Famous Boarding School Alumni and What They Teach Parents
When considering boarding school for your child, it’s helpful to look at the stories of those who have walked similar paths. Famous boarding school alumni offer not only inspiration but also insight into what makes a boarding environment work—and how parents can best support their children. In 2025 these lessons remain highly relevant.
Why Looking at Alumni Matters
Boarding school alumni provide a “long view” of how students mature, thrive and transition into the wider world. Their journeys can highlight valuable features of boarding school life—academic rigor, independence, social maturity, global perspectives—that matter to parents and students alike.
We examine three prominent alumni and distil five key lessons for parents.
Alumni Snapshot
1. Mark Zuckerberg – Founder of Meta
Zuckerberg attended Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, one of America’s most prestigious boarding schools. Boarding School Review His experience underscores the role of a boarding school in fostering both academic challenge and social maturity.
What this teaches parents:
Prioritise schools that offer strong academic programmes, not just reputation.
Encourage resilience and self‐initiative; boarding offers independence early on.
Support your child in balancing study, extracurriculars and social life.
2. Uma Thurman – Actress and Producer
Thurman attended Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts. Town & Country Her
