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The Final Decision: 8 Admission Tips to Help You Pick the Right School

February 10th, 2012 | by admin

You have been accepted to several boarding schools and now you want to scout out the one that’s a perfect fit for you. You’d hate to overlook something important, only to find out in September that there was a better choice out there. Below are some tips on how to squeeze the most out of revisit days so you can be confident in your decision.

Make sure you attend the revisit day. Obvious, yes, but important. Most schools will allow you to come on a day that is not the scheduled revisit day, but you won’t get the same kind of experience.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Finding the Right Fit: Who Will Help You Get to the Next Level?

January 27th, 2012 | by admin

Neither Orelia nor Geneva Jonathan was convinced they wanted to go to boarding school. In fact, on their first visit, they didn’t want to get out of the car. Their parents would place viewbooks strategically around their rooms, but the twins resisted. Nevertheless, the lure was strong once they found the right fit. Here’s how they found their home away from home:

Orelia Jonathan: I was happy at home with my friends, but it was important for me to be able to have piano lessons, play sports [soccer, skiing, track], and be involved in the school newspaper. I didn’t want a big school. I wanted to know people’s faces, even if I didn’t know them. I wanted a place that felt like family and a community.

Geneva Jonathan: I wanted a place where there were students of more than one kind. Coming from a town where most of the people are white, I wanted a place where there was a little bit of everything. When we found the place we wanted, we gave each other the eye. Read the rest of this entry »

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College Process: The Best Matches for You

December 30th, 2011 | by admin

It’s a safe bet that college is probably on your mind already, even while you investigate boarding schools. In evaluating secondary school options, you want to make sure that a strong support system will be in place to help you find the best possible college matches for you. Here are a few pointers about the college search process from the NMH College Counseling Office:

Learn from your boarding school search.

The admission process for high school is very similar to the admission process for college. Remember the lessons you have learned in your boarding school search. What have you discovered about yourself and your interests? What motivates you to do more? What is important to you in a school community? The answers to these questions have helped you find the right boarding school options; the same answers will help you find the colleges that fit you best. Read the rest of this entry »

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Learn the Secrets to Making New Friends at Boarding School

December 16th, 2011 | by admin
As you think about the possibility of boarding school, questions are probably swirling through your mind. Perhaps some of your uncertainties center on making new friends. While the prospect of living and studying with your peers 24/7 is an exciting one, it also can be a little scary.

You may be wondering: How can I possibly leave my current friends? What if everyone at boarding school is different from me? What if no one likes me? Will I find people who share my interests? Can I still be myself and be open to new experiences and points of view? Will I be able to keep in touch with friends from home? What if I do make new friends and then don’t fit in back home anymore?

You can find answers to these important questions, and even begin developing new friendships, during the admission process. Here’s how:

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Boarding School Goal: Being a Collegiate Athlete

December 2nd, 2011 | by admin

When students are searching out a boarding school athletic program that will take them to the next level of play, Athletic Director Tom Pratt advises them to make sure the school has the right stuff.

The Right Coach
The coach of the sport you play should have the experience and connections with college coaches and an understanding of the collegiate landscape to match your academic and athletic profile with the right range of schools.

The Right Schedule
Your level of play will rise if you’re team is matched with excellent opponents. Look at schools’ websites to see who plays whom.

The Right Peer Group
Will you be surrounded by serious athletes who also care about academics? Will your teammates be inspired to be collegiate athletes? Ask during interviews about recent college placements to get an idea of where athletes go after prep school.

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A Boarding School Parent’s View: Will Your Child Be Encouraged and Appreciated?

November 18th, 2011 | by admin

When Janet Irving and her family started looking at boarding schools for Everett ’10, the strength of the academic program had to be a given. In the following article, She offers ideas on how to zone in on the right school.

Adult support is critical. In choosing the right boarding school for your child, look for an environment that supports students and gives them opportunities to be creative and unique individuals. Does the school you’re interested in employ a faculty that understands the education of the whole child? Is there a program that specifically supports ninth graders, for example? Is there a well-considered mentoring and advising system that’s meaningful both for academics and for teenage life? Read the rest of this entry »

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Web Research: Your Online Tour of Options

October 29th, 2011 | by admin

Carrie Healy, Admission Counselor

Web research is a good way to begin the process of deciding which boarding schools to consider. Here are some tips on how to best navigate the web in order to narrow your list and begin to find options that best fit your search criteria.

Websites that list schools by state, region, size, program offerings, or religious or military affiliation can be helpful in identifying schools that you will want to explore more deeply. Some sites simply describe the school, offering information such as type (co-ed, all girls, or all boys), size, composition of the student body, curriculum, and facilities. Others post testimonials from recent alumni, parents, and current students about their experiences.

Along the same lines, the virtual worlds of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, blogs, and online forums can provide extensive and valuable information about options you may be considering. Through these resources, you can get an inside look at a school, which can help you determine whether a particular school seems like a good fit for you.

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International Families: What to Look For in a Boarding School

October 21st, 2011 | by admin

Metta Dael '93, Director of International Admission

Technology has greatly facilitated the boarding school search for many international families, but information overload can make it challenging to find the right place for you. When looking for a school in the U.S., international families hope to find a community that understands the nuances of their culture. At the same time, every school has its own culture.

What should you look for?

I am a former international student at Northfield Mount Hermon and now the admission office’s director of international recruitment. My experience has given me a unique perspective on selecting a boarding school and adapting to life away from home.

Here are my suggestions to help families abroad make informed decisions about educational opportunities:

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Face the Test: Don’t Panic about the SSATs

October 6th, 2011 | by admin

Margaret van Baaren Director, Learning Skills Program

First off, relax. The SSATs and PSATs are not intelligence tests.

Some kids just don’t test well and anxiety surrounding the test can be the most crippling obstacle. Scores are important but admission officers see them as one piece of a bigger puzzle.

Test scores do give a school some information about a student, but as a part of the whole picture: A student’s extracurricular passions and grades, in most cases, provide more insight into who a child is than scores alone.

Second, prepare.

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Big Picture: Beyond the Boarding School Classroom

October 5th, 2011 | by admin

Nicole Hager, Dean of Students

Boarding schools offer a wide variety of co-curricular activities. When considering which school is right for you, make sure you ask the hard questions, and press for honest answers.

The classroom and beyond

A school’s academic strength clearly is the most important thing to weigh, but consider that more time is spent outside of the classroom than in it. The moments in your dorm room, at the dining hall, on the athletic fields, or in the studio help define life at boarding school and help you develop as a human being. That time better be full; it better be meaningful.

Tip: When visiting, make sure you like the feel of these spaces. Are the students smiling? Do they seem engaged? Are they interacting in a positive way with adults?

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