Did you know that some boarding schools have acceptance rates as low as some highly selective colleges? It’s true. And while boarding school and college admissions processes have much in common, there are also some important differences.
Among the factors that boarding school admissions officers consider are:
1, Maturity and Independence. Not everyone is ready to live away from home at age 14. That’s okay. Boarding school is not for everyone. But the last thing admissions officers want is a student who has to go home because they couldn’t overcome their homesickness or take care of themselves. That’s why they love hearing about students’ successful experiences living far from home, whether that was time at sleepaway camp or an extended stay with relatives or friends in another city.
2. Academics and Testing. Some boarding schools are extremely rigorous when it comes to academics. They expect students to already have a solid foundation in math and very strong writing skills before enrolling. Students who don’t, often struggle to catch up. At the most selective schools, it is not uncommon for all or most admitted students to have straight As in middle school and SSAT scores in the 85th percentile or higher. Even at test-optional schools, admissions officers want to make sure they are admitting students who can excel academically at their school.
3. Extracurriculars. Boarding school admissions officers want students who are eager to get involved in their school’s extracurricular activities, including sports. What they look for, however, may vary by school. For example, a larger school like Phillips Exeter may be keen to admit “specialists” like a nationally (or internationally) ranked mathlete, even if math competitions are the student’s only activity. However, a smaller school can’t afford to have students who are involved in a single club or sport. To keep all of their sports teams, clubs, and activities running, they might prefer a soccer player who writes for the newspaper, plays in the band, and runs the lights for the school musical. They’re also not as impressed by students who engage in activities or sports that they don’t offer. (This is the opposite of college admissions officers, who often find unique sports and hobbies fascinating and love admitting students with singular “spikes.”.)
4. Advocacy and Communications Skills. Boarding school students need to be skilled at advocating for themselves and asking for help when they need it. At boarding school, they will be surrounded by caring adults who have their best interests at heart. But the adults are not mind readers. Students need the confidence and communications skills to approach adults and ask for guidance before problems get too big. Boarding school staff have the experience and resources to handle just about any situation, provided they know about it before situations escalate.
5. Cultural Fit. This one is highly subjective. Admissions officers just want to make sure the student is a good match for the school. If you don’t love outdoor adventure or appreciate animals, for example, you probably wouldn’t last long at Thacher, a school known for its horse program, wildlife (bears are frequent visitors!), and wilderness camping trips. On the other hand, boarding schools like Episcopal and Madeira are wasted on students who won’t take advantage of their proximity to all that Washington D.C. has to offer.
To craft a successful application, it is important to understand what boarding school admissions officers are looking for and what they believe is most special about their particular institution in terms of programs and culture. Then you can focus on making sure they understand why your student is likely to thrive at their institution and why that particular school is the perfect match.
