Attending a boarding school has long been associated with academic rigor, prestigious opportunities, and a pathway to elite colleges and universities, including the coveted Ivy League institutions. Elite boarding schools such as Phillips Exeter Academy, Groton School, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, and St. Paul’s School send staggering numbers of graduates to Ivy League+ schools. Within the last three years, Exeter sent more than 10 students to Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and the University of Pennsylvania respectively. In the last three years, St. Paul’s School sent 24 graduates to Brown University and 22 graduates to Yale University. And in the last five years, Groton sent 35 of their Zebras to the University of Chicago alone.
What are the top feeder schools to the Ivy League?
Given that every private school reports their matriculation data differently, it can be challenging to compile a definitive list of schools with the highest Ivy League matriculation. However, the following five schools have long histories of sending graduates to the Ivy League and remain some of the most prestigious boarding schools in the U.S. today:
1. Phillips Exeter Academy
Founded in 1781, Phillips Exeter Academy is renowned for its rigorous and groundbreaking academics, beautiful campus, and storied history. The school is perhaps best known for pioneering the Harkness teaching method, which emphasizes discussion-based learning. Over the last two cycles, the school has sent more than ten graduates to Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, UPenn, and Yale, respectively.
2. Phillips Academy Andover
Known for its academic excellence, Andover offers a broad liberal arts curriculum and an array of extracurricular opportunities in the arts, sports, and community service. The school emphasizes global citizenship and leadership, encouraging students to engage in projects that impact both the campus and the world. Notable alumni include George H.W. Bush and Olivia Wilde. The institution sent 68 students—or 22.7%—of the Class of 2022 to Ivy League schools.
3. The Lawrenceville School
The Lawrenceville School is known for its close-knit, house-based residential system and hands-on, student-driven teaching methods (and for setting the record for a custard pie fight, of course!). Founded in 1810, the school offers a challenging curriculum with strong programs in STEM, humanities, and social sciences. Over the last five years, Lawrenceville has sent more than twenty graduates to Brown, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, and UPenn, respectively.
4. The Hotchkiss School
One of the founding English boarding schools in the U.S., Hotchkiss has a longstanding relationship with nearby Yale University. The school’s commitment to international experiential education and a sustainable, eco-friendly environment makes it a desirable place to grow academically and personally. Since 2020, Hotchkiss has sent ten or more students to Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.
5. Choate Rosemary Hall
Originally two separate schools founded by William and Mary Choate, Choate Rosemary Hall was founded when they came together in 1974. The school’s renowned programs in theater, music, and athletics attract students with diverse talents, and its focus on global studies encourages students to engage in the world beyond the classroom. Over the last five years, they have sent 20 or more students to Brown, Cornell, Harvard, UPenn, and Yale.
Should Your Child Go to Boarding School?
While the relationship between boarding schools and elite universities is certainly enticing, it is important to note that boarding school offers a distinct educational experience—one that is generally academically demanding, highly structured, and extremely social. Some students flourish in this type of environment, while others find it stifling and isolating. Rather than jumping at the chance to send their student to such a prestigious school, enticed by the likelihood of a subsequent Ivy League education, families should carefully consider whether this distinctive model of education fits their child’s personality, learning needs, and future goals.
Here are the primary differences between schooling options to take into account.
Note that data is gathered from various sources, and does not necessarily present information from one consistent time period or geographic span. As such, much of it can not offer a direct comparison, and should be considered holistically as a part of your critical decision-making process.
| | Public | Private (Day) | Private (Boarding) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $0* | $35,105 (median) | $69,150 (Average) |
| Average Student-To-Faculty Ratio | 15.4:1 (2021) | 12.5:1 (2021) | 6:1–12:1 (average range, no time period indicated) |
| Curriculum | Generally testing-focused; AP, Honors, and IB courses likely offered | School-specific, faculty-authored curriculum; AP and IB may be offered | School-specific, faculty-authored curriculum; emphasis on flexible, independent student learning |
| Culture | Larger student body leads to less centralized sense of community; students build community within clubs, classes, and organizations | Greater sense of student body cohesion, school community; outside-of-the classroom community building events typically offered | Strong sense of community; learning and living environment fosters centralized, communal culture and sense of identity |
| Extracurriculars | Offerings depend on individual school funding; athletics are primary co-curricular emphasis | Generally wide range of academic and non-academic extracurricular offerings | Wide variety of extracurricular offerings; little opportunity for students to participate in extracurricular opportunities outside of the institution |
*While public schools do not charge tuition, families should be aware that they may incur costs for participating in competitive or niche extracurricular activities that are not offered through public schools.
Which Boarding School is Right for Your Child?
If boarding school seems to be the right choice for your family, the next step is selecting the best fit school for your child. Bear in mind that not every boarding school is a good fit for every student, and parents should strategically evaluate their options before investing in boarding school. Here are three factors to take into consideration when comparing your options:
1. Your Student’s Personality and Interests
One of the most important considerations when choosing a boarding school is your child’s personality and individual needs. Every student is unique and has their own strengths, interests, learning styles, and preferences, and it is essential to select a boarding school that aligns with their needs. One of the most important traits to consider is your child’s level of independence—different boarding schools offer varying levels of structure, but at almost any boarding school, students will need to be self-advocates, using their time wisely and seeking help and support as they need it. If your student struggles to take initiative or feels intimidated by too much unstructured time, it may be advisable to choose a school with a more defined daily structure.
In addition, students should consider their academic strengths and interests, as well as any specific goals or aspirations they may have. Some boarding schools offer specialized programs or curricula that cater to certain academic interests, such as STEM, humanities, or arts—for instance, Foxcroft School offers a STEM-focused science program to encourage girls to explore the field; Hotchkiss’ interdisciplinary Humanities Program provides students the opportunity to think critically about issues in History, Religion, and Philosophy; and Interlochen Arts Academy offers one of the premier art programs in the world. Each of these schools may have stellar academics, but understanding the nuances of their programs and how they align with your child’s interests is critical for identifying the school that will allow your child to maximize their pursuit of opportunities in their field of interest.
KEY TIP
Not all students know what they want to study when they enter boarding school (particularly given that many apply in eighth grade), and that’s okay! If your child is unsure of their academic interests, consider schools that offer a broad range of academic opportunities and support exploratory learning.
2. The School’s Campus Community
A boarding school will not only be the place that your child learns, but also where they live, eat meals, make friends, and develop as a person over the next four years. Therefore, it is critical to consider the culture, values, diversity, and sense of community at each school on your list. Visit the campus if possible and encourage your student to interact with the students, faculty, and staff. In evaluating whether a campus is the right fit for their student, families should consider:
- The School’s Ethos: What are the school’s mission and values? How do they align with your family values? Many boarding schools have religious roots which they continue to engage with to varying degrees—for instance, Oakwood Friends remains informed by its Quaker roots, St. Andrew’s School requires students to attend chapel but welcomes students from across faith traditions, and Exeter is known for its vibrant and diverse religious communities on campus. Families should consider the degree to which they would like spirituality or religious expression to be a part of their child’s learning and living environment.
- The School’s Culture: Some schools are known for their academic rigor and competitiveness, while others emphasize collaboration, community service, or creative expression. Take the size of the student body, the student-to-faculty ratio, and the availability of academic and personal support services into account. There are also many elements of a school’s culture that can only be sensed through experience (are the students nerdy or artistic? Is the school laid back or strict? What do students do for fun? How is life in the dorms?). If possible, students should go on an overnight visit to get a feel for the campus and student body.
- The School’s Student Body: Consider how your student’s unique personality and background will align with the makeup of the school’s campus community. Note that one of the benefits that boarding school can offer your child is a more diverse, often international scholarly community. Boarding schools that emphasize inclusivity and provide resources for students from a wide range of backgrounds can help your child develop important interpersonal skills, cultural competence, and a global perspective—all of which are vital qualities for applicants to Ivy League schools.
Additionally, Ivy League and other prestigious schools want to admit students with a demonstrated commitment to leadership and service in their communities. Boarding school offers students a unique and compelling opportunity to showcase these qualities, as students participate in campus life in a holistic way, both academically and personally. In order to demonstrate their self-motivation and commitment to community, students should carefully evaluate the leadership opportunities available to them on the campuses they are considering—whether in the classroom, in the residence hall, or through their extracurricular activities. Students should seek to identify potential areas in which their passions could be mobilized in service of the campus community, as these are essential for building a strong applicant profile during their high school years.
PARENT TIP
Because boarding school is a living-learning community, consider what qualities you as a parent want to see in an institution. Do you want to be able to communicate directly with teachers and counselors? Do you want your child to come home on the weekends? Are you looking for a more collaborative relationship between parent and school or do you want to adopt a more hands-off approach?
3. The Institution’s Matriculation Data & College Counseling Support
Finally, students who hope to attend Ivy League and other top-tier institutions should also inquire about a given school’s matriculation data, as well as the specific ways in which the school supports students in the college admissions process. Keep in mind that some boarding schools have long standing relationships with Ivy League schools that continue to inform their matriculation trends—for instance, Hotchkiss in Connecticut was borne out of Maria Harrison Bissell Hotchkiss’ discussions with Yale President Timothy Dwight V, with the explicit intention of preparing young men for subsequent education at Yale. Lawrenceville was founded in New Jersey by Isaac Van Ardsdale Brown, a Presbyterian minister, with the intention to channel well-qualified students into Princeton University.
While boarding schools can give motivated students access to academically rigorous courses, leadership opportunities, and additional support that they need to level up their college admissions profile, it is important to remember that no school can guarantee a student admission to their dream school. Students still need to be sure to take advantage of the opportunities around them—whether at private, public, or boarding school—and demonstrate their passions through service to their communities.
PARENT TIP
It is important to understand the degree of personal support students will receive—college counseling should not just help students get into top schools, but should also help them evaluate and identify which school is right for their unique interests and aspirations, as well as prepare their applications. While a prestigious boarding school may boast that many of its graduates attend top schools, you also want to ensure that the institution cares about students’ ability to thrive after they graduate—what soft skills does the institution instill in students during their time there? How does the school help students foster a healthy work-life balance?
What Does the Ivy League Look for in Boarding School Applicants?
Command Education Senior Mentors are experts in helping boarding school students craft eye-catching applicant profiles and take advantage of all that their schools have to offer. Based on our team’s expertise, here are the top three qualities that Ivy League schools look for in boarding school applicants:
1. Academic Prowess
Given the rigorous academic landscape of boarding school, it is critical for students to stay competitive and rise to the top of their class, as they will be heavily compared to their peers. Boarding school students must consistently push themselves academically by enrolling in the most difficult courses available to them at their school, particularly in subjects that align with their intended field of study. While many boarding schools do not offer AP or IB courses, students should take honors classes, engage in independent research, or pursue interdisciplinary projects that allow them to explore multiple academic interests (particularly given that many Ivy League schools value interdisciplinary study).
What Our Mentors Have to Say:
“Boarding school is known for rigorous and student-centered academics, which can be both a blessing and a curse in the admissions process—it requires a lot more effort for students to stand out against their peers, and they need to put in the work to get into the top percentage of their graduating class in order to distinguish themselves.”
2. Creativity and Resourcefulness
Because boarding school provides so much direction and structure for students, boarding school students must think outside of the box to distinguish themselves from their peers while taking advantage of the resources their school offers. In order to do this, students must think creatively about how they can start their own initiative through which to explore their passions or be creative about how they can explore their passions within the confines of the resources available to them at their schools. They should focus less on how much they’re doing outside of the classroom and more on how their involvements testify to their creativity, innovation, and originality. For example, a student might create a tutoring program for elementary or middle school students at their school or contribute to environmental sustainability efforts on campus. Online resources can also provide opportunities to expand one’s skill set and use their skills for good (such as kickstarting research through Zooniverse or Citizen Science or publishing articles on TeenInk).
Once students begin the college application process during senior year, they should be particularly intentional about thinking outside of the box with their essay topics and format, taking advantage of the many opportunities throughout the Common App to share their voice, including the supplemental essays and additional information section.
What Our Mentors Have to Say:
“Overall, I think boarding school provides so much direction and structure for students that demonstrating leadership, taking initiative, community impact, resourcefulness, and creativity are the most critical qualities to highlight.”
3. Demonstrated Leadership
Beyond being creative about how they can demonstrate creativity through the resources at hand, boarding school students must also be strategic about demonstrating leadership throughout their time in high school. Ivy League schools are looking for students with a demonstrated history of leadership, both inside and outside the classroom. Boarding schools often provide structured opportunities for students to take on leadership roles, whether as community leaders in residence halls and student life initiatives, elected positions in student organizations, or heads of community service projects. While students can certainly showcase their leadership through these institutional avenues, simply being elected for such a role is not enough to show your leadership qualities. Students should think about how they might expand or enrich their groups through their participation and articulate the tangible and specific contributions they made on their applications.
What Our Mentors Have to Say:
“I encourage boarding school students to focus on pursuing leadership positions and establishing concrete initiatives within their existing school-mandated activities rather than trying to go entirely outside of the system. Even when their peers are participating in the exact same activities, being able to demonstrate their leadership will help them stand out a little bit in comparison.”
Attending a boarding school has long been associated with academic rigor, prestigious opportunities, and a pathway to elite colleges and universities, including the coveted Ivy League institutions. Elite boarding schools such as Phillips Exeter Academy, Groton School, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, and St. Paul’s School send staggering numbers of graduates to Ivy League+ schools. Within the last three years, Exeter sent more than 10 students to Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and the University of Pennsylvania respectively. In the last three years, St. Paul’s School sent 24 graduates to Brown University and 22 graduates to Yale University. And in the last five years, Groton sent 35 of their Zebras to the University of Chicago alone.
What are the top feeder schools to the Ivy League?
Given that every private school reports their matriculation data differently, it can be challenging to compile a definitive list of schools with the highest Ivy League matriculation. However, the following five schools have long histories of sending graduates to the Ivy League and remain some of the most prestigious boarding schools in the U.S. today:
1. Phillips Exeter Academy
Founded in 1781, Phillips Exeter Academy is renowned for its rigorous and groundbreaking academics, beautiful campus, and storied history. The school is perhaps best known for pioneering the Harkness teaching method, which emphasizes discussion-based learning. Over the last two cycles, the school has sent more than ten graduates to Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, UPenn, and Yale, respectively.
2. Phillips Academy Andover
Known for its academic excellence, Andover offers a broad liberal arts curriculum and an array of extracurricular opportunities in the arts, sports, and community service. The school emphasizes global citizenship and leadership, encouraging students to engage in projects that impact both the campus and the world. Notable alumni include George H.W. Bush and Olivia Wilde. The institution sent 68 students—or 22.7%—of the Class of 2022 to Ivy League schools.
3. The Lawrenceville School
The Lawrenceville School is known for its close-knit, house-based residential system and hands-on, student-driven teaching methods (and for setting the record for a custard pie fight, of course!). Founded in 1810, the school offers a challenging curriculum with strong programs in STEM, humanities, and social sciences. Over the last five years, Lawrenceville has sent more than twenty graduates to Brown, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, and UPenn, respectively.
4. The Hotchkiss School
One of the founding English boarding schools in the U.S., Hotchkiss has a longstanding relationship with nearby Yale University. The school’s commitment to international experiential education and a sustainable, eco-friendly environment makes it a desirable place to grow academically and personally. Since 2020, Hotchkiss has sent ten or more students to Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.
5. Choate Rosemary Hall
Originally two separate schools founded by William and Mary Choate, Choate Rosemary Hall was founded when they came together in 1974. The school’s renowned programs in theater, music, and athletics attract students with diverse talents, and its focus on global studies encourages students to engage in the world beyond the classroom. Over the last five years, they have sent 20 or more students to Brown, Cornell, Harvard, UPenn, and Yale.
Should Your Child Go to Boarding School?
While the relationship between boarding schools and elite universities is certainly enticing, it is important to note that boarding school offers a distinct educational experience—one that is generally academically demanding, highly structured, and extremely social. Some students flourish in this type of environment, while others find it stifling and isolating. Rather than jumping at the chance to send their student to such a prestigious school, enticed by the likelihood of a subsequent Ivy League education, families should carefully consider whether this distinctive model of education fits their child’s personality, learning needs, and future goals.
Here are the primary differences between schooling options to take into account.
Note that data is gathered from various sources, and does not necessarily present information from one consistent time period or geographic span. As such, much of it can not offer a direct comparison, and should be considered holistically as a part of your critical decision-making process.
| | Public | Private (Day) | Private (Boarding) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $0* | $35,105 (median) | $69,150 (Average) |
| Average Student-To-Faculty Ratio | 15.4:1 (2021) | 12.5:1 (2021) | 6:1–12:1 (average range, no time period indicated) |
| Curriculum | Generally testing-focused; AP, Honors, and IB courses likely offered | School-specific, faculty-authored curriculum; AP and IB may be offered | School-specific, faculty-authored curriculum; emphasis on flexible, independent student learning |
| Culture | Larger student body leads to less centralized sense of community; students build community within clubs, classes, and organizations | Greater sense of student body cohesion, school community; outside-of-the classroom community building events typically offered | Strong sense of community; learning and living environment fosters centralized, communal culture and sense of identity |
| Extracurriculars | Offerings depend on individual school funding; athletics are primary co-curricular emphasis | Generally wide range of academic and non-academic extracurricular offerings | Wide variety of extracurricular offerings; little opportunity for students to participate in extracurricular opportunities outside of the institution |
*While public schools do not charge tuition, families should be aware that they may incur costs for participating in competitive or niche extracurricular activities that are not offered through public schools.
Which Boarding School is Right for Your Child?
If boarding school seems to be the right choice for your family, the next step is selecting the best fit school for your child. Bear in mind that not every boarding school is a good fit for every student, and parents should strategically evaluate their options before investing in boarding school. Here are three factors to take into consideration when comparing your options:
1. Your Student’s Personality and Interests
One of the most important considerations when choosing a boarding school is your child’s personality and individual needs. Every student is unique and has their own strengths, interests, learning styles, and preferences, and it is essential to select a boarding school that aligns with their needs. One of the most important traits to consider is your child’s level of independence—different boarding schools offer varying levels of structure, but at almost any boarding school, students will need to be self-advocates, using their time wisely and seeking help and support as they need it. If your student struggles to take initiative or feels intimidated by too much unstructured time, it may be advisable to choose a school with a more defined daily structure.
In addition, students should consider their academic strengths and interests, as well as any specific goals or aspirations they may have. Some boarding schools offer specialized programs or curricula that cater to certain academic interests, such as STEM, humanities, or arts—for instance, Foxcroft School offers a STEM-focused science program to encourage girls to explore the field; Hotchkiss’ interdisciplinary Humanities Program provides students the opportunity to think critically about issues in History, Religion, and Philosophy; and Interlochen Arts Academy offers one of the premier art programs in the world. Each of these schools may have stellar academics, but understanding the nuances of their programs and how they align with your child’s interests is critical for identifying the school that will allow your child to maximize their pursuit of opportunities in their field of interest.
KEY TIP
Not all students know what they want to study when they enter boarding school (particularly given that many apply in eighth grade), and that’s okay! If your child is unsure of their academic interests, consider schools that offer a broad range of academic opportunities and support exploratory learning.
2. The School’s Campus Community
A boarding school will not only be the place that your child learns, but also where they live, eat meals, make friends, and develop as a person over the next four years. Therefore, it is critical to consider the culture, values, diversity, and sense of community at each school on your list. Visit the campus if possible and encourage your student to interact with the students, faculty, and staff. In evaluating whether a campus is the right fit for their student, families should consider:
- The School’s Ethos: What are the school’s mission and values? How do they align with your family values? Many boarding schools have religious roots which they continue to engage with to varying degrees—for instance, Oakwood Friends remains informed by its Quaker roots, St. Andrew’s School requires students to attend chapel but welcomes students from across faith traditions, and Exeter is known for its vibrant and diverse religious communities on campus. Families should consider the degree to which they would like spirituality or religious expression to be a part of their child’s learning and living environment.
- The School’s Culture: Some schools are known for their academic rigor and competitiveness, while others emphasize collaboration, community service, or creative expression. Take the size of the student body, the student-to-faculty ratio, and the availability of academic and personal support services into account. There are also many elements of a school’s culture that can only be sensed through experience (are the students nerdy or artistic? Is the school laid back or strict? What do students do for fun? How is life in the dorms?). If possible, students should go on an overnight visit to get a feel for the campus and student body.
- The School’s Student Body: Consider how your student’s unique personality and background will align with the makeup of the school’s campus community. Note that one of the benefits that boarding school can offer your child is a more diverse, often international scholarly community. Boarding schools that emphasize inclusivity and provide resources for students from a wide range of backgrounds can help your child develop important interpersonal skills, cultural competence, and a global perspective—all of which are vital qualities for applicants to Ivy League schools.
Additionally, Ivy League and other prestigious schools want to admit students with a demonstrated commitment to leadership and service in their communities. Boarding school offers students a unique and compelling opportunity to showcase these qualities, as students participate in campus life in a holistic way, both academically and personally. In order to demonstrate their self-motivation and commitment to community, students should carefully evaluate the leadership opportunities available to them on the campuses they are considering—whether in the classroom, in the residence hall, or through their extracurricular activities. Students should seek to identify potential areas in which their passions could be mobilized in service of the campus community, as these are essential for building a strong applicant profile during their high school years.
PARENT TIP
Because boarding school is a living-learning community, consider what qualities you as a parent want to see in an institution. Do you want to be able to communicate directly with teachers and counselors? Do you want your child to come home on the weekends? Are you looking for a more collaborative relationship between parent and school or do you want to adopt a more hands-off approach?
3. The Institution’s Matriculation Data & College Counseling Support
Finally, students who hope to attend Ivy League and other top-tier institutions should also inquire about a given school’s matriculation data, as well as the specific ways in which the school supports students in the college admissions process. Keep in mind that some boarding schools have long standing relationships with Ivy League schools that continue to inform their matriculation trends—for instance, Hotchkiss in Connecticut was borne out of Maria Harrison Bissell Hotchkiss’ discussions with Yale President Timothy Dwight V, with the explicit intention of preparing young men for subsequent education at Yale. Lawrenceville was founded in New Jersey by Isaac Van Ardsdale Brown, a Presbyterian minister, with the intention to channel well-qualified students into Princeton University.
While boarding schools can give motivated students access to academically rigorous courses, leadership opportunities, and additional support that they need to level up their college admissions profile, it is important to remember that no school can guarantee a student admission to their dream school. Students still need to be sure to take advantage of the opportunities around them—whether at private, public, or boarding school—and demonstrate their passions through service to their communities.
PARENT TIP
It is important to understand the degree of personal support students will receive—college counseling should not just help students get into top schools, but should also help them evaluate and identify which school is right for their unique interests and aspirations, as well as prepare their applications. While a prestigious boarding school may boast that many of its graduates attend top schools, you also want to ensure that the institution cares about students’ ability to thrive after they graduate—what soft skills does the institution instill in students during their time there? How does the school help students foster a healthy work-life balance?
What Does the Ivy League Look for in Boarding School Applicants?
Command Education Senior Mentors are experts in helping boarding school students craft eye-catching applicant profiles and take advantage of all that their schools have to offer. Based on our team’s expertise, here are the top three qualities that Ivy League schools look for in boarding school applicants:
1. Academic Prowess
Given the rigorous academic landscape of boarding school, it is critical for students to stay competitive and rise to the top of their class, as they will be heavily compared to their peers. Boarding school students must consistently push themselves academically by enrolling in the most difficult courses available to them at their school, particularly in subjects that align with their intended field of study. While many boarding schools do not offer AP or IB courses, students should take honors classes, engage in independent research, or pursue interdisciplinary projects that allow them to explore multiple academic interests (particularly given that many Ivy League schools value interdisciplinary study).
What Our Mentors Have to Say:
“Boarding school is known for rigorous and student-centered academics, which can be both a blessing and a curse in the admissions process—it requires a lot more effort for students to stand out against their peers, and they need to put in the work to get into the top percentage of their graduating class in order to distinguish themselves.”
2. Creativity and Resourcefulness
Because boarding school provides so much direction and structure for students, boarding school students must think outside of the box to distinguish themselves from their peers while taking advantage of the resources their school offers. In order to do this, students must think creatively about how they can start their own initiative through which to explore their passions or be creative about how they can explore their passions within the confines of the resources available to them at their schools. They should focus less on how much they’re doing outside of the classroom and more on how their involvements testify to their creativity, innovation, and originality. For example, a student might create a tutoring program for elementary or middle school students at their school or contribute to environmental sustainability efforts on campus. Online resources can also provide opportunities to expand one’s skill set and use their skills for good (such as kickstarting research through Zooniverse or Citizen Science or publishing articles on TeenInk).
Once students begin the college application process during senior year, they should be particularly intentional about thinking outside of the box with their essay topics and format, taking advantage of the many opportunities throughout the Common App to share their voice, including the supplemental essays and additional information section.
What Our Mentors Have to Say:
“Overall, I think boarding school provides so much direction and structure for students that demonstrating leadership, taking initiative, community impact, resourcefulness, and creativity are the most critical qualities to highlight.”
3. Demonstrated Leadership
Beyond being creative about how they can demonstrate creativity through the resources at hand, boarding school students must also be strategic about demonstrating leadership throughout their time in high school. Ivy League schools are looking for students with a demonstrated history of leadership, both inside and outside the classroom. Boarding schools often provide structured opportunities for students to take on leadership roles, whether as community leaders in residence halls and student life initiatives, elected positions in student organizations, or heads of community service projects. While students can certainly showcase their leadership through these institutional avenues, simply being elected for such a role is not enough to show your leadership qualities. Students should think about how they might expand or enrich their groups through their participation and articulate the tangible and specific contributions they made on their applications.
What Our Mentors Have to Say:
“I encourage boarding school students to focus on pursuing leadership positions and establishing concrete initiatives within their existing school-mandated activities rather than trying to go entirely outside of the system. Even when their peers are participating in the exact same activities, being able to demonstrate their leadership will help them stand out a little bit in comparison.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What boarding school sends the most students to Harvard?
While differences in the reporting of matriculation data make it difficult to say definitively which school sends the most students to Harvard, Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, and The Lawrenceville School consistently send a significant cohort of graduates to Harvard.
Can a boarding school guarantee admission to an Ivy League school?
No school can guarantee admission to any college or university, including the Ivy League. However, a boarding school with strong academic programs, leadership opportunities, and college counseling services can significantly improve a student’s chances of being admitted to their top-choice college or university.
How can I get into boarding school?
To get into boarding school, students should begin by conducting thorough research to identify schools that align with their personality, interests, and goals. They should then work on building a strong application, which typically includes transcripts, standardized test scores (like SSAT or ISEE), letters of recommendation, and a personal statement or essay. Many schools also require an interview as part of the admissions process. Demonstrating a passion for extracurricular activities and showcasing leadership potential can also strengthen an application.
When should I apply to boarding school?
Boarding school applications are typically due in December or January for fall admission. Most schools offer early and regular decision deadlines, and it’s important to start preparing well in advance, usually by the spring or summer of the previous year. Students intending to apply to boarding schools should verify the dates for each of the schools on their list to ensure that they do not miss important deadlines.
What is a 4.0 GPA in letter grades? How do I convert my GPA?
Different schools and colleges use different grading systems, and as such, you likely won’t be able to convert a 4.0 GPA into a letter grade and have it be universally correct. You can look at grading scales like the one published by the College Board, but your best bet is to ask your own high school for the grading equivalencies they use. Remember that colleges consider your transcript in the context of your academic environment, and the school profile they receive from your school’s counseling department will put your grades into context.
What type of student should go to boarding school?
From size to location and culture, boarding schools differ widely, which means that many different types of students may find a home at a boarding institution. Students who thrive in structured environments and who are self-motivated, independent, and academically driven are often a good fit for more traditional and academically competitive boarding schools such as Hotchkiss and Exeter, while students who feel stifled in traditional learning environments may thrive at a boarding school that focuses on creative pursuits like Interlochen Center for the Arts. Additionally, students with specific interests in fields such as STEM, arts, or athletics may find specialized programs at boarding schools that align with their passions.
Regardless of your learning style, passions, and collegiate goals, every boarding school shares the commonality that students live away from home. Therefore, the one foundational quality that a boarding school student should possess is a willingness to live apart from their family in an academic community.
