do not be afraid to ask!

Foreign Student Advisors and Orientation

Most schools have a foreign student advisor who is responsible for the well-being of the international students on the campus. These teachers will be sure that the non-English speaking students understand the rules and regulations, get involved in the daily life of the school and that they know from whom to seek help academically, socially and medically. These teachers also often coordinate activities that help international students share their own culture with the rest of the school.

Schools also run orientation programs at the beginning of the year for new international and American students to help them adjust to their new surroundings. Issues such as handling money, curfews, academic difficulties, dormitory policies and activities will be addressed.

Vacations, Summers and other Non-School Times

School vacations at boarding schools in the United States are more numerous than those in many other countries. These vacation periods can be very productive for international students, offering opportunities to learn more English, to visit interesting places and to get to know Americans in their homes.

For students who will attend a summer school or camp, there is usually a three-week break before the summer program and a three to four week break before the school year begins.

Additionally, there are usually two "long" weekends that each last three to five days. Some boarding schools sponsor special sight-seeing trips for international students during these weekends; some permit international students to remain on the campus. Most often, U.S. roommates or friends on the campus invite international students to their homes for these weekends.

Teachers

Boarding schools traditionally have been able to attract and retain teachers who are intelligent, dedicated, and energetic. They are carefully selected for their teaching talent as well as for their ability to care for students and act as adult role models. Boarding schools maintain a balance of teachers ranging from the venerated "master teachers" to eager young talent. The majority of teachers in U.S. boarding schools have advanced degrees in the subject area they teach.

Learning at a boarding school continues throughout the whole day. Teachers who assign students challenging problems in morning academic classes frequently coach them in sports or dramatics during the afternoon and may act as their dormitory parent that evening.

Most teachers (often married couples) live in homes on or near the campus where they share their family life with students. Many teachers have apartments within the student dormitories so that adult supervision is provided for students almost all of the time. Teachers are always readily available to give academic or personal assistance and guidance to students, much as good parents would care for them if they were at home. Often, teachers share mealtimes with the students. This is a time for friendship and provides yet another opportunity to influence the students' personal growth and development.

Campus Facilities

Most boarding schools are located in quiet, protected areas with attractive buildings and large, spacious grounds, sometimes in excess of 100 hectares. They have extensive and updated educational buildings, libraries and sports facilities. The schools have comfortable, secure, well-supervised dormitories where young students live in safe and organized conditions.

Many boarding schools have safe and attractive facilities that rival small universities. In today's world of advanced technology, most schools have invested in elaborate computer networks and hardware and require student competency in this area for their future use with computers. In addition to updated classrooms and modern science and teaching facilities, there are usually graphic and fine art studios, practice and performance music rooms and a theater stage for drama. All have excellent reference and study libraries. Many libraries have book collections in the tens of thousands of volumes.

The architecture at boarding schools usually reflects their region. Eastern schools frequently reflect European or Early American design. Southwestern campuses often have a Mexican or desert style. Newer buildings everywhere tend to be more contemporary in design.

Boarding schools consider sports for both boys and girls to be very important. Strong minds and strong, disciplined bodies complement each other. Sports teach quick thinking, instant response, and the value of teamwork. Because of this, most boarding school campuses have outstanding sports facilities. All have several hectares of playing fields, tennis courts, and many will have running tracks. There will be newer buildings that house artificial ice rinks, squash and indoor tennis courts, wrestling rooms, basketball courts and often a full-sized swimming pool. A few schools have horseback riding facilities, and some even have on-campus golf courses!

Religious Schools

Some schools have a strong tradition based on religion. Many were started so that students could learn and live in an intellectual setting based on a particular religious philosophy. Some of these schools will require participation in religious services and classes in the curriculum. Be sure to ask each school about the role that religion, or a religious philosophy, may play in the life and learning at that school. Most schools, however, welcome children from all religious backgrounds and respect their differing philosophies.

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