After debating with countless people, I’ve decided that I’m going to apply to a few boarding schools. I’m a really good student, and well, education around here isn’t exactly top notch.
The question is, besides the obvious, are there really that many redeeming qualities that come from a private education?
Thoughts?
I used to teach at a private boarding school in Switzerland…the students loved it and decades later, alumni still keep in touch and recall it as one of the best experiences of their lives.
I guess it might depend on the school, but if you can find a good one, I think you will be happy you decided to go this route. These schools are not cheap, as I am sure you know - but the quality of education generally is worth every penny. Personally, I would try to find an international school in Europe - the added experience of living and learning with students from around the world makes the experience all the more worthwhile.
I think there was another thread about this some time ago…try a search on “Boarding Schools”.
It takes guts to throw yourself into a boarding school environment, but I am sure you will not regret it. Good luck and have fun!
well I went to public high school… but…
When I got to college i thought dorm life was great. One of the funnest experiences. I miss it now that i’m a sophomore and out of the dorms.
Granted you’d be more restricted in a boarding school environment i’m sure the social life would be great.
Do yourself a favor. Don’t goto an all guy or girl school. or an Uber religious school(unless you’re really religious or whatnot). I notice people coming from those schools tend to either end up socially deficient or hate religion because they were forced into it
I never went to boarding school, but me and everyone I knew in HS would have jumped at the chance.
I did, however, go to a private (Catholic) high school. It was pretty non-coercive about religion (hard not to be, when less than half of the student body is Catholic). I think in general they give a better education for a couple of reasons. They can afford to expel disruptive students. The public school system in my county could only expel students for drug use, so in many cases its hands were tied. Also, an individual school can set its own policies to benefit it’s unique school population. A school that must institute county-wide policies at the very least has rules that really aren’t necessary to that particular school. And lastly, the fact that parents are paying means that the students come from families with a strong committment to education, whereas in a public school you have all types.
Do not go to a single-sex school. Do not go to a single-sex school. If you do go to a single-sex school, make sure they have some program or some method of education that greatly outweighs having to live with all girls or all guys.
From what I know of your situation through andygirl - YES. YES. GET YOUR TAIL INTO BOARDING SCHOOL AND OUT OF THAT HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Hell, go to a single-sex school. Just make sure the school can’t expel kids on account of flamingness.
Urp. Can I guess which one? Does it start with an “L”? (I know quite a few people who work/ed there.
No…it’s no secret either.
It was TASIS. They have schools in Switzerland, England, Greece and I think they now have one in Spain or France or both.
I didn’t mention it in the earlier post because I didn’t want to seem like I was suggesting they were better than other schools (though in my humble opinion, they are!)
Friend’s schools are nice, too - and pretty socially liberal, so flamingness wouldn’t necessarily be a problem. epeepunk boarded at Westtown Friends, and actually opted to board early after seeing the advantages of it (when his sister and brother went through).
I still envy the depth of his education. The man is well read. PLUS, very easy transition to dorms in college. 
my dad went to a boarding school.
in the days when they still had fags (a form of intstitutionalised bulling of younger boys by older ones), early morning dips in the unheated outside pool, and were caned for slight misdemeanours.
he loved it, but i think it was because he went with some friends and was very good at rugby.
can you generally handle useless rules, lots of discipline and rich kids?
if so you’'ll be great. if not, maybe a more alternative school, rather than the standard would be needed.
Go for it. Apply to the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey. (Near Trenton, sort of) Its near enough that you could get home easily if you need to, and its well ranked in academics. It has a excellent endowment, and they offer scholarships. Good luck.
I went to one of the top ones in the country. Think of it as a Young Republican breeding ground for snotty spoiled little rich brats, who have no need or desire for a decent education, because they will coast through life on a bloated ill deserved trust fund. If your passion is sneaking out to the woods to do some 'shrooms, by all means attend one, but beware, if you have any artistic or musical inkling avoid it like the plague. The only thing these institutions are good for, is an efficient assembly line for exporting white ignorant close minded ‘sheeple’ out into the world.
Oh and they look real “neat” on a college app.
Well I’m off to catch up with buffy at the tennis club. Ta ta!
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