Boarding School Review Blog

If you are thinking about sending your child off to boarding school, you should try to start your school search process as early as possible. Finding the right school takes time. The process itself is not difficult; however, it is time-consuming. For example, if you are considering getting your child into school for 10th grade, you should begin the process in the spring of 8th grade. Standardized admissions testing typically takes place during the fall and winter of 9th grade, depending on each school's requirements. Most boarding schools have application deadlines in January, although some schools offer rolling admission. Admissions decisions are generally released in March, with enrollment decisions typically due in early April.

Many parents think that they will have plenty of time to get everything done, but the truth is that the 18-month time frame that I am recommending flies by very quickly. Before you know it, the application deadline is around the corner. With that in mind, let's review why I feel that you need 18 months for your school search.

1. You Need Time to Visit the Schools

Visiting schools is time-consuming. It is not enough to visit the schools virtually, although if you live abroad, that might be the only viable way of visiting schools. You must experience the school. You need to use your eyes and ears to help decide whether your child will be happy there for the next three years. Possibly four if he stays for a PG year. You

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

I wish that during the 15 years I worked in boarding school admissions,I had kept track of how many students I interviewed. I imagine it’s a greater number than I would even guess. I loved to interview students and have that time to really get to know them -- who they are, what they hope to do, what they are looking for, how they might fit in at my school, and what they bring with them. Sometimes, it was very clear to me that a student was nervous -- perhaps it was their first time in an interview situation. So I would start with, “Are you nervous?” It’s amazing how identifying that fear could somehow easily dissipate it as well. From there, we could talk comfortably with one another and explore what we wanted to explore. Many of the students I work with in boarding school guidance have not been interviewed before this point, which makes sense given their age. I like to guide them beforehand with how they might be more prepared -- both in terms of what they might be asked in an interview and what they might ask, as well as how to make a good impression.

This video looks at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut.

What should I wear?

I’m glad you asked! This is one of the first things I ask my students who are planning their visits!