Why Boarding School

Recruitment fairs are events held in locations all over the world that are meant to help boarding schools with their recruitment of international students. For example, Linden Educational Services has long worked with international schools and students, and education fair providers continue to hold recruitment events in major regions around the world in 2026.

Aimed at parents and students who live in locations all around the world, these recruitment fairs put admissions staff from dozens of boarding schools on location in various international cities. You can meet school representatives and ask all the questions you have about American, Canadian, UK, and Swiss boarding schools.

Families can also use organizations such as The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) to learn more about boarding school options, admissions, and school life before or after attending a fair.

Why would students from overseas consider attending boarding school in the States?

There are many reasons. As a rule, the main one is that parents want their children to have a world-class education. An international boarding school education will strengthen your child's language skills. Not just English, though it is pretty much the lingua franca in the business and professional world today; Your child will also be able to learn a host of other languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese, to name a few.

International boarding schools generally offer a rich array of courses in many subjects. As you meet with school representatives, have a list

1. There is a boarding school which will fit your requirements.

The United States and Canada have approximately 400-500 hundred boarding schools. The chances are that you will be able to find a school which will suit your requirements. Take time to determine what you are looking for in a boarding school with the person who will be attending the school, namely, your child. She needs to buy into the concept of going away to school. She also needs to understand the many benefits of a boarding school education, both in the short and in the long term. Perhaps her first reactions will be negative because all she will see is that she is going to be losing all her friends and her family. In short, she will assume that going off to boarding school will separate her from everything she knows and loves. That's tough for a teenager to deal with.

If you plan your strategy carefully and discuss the matter with her rather than dictating what will happen, you will quickly build consensus. After all, you only have to point out to her how you wanted her in the first place and that you have nurtured her emotionally and in every other way since birth. Hopefully, then she will trust your judgment and good sense when you put it to her that way.

Once you have her attention, discuss what she needs to build a happy and successful three or four years away at high

Use this guide for international students to cover all the topics pertaining to deciding which school to attend, how to apply, and much more.

Broadly defined, an international student is somebody who comes from a foreign country, that is, not the United States of America, whose first language is generally not English.

Why would families send their children far away from home to study at a boarding school in the United States? Because of American boarding schools' reputation for a high standard of academic work and for the network of friends and acquaintances that their graduates can build. And also for the solid preparation for university-level work that American boarding schools provide.

American boarding schools have long been proactive in seeking out international students. In 2026, individual schools, educational organizations, and groups of boarding schools continue to visit Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East to recruit applicants. Many schools also host virtual information sessions, online interviews, and webinars, making it easier than ever for families to learn about boarding school opportunities before traveling.

Families beginning their search may also find Why Boarding School? helpful for understanding the academic, residential, and personal benefits of a boarding school education.

The following sections will help you explore boarding schools and explain the admissions process. Contact the school that interests you for detailed answers to your specific questions.

Boarding School Admissions: A-Z

The boarding school admissions process can seem overwhelming at first, particularly for families applying from

If you are just beginning to explore boarding schools, this article will give the view from 10,000'. I suggest that you scan the article quickly, and then drill down in anything which interests you. Our site has a wealth of information to guide your search process. And, if you don't find the answers you want, you probably will be able to find them on our sister site, Private School Review. Finally, if you have more questions, tweet me. I will be happy to help.

Size

Boarding schools range in size from rather small (100 students) to rather large (1200 students). Most boarding school populations are somewhere in the middle with 300-400 students. Compare these numbers to most public schools and you will begin to see why size is so important in my opinion. I wanted my daughters to be visible when they went to boarding school. When the school community is a manageable size, teachers and administrative staff get to know their students quickly. More importantly, they will usually know what their young charges are up to. Boarding schools take their role as your substitute very seriously. The legal term is in loco parentis. Your child will not be invisible or able to hide when she attends boarding school.

Chatham Hall is an example of a small school. Everybody knows everybody in a school like this one.

By Barbara Kennedy, Director of External Affairs, Baylor School

Choosing a boarding school is a major decision, and prospective families often have similar questions about affordability, student life, athletics, and selecting the right school. The questions below reflect some of the most common concerns families have when exploring boarding schools. The answers have been updated where appropriate to reflect current information for 2026 while preserving the original guidance.

Question 1

Boarding school seems expensive. My parents' combined income is less than $90,000 a year. I am the oldest of three children. I have had a GPA of 3.9 through middle school and 9th grade. I play intramural soccer, had the lead in the spring musical last year, and want to be a physicist. Should I even consider going to a boarding school?

Paying for a boarding school education does require some planning, but it can be manageable, and the investment is invaluable. When considering the cost of boarding school, it is essential to know that need-based financial aid based on a family's income and assets is available at most schools. Many boarding schools have significantly expanded their financial aid budgets in recent years to make their programs accessible to talented students from a wide range of economic backgrounds. Other schools, including Baylor, offer merit scholarships as well. Most schools offer monthly payment plans (administered by the school or an outside agency), allowing families to spread their tuition payments over eight to ten months.

This brief video explains how