Boarding School Myths
Even if you’re just starting your boarding school research, there’s a good chance you already have an impression of what boarding school is like. This impression might come from books you’ve read, such as “Catcher in the Rye” or “A Separate Peace.” It also might come from movies you’ve watched like “Dead Poet’s Society,” or “School Ties.”
These stories, while entertaining, take place in boarding school settings that are different from what you’d find today. An excerpt from an article about college-preparatory boarding schools in The New York Times summarizes these differences well:
“To generations of students whose syllabuses include J.D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye,” boarding school represents the winter of their adolescent discontent; a cold, distant place where parents threaten to send their children if they don’t measure up.Parents dropped their children off in September, picked them up again in June and let the schoolmasters worry about what went on in between.
If Holden Caulfield were to return to school for Alumni Day 2001, he would find that the world of proctors and prefects, dorm teas and Mr. Chips has undergone a millennial thaw. Most of the approximately 36,000 students at boarding schools packed their bags willingly and are in daily e-mail contact with mom and dad. The ivy is no longer one shade of green. Students are as likely to room with a real prince of Thailand as with the fresh prince of Bel Air, as the schools reach farther into the public high schools for the majority of their students, making admissions more competitive than ever. The monastic life of formal dinners, daily chapel and cold showers has given way to international theme meals, contemporary ecumenism and interdorm dances.” – Less Austerity, More Diversity at Prep School Today – By VICTORIA GOLDMAN and CATHERINE HAUSMAN, November 12, 2000, New York Times
Just as universities and colleges in the United States have evolved in the past several decades, so have boarding schools. And while the perception of boarding school is changing, there are still some lingering myths that can make you mistakenly think that you wouldn’t fit in at boarding school:
Myth 1: You must be very wealthy to go to boarding school.
Today, approximately a third of all boarding school students receive financial aid. Financial aid grants can represent a significant portion of tuition depending on the school and your family’s situation. Boarding school students now increasingly come from public schools and a wider range of family income-levels. In general, boarding schools do their best to make their programs accessible to your family through financial aid grants, loan programs, and merit awards/scholarships. In the past ten years, the emergence of K-12 private school loans has also made boarding school education more accessible.
Families that send their kids to boarding school today represent a much wider demographic – geographically, socio-economically and ethnically (see “Myth 2″ below). What hasn’t changed is the rigorous academic approach and emphasis on students’ personal growth.
Myth 2: Diversity is rare at boarding school.
More than a quarter of all boarding students are either students of color or international students. Boarding schools are generally more diverse than public schools – they actively seek diversity and draw from many geographic areas whereas local schooling options are dependent on neighborhood living patterns where populations tend to concentrate along ethnic or socio-economic lines. Also, boarding schools create more meaningful opportunities for different students to interact with one another – whether in the dorms, classrooms or playing fields, you’ll always be surrounded by a diverse population that you’ll inevitably get to know throughout the year.
Myth 3: Kids don’t have fun at boarding school.
Curfews and rules will be part of life at any boarding school – no big news here. But depending on your impression of boarding school, you might be surprised to learn that boarding school can also be a lot of fun. If you talk to boarding school students or alumni today, most will tell you the same thing – it’s an environment that’s conducive to making incredible friends and having fun in the process.
Keep in mind that while strong academics are a key focus for boarding schools, they also strive to foster independence in students. Boarding schools give you choices in how you spend your time and what activities to pursue so that you can determine your experience at school and grow as a person, not just academically. This process – of growth in independence, meeting new people and pursuing your interests – is often fun and very rewarding.
Myth 4: Boarding school is for kids who are having trouble at home or school.
There are two types of boarding schools – college-preparatory boarding schools and therapeutic boarding schools. The two are sometimes confused and can cause misperceptions that boarding schools are only for kids who are having trouble at home or school.
College-preparatory boarding schools are geared for motivated students who are looking to explore new opportunities. College-preparatory boarding schools are often ideal choices for students who are already doing generally well at school and at home, but would simply like to find new challenges. These types of boarding schools are not appropriate choices for students with drug, alcohol, or behavioral problems. The key objective of these boarding schools is to prepare students for college through rigorous academics. All the schools profiled in Boarding School Review are exclusively college-preparatory boarding schools.
Therapeutic boarding schools are aimed towards students who are having difficulty at home or in a traditional school setting. While preparing students for college can also be a goal for these schools, these schools are equipped to handle students who are facing challenges such as behavioral / emotional problems, substance abuse, or significant learning differences. Boarding School Review does not list therapeutic boarding schools.
College-preparatory boarding schools and therapeutic boarding schools have different missions and serve different audiences. It’s helpful to know this when looking at schools, and avoid common misperceptions of college-preparatory boarding schools.
Myth 5: It will be hard to keep in touch with my family.
Boarding school students and their families are fortunate in that it’s easier than ever to stay connected. The Internet, in particular, is redefining how boarders and their families communicate. Boarding schools offer Internet access for their students, with most schools having access in each boarding house, and some in each bedroom. While Internet access is regulated for use between certain hours, students can often be in daily contact with their parents. Depending on the school and its policies, cell phones can also be helpful in keeping families connected.
Keep an open-mind about what you think boarding school might be like. The best way to learn about boarding schools is to visit one – you can learn the most about boarding school life by simply being on campus and talking to current students about their experiences.
Scholarships for international students?
I am a high school senior who wants to study in the US for college.
However, I’m afraid my parents won’t be able to afford my education…I have a baby sister who was born just a couple of years ago, and my dad’s business is not doing well…he might be losing his job soon.
I really need to find scholarships…I applied for need-based scholarships for most of my colleges, but only a few are need-blind to internationals, and I don’t know if the amount I’ll be offered will be enough to support my education.
Are there any scholarships available to international students? The only one I know about is the one from the Ayn Rand Institute…others I found were available only for US citizens or graduate students…and believe me, I’ve been searching for a long time.
By the way, I already know about Fastweb…
I’m also #2 in my class, have a 1560/1600 on the SAT (almost 2300 on a 2400 scale), and have a lot of extracurricular activities. I do music, have leadership positions in several clubs (president of two). I’ve been an international student for the majority of my life, and I want to continue my education at an English-speaking institution. Please help…
About Author
Javier Colayco is the founder of Boarding School Review (http://www.boardingschoolreview.com), a site that profiles college-prep and junior boarding schools. The site offers alumni reviews, detailed school profiles, and interactive tools to help families make better educational choices.
19 Comments on “Boarding School Myths”
Hi i go to a boarding school (but i go as a day pupil because it is optional) – i think it is just a myth because all the boarders i know are REALLY REALLY nice people. Plus, the school campus is big and all the boarders seem to have a close friendship.
Good luck with your decision!!
Phillips Exeter in Exeter, New Hampshire. They use the Harkness Method (round tables). Eating times are 5:30-6:00. Big 460 acre campus. boring town. not a lot of people. safe and lots o activities provided by school. teachers are okay and helpful. everyone participates in classes. the dorm rooms are small. u share them or live in them by yourself depending of the size. there are of campus parties thrown by the rich or beautiful including alcohol and drugs. only the rich or beautiful are invited. There's a lot of rich people there. they got accepted cause they r a legacy at the school or the parents paid the school off. hence the billion dollar endowment (donation fund). its very competitive and has 2000 new applicants every year and they only accept 250 new students. need to get a perfect score on the SSAT's like 90% or above on the SSAT percentile.
I can see that you care a lot about your nieces and nephews, and my cousins are the same way. What you should do is shock them. Present them with what they are doing and maybe they will see that they are neglecting their children's education. If this isn't addressed quickly, these children's futures are in jeopardy. Have some of your other family come in a talk with them too. If your sister and your brother in law don't see the light yet then maybe it's time to take them away to save their futures.
You are quite right. These people who come on Yahoo Answers and protest about "underachievers" who get in before them and "women and Jews" who don't get affirmative action…obviously didn't do their research.
Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell both got affirmative action. Were these two underachievers? No. White women, black women / men, Spanish men / women, Native Americans, Indians and others all get affirmative action. Jews might not get it because the holocaust in Europe is not a reason for them to get affirmative action over here. People hate them, but roadblocks aren't put in their way to prevent them from getting ahead.
Blacks faced racism, discrimination, oppression and murder in America…even recently. Women face sexism and exclusion in America…even recently. Hispanics face racism, discrimination, oppression and murder in America…even recently. Jews are the head media corporations, CEOs, mayors, lawyers, etc. I mean the top in their fields. They DO NOT need affirmative action. That's the difference between a minority that needs help and one that doesn't. Schools of most black / Hispanic / Indian and other minorities receive unequal funding, their neighborhoods have less police presence until the gangs begin fighting to name the street then the cops come in with riot gear. The same thing with the poor areas.
We know all this. We see it in the movies and on TV. That's why the show "Everyone Hates Chris" is so popular, because everyone knows the blantant / hidden racism it shows is true…even in today's world. Stop lying to yourselves and claiming racism is over. Obama is the first minority president out of FORTY-FOUR. Even Greece (a white nation) had a black woman leader before us…a nation that claimed that every race had equal chances of achieving their dreams.
Also, tell these people to name one underachiever that they know of who got into a top school ahead of a straight A student. I can name one rich underachieving white kid who attended a top school in place of a good student based on money and what the school could get from his father. His name is George W. Bush and he was in Yale with a
"C-" average. Can they justify how he remained there when other people with higher grades than him couldn't even enter?
There's quite a few typo's.
Bill Clinton balanced the budget. It was a numbers game based on a projected surplus of Social Security revenues that was grossly overstated. There was no surplus nor was there a balanced budget.
Excellent.
Although I agree with religious conservatives who want to challenge the youth to delay sexual activity for a while, I totally disagree with their message that a condom is a provision for sin. I send my Christian friends to the website below which debunks the whole thing against premarital sex in the Bible. That way they have no excuse not to support comprehensive sex education.
Just sent them an email thanks for the info.
Looks cool. What's it about?
Sounds interesting. Although the plot line you gave me sounds slightly generic, if you have a unique style of writing, and add in a few more plot twists, it would be a great story.
If I recall correctly, the book below describes the 'phenomenon' in detail from a magical perspective, discussing how it works, and that it is usually not magical at all: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615175341/
Basically, the one being focused upon bends.
I like the basic suggestion of not dying… at least for awhile. But really the fact is you need to 'let go' a bit in your plans for the children if something did happen.
The thing it comes down to is this: No two sets of parents are alike. If something happens and I am not around to raise my children, then there *will* be differences in how they are raised. My husband and I won't be the ones making the decisions on a day to day basis. No one will do it *just* like we would have. We have to go with who we think will be best for them overall… who will support the things we feel are *most* important and keep the children the *most* safe. Not who will do exactly as we would.
They wouldn't be *just* our children anymore… every decision will *not* be made based on what we would have wanted. To expect that would be to force my children and their guardians to live under the shadow of our 'ghosts' in everything… and would tie the hands of their guardians too much for them to *be* a family *themselves*.
I *do* get your fears… I wondered the same things about my kids and where they would go if the unthinkable happened. It isn't just will they continue to homeschool her or not. If their guardians are *deeply* against homeschooling they could ruin her self esteem and memories of you by putting down her education and your dedication. A few little snide remarks about any academic or social struggle she faces could crush her spirit.
However… The fact is that *many* 'anti' homeschooling grandparents come around after they see it in action for a few years. Both sets of grandparents in our family thought we were a bit cracked when we decided to homeschool… but in less than a year they were all 'on board' to one degree or another.
So… I wouldn't worry yet. The chances are great that you will be around for a long time to come. If something does happen after you have homeschooled a few years… your parents may have 'softened' to the idea a bit. At least enough to approach the 'switch' fairly, Perhaps enough to consider homeschooling her themselves.
For now… it seems your parents are the best people for the job. They have many of the 'big' points in common with you. If you decide along the way that this point is a 'deal breaker' and grandma hasn't budged… or if you find someone you feel would be a bit more in line with what you consider important… then change it.
And at this point… just enjoy your children and stop trying to 'win over' grandma. You may find it just happens as she sees your happy, healthy, intelligent homeschooled children thriving.
ETA: Thumbs down? <sigh> I suppose someone thinks we need to hold a seance every time the child wants to stay out past 10pm in 15 yrs time. Honestly… a parent can't expect to micro-manage from the grave. You just have to make the best choice you can for guardians and believe they will do the job.
I really thought about helping you out here, just because it would be fun to write. Then I looked at your profile and see that:
1. You answer other people's questions so obviously without care and thought and apparently just for points so you can go ask more questions.
and
2. The people that are gracious enough to assist you or answer your questions most of the time don't even recieve the courtesy of you selecting the "best answer" but they are instead selected by voters.
So instead I decide that if you are not interested in doing the right, then why in the world should anyone be interested in helping you?
hehe nice story… add this…
Well the killers name is "Jimmy" lets say.
After eating dinner i look at all the students and notice in the years past that the yearbooks one student has never had his picture taken. Jimmy… Could this be the killer? Next day at school you run into Jimmy and you ask him…"Jimmy why dont you have your picture in the Yearbook?" Jimmy keeps walking. Later that day after lunch i went to the restroom and the lights turned off. I hurry up and pull up my pants and get out my cell phone to use as a light. I then tried to call my best friend to come turn back on the lights that someone probably turned off as a practical joke. She doesnt answer, you look at your phone and notice no bars. You then start to open the door but then you hear heavy breathing. All the sudden you stand on the toilet. Hopeing he will go away. You stop hearing everythign and hear the door open and and someone leaving. You open the door and see Jimmy standing their with a Knife. He comes at you and cuts your shoulder. You kick him and then shove him to the ground. You bolt for the door in fear. He is following you at top speed. You turn into the office and look around and hes no were to be found. You stay in the office. At the end of the day your mother comes to the office to pick you up. As you get into the car you look back at the school. In the upper floor lil window you see Jimmy with a Knife and theirs blood on it. You start to freak out and your mom asks "Whats wrong?" You just cry your eyes out. The next day you come into and open your locker and a head falls out. Its yoru best friend. You pick it up and on the head you see your name in blood. You freak out and start SCREAMING AT THE TO OF YOUR LUNGS. You run to the office and asks to go home right away. As you leave the office you run into Jimmy and he looks at you with the Securitary and says "Hi (your name) my names Jimmy, Why is their blood all over you?" You tell the secritary whats going on. She asks the young boy if anythign is true and he says no.
Sorry to be so long but thats pretty scary isint it? Of course she kills Jimmy at the end and the whole school finds out that he was as killer. You transfer back to American schools in fright that his spirt may come back and kill you. Good luck on your paper =D
You can have a section on illegible prescriptions/chart orders — pharmacists and nurses will be happy to supply them.
Basically, you put up a prescription or a chart order which is very hard to decipher (or ambiguous), and let the viewers guess what the original prescriber intended. Obviously, block out any information that may identify the patient or the prescriber (you don't want to embarrass your Chief of Staff).
You can either have a new one every week/month (if your bulletin board is update-able, like behind a glass case), or have a few at the same time (if your bulletin board is fixed, like a printed poster).
Similarly, you can withhold the answers until the next week, or have it somewhere on the bulletin board. Most doctors (or doctors-to-be) I know are impatient creatures who thrive on instant gratification, so maybe it's better to have the answers readily available for the viewers.
Just an idea.
Regarding Christians and Muslims, one is right, the other is wrong. One will go to heaven/paradise, one will go to hell. There is no in-between , it is black and white. One book is lies, the other is truth. They are not both truth. This is what I believe.
because everyone who is upper middle class thinks that is the story of their lives.
They think coming from a family making only $100K a year is starting out poor.
And it probably is compared to where they are since they used their own family as a stepping stone to propel their own lives off of.
When your stepping stone is sunk, you start out having to part water to get above it.
but you are correct. finding someone who was born poor an made it to being rich, while being able to enjoy anything known as life, is like finding the Holy Grail.
it is nothing but an excuse to be able to blame the poor for their own positions in life, and not feel guilty about it.
Pretty soon we'll be saying the same thing about decent jobs. It won't be long until you won't be able to find a job no matter how much education you have if you were born into a family without connections, unless it is your country's turn to be exploited for cheap wages.
I've only been here for a few months also and have been so surprised by the questions asked about sex by young people. I think some parents try to convince themselves that their children are not/would not do those things so instead of educating them, they just let it go. And even sex ed in school (well, when I was in school) was minimal and not ever really enough information to do anything with. Not sure how it is now as my kids aren't old enough for that yet, but I'm sure it's not much different. Parents need to be more involved. If they don't, their children will get stupid info from their friends like pizza sauce is a form of birth control and other stupid things. I for one, will be talking to my children no matter how uncomfortable we all are!!! I was a teen mom as a result of being undereducated about sex and also listening to my stupid friends (not saying that I didn't take responsibility for my actions, but if I'd have been properly informed, i'd have made better choices).
When kids are young, they think thier friends know everything….parents need to teach them the truth. Then maybe their children will go on and teach the truth to another uninformed child. Maybe thats the only way that truth can spread……who knows.
Did you consider that many women are shown as strong in the bible – like Debora the judge and the first persons to know of Christ's resurrection were WOMEN.