My Boarding School Blog

Basic Facts for International Students Wanting to Attend a US Boarding School

Statistics shows that the US is still the number one choice by parents, from the entire world over, to send their children for further studies. To date, the US is host to almost 600,000 international students.

Studying in a boarding school in the US is a good way to prepare students for their school education. As with any preparation, knowing what is ahead of you can make things easier. These guidelines are intended to help you be prepared, in the event you choose to enroll your child in a US boarding school.

There are stories circling on boarding schools. While a fair amount of these stories are entertaining, and some depict the bittersweet reality of living away from home, most of these stories are just fiction. Therefore, it is obvious how it cannot be comparable to the real life drama.

Indeed, attending boarding school is never an easy decision to make. Even if decisions are already made, one has to proceed into the second and most challenging stage, where one has to learn to adjust him or herself physically and mentally. The student will have to learn to adapt to a whole new environment.

Studying in a boarding school in the US is a good way to prepare students if they intend to pursue a degree in an American school or university. However, the journey to studying abroad, especially in the US, has become much more of a predicament since the 9/11 terrorism attack, in 2001.

So, what are the processes involved for international students to attend a boarding school in the USA?

In case you haven’t acknowledged this important fact, getting accepted into top US schools is especially hard. This is because of the vast competition within the citizens from the country itself. The following criteria should first be fulfilled if you intend to enroll into any top US schools.

•    Good academic grades
•    Completed coursework
•    Sufficient financing
•    Strong command of English language

If you have the intention of pursuing your tertiary education in the US, it is advisable to apply for a student visa at least 18 months prior to your expected arrival date in the USA.

Steps to Take

It is important to do thorough research on potential schools that you wish to enroll with. Research, via the internet, and using a search engine such as Google, are two of the more popular ways to equip yourself with better knowledge of schools. You can also seek advice from your friends who are already experiencing life in the US, or relatives who are residing there as well. It is also wise to call up your preferred school(s) to get more information.

Once you identify the school that you wish to enroll with, have your application submitted to that one and several other schools as well– especially to schools that are offering the course that you would like to pursue.

You will then need to get at least a couple, or more, teachers that have taught you and know you well enough to help you write a letter of recommendation. And it is always good to get your family members, friends, and relatives to speak about your potential and your academic goals.

An application essay is always a good thing to accompany an application, even if the school does not require it. An essay is considerably significant because it will reflect you as a person and what is deemed to be important by you. Be sure to make your application essay as unique as possible. It is always a big help to get your English teacher to comment on your application essay.

Boarding School Requirements

Before proceeding to the visa application, students have to prove that they possess a high level of spoken and written English, and one can do so through one of these tests:
•    SLEP Test (Secondary Language English Proficiency Test), a multiple choice language test for students.
•    SSAT- Test (Secondary School Admission Test), s standard entry test for English language.

Once you have everything wrapped up, submit your application form together with the financial aid application forms. Have everything typed or written by hand and be sure that your application looks tidy and presentable.

Check up on your teachers and school to make sure that your transcripts and recommendations have already been mailed to your preferred school(s). It is strongly advised that you do all these way before the deadline to allow for any problems that may arise.

You should expect an extra request from the boarding school of your choice. Usually, the request is made to get more relevant information, or resubmission of any important documents that you may have left out earlier.

After all that, you will soon be hearing from some of the schools about their decision to accept you. Please be sure to accept an offer from only one school. This will help you to avoid any problems when you later request an I-20 form. You may ask the school if you are eligible for financial aid, as some school usually offer  aid to international students.

Student Visa – a must for enrollment

To obtain a visa form, you must first pay a visit to the US embassy or consulate, nearest to you, three months before your arrival date in the US. You need to fulfill a few requirements before you can obtain a US student visa.

Be sure to keep yourself healthy and in good shape. You should note that people who are diagnosed HIV positive will not be allowed to enter the US, thus failing to obtain any sort of US visa.

Make sure to arrange your travel so that you can arrive at least 15 days before your school’s orientation day, to avoid any fatigue on the day itself, as you do not want to miss out on anything.

Note: I-20 Form
This form is officially themed as ‘Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status for Academic and Languages Students. This form will be issued by schools: (a) for one year or multiple years to cover the duration of student’s program (b) after student has completed the application process and is admitted. Student must apply in person for a visa at the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy their home country after receiving the form. Calling or making an appointment is necessary to confirm required documents.

Since the September 11, 2001 attack, people from the world over know that the tragedy has left a big impact on the Americans; hence a new policy has since been implemented where international students are to follow tight procedures.

As of January 30, 2003, all authorized schools shall follow a new system to have the SEVIS Forms I-20 issued to all freshmen, as well as current students.

With this new rule, schools are required to report both a student’s physical and mailing address when these two addresses are in conflict.

Though the process may be confusing, frustrating, and time-consuming, the benefits of a US boarding school education can give a student opportunities for success they may never have otherwise had. Be determined, be detailed, be organized, and be diligent— your hard work will pay off in the end!

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