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, i.e., 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 which American boarding schools provide.
American boarding schools have been proactive in seeking out international students. In the fall, individual schools and consortia of schools regularly visit Asia and Europe to recruit applicants.
The following headers will help you explore the concept of boarding schools and explain the admissions process. Contact the school that interests you for detailed answers to your specific questions.
Admissions to Private School: A-Z
Admissions to Private School: A-Z puts all the information you need to navigate the private school admissions process in one convenient place. Whether you are just beginning or have been through this before, you will find help and advice to guide you. Application Calendar
Keep track of all aspects of choosing a school and the application deadlines. This is especially important for students applying from overseas.
Guidelines for International Students
In addition to complying with all the usual admissions requirements, international students must obtain a student visa. Depending on the country where they reside, that process can be time-consuming and somewhat convoluted.
Applicants to American private schools for whom English is not their first language must take a test known as TOEFL. Why? Because classes are taught in English.
Checklist For Comparing Schools
Use this checklist to help you compare schools on your shortlist. It will help you sort out details that you might otherwise overlook. Take time to look at schools that are not in the top 10. Exeter and Andover are great schools, but there are another 250 or more boarding schools to consider. I know some of them will be a good fit for your child and your requirements.
Checklist for Comparing Schools: Administration and Faculty
Here are some of the questions to ask and things to look for when comparing schools' administrations and faculties. After you have visited several schools, the details will begin to blur unless you use a checklist like this one to keep track of your thoughts and opinions.
Checklist for Comparing Schools - Curriculum and Instruction
What's being taught and how it is taught are important parts of your checklist for comparing schools on your shortlist. Each boarding school offers its own unique take on what to teach and how to teach it. Use this checklist to make notes about items that are important to you.
Other Considerations
Should you accompany your child to school or let her hop on a plane and hope everything turns out well? That's up to you. Most families have the resources to be able to travel, so if you want to bring your child over and get her settled, that's fine. Just understand that once you turn her over to the school's care and supervision, you can't turn up daily. The school will look askance at you. Your daughter's room will not be as spacious and luxurious as she had back home. There will be no servants catering to her every need. That's a good thing. She needs to spread her wings under the watchful eyes of a professional staff who will know where she is and what she's up to 99% of the time.
Keep in touch via Skype and email. That way, you can share her news and activities quite efficiently.
What about those long American vacations and weekends? Your daughter will make many new friends, inviting her into their homes when they return for the holidays. That's almost a given in a boarding school environment.
A final word of caution: begin the application process as soon as you can. Getting a visa is very time-consuming, but it is necessary. She will not be admitted to the United States without it.
Questions? Contact us on Facebook. @boardingschoolreview
#boardingschools #internationalstudents
