My Boarding School Blog

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) showed in their recent post that 8 percent of U.S. Rhodes Scholar recipients are graduates of boarding schools. In the last five years it has reflected that the chances of getting a scholarship in college from a boarding school skyrockets to 3,000%.

Every year the Rhodes Trust awards 82 scholarships and 32 of those goes to Americans. The Rhodes scholarship is a prestigious one that it screens highly qualified applicants that attains exemplary scholastic achievements.

The highly competitive curriculum that most boarding schools offer is the key factor that contributes to the high percentage of scholarships granted to students who had prepared for college through boarding school education. Boarding schools promote an exclusive environment that caters to mold an individual to be ready for college life. With its highly demanding academic curriculum to its highly qualified professors who take part in the learning of students and the overall feel of independency of living away from home and making it on your own has greatly influenced boarding school graduates to their advantage. With this more parents are feeling that they have made the right decision in investing in a boarding school education even with its high price tag.

An important factor to consider as one of the qualification of the Rhodes scholarship is its requirement that an applicant should be truthful, courageous and has a moral force of character that is potential for leading his or her fellow students. Most boarding schools are equipped with the necessary trainings and workshops on instilling camaraderie, leadership and moral responsibility in its students. Aside from teaching academics they are immersed into the values of being responsible, independent, and reliable in their various extracurricular activities.

A graduate from The Hill School in Pennsylvania, who is a recipient of the 2010 Rhodes scholarship, attested that he owes much of what he has to his boarding school experience. Not only did it prepared him for the vast academic curriculum he will be facing in college but rather more of a preparation into the person he needs to become to survive college. The ability to be able to interact closely and work together with colleagues, teachers, staff and administrators and be able to adapt to different cultures, beliefs and values of everyone else without sacrificing individuality is the best lesson in life.

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In these trying times of economic downfall parents have cringed on the thought of boarding schools for their children. Thought of as the school for kids of the rich and famous, boarding schools have become a prestige that only caters to the higher class of the society. You can rub elbows with daughters of prime ministers or sons of the royal family in a high class boarding school.

Many would wonder why some not so rich parents choose to send their kids to boarding school even if this will cost them both an arm and a leg. Perhaps there is more to it than what money can afford.

There are a couple of things to consider when choosing a boarding school that is right for your child. Some things to consider are the following:

Class Size – most boarding schools have smaller classes which enable teachers to fully focus on each student’s strengths and weaknesses. In a smaller class students are encouraged to participate and this foster a bond among classmates. In a public school most classes are cramped and student teacher relationship is not very evident which cause some students to lag behind.

Faculty – Boarding schools take pride in their faculty and staff. They employ the best educators and professors who hold MBAs from prestigious universities.

Renowned facilities – perhaps the most known fact about boarding schools is their state of the art facilities. Cozy dormitories, sports facilities equipped for leisure activities. Vast school grounds where one can get attuned with nature and get motivated to study. Some boarding schools even have in house cafes and restaurants that serve delicacies and delicious cuisines. Truly you get what you pay for.

Academic Curriculum – obviously the very most important consideration among parents and students alike is the competitive academic curriculum that boarding schools offer. They are regarded as ideal preparation for college.

Counseling – Boarding schools offer intensive college counseling in preparation to college application and requirements. Guidance and in depth advise on how to get into the most prestigious universities and colleges will be given.

With all these in mind you can weigh your options on whether you would pursue to enroll in boarding school. You can check The Association of Boarding Schools for further resources on advantages of boarding schools. It is always good to be informed to help you with choices that can determine your child’s success in getting into a good college especially in these trying times.

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In an article from The Independent UK it was discussed that parents who send their children to boarding school may be doing them more harm than good. A psychotherapist, Nick Duffell, believes that the separation into boarding school may produce psychological damage in a child.

A support group called Boarding School Survivors (BSS) offers workshops for students who are experiencing the “boarding school syndrome” characterized as intimacy problems, work obsession and hatred of the opposite sex for most non-coed boarding schools.

The syndrome talks about the trauma that children undergo when they are separated from their families that they tend to keep their emotions to themselves making it difficult for them to form new and fulfilling relationships when they grow up. In the early days, boarding schools are associated in movies and literature with cold showers, strict teachers, creepy school halls and bland cafeteria food. But these are far from the real picture. Middlesex School in Massachusetts boasts of state of the art facilities that cater to a lifestyle for the rich and famous. They have dining services that serves delicious and enticing menus fresh everyday. Some boarding schools like the Concord Academy even have summer camp activities for their students to enjoy off campus. Boarding schools offer an environment wherein students feel independent at the same time the value of being responsible and accountable for own actions is observed. Boarding schools also has high tech facilities that enable the students to be in constant communication with their parents, families and loved ones through the Internet and advanced telecommunication. These are just among the good things that boarding school students enjoy.

Although some doesn’t share the enthusiasm of boarding schools especially those who were reported to be abused and those who suffered from traumatic experiences such as bullying and sexual abuse. Some will argue that this is an isolated case and does not prove that boarding schools directly harms an individual psychologically.

According to Dick Davison, a spokesman for the Independent Schools Council said that efforts have been made to improve the relationship between students and adults in boarding schools. Strict implementation of school rules and regulations are observed and selection of schools staff, teachers and administrators are carefully screened to avoid such untoward incidents of child abuse. Boarding schools have dramatically changed from way back then and most of these changes reflect a better and improved system.

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There are a lot of misconceptions on boarding schools, many say that it is for troubled teens and that parents who cannot handle their kids send them out to boarding school to be disciplined for them to come back all prim and proper. I used to see boarding schools like that until I came to experience what it’s like to be a student in a boarding school.

It was entirely different from what I had expected. Having been raised in a big family of five siblings we were all interconnected and very dependent on our parents. I would come home with my three brothers and younger sister to find supper ready for us waiting at the table. After eating we would play at night until our mom orders us to get ready for bed. I was not a troubled kid nor am I a rebel at home. My parents decided that boarding school would be the best opportunity to prepare me for college and they were right.

The first time I walked the halls of my boarding school I was excited and nervous all together. It made me feel sick all over and wanted to run back home but I knew that was far from happening anytime soon. Just like any new endeavor in life we are faced with the unknown and all we can do is hope that everything will turn out well.

Weeks have past and I thought to myself boarding school was not bad after all and I begin to wonder where all the negative impressions that boarding school is where troubled teens were sent to. My school mates were mostly above average and in no way troubled or rebellious in nature. Most students come from families that are well of, considering that boarding schools are very expensive. I was assigned in one of the boy’s dormitory and was scheduled to meet with my dorm advisor every other day. My dorm advisor serves as my guidance teacher in my school. She assists me on everything that I need in my dormitory and academic studies as well. She is in constant contact with my parents and she gives them feedback of my well being and academic performance in school.

What I enjoy most about boarding school are the friends I have made. I have shared a lot of experiences both pleasant and unpleasant ones with them for they serve as my support system being away from home. Our bond has grown deeper each year as we discover each other’s interests, strengths and weaknesses. We share good times in school within the vast school grounds and spacious halls of our dormitory.

Living in a boarding school is not all fun and freedom to do everything we wish to do. Boarding schools teaches students to become responsible individuals who are accountable to their own actions. We are reprimanded for violations of the rules and regulations imposed by the school. We are expected to be in proper decorum at all times and to respect each one of our colleagues, teachers and school staff.

Boarding school offers a highly competitive curriculum that can best prepare a student for higher education. Faculty staffs boasts of MBA graduates and experienced professors in their own fields of expertise and subject matter. It is truly an experience that compares to no other.

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Southwestern Academy is a co-ed college preparatory school in California and Arizona founded in 1924. It provides a structured supportive and individualized academic environment. They implement the goal of producing students that are invigorated to be lifelong learners with critical thinking skills and advanced reasoning that can one day turn into self motivated leaders of our nation or successful innovators of change in the society.

They cater to American and International students and their vision is to offer personalized, stimulating and nurturing classes that will allow individual student success in preparing for higher education. They have small classes which normally range to eight to twelve students per class. Two campuses are situated in San Marino, California and Rimrock, Arizona. The campus in California is located ten miles from Los Angeles nestling in an upscale suburb which boasts of safety and security away from the busy city. The northern Arizona campus is situated twelve miles away from the city of Sedona which is a popular tourist spot. This campus is near the redrock canyon that makes it attractive to nature lovers.

The faculty in San Marino campus comprises of 24 highly qualified teachers that teaches a variety of subjects to students. Their high school curriculum includes subjects in English, Algebra, Geometry, American and British Literature, Science, Humanities, Economics, Computer Literacy and Electives. Elective subjects range from Art, Contemporary history, Creative writing, Student government, Drama, Speech and Music classes.

They cater to international students for more than 60 years and has incorporated ESL (English as second language) in their curriculum. The goal of their ESL classes is to mainstream each international student into the regular high school easily and quickly. It usually takes around 18 to 24 months for a beginner. The ESL program is divided into 3 components: beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes. Students practice by listening, speaking and writing. Active learning is enhanced by conversing with other students.

Tuition fees range are shown in table below
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) $30,700
Yearly Tuition (Day Students) $14,900
Tuition international students $36,750

Southwestern Academy is accredited by WASC, TABS, Western Boarding School Association. For International students the I-20 application form for a student is sent by Southwestern when a student is accepted and has paid tuition.
Requirements for application include the following.

• $100 Application fee
• Three letters of recommendation from
current teachers or school officials
• Transcripts of a student’s school records for
the past three years
• Health report and updated
immunization records
• A personal interview is not required,
but is encouraged. (Students are welcome
to spend a day visiting our classes, and
spend the night in the dorms.)

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