Prep: The Parent’s Guide to Boarding Schools

Educational consultant White (The Complete Guide to the Gap Year) demystifies the boarding school application process in this comprehensive manual. She recommends that parents begin researching schools at least a year in advance and visit campuses to get a feel for whether students and faculty seem happy. Providing a peek into admissions deliberations, White explains that while academic success is important, schools are also looking for talented athletes, actors, and musicians to lead extracurricular activities. White argues that boarding schools can especially benefit international students eager to improve their English fluency and students with special educational needs, recounting how learning coaches at Cushing Academy helped boost the grades and confidence of one of White’s clients who struggled with ADHD. To help with financing, White outlines how to secure merit scholarships and provides a list of institutions where tuition ranges from low-cost to free. White is sensitive to the fact that what’s best for one student might not work for another, as when she notes that while some students thrive with the independence afforded by boarding school, others use it as license to get into trouble. However, she’s overall bullish on boarding schools’ utility, and the wide-ranging guidance provides everything parents need to make an informed decision. Anyone considering sending their child to boarding school would do well to start here. (July)