Boarding School Admissions Q&A

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?

DA: Prepare some questions to ask the interviewer - this is your chance to get to know more about our schools as well.

CB: Be yourself! We want to know what your passions and interests are and why you’re interested in bringing them to our school. 

JF: Do a little research about the school and think of some questions you want to ask your interviewer - the interview is meant to be a chance for you to learn more about us, too! Also, relax and be yourself - it will be a casual conversation; we don’t try to stump you.

JM: Be yourself. Think about your passions and interests in all areas such as academics, athletics and extracurriculars before you interview.

DF: It is most important to have done some research prior to your visit so you can ask questions about specific programs in order to really understand the differences between the schools you are considering. Visit websites. Check out  social media posts. It is obvious to admission reps who have genuinely taken the time to learn about a school vs. those who do not. 

VCS: The interview is the time for the School to get to know you! It is best to spend that time talking about your interests, why boarding school, and what you want out of high school instead of using that time to gather the information you can find on the website or in admission materials.

AL: Engage thoughtfully with questions; take advantage of opportunities to include stories, aspirations, inspirations, and experiences when you’re answering a question asked by an interviewer. 

AY: Relax, breathe, and be yourself!

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?

DA: There is a lot going on in the world right now - tell me about a global issue, current event, or topic that interests you.  How have you leaned into this interest?   

CB: What stands out to you the most about Midland? Why do you want to attend and how do you see yourself thriving here?

JF: What are some activities/interests that you wish to continue at Choate, and what are some things you think you’d like to try for the first time?

JM: What are your thoughts regarding diversity?

DF: In what ways do you think you will make a positive impact in our community?

VCS: Sometimes boarding school can be challenging. When times have been tough for you, what value keeps you going?

AL: Some variation of: What does belonging mean to you? What does it look like for you to feel a deep sense of belonging in community? In which communities do you feel a deep sense of belonging? What does it look like for you to contribute to creating and sustaining a culture of belonging for others?

AY: Why Thacher?

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?

DA: There is a school out there for everyone so try to embrace the process and don’t allow the stress to keep in

CB: What can you not live without (make sure it exists on that campus), but more importantly, how can you most challenge yourself by trying something new and exciting? Boarding school is all about trying new things. 

JF: Listen to your gut and find the best fit - obviously consider whether a school’s programs/facilities/courses fit your unique goals and interests, but also listen to your gut and make sure a school feels like a place you can call home for the next few years. 

JM: The size of the student population. 

DF: You want to attend a school where you can see yourself driving across the country in a Volkswagon Beattle with your peers and teachers and when you arrive at the other coast, you can honestly say you liked the trip and still enjoy the people you traveled with. All schools offer strong academic programs, sports, arts, etc. None of these things matter if you do not feel good and comfortable with the students and adults in your community.

VCS: Every school has its own personality, values, and style. A lot like people, we are not all the same. Therefore, doing research is important. We all want the same things for students, but we all go about it in different ways.

AL: Students should consider in what ways they aspire to actively participate in their high school experience. [Note: I said aspire; students don’t necessarily need to be ready to do this before they come to us. Part of the boarding school experience is equipping our students with the skills and habits that will allow them to build this capacity.] Boarding schools provide incredible opportunities for students to be at the center of their learning; the myriad of opportunities offered in a boarding school setting coupled with an environment that prioritizes meaningful relationships, personal exploration, and perpetual growth, provides you, the student, with the tools you need to design a transformative experience. 

AY: Alignment of interests, activities, and personality.

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?

DA: Are you ready to stretch yourself?  Do you want to learn to be more independent and self-reliant?  When interacting with our schools, especially if you are able to come to campus, something will click.  Maybe it’s the people, might be the campus, could be a program offered that really resonates with you -- either way, trust your intuition and the feelings you feel.  We ensure students thrive by wrapping our arms around them.  Each person has a team of adults looking out for them (advisors, teachers, coaches, form deans, dorm parents, and more).  We meet regularly in spaces to both challenge and support kids as everyone embraces this journey in their own ways.

CB: Anyone can be/is a great fit for boarding school. You just have to be ready to challenge yourself, try new things, and be up for an adventure. By showing up and diving into new clubs, activities, sports, etc. you’ll thrive! 

JF: We find that successful Choate students are curious, open-minded, compassionate, and self-sufficient yet unafraid to ask for help. We at Choate say that we offer students “guided independence”: we let them figure things out for themselves and build independence, but we are always there to support them if need be. We have a multi-tiered support system in place for our students; each student is paired with an faculty adviser who they meet with at least once a week, each grade has two deans who support that grade’s students, and every dorm has prefects (seniors who are selected to be leaders/role models/resources in the dorm). We also have an Equity & Inclusion Team as well as a full-time Counseling Staff in place to provide support to our students. https://www.choate.edu/community 

JM: If they are intellectually curious. If they are involved in multiple facets and if they are ready and willing to join a community. 

DF: This all comes down to really doing your homework, asking questions, researching schools, etc. Not every school is a good fit for a student despite a strong interview and application. Often we hear it just felt right or I followed my gut instinct. It is OK to be nervous about saying yes to a boarding school but there should be lots of excitement as well. In admissions, it is our job to get to know students well throughout the application process. We need to be honest with the family and ourselves about fit in the classroom, dorms, theater, clubs, athletics, etc. Will a student be able to take a deep breath and feel like they belong? The tour and interview is an important piece to determine fit as are your recommendations. Grades are easier to understand but we also need to know how hard one has to work to earn those grades? Do you receive support outside of the classroom? Are you being challenged? We also are not afraid to call a family or a recommendation to get clarity around an area of concern.  In the end, our jobs are to make sure kids are set up for success in our communities and so we take the time to really know our applicants.

VCS: Students who tend to thrive in boarding school are independent, eager to learn, open to pushing themselves out of their comfort zones, and excited to live amongst their teachers and classmates. Boarding school is the kind of environment where you get out of it what you put into it, so students have to put forth a valiant effort to maximize their experience. 

AL: Determining a great “fit” between a student and a school is of critical importance in ensuring that a student can access, benefit from, and contribute to the mission of a school. When we think of a mission-driven school with mission-minded community members, determining fit is some of the most important work we do. In the end, I think establishing or predicting the likelihood of reciprocity between the student and the mission is a strong indicator of fit.

AY: Are they excited (maybe a little nervous) for new experiences away from home?

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
AG: Don’t try to impress your interviewer. Be prepared. Know your WHY. Why are you looking at X school? Why are you interested in boarding?  Why do you like…?  It is important that you can articulate your unique gifts/talents and have an awareness of your growth areas. 

JB: Be yourself. When interviewing with an admissions officer, the takeaway should be “do I want this student to be my neighbor in the dorm?” This is your chance to put a face to your application, be yourself and it is OK to brag about yourself! At the end of the day, it is a conversation.

JBB: Take time to develop meaningful questions to ask during your interview. To do so, it is helpful to review the website in advance and develop some questions that come from that review--perhaps clarifications. If you want to take it one step further, ask questions that cannot be found on the website. For example, if the admission representative has been at the school for a long time, ask what is something that has changed and something that has not changed. If they are new to the school, ask why they chose to work there. 

MM: I understand that interviewing at a boarding school can be an intimidating experience, especially coming from a year where many felt isolated in their lives. While I understand that it is easier said than done, RELAX! Admissions representatives are truly excited to get to know you and look at it as a genuine opportunity to learn something new about you. That said, don’t regurgitate what is already represented on your application. Share stories about your passions, successes you had or failures you learned from.

OT: Be your authentic self

SG: Learn a little about the school and the mission statement – reflect on who you are as a person and the experiences you’ve had that are in line with that. Listen to the question being asked and respond based on your reflections. Don’t worry about trying to fit everything into one question’s response … there will be more questions! Be ready to share your genuine thoughts! We love getting to know you!
 

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?

AG: I certainly ask every potential boarding student if they’ve had the opportunity to be away from home for an extended period of time (sleepaway camp, visiting relatives without parents, etc.). If they HAVE, I ask them to describe the experience and expand on what they learned about themself that may be applicable to being a boarding student at Stevenson? If they’ve never had the opportunity to participate in an extended time away from family, I ask them about what they hope to gain from the experience and what they think might be the most challenging about being a boarder.

JB: “Tell me about your friends? Are they from school, sports, other extracurriculars, your neighborhood? And if you have a free Saturday, what are you all doing for fun?”

JBB: I ask every applicant, “What are you proud of?” Believe it or not, this is the most difficult question I ask. We are an all-girls school, and girls are often taught not to brag. They are happy to tell you where they need to grow but to talk about their accomplishments and what their best characteristics often get them stumped. It is the first lesson I teach them in terms of being informed about their value. Talking about one’s skill set is not bragging, it is an informed opinion based on things they have tried, perhaps didn’t even succeed at initially. This type of exercise continues throughout our advising program, Journey. 

MM: “When and where are you happiest and why?” This is my favortie question because as a school, we strongly value student happiness. This question allows students to elaborate on an experience, a passion, or a place that truly brings them joy. I love to see a student's face light up as they recall the answer to this question and inevitably leads to an interesting conversation.

OT: If you could have dinner with yourself in 10 years, what advice would you give yourself?

SG: Essentially … why are you here today? How did you get to this point? Why are you considering our school? Other questions will help us get to know you, and we love to know your “why”!

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?

AG: I think it goes back to my #1 pro-tip, a student should know their WHY. What are they hoping to gain from this experience?  Often students who’ve gone away to a summer camp experience can make the leap to living where they go to school. Boarding School is NOT like going away to college -- there is structure and support provided, by faculty and peers.  Students need to be open to assistance and learn to advocate for themselves.

JB: Are they ready to go away from home? That is the most important piece of the puzzle. If you are the smartest student in the world, greatest athlete, musician, or artist, it sometimes can all be for nothing if you are not ready to be away from home. 

JBB: First of all, when they are inquiring about boarding school, it does not mean they are committing to going to boarding school. They are exploring their options and are making an informed choice about what environment will be best for them. I think many families don’t even look because they have misperceptions about what type of family “sends” their child to boarding school, but I also think in some cases, the family doesn’t want to end up liking it.

MM: There is a boarding school that is the right match for every student.  It may be intimidating at first thinking about the number of boarding schools that are available to students. First, narrow in on location.  How far away from home are you comfortable being? Second, what are some programs that are important for the school to have? And lastly, step foot on the campuses of the schools that you are interested in.  The culture of a school is often the defining feature of whether a student will be happy in the environment.

OT: How is each school different or unique? Your deciding factors will exist in this space.

SG: Be open to exploring this idea! Boarding school is unlike any other high school experience. Ask yourself, “Is this an experience I want?” The application process can help show you that for yourself, and also teach you so many things about who you are as a person. While it’s completely fine to be a little nervous about the change, at the end of the process it is good for you to know for yourself that this is an experience you are seeking. 

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
AG: It will certainly be a leap of faith, but I encourage students to think deeply about the environment that they need to thrive. Ensuring that the school has the academic, athletic, co-curricular, residential, and leadership opportunities that align with the students' interests is important. The right environment makes all the difference. 
 

JB: A student knows if they are a good fit for boarding school, by simply visiting campus. I know it sounds simple, but in the end, it is about that gut feeling. After the tour and interview, you will get in the car with your parents and mom or dad will ask, "So, what did you think?” That answer or feeling is how you know if the school is the right fit for you. I also encourage families to visit other schools, even day schools too, to hopefully reaffirm that feeling that school is the right one for you.  

JBB: They want more and are willing to embrace the adventure and the flexing of new muscles in order to realize their potential.

MM: Do the opportunities available at boarding school intrigue you? Have you been away from home at a sleepaway camp and found the experience enriching? Are you open to trying new activities and being an involved community member? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, you may be a good candidate for boarding school.

OT: Car analogy: If a student is in the front seat (driver seat or passenger seat navigating) then they are ready to be at boarding school driving or navigating their own experience.  Back seat students “along for the ride” aren’t ready yet. We surround them with adults and students who are ready to help guide them to success or through perceived failure.

SG: Adaptability, resiliency, willingness to try new things and take healthy risks, a desire to be a part of a school community, a love for learning, an appetite for growth … the support is built into the boarding school experience; you should be prepared to reach out when you need it, and learn from your experiences.

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Don’t try to impress your interviewer. Be prepared. Know your WHY. Why are you looking at X school? Why are you interested in boarding?  Why do you like…?  It is important that you can articulate your unique gifts/talents and have an awareness of your growth areas. 

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
I certainly ask every potential boarding student if they’ve had the opportunity to be away from home for an extended period of time (sleepaway camp, visiting relatives without parents, etc.). If they HAVE, I ask them to describe the experience and expand on what they learned about themself that may be applicable to being a boarding student at Stevenson? If they’ve never had the opportunity to participate in an extended time away from family, I ask them about what they hope to gain from the experience and what they think might be the most challenging about being a boarder.

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
I think it goes back to my #1 pro-tip, a student should know their WHY. What are they hoping to gain from this experience?  Often students who’ve gone away to a summer camp experience can make the leap to living where they go to school. Boarding School is NOT like going away to college -- there is structure and support provided, by faculty and peers.  Students need to be open to assistance and learn to advocate for themselves.

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
It will certainly be a leap of faith, but I encourage students to think deeply about the environment that they need to thrive. Ensuring that the school has the academic, athletic, co-curricular, residential, and leadership opportunities that align with the students' interests is important. The right environment makes all the difference. 

If we’ve (Admissions) have done our job, each accepted student should be well matched for our community. The next step is onboarding. The revisits in the spring hopefully support the decision to attend and get the student and family excited. Over the spring/summer students will take placement exams, pick classes, and connect with student and parent ambassadors, their dorm prefect (student leaders in the resident hall), roommate, and faculty advisor. Those first few days and weeks of school are incredibly important, we do a lot to orient our students to our campus and community.  We have a multi-day orientation balancing all the need-to-know and fun activities.

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
We want each student to find success. Every new student is asked to complete our Math and World Language placement exams.  The registrar is available throughout the summer to answer any questions. During a student’s time at Stevenson their faculty advisor, dept. chairs and college counselor are trusted advisors helping students and families choose the appropriate course load. Should a student need additional assistance, Stevenson offers a ninth-grade class called “Skills for Academic Success”, which is focused on executive functioning skills and a 1:1 learning support program. Stevenson offers 30 Honors/Advanced Course (19 AP) and 55 electives. We can support and challenge a range of learners. Please refer to our Curriculum Guide for more information. 

What does a typical school day look like? 
Our academic day begins at 8:30 AM. We have an eight-day / eight-period rotating schedule. Students typically take six classes and therefore have two “free periods.”  Four class periods meet each day ensuring that students have a manageable homework load each evening. A daily extra help period is built into the academic schedule, allowing students to access their teachers for content-based help. The day ends at 3:05 PM. Afternoon Sports and Activities are typically completed by 5:30 PM. Students participate in a buffet-style dinner before settling in to study hall from 8-10 PM.  Ninth-graders are required to be in their rooms with their lights out at 10:30 PM.

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 
We have more than 25 student clubs and several affinity groups. Weekends offer a wealth of opportunities to engage with peers on or off-campus. 

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
Stevenson is a very dog-friendly campus. We have over 30 faculty dogs on campus. In May, we have “Senior Dog” day when each 12th grade is able to bring a dog to campus. I just recently learned about this tradition when a ninth-grade boarder (younger sibling of a recent grad) asked if she could reserve my yellow lab for her senior year :)

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
Families don’t lack ways to stay involved.  Our Pirate Parents Association is very active, both regionally and on campus. Families also assist with large school events (Parents Weekend, Prom, etc.).

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Be yourself. When interviewing with an admissions officer, the takeaway should be “do I want this student to be my neighbor in the dorm?” This is your chance to put a face to your application, be yourself and it is OK to brag about yourself! At the end of the day, it is a conversation.

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
“Tell me about your friends? Are they from school, sports, other extracurriculars, your neighborhood? And if you have a free Saturday, what are you all doing for fun?”

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
Are they ready to go away from home? That is the most important piece of the puzzle. If you are the smartest student in the world, greatest athlete, musician, or artist, it sometimes can all be for nothing if you are not ready to be away from home. 

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
A student knows if they are a good fit for boarding school, by simply visiting campus. I know it sounds simple, but in the end, it is about that gut feeling. After the tour and interview, you will get in the car with your parents and mom or dad will ask, "So, what did you think?” That answer or feeling is how you know if the school is the right fit for you. I also encourage families to visit other schools, even day schools too, to hopefully reaffirm that feeling that school is the right one for you.  

We as admissions officers do a lot to make sure our students can thrive in boarding school. For one, in the admissions process, we will not accept families that we do not feel are a good fit for Kent. We would never accept a student who we feel could not thrive in our community. We do many things to set kids up for success, and ultimately it is up to the student to take advantage of those resources.

Examples of things we do to set kids up for success:

• Campus-wide study hall 7:30-9:30 pm every school night.
• Check-in at 9:30 pm for 9th and 10th graders, 10 pm for 11th and 12th graders.
• Lights out for 9th and 10th graders at 10:00 pm. Meaning students cannot do homework past 10:00 pm. We want to teach kids to manage their time so they are never up till all hours of the night doing homework.
• During study hall, we have teachers from every department stationed on campus to make sure the campus is quiet, but they are also available for extra help. Those duty schedules are shared in each dorm.
• Our Academic Resource Center is open all day and study hall for writing lab, peer tutoring, and academic support in time management.
• All new 9th and 10th graders will take a class called New Student seminar, which in short is a one-trimester course on how to live away from home. How to manage your time, and take advantage of all the resources Kent has to offer.

I’m sure I am forgetting some, but these are examples of how we set kids up for success, and ultimately the ball is in their court to walk from their dorm room and ask for help. Self Reliance is in our school motto. 

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
All of our courses at Kent are ability-based. Each student has an individualized schedule based on their ability. Meaning freshmen can be in classes with juniors and seniors. This schedule is created via teachers' recommendations, as well as a series of placement tests taken over the summer. We are seeing many families inquire about reclassifying, whether a student came to Kent as a repeat ninth-grader or true 10th-grader their academic schedule would be identical. Every student has an advisor that oversees all academic placement tests as well as course changes. As students move on to 11th and 12th grades they have the opportunity to take courses of their choosing. We have over 100 different courses offered at Kent.

Our academic resource center (ARC) is located in our library and staffed by three full-time faculty members. They specialize in our academic support and are certified learning specialists. What we truly focus on is the individual in those sessions helping them with the tools to succeed at Kent, without the ARC someday.

What does a typical school day look like? 

The first two blocks of every day at Kent are part of our Community Life program. It is when we will have:

• Chapel (2x a week, 25-minute service)
• Community Life Course (2x a week, 45 minutes)
• Advisory (once a week, 45 minutes)
• Conference Block (once a week, 45 minutes, a time where every student and faculty member are free)
• New Student Seminar (A crash course on how to live away from home for new students)
• Grade meeting with deans office
• Faculty meetings (once every two weeks, means sleep-in for students)

Then, we will get into our academic courses where it is a block rotation. Kids will have on average 2-3 academic courses a day, with Wednesday’s and Saturday’s being half days. 3-out-of-4 of our academic blocks a day will be 45-minutes with one 90-minute class each day.

We are a three Activity School meaning students will have to do something after school 4-6 days a week depending on the program.  That will fall in the 3:30-5:30 pm window (with the exception of ice hockey and basketball). We have many offerings for after-school programs with interscholastic athletics, we compete in the Founders League. One can also do an intramural sport, art, community service, robotics, play or sports media.

If students want to play an instrument, ensembles will meet in the evenings once a week at 6:30 pm. Individual lessons are often built into free blocks during the academic day. 

Students will check-in at 7:30 pm prior to study hall.  

• 9th graders are to be in the dorm for study hall
• 10th graders are to stay in the dorm for study hall, but they can leave the dorm three times a week if they would like.
• 11th graders can be anywhere on campus for study hall.
• 12th graders can be anywhere on campus for study hall.
• 9th and 10th graders will check-in at 9:30 pm and lights out at 10:00 pm
• 11th and 12th graders will check-in at 10:00 pm and they have to be in their room by 10:30 pm.

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 
At Kent we are 95% boarding, meaning the vast majority of our student body lives right on campus. In addition to that 90% of our faculty live right on campus. We are not a school that empties out on the weekend. We have a program called Blue Key that is student-run.  Every Friday Blue Key emails the entire school with a weekend itinerary of what is going on this weekend on campus. Some examples are, trips to Walmart, apple cider and donuts in the dining hall, build your own sundae, free skate in the hockey rink, a 3v3 basketball tournament, movies on the quad, and smores around fire pits.  There are a wide variety of activities, and none of them are mandatory.  We also have a town located on our campus and students can walk to town anytime they would like. They just have to be back on campus by 6:00 pm (when the sun goes down). 

We are a three activity school so the kids must do something outside the classroom. That will fall in the 3:30-5:30 pm window (with the exception of ice hockey and basketball). We have many offerings for after-school programs with interscholastic athletics, we compete in the Founders League. One can also do an intramural sport, art, community service, robotics, the play or sports media.  Music ensembles will meet in the evenings at 6:30 pm. Students never have to choose between music and athletics!

Over breaks we will have some programs, but for the most part that is our students' time away from campus. The responsibility at Kent falls on the advisor of the student to be in touch with them over breaks.  All transportation to and from airports is arranged by Kent, with the exception of move-in and move-out days. We have shuttles that take students to Laguardia (90 minutes), JFK (105 minutes), Hartford-Bradley (75 minutes), and Newark (120 minutes).

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
Rock Day is our most interesting tradition. During the week leading up to graduation, our 11th-grade class hikes up mount Algo to paint the enormous boulder that overlooks the campus the year of the graduating class. For example, if you visited Kent today you would see the rock with the number 22 on it.  It can be seen on your drive into campus. Every Kent graduate since 1908 has hiked the mountain to paint the rock on Mount Algo. 

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
Parents are first of all encouraged to come to campus as often as they would like. We often see families at sporting events, the play concerts, and every major event on campus is live-streamed as well for parents who cannot be there in person. We just completed our parents' weekend where families were invited to campus to meet with advisors, teachers, coaches and see how their child is thriving at Kent! We also have a parent committee that is involved in campaigns and the admissions process. We are fortunate to have parents from all over the world willing to speak with prospective families about Kent. We are so lucky to have our parent outreach committee! 

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Take time to develop meaningful questions to ask during your interview. To do so, it is helpful to review the website in advance and develop some questions that come from that review--perhaps clarifications. If you want to take it one step further, ask questions that cannot be found on the website. For example, if the admission representative has been at the school for a long time, ask what is something that has changed and something that has not changed. If they are new to the school, ask why they chose to work there. 

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
I ask every applicant, “What are you proud of?” Believe it or not, this is the most difficult question I ask. We are an all-girls school, and girls are often taught not to brag. They are happy to tell you where they need to grow but to talk about their accomplishments and what their best characteristics often get them stumped. It is the first lesson I teach them in terms of being informed about their value. Talking about one’s skill set is not bragging, it is an informed opinion based on things they have tried, perhaps didn’t even succeed at initially. This type of exercise continues throughout our advising program, Journey. 

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
First of all, when they are inquiring about boarding school, it does not mean they are committing to going to boarding school. They are exploring their options and are making an informed choice about what environment will be best for them. I think many families don’t even look because they have misperceptions about what type of family “sends” their child to boarding school, but I also think in some cases, the family doesn’t want to end up liking it.

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
They want more and are willing to embrace the adventure and the flexing of new muscles in order to realize their potential.

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 

• We have a comprehensive four-year advising program called Journey, whose mission is to impart Santa Catalina culture to our students, advance their leadership skills, and ensure them excellent college placement. The program includes grade-level weekly Journey classes, individualized one-on-one monthly advising, and Journey Days focusing on topics such as leadership, college counseling, career exploration, service, and philanthropy. The program includes building an electronic portfolio, which acts as a personalized strategic plan called P.O.I.N.T.S (Personalized Objectives In Navigating Toward Success). Students create personal values statements. They learn the importance of having a personal mission and a long-term vision for themselves. They create an action plan. The POINTS Portfolio is the tool our students use to map out and reflect upon their journey to college and beyond. They record their academic plans, save important self-reflections, log their activities and achievements, and archive examples of their best work. By developing their POINTS under the guidance of a trained advisor, our students develop greater responsibility for their personal growth and development and steadily prepare for the college application process.
• Math Tutoring Center (MTC) - staffed by our math department and complemented by student peer tutors.
• For students who have documented mild learning differences, can provide a psychoeducational evaluation taken within the past three years, and fall within the parameters of our Academic Support parameters, we provide accommodations. We also have private tutors that can be scheduled during the academic day during free periods.
• Class schedules are highly personalized (in keeping with college preparatory diploma requirements)

What does a typical school day look like? 

• 7:00 am: Dining Room opens and includes fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, cereal, eggs, bacon/sausage, oatmeal, omelettes, hash browns, etc.
• 8:30 am: First 70-minute period begins. Note: The block schedule includes an arts elective in addition to six academic subjects; Wednesdays include a non-denominational Chapel Service and advising (Journey)
• 9:45 am: Morning assembly, which includes such things as a “Good Luck” shout out to an athletics team, a short skit from one of the performances clubs to inspire girls to audition, a senior birthday desk announcement with a birthday cheer from the entire school, or an update on a service trip with the girls we mentor from Salinas Valley--perhaps to a Girls Festival in the Silicon Valley.
• 10:00 am-12:25 pm: Two more 70-minute classes
• 12:25-1:15 pm: Lunch (Bon Appetit is our amazing catering company)
• 1:15-2:25 pm: Last 70-minute class (Monday-Thursday have four 70-minute blocks; Fridays have five 70-minute blocks)
• 2:25-3:30 pm: Community time, which includes meeting with teachers, on-campus upperclassmen internships, meeting with clubs, doing homework, studying for tests, etc.
• 3:45-6:00 pm: After-school activity
  • Include one of our 12 interscholastic sports; one of our three theatre performances; dance; Theatre Tech; General P.E. (including horseback riding lessons). 
  • We have a fall, winter, and spring season where a student can change their interest from sports to theatre to dance, etc.
  • In the winter season, we also offer Mock Trial, Robotics, and Lifeguarding.
• 6:00-7:00 pm: Dinner (includes themed community dinners on Monday nights)
• 7:30-9:30 pm: Study hours in the dorms proctored by resident staff, which includes teachers (Sunday-Thursday only)
• Lights out: Freshmen have lights out at 10:30 pm; sophomores at 10:45 pm; juniors and seniors observe quiet hours but no official lights out.
• Weekends:
  • No weekend school - lots of activities and excursions available locally and to places such as San Francisco, Big Sur, and Lake Tahoe
  • Fridays and Saturdays - transportation around town provided by school
• 9:30 am on Sunday - Catholic Mass followed by an outstanding brunch
• Note: Mass is geared towards a community comprised of many different religious and cultural backgrounds 

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 

• See some of the details above
• School breaks in a non-pandemic year have included trips to places such as New York where they have seen nine shows in seven days; Oregon for a Shakespeare festival; Peru for a service trip; college trips
• Summer breaks travel to such countries as France, India, Spain, Costa Rica, China, etc.
• We have over 30 clubs and activities that keep the students really busy. They include TEDxSantaCatalinaSchool; literary and arts publications; cultural clubs (ie: K-Pop), performance clubs (a capella, improv, body percussion, band, and dance); Mock Trial; Business & Finance; environment clubs; Rugby Club; Animal Welfare; and numerous community service opportunities.

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
Ring Week: Based on the theme chosen by the Senior Class, Ring Week activities include costumes, scavenger hunts, and entertainment. At the final dinner hosted by the seniors, senior ring sisters are revealed to juniors as they receive their school rings, and become "ring sisters" for life.

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 

• We have a weekly newsletter from our Head of Upper School; we have a newsletter from college counseling (absolutely outstanding-happy to send to anyone who is interested); and consistent communication from and access to each student’s advisor. Our Instagram page is a great way to keep informed about daily happenings at Catalina. We also send daily notifications regarding our athletic teams.
• For wellness and safety, we have a texting communication service.
• For boarding permissions, we have an app called REACH

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
I understand that interviewing at a boarding school can be an intimidating experience, especially coming from a year where many felt isolated in their lives. While I understand that it is easier said than done, RELAX! Admissions representatives are truly excited to get to know you and look at it as a genuine opportunity to learn something new about you. That said, don’t regurgitate what is already represented on your application. Share stories about your passions, successes you had or failures you learned from.

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
“When and where are you happiest and why?” This is my favortie question because as a school, we strongly value student happiness. This question allows students to elaborate on an experience, a passion, or a place that truly brings them joy. I love to see a student's face light up as they recall the answer to this question and inevitably leads to an interesting conversation.

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
There is a boarding school that is the right match for every student.  It may be intimidating at first thinking about the number of boarding schools that are available to students. First, narrow in on location.  How far away from home are you comfortable being? Second, what are some programs that are important for the school to have? And lastly, step foot on the campuses of the schools that you are interested in.  The culture of a school is often the defining feature of whether a student will be happy in the environment.

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
Do the opportunities available at boarding school intrigue you? Have you been away from home at a sleepaway camp and found the experience enriching? Are you open to trying new activities and being an involved community member? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, you may be a good candidate for boarding school.

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
At Dunn School, you can expect a very individualized approach to your education. We have an average classroom size of 12 students and a student-to-teacher ratio of 5:1. In our environment, students form strong relationships with their teachers who are able to provide individualized instruction.  

Dunn School has been supporting students with learning differences for almost 50 years. Being in an environment that understands and supports cognitive and neurodiversity is empowering for our students with learning differences. Our school employs seven full-time learning specialists who work with students in our Learning Strategies Program either in a 1-on-1 setting or in groups smaller than five. These students are attending the same college-preparatory curriculum, but receiving the support they need to overcome their learning difference. It’s important to note that there is no stigma associated with working with a learning specialist at Dunn as there may be in other environments. Lastly, there is no greater joy than seeing the self-esteem and sense of achievement re-enter a student’s life when that student is supported by an environment that has teachers who understand that not all children learn the same way.

What does a typical school day look like? 
Boarding school by design is pretty structured. Students remain engaged and active for the majority of their days. At Dunn School, every day starts with a meeting with your advisor where you check-in and talk about your day ahead.

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 
Although considered a small school, the sports and extracurricular offerings at Dunn are very robust. Dunn School offers 15 different sports throughout the year in addition to other unique after-school activities like surfing, mountain biking, yoga, drama, robotics, and strength and conditioning.  On the weekends, students can sign up for school-sponsored trips that may include things like eating at your favorite restaurant, going to the beach, or shopping on State Street.  Aside from the learning that happens within the confines of a classroom, Dunn School believes strongly in the power of experiential education.  At any given time, students may be on an outdoor education trip canoeing down the Colorado River or summiting Mount Whitney in the Sierra’s. These opportunities are designed for student growth and provide unique leadership opportunities for students. Additionally, our week-long Mini-Term dials experiential education up a notch by offering global travel to places like Guatemala, the Swiss Alps, Spain, or even an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. The experiences that students will have in an environment like Dunn’s are hard to replicate in a day school setting.

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
I think this has to be our annual lip-sync competition. It’s hard to top seeing your favorite teachers, or an entire sports team, dressed up in costume performing some iconic and often embarrassing songs!

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
We highly value our parents and their involvement with the school.  Many of our parents will volunteer their time, talents, and/or treasure with the school through the Dunn School Association (DSA).  The DSA is a parent lead program that provides opportunities for families to give back to the community by attending events such as speaker series, book clubs, booster clubs, etc. 

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Be your authentic self

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
If you could have dinner with yourself in 10 years, what advice would you give yourself?

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
How is each school different or unique? Your deciding factors will exist in this space.

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
Car analogy: If a student is in the front seat (driver seat or passenger seat navigating) then they are ready to be at boarding school driving or navigating their own experience.  Back seat students “along for the ride” aren’t ready yet. We surround them with adults and students who are ready to help guide them to success or through perceived failure.

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
We allow a student to challenge themselves with the right class placement so they are asked to maximize their effort. The advisor, teachers, dorm parents, and learning center are all ready to help triangulate the student’s plan of attack.

What does a typical school day look like? 

• 8 AM: Breakfast
• 8:30-11:15 AM: First two class blocks
• 11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Lunch
• 12:30-3 PM: Last two class blocks
• 3:30-5:15 PM: Afternoon Program
• 5:30-6:30 PM: Dinner
• 7-10 PM: Study Hall
• 11 PM: Lights Out

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged?

• Our Afternoon Program is required so students pick an activity in the Fall, Winter, and Spring.
• On weekends there are tons of activities both off-campus (Colorado Springs and the Mountains are 20 minutes away) and on campus.

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
Stupid Night Out: A festive evening the first month of school where students dress up in second-hand outfits, attend a dance on campus and they prepare skits, and compete for prizes

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
We have a communication schedule where the families will hear from teachers, coaches, dorm parents, and advisors throughout the year as to how their student is doing.

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Learn a little about the school and the mission statement – reflect on who you are as a person and the experiences you’ve had that are in line with that. Listen to the question being asked and respond based on your reflections. Don’t worry about trying to fit everything into one question’s response … there will be more questions! Be ready to share your genuine thoughts! We love getting to know you!

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
Essentially … why are you here today? How did you get to this point? Why are you considering our school? Other questions will help us get to know you, and we love to know your “why”!

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
Be open to exploring this idea! Boarding school is unlike any other high school experience. Ask yourself, “Is this an experience I want?” The application process can help show you that for yourself, and also teach you so many things about who you are as a person. While it’s completely fine to be a little nervous about the change, at the end of the process it is good for you to know for yourself that this is an experience you are seeking.

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
Adaptability, resiliency, willingness to try new things and take healthy risks, a desire to be a part of a school community, a love for learning, an appetite for growth … the support is built into the boarding school experience; you should be prepared to reach out when you need it, and learn from your experiences.

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
Students have greater curriculum flexibility as they advance into 11th and 12th grades, and may choose from a wide range of advanced courses. They can choose from advanced courses in the arts, humanities, sciences, math, and more! Students will work with their advisors, College Guidance, their parents, and more, to ensure they are taking balanced, yet challenging, course loads. Upon beginning at Webb, students will take placement tests for world languages and math to place into their relative levels. 

What does a typical school day look like? 
The below image shows you what your typical day will look like. Your schedule might change each week, and you’ll receive an academic planner with pages like these, letting you know about important school activities, and indicating which class block you have at each given day and time. The A-G represent your different classes – A block, for example, could be your math class for the semester, your B block, perhaps a humanities course, and so on. You’ll have three classes a day, breaks in between, and afternoon activities as well as evening study times.

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 
Over 70 student-led clubs, leadership opportunities, athletics & afternoon activities, weekend excursions to the local Claremont village, outdoor shopping malls, downtown LA, and more! Over breaks, trips will be offered (currently domestic, but in the past have included international trips).

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
We have many traditions at Webb, but Freshman Peccary Trips are one-of-a-kind! During the freshman year, every student as part of their evolutionary biology course participates in a weekend peccary trip (fossil dig) to the Barstow area. Additional trips are available during the summer, for those who are strongly interested in the Alf Museum (of Paleontology) on campus.

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
Our “Affiliates” group is our parent organization and is very engaged. Parents automatically become a part of the Affiliates when their child enrolls at Webb. It is a great way to connect and be a part of their child’s experience. Advisors also stay in frequent contact with families, and parents know they have a point person they can check in with.

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Relax, breathe, and be yourself!

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
Why Thacher?

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
Alignment of interests, activities, and personality.

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
Are they excited (maybe a little nervous) for new experiences away from home?

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
Our faculty members are not only masters of their content areas, they’re also deeply committed to building real relationships, inside the classroom and out. This allows them to carefully design curriculum with a special focus on work that engages real, practical challenges facing our world—and that ignites genuine interest and engagement.

What does a typical school day look like?
For 9th-grade students:

• 6:45 AM - wake up, head to barns to feed horse and muck stall
• 7:30 AM - breakfast
• 8:45 AM - Classes begin
• 10:00 AM - All-School Assembly
• 11:30 AM - Lunch
• 3:15 PM - Class day ends
• 3:45 PM - Afternoon Activities (Barns and riding for 9th-grade students)
• 6:15 PM - Community dinner
• 7:30 PM 9:30 PM - Study Hall
• 10:30 PM - Lights Out

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 

• Horse Program
• Backcountry Program
• Performing Arts
• Interscholastic Athletics
• Weekend Trips
• Dances
• Open House - all-school party at the Head of School House (most weekends)

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
First-year Horse Program

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
Advisors serve as primary liaison between school and home.  Additionally, dorm heads, teachers, coaches, and other members of the community communicate regularly with parents and families.

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Engage thoughtfully with questions; take advantage of opportunities to include stories, aspirations, inspirations, and experiences when you’re answering a question asked by an interviewer. 

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
Some variation of: What does belonging mean to you? What does it look like for you to feel a deep sense of belonging in community? In which communities do you feel a deep sense of belonging? What does it look like for you to contribute to creating and sustaining a culture of belonging for others?

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
Students should consider in what ways they aspire to actively participate in their high school experience. [Note: I said aspire; students don’t necessarily need to be ready to do this before they come to us. Part of the boarding school experience is equipping our students with the skills and habits that will allow them to build this capacity.] Boarding schools provide incredible opportunities for students to be at the center of their learning; the myriad of opportunities offered in a boarding school setting coupled with an environment that prioritizes meaningful relationships, personal exploration, and perpetual growth, provides you, the student, with the tools you need to design a transformative experience. 

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
Determining a great “fit” between a student and a school is of critical importance in ensuring that a student can access, benefit from, and contribute to the mission of a school. When we think of a mission-driven school with mission-minded community members, determining fit is some of the most important work we do. In the end, I think establishing or predicting the likelihood of reciprocity between the student and the mission is a strong indicator of fit.

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
At KUA, we believe that creating a deep sense of belonging for all community members sets the foundation for everything we do. We personalize a student’s education by harnessing the power of knowing them; we take the time to develop relationships and we anchor them in all learning in which we engage with our students. Through a wide range of programs and opportunities, we leverage our knowledge of our students and our knowledge about the science of learning to design intentional challenges and experiences that serve each individual student. These intentional challenges and experiences serve as a mechanism through which students develop the knowledge, voice, and character to live a life of purpose and integrity. 

What does a typical school day look like? 
A typical day includes a few meals in the dining hall with friends, an all-school meeting outside on the quad, a conversation with your advisor about the upcoming weekend, a few classes, sports or an afternoon activity, a club meeting, and social and study time in the dorm. 

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 
We offer a wide range of afternoon activities including competitive and recreational athletics, arts, and service opportunities. Students must participate in something each afternoon and each of the three seasons. In addition, we offer a robust suite of weekend programming, led by our student activity board, a prestigious and sought-after student leadership opportunity at KUA. 

What is your most interesting school tradition?
We begin each and every year with a camping and hiking orientation trip for all new students and returning student leaders. It’s such a strong statement of values to prioritize building belonging and community ahead of anything else, and we do this because we know that creating community doesn’t just happen, we have to design, build, and sustain it each year. 

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
We host monthly virtual parent and caregiver meetings as an opportunity for families to engage with the School in a meaningful way. In addition, parents and caregivers are in frequent touch with their student’s advisor, dorm parent, and teachers.

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Be yourself! We want to know what your passions and interests are and why you’re interested in bringing them to our school. 

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
What stands out to you the most about Midland? Why do you want to attend and how do you see yourself thriving here?

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
What can you not live without (make sure it exists on that campus), but more importantly, how can you most challenge yourself by trying something new and exciting? Boarding school is all about trying new things. 

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
Anyone can be/is a great fit for boarding school. You just have to be ready to challenge yourself, try new things, and be up for an adventure. By showing up and diving into new clubs, activities, sports, etc. you’ll thrive! 

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
As a boarding school, supporting students is a foundational part of our program. Academically, Midland students have access to invaluable resources including after-hours time with faculty, as well as the support of a dedicated learning skills faculty and access to peer and adult tutors. Socially and emotionally, our program fosters a tight-knit community where students feel seen, heard, and valued; each Midland student knows that they are a crucial part of our community and that their unique talents and passions contribute greatly to our school. Students also have emotional and social support from a live-in nurse and health practitioner, a school counselor, in addition to our Faculty advisors (each student is placed in an advisor “family” and the advisor serves as a pseudo-parent while the student is at Midland) and prefects (seniors who check the students in each evening and provide support to students as they navigate the ins-and-outs of growing up at Midland).

What does a typical school day look like? 
A typical day at Midland starts with a delicious home-cooked meal in Stillman Hall. After breakfast, students contribute to the community through our jobs program, by helping to clean classrooms or wash dishes, among many other things, before heading into their first class of the day. Depending on the day of the week, classes end at lunchtime or in the later afternoon and are typically followed by Sports & Activities — featuring many of the extracurriculars detailed below — or a free afternoon to hang with friends, finish homework or head out on the 35+ miles of trails for a horseback ride, bike ride, hike, or swim in the reservoir with friends. 

On Mondays and Thursdays, dinner is preceded by a non-denominational “Chapel,” a community gathering in which a Senior or Faculty member shares a story or lesson with the community. Evenings are dedicated either to study hall or “Club Night” — time for movies and games, roasting marshmallows around a fire, or another student-planned activity. Then, students begin heading back to their cabins, checking in with their prefects, and a hearty night’s sleep!

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 
Midland offers an incredible array of extracurricular activities, including Natural Horsemanship, Outdoor Leadership (hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, wilderness skills), Arts & Ceramics, Farm & Garden, as well as many of your more traditional competitive sports (Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, etc.). We also have a diverse array of clubs and activities offered in the afternoons, evenings and weekends, including an incredibly active LGBTQ+Ally Club, Latinx Club, Environmental Club, drive-in movies, ping-pong tournaments, beekeeping, overnight camping trips and more!

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
Bringing your pet to school with you! 

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
Our faculty advisors reach out several times throughout each term with updates on your child(ren)’s academics and extracurriculars to ensure you stay up to date with everything happening on campus. Parents are welcomed and encouraged to reach out to their child(ren)’s advisor at any time with questions, concerns, or feedback. One of the best ways to stay connected is by setting up a dedicated time each week to check in with your child(ren) via phone or zoom. 

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Prepare some questions to ask the interviewer - this is your chance to get to know more about our schools as well

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
There is a lot going on in the world right now - tell me about a global issue, current event, or topic that interests you.  How have you leaned into this interest?   

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
There is a school out there for everyone so try to embrace the process and don’t allow the stress to keep in

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
Are you ready to stretch yourself? Do you want to learn to be more independent and self-reliant?  When interacting with our schools, especially if you are able to come to campus, something will click.  Maybe it’s the people, might be the campus, could be a program offered that really resonates with you -- either way, trust your intuition and the feelings you feel.  

We ensure students thrive by wrapping our arms around them.  Each person has a team of adults looking out for them (advisors, teachers, coaches, form deans, dorm parents, and more).  We meet regularly in spaces to both challenge and support kids as everyone embraces this journey in their own ways.

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
Every student has access to exciting academic, athletic, and artistic offerings along with clubs and activities.  There are independent study and research programs offered in all disciplines and students can truly pursue their passions even if they are not offered in our traditional curriculum.  See our Academic webpage to get a better sense of our courses and the depth and breadth of our program, all tailored to a students’ individual interest.  

Advisors work with students to find the right balance in academics, co-curriculars, and social time.  If students need support beyond extra help sessions offered twice weekly by our teachers, there are a number of academic resources - the Math Resource Center, Writing Center, and the Kenefick Center for Learning to arrange for tutoring offer tutoring in a variety of formats.   

What does a typical school day look like? 
8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.- Classes, lunch, assembly, club meetings, advisory, free periods, and more

3:30-5:00 p.m.- Afternoon program (sports, arts, RKMP, community service)

5:00-7:00 p.m.- Dinner

7:45 p.m.- Check-in

8:00-10:00 p.m.- Study Hall (except for seniors)

11:00 p.m.- Lights Out (except for seniors)

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 
Possibilities are endless! Students are required to participate in an afternoon program all three seasons.  Visit our athletics webpage for information about sports and the arts page for all that we offer in the creative realm.  

Weekends always center around a fun Saturday night activity for the whole school.  I suggest following our Instagram for snapshots into student life, especially on the weekends.  Transportation is provided to the town of Great Barrington for meals, movies, and shopping.  Our trails are alive with hikers and bikers taking advantage of the beautiful Berkshire mountains with the guidance of our Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program.  

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
Winter Carnival!  This week-long competition between dorms encourages spirit, creativity, and bonding. Think costumes, ice dancing, human dogsled races, trivia night, scavenger hunts, snow sculptures and more.  

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
We invite family members to campus three times a year for Fall, Winter, and Spring family weekends. There are volunteer opportunities for families and lots of organic connections on the sidelines at games or through Berkshire gatherings off-campus in communities all over the world.

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
It is most important to have done some research prior to your visit so you can ask questions about specific programs in order to really understand the differences between the schools you are considering. Visit websites. Check out  social media posts. It is obvious to admission reps who have genuinely taken the time to learn about a school vs. those who do not. 

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
In what ways do you think you will make a positive impact in our community?

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
ou want to attend a school where you can see yourself driving across the country in a Volkswagon Beattle with your peers and teachers and when you arrive at the other coast, you can honestly say you liked the trip and still enjoy the people you traveled with. All schools offer strong academic programs, sports, arts, etc. None of these things matter if you do not feel good and comfortable with the students and adults in your community.

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
This all comes down to really doing your homework, asking questions, researching schools, etc. Not every school is a good fit for a student despite a strong interview and application. Often we hear it just felt right or I followed my gut instinct. It is OK to be nervous about saying yes to a boarding school but there should be lots of excitement as well. 

In admissions, it is our job to get to know students well throughout the application process. We need to be honest with the family and ourselves about fit in the classroom, dorms, theater, clubs, athletics, etc. Will a student be able to take a deep breath and feel like they belong? The tour and interview is an important piece to determine fit as are your recommendations. Grades are easier to understand but we also need to know how hard one has to work to earn those grades? Do you receive support outside of the classroom? Are you being challenged? We also are not afraid to call a family or a recommendation to get clarity around an area of concern.  In the end, our jobs are to make sure kids are set up for success in our communities and so we take the time to really know our applicants.

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
-Strong advisory program to support students in and out of the classroom.
-Knower Academic Support is a 1-1 support program meeting with students meeting either 2x or 4x a week focusing on executive functioning skills, subject-specific support, test prep, etc. Our faculty are excellent and want to support their students. At times, there are students who need additional support. This is where Knower Academics comes in.
-Teachers are always available for questions and to offer support.
-Holderness students do not need to have their classwork remediated and they do not need lots of accommodations outside of perhaps extended time on tests. 
 

What does a typical school day look like? 
Classes run Monday-Saturday with Wednesday and Saturday being half days.
Thursday
8:40-10:00 Block 1
10:10-11:00 Block 2
11:10-12:30 Block 3X
11:45-1:00 Lunch
1:20-2:10 Block 4
2:20-3:10 Core3 Programming
3:40-5:30 Sports and Afternoon Programming
6:00-6:15 Chapel
6:20-7:05 Family Style Dinner
8:00-9:45 Study Hall
10:00 Dorm Check-In
11:00 Lights Out

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 
very student is required to participate in a sport or activity each season. Sports offered include traditional sports like soccer, field hockey, basketball, etc. We also have non-traditional sports like mountain biking, rock climbing, winter mountaineering, and skateboarding. Lastly, Holderness is known for its world-class snowsports programs to include alpine, freestyle, big mountain and nordic skiing. Holderness has had 17 Olympians and many more world cup qualifiers in snowsports and many more kids simply out there having fun. Games are played on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Students can also take art in the afternoon to include ceramics, music, band, photography, theater, etc. On the weekends, our campus overlooks a college town. Students are allowed to walk into town to visit Cafe Monte Alto and grab a coffee, enjoy one of the restaurants, or even take in a show or concert at the Flying Monkey in town. Because of our location in the Lake Region and White Mountains, we also often have hiking trips, fishing, canoeing, and skiing trips. All of this is done in addition to dances on campus, lip sync competitions, Brownie Night at the Head of School’s house, Spike Ball Tournaments, etc. There is always so much to do to make sure our kids are engaged and happy. However, it is important to have some downtime as well. Balancing your day and your week is something we value and will support our students in doing.

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
Out Back - Out Back has been around since 1969 and has evolved into our most powerful expression of our philosophy of simultaneous challenge and support as the core components of leadership training. It fuses Holderness School’s love of the outdoors, commitment to experiential learning, and core values of curiosity, character, and community into an unforgettable wilderness challenge.

It begins early in the junior year, when the junior class begins a series of meetings and training with our faculty Out Back leaders. Then, in March, after a thorough course in wilderness safety, information sessions on everything from the best gear to the right kinds of nutrition, and a few reassuring emails to parents, the junior class disperses into the White Mountains. There, they meet the challenges of an 11-day experience in winter survival skills, orienteering, snowshoeing, winter camping, and above all, team-building. Not only do the students bond with each other and their leaders, but during the three-day “Solo” experience, students are given the opportunity to spend time alone, in the peace and quiet of the woods—a powerful and increasingly rare opportunity for self-reflection.

Generations of Holderness students have discovered endurance, resilience, and self-confidence through Out Back. Ask any Holderness alumni or alumnae about Out Back and you’ll hear not one, but dozens of stories and insights about the Holderness experience that shaped their lives.

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
With technology today it is easier than ever for parents to be in touch with their child. Anything from a quick text or call to a Zoom or Facetime conversation a few times a week, parents will “see” their kids frequently. We have monthly Town Halls where information is shared and updates given to parents by faculty and administrators. Parents are able to contact the advisor if they have a question or concern or simply have not heard from their child. Games are live streamed so parents can watch the game even if they can’t physically be on campus. We value the school/parent partnership and believe we all need to work together to ensure the overall happiness and success of a child.  We are in this together.

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Do a little research about the school and think of some questions you want to ask your interviewer - the interview is meant to be a chance for you to learn more about us, too! Also, relax and be yourself - it will be a casual conversation; we don’t try to stump you.

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
What are some activities/interests that you wish to continue at Choate, and what are some things you think you’d like to try for the first time?

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
Listen to your gut and find the best fit - obviously consider whether a school’s programs/facilities/courses fit your unique goals and interests, but also listen to your gut and make sure a school feels like a place you can call home for the next few years. 

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
We find that successful Choate students are curious, open-minded, compassionate, and self-sufficient yet unafraid to ask for help. We at Choate say that we offer students “guided independence”: we let them figure things out for themselves and build independence, but we are always there to support them if need be. We have a multi-tiered support system in place for our students; each student is paired with a faculty adviser who they meet with at least once a week, each grade has two deans who support that grade’s students, and every dorm has prefects (seniors who are selected to be leaders/role models/resources in the dorm). We also have an Equity & Inclusion Team as well as a full-time Counseling Staff in place to provide support to our students. https://www.choate.edu/community 

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs? 
Students at Choate have an incredibly wide array of academic opportunities: 300+ courses and 8 signature programs to be exact. Students meet with their advisers to talk about their academic interests and goals, and their adviser walks them through the course selection process when the time comes to register for courses for the next year. Some students like to take advantage of the breadth of our curriculum and try a wide variety of different courses to figure out what they’re most passionate about; others quickly find something they’re passionate about and dive deeply into that particular area through a signature program or combination of courses. Either approach is accepted and encouraged at Choate; there is no one right way to learn here. Our average class size is 12 students, and our teachers use a wide array of teaching styles, ranging from roundtable discussions to experiential learning in or outside of the classroom. 90% of our teachers live on campus, making them easily accessible for extra help sessions. Our academic support systems include a Teaching & Learning Center which helps students with study skills, a Writing Center, and a peer tutoring program. https://www.choate.edu/academics 

What does a typical school day look like? 

• Earliest classes start at 8:00 a.m., latest classes end at 3:15 p.m. (except for Wednesdays when classes end at 12:50 p.m.) - no Saturday classes
• We use a rotating schedule, meaning students don’t have the same classes at the same time every day. Classes meet three times a week for 70 minutes each. On a typical day, students will have three classes and two free periods, or four classes and one free period. 
• Every Thursday, classes don’t start until 9:20 a.m., giving all students a “sleep-in”
• Every Tuesday, we have an all-school meeting at 10:00 a.m. which serves as a weekly community gathering
• 4:00-5:30/6:00 p.m.: Afternoon Activities
• After classes, every student participates in an afternoon activity (options include team sports, intramural sports, performing arts, robotics, community service). 
• Students can eat dinner in the dining hall at any time between 5:00-7:30 p.m.
• We offer more than 100 student clubs and organizations, and many of these clubs will meet periodically between 6-8 p.m. Many of our musical ensembles will also rehearse around this time.
• Study Hall
• 3rd formers (9th graders): study hall in their dorm rooms from 8-10 p.m.
• 4th formers (10th graders): study hall in their dorm rooms from 8-9:30 p.m.
• 5th and 6th formers (11th and 12th graders): no formal study hall
• Lights Out
• 3rd formers: Lights out at 10:45 p.m.
• 4th formers: Lights out at 11:00 p.m.
• 5th & 6th formers: In their own rooms at 11:00 p.m., quiet hours

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged? 
Extracurriculars:

• Over 80 different interscholastic sports teams between Varsity, JV & Thirds levels
• Intramural sports
• Performing Arts (Dance, Theatre, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, 2 choruses, 8 a cappella groups)
• Over 100 clubs and organizations
• Student Activities Office 
• “Office of Fun” - plans activities on- and 0ff-campus* (chaperoned) including school dances, trivia nights, outdoor movie nights, museum trips, chaperoned trips to Boston/NYC/New Haven
• *pending COVID restrictions
• https://www.choate.edu/community/student-life/student-activities 
• Term Abroad Opportunities*
• 10-week semesters abroad, 5-week summer sessions abroad, 2-week spring break service trips abroad
• *pending COVID restrictions

What is your most interesting school tradition? 

• Most popular: Deerfield Day
  Deerfield Academy is our longest-standing athletic rival going back 100 years. On the last Saturday of each fall sports season, all of our fall teams compete against each other (varsity, JV, thirds). It alternates each year whether it’s hosted at Choate or Deerfield. When it’s at home, the campus is filled with alumni, parents, and students supporting each other. Even when it’s hosted at Deerfield, we bus our students up to Massachussetts to cheer on our teams!
• Most interesting: Physics “Phlotilla”
  All 3rd formers at Choate take physics as their science class, and at the end of the school year, physics students are separated into small teams and given the same amount of cardboard and tape. They’re tasked with building a cardboard boat that can make it across a small campus pond and back. The teams race each other on the pond behind our admission office, and it’s a great scene with students and faculty turning out to watch and everyone having some laughs to finish off the year.

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
Each student’s adviser will regularly check in with the student’s parents throughout the year and make themselves available as a resource whenever parents need them. Our deans will similarly keep in touch with parents throughout the year. We have a Director of Parent Relations who oversees making sure that parents are kept in the loop and supported, and she also facilitates volunteer opportunities for parents. We also have Family Weekend every fall, in which parents/families are invited to visit campus, sit in on their child’s classes, and take part in parent-teacher conferences.

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
Be yourself. Think about your passions and interests in all areas such as academics, athletics and extracurriculars before you interview.

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
What are your thoughts regarding diversity?

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
The size of the student population. 

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
If they are intellectually curious. If they are involved in multiple facets and if they are ready and willing to join a community. 

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs?
Small classes, the Advisor program, and the mindfulness program are a few of the factors. Teachers are available for academic support as well as peer academic support.

What does a typical school day look like? 

• Classes held generally from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  Athletics from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
• Free time/optional club meetings, dinner from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Study hours from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. (7 - 9 p.m. on Fridays)

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. – to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged?
There is a full lineup of Athletic teams, numerous clubs, open Art and music venues accessible day and evening, and fun planned weekend activities such as dances, trips to the mall, visits to Boston, and a lot more.

What is your most interesting school tradition? 
Every student has to carve a wooden plaque that adorns the walls all over the campus. Some plaques are over 100 years old!

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school? 
There is a regular weekly newsletter (The Pond) that is published weekly. Advisors also write letters to parents on a couple of occasions during the year.

What’s your #1 pro tip for students preparing for admissions interviews?
The interview is the time for the School to get to know you! It is best to spend that time talking about your interests, why boarding school, and what you want out of high school instead of using that time to gather the information you can find on the website or in admission materials.

What's one question you ask every student applying for your school?
Sometimes boarding school can be challenging. When times have been tough for you, what value keeps you going?

What’s one of the most important things a student should consider when inquiring about boarding school?
Every school has its own personality, values, and style. A lot like people, we are not all the same. Therefore, doing research is important. We all want the same things for students, but we all go about it in different ways.

How does a student know they would be a good fit for boarding school? How do you ensure a student can thrive in a boarding school environment?
Students who tend to thrive in boarding school are independent, eager to learn, open to pushing themselves out of their comfort zones, and excited to live amongst their teachers and classmates. Boarding school is the kind of environment where you get out of it what you put into it, so students have to put forth a valiant effort to maximize their experience. 

How do you personalize a student’s education? What systems are in place for different educational needs?
Size matters; choosing a small school like Cate with 300 students assures that everyone is truly known. We have wrap-around support systems from the advisor to the dorm parents and the coaches and teachers that ensure a student is thriving in every setting. Cate believes a student’s education extends far beyond the classroom, so the personalization emerges in how a student decides to spend their time while on the Mesa: are they going scuba diving, are they painting on a Saturday morning in our art studio, do they engage in our community service projects…. The list can go on and on because the possibilities are many and varied since we all live together! 

What does a typical school day look like?
A typical school day various grade level-to-grade level but for the most part this is what an academic day looks like at Cate:

• 8 a.m. room check - making sure you are out of bed and ready for the day
• 8:30 a.m. First Period Begins 
• 3 p.m. Academic Day Ends
• 3:30 p.m. Sports and Extracurricular Period
• 5 - 7 p.m. Dinner
• 8 p.m. Study Hours
• 10:30 p.m. Lights Out

You can see more on the homepage of our school website. 

What do you offer students outside of class – extracurriculars after school, during weekends and school breaks, etc. –  to make sure you’re continuing to keep students engaged?
There is a lot that all boarding schools offer. A lot of what we all offer varies on where we are located and our weather patterns. For example, at Cate, we are situated about 10 minutes from the Pacific Ocean, which allows us to use the ocean as a classroom and a place to explore. Also, our California weather allows for a lot of outdoor activities year-round. It is important to note that Cate does have Saturday classes, although they are half-day and not every weekend. Cate has a lot to offer to keep students engaged. You can learn more here:  https://www.cate.org/life-at-cate/

What is your most interesting school tradition?
Servons Speeches - Every senior has the opportunity to address the entire school and share their experiences and wisdom. This culminating experience is both a gift to the younger students and an opportunity for the senior to contextualize their time on the Mesa. Servons is our School motto which means “to serve” and we feel the ultimate way to serve our Cate community is to share our experiences and time with each other. 

How do you ensure parents stay connected or involved when their child is away at boarding school?
We see the Cate experience as a shared partnership with families in raising wonderful young people. Through the connection with the advisor, hosting two family weekends a year, and always welcome on campus. Another way our parents stay connected is through our Cate Parents Organization which hosts events on campus for students and ensures that parents have a way to engage with each other and the school from their far-flung locations.