Even if you are just starting a study at a boarding school, you have a good chance that you already have the impression that it is a boarding school. This impression may come from books you read, such as Catcher in the Rye or Separate World. It can also come from films that you watched as the Society of the Dead Poet or School Ties.
These stories, while entertaining, take place in school settings that are different from what you find today. An excerpt from an article on boarding schools prepared by the college in The New York Times reflects these differences well:
“To the generations of students whose school programs include“ Kutcher in Rye ”J. D. Salinger, a boarding school is the winter of their teenage complaint, a cold, distant place where parents threaten to send their children if they don’t fit. The parents abandoned their children in September, gathered them again in June, and allowed the students to worry about what was happening between them.
If Holden Caulfield had returned to school on Graduation Day in 2001, he would have discovered that the world of proctors and prefects, the hostel and Mr. Chips had gone through a thousand-year thaw. Most of the estimated 36,000 students in boarding schools willingly collected their bags and attend daily contacts with mom and dad. Ivy is not one shade of green. Students can boast of a true prince in Thailand, like the fresh prince Bel Eyre, since schools are most in public secondary schools for most of their students, which makes them more competitive than ever. The monastic life of official dinners, daily chapels and cold showers gave way to international dishes, modern ecumenism and interdorm dance. “- Less effort, more diversity in pre-flop school today - VICTORIA GOLDMAN and KATHRYN HAUSMAN, November 12, 2000, New York Times
Just as universities and colleges in the United States have evolved over the past few decades, so have boarding schools. And although the perception of the boarding school is changing, there are still some lingering myths that may make you mistakenly think that you will not fit in the boarding school:
Myth 1: You must be very rich to go to boarding school.
Today, about a third of all boarding school students receive financial assistance. Financial aid grants can represent a significant portion of tuition fees, depending on the situation at school and your family. Boarding students are now increasingly coming from public schools and a wider range of family income levels. In general, boarding schools are doing everything they can to make their programs available to your family through financial aid grants, credit programs, and merits / scholarships. Over the past ten years, the emergence of private loans K-12 has also become more affordable for school.
Families that send their children to boarding schools today are of a much broader demographic — geographic, socio-economic, and ethnic character (see Below “Myth 2”). What has not changed is a rigid academic approach and an emphasis on students. personal growth.
Myth 2: Diversity is rarely found in a boarding school.
More than a quarter of all boarding pupils are either pupils of color or foreign students. Boarding schools tend to be more diverse than public schools — they actively seek diversity and benefit from many geographic areas, while local schooling options depend on community living patterns, where populations tend to be concentrated on ethnic or social and economic areas. In addition, boarding schools create more meaningful opportunities for different students to interact with each other - whether in worms, classrooms or play areas, you will always be surrounded by a diverse population that you will inevitably learn throughout the year.
Myth 3: Children are not entertained at a boarding school.
Curfew and rules will be part of life in any boarding school - there is no big news here. But depending on your impression of the boarding school, you may be surprised to learn that a boarding school can also be very interesting. If you talk to boarding school students or alumni today, most of you will tell you the same thing — this is the environment that helps create incredible friends and entertainment in the process.
Keep in mind that, although strong academies are one of the key areas for boarding schools, they also strive to ensure student independence. The boarding school gives you a choice in how you spend time and what activities you pursue, so that you can define your experience at school and grow as a person, not just academically. This process — growing independence, meeting new people and pursuing your interests — is often fun and very rewarding.
Myth 4: Boarding school for children who have problems at home or at school.
There are two types of boarding schools - boarding schools for teachers and therapeutic boarding schools. These two are sometimes confused and can cause misunderstandings that boarding schools are intended only for children who have problems at home or at school.
College preparatory boarding schools are designed for motivated students who are looking for new opportunities. College preparatory boarding schools are often an ideal choice for students who usually do well in school and at home, but just want to find new problems. These types of boarding schools are not suitable for students with drug, alcohol, or behavioral problems. The main task of these boarding schools is to prepare students for study through rigorous academies. All schools presented in the review of the boarding school are exclusively preparatory boarding schools.
Therapeutic boarding schools are designed for students who experience difficulties at home or in a traditional school. While preparing students for college may also be a goal for these schools, these schools are equipped to handle students who face problems such as behavioral / emotional problems, substance abuse or significant differences in schooling. The boarding school review does not indicate therapeutic boarding schools.
College preparatory boarding schools and therapeutic boarding schools have different missions and serve different audiences. It is useful to know when looking at schools and to avoid common misconceptions in boarding schools for college.
Myth 5: It’s hard to keep in touch with my family.
Boarding students and their families are lucky that it is easier than ever to stay in touch. The Internet, in particular, redefines how border guards and their families communicate. Boarding schools offer Internet access for their students, with most schools having access in each boarding house and some in each bedroom. While Internet access is regulated for use at certain hours, students can often communicate daily with their parents. Depending on the school and its policies, cell phones may also be useful for maintaining family connections.
Do not pay attention to what you think may be similar to a boarding school. The best way to learn about boarding schools is to visit one — you can learn most about living in a boarding school just by being on campus and talking with current students about their experiences.
