Going to boarding schools isn't an easy decision. You'll need to adjust to a whole new environment and the physical separation from your family and old friends can make the decision emotionally difficult. Financial costs are also a consideration so is it worth it? Couldn't the same education and experience be offered by a private day school, a magnet school or a good public high school?
Depending on where you live, local schooling options can compare to boarding schools in several ways as nearby private day schools, magnet schools, or public high schools can naturally have very bright student bodies and qualified faculty. Academic and extracurricular offerings can also be equally challenging and diverse so if you're considering local options besides boarding schools, compare these important considerations:
Attention to students: boarding schools generally have small class sizes that help teachers engage each and every student in the classroom. Classroom layouts are often specifically designed to encourage student participation and eye contact among everyone in class.
Quality of faculty: the majority of boarding schools faculties have advanced degrees in either education or another specialty.
Quality of resources: student resources at boarding schools such as the library, theater facilities, or athletic complexes can often be superior relative to your local options.
Challenging academics: academics at boarding schools operate at high standards as students are pushed to "ask why," become inquisitive, and tackle challenging problems.
Broad and diverse offerings: course selections at boarding schools tend to be quite diverse, have plenty of AP options, and offer quite a wide range of topics. Athletic and extracurricular options tend to be broad as well, which encourages students to try new things.
College counseling: college counseling departments at boarding schools are generally well-staffed and taken very seriously. Counselors often have plenty of experience in helping applicants identify appropriate schools and advising them on getting in at competitive educational institutions.
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