Words of wisdom from a boarding school student
August 15th, 2016Often we post articles intended for college applicants, knowing that they also have great relevance for our boarding school families. Today, we offer the reverse: an article written for students heading to boarding school, but with great relevance for college-bound freshmen.
Students, our best wishes go with you to your boarding school or college and we’d love to hear from you in a few weeks or months. We’ll be eager to hear of your experiences, and to know if these tips prove helpful.
Published August 18, 2014
Written by: Stephen Gray Wallace
Several years ago, I contributed to a book titled Where Should I Sit at Lunch? The Ultimate 24/7 Guide for Surviving the High School Years (McGraw-Hill, 2006) by Harriet S. Mosatche and Karen Unger. Covering more than the classic cafeteria dilemma, the real-life stories of teen collaborators offer guidance on a host of other issues, such as peer groups, homework, part-time jobs and colleges.
As difficult as the transition to high school might be, it may be amplified for young people leaving home for boarding – or independent – school. And, while I serve a number of national organizations as a “parenting expert,” I never attended school away from home. Thus, I turned to a real expert, John Calicchio.
Read more at Psychology Today >>Tagged: Boarding school
Steps for Smooth Summer Transition
May 23rd, 2016Congratulations once again to those who are graduating and made a commitment to the college of their choice! Not only is it time to celebrate but also time to consider the next steps involved in transitioning to life on a college campus. Money magazine has come up with a checklist to ensure that you and your parents are prepared for what lies ahead. This checklist is a great way to stay on top of tasks that might fall to the wayside during summer vacation.
Our students heading off to boarding school in the fall will find that many of these suggestions apply to them, as well.
We look forward to hearing whether you find this article helpful. What would you add to the checklist?
Article published April 26, 2016
Written by: Kim Clark
You’ve decided on a college, settled on a financial aid package, and sent your deposit in. Maybe you even posted a picture of yourself in school garb for the White House’s College Signing Day festivities. Whew! Time to relax and celebrate the fact that you’re finally done with all those complicated forms, right?
Sure, take a little time to celebrate. But you’re nowhere near done with college forms or chores. In fact, graduating seniors have to do a surprising amount of paperwork in May and June to ensure, for example, that they have a dorm room to move into in the fall, health insurance that can be used on campus, and seats in the classes they want.
Read more at Money Magazine >>Tagged: Boarding school, College, Summer
Tuning in to Students’ Dreams
May 9th, 2016Bill Fitzsimmons, dean of admission at Harvard, delivered a lively talk to a group of educational consultants at the IECA conference in Boston last week. Fitzsimmons’s focus on providing access to the world’s most talented students, regardless of economic circumstance, is something I’ve long known and appreciated. His insight about students’ and parents’ dreams is also legendary, and his tale of a parent of a student who applied to Harvard several years ago is worth sharing.
The student was not admitted, and the parent could not accept the decision. Many letters and phone calls ensued – always from the parent to the admission office, never from the student. For quite some time, this parent’s efforts were ceaseless. Then, a pause. Three and a half years later, the parent called again … to say that the student was nearing graduation at her alternate college choice. Upon reflection, the parent had come to realize that this college was indeed the better match for her daughter. Harvard had been the parent’s dream, it turns out, and not the child’s. So often, the pressure that children feel has to do with our own aspirations, doesn’t it?
Last week’s conference also included workshops on boarding school admission, new financial aid application procedures for colleges, international student recruitment issues, applications and auditions to theater programs, and the new Coalition application. Ahead of the conference, school and college visits in the area set the stage wonderfully as I saw students learning, growing, happy at schools that are right for them. I especially enjoyed visiting with a student who has found a great fit at my own alma mater, Tufts.
Each experience at this conference reminded me to listen carefully to my advisees, to help and encourage them as they clarify and pursue their personal goals. Much is changing in college and boarding school admission. And much is changing in today’s world that our students experience. Students remain students, however, and their successes, struggles and dreams will always be at the center of our work at Shrop Ed.
Tagged: Admission decision, Applications, Boarding school, College, Ivy league
Boarding School: Single-gender, or co-ed?
February 22nd, 2016Some students and parents know that an all girls’ or all boys’ school will be the best bet for boarding school. In these cases, we love to help them zero in on the subset of schools that can provide the best fit and help them explore what each school has to offer.
Yet our boarding school searches don’t always begin with the knowledge that single-gender will necessarily be better than co-ed; often, we encourage families to explore schools of both types. Through careful research, campus visits and much thoughtful family discussion, students and their parents decide over time which setting will be best.
Families currently awaiting March decision letters may find these links helpful as they weigh the benefits of single-gender education:
– National Coalition of Girls’ Schools: http://www.ncgs.org/CaseForGirls.aspx
– International Boys’ Schools Coalition: http://www.theibsc.org/page.cfm?p=1702
Our fingers are crossed in hopes that our students will receive good news from the schools they’d like to attend, whether co-ed or single-gender. Our best wishes to all! We look forward to your updates and helping you sift through options.
Tagged: Boarding school, Campus visits
