Sometimes people wonder if boarding school is worth the struggle. Often times you move far away from home, and have added responsibilities because of it. But, when you compare boarding school to private and public day schools, the numbers tell it all. Here is a quick look at some of the advantages of boarding:
1) You Will Be More Prepared for College
Boarding schools typically require more of their students and prepare them better for college. According to a study done by TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools), 91% of boarding students said their school was academically challenging compared to 70% of private day students and 50% of public school students. You can find the results of this study on their website, here: http://www.boardingschools.com/discover/bigpicture.html
Not only did students report that their classes pushed them academically, but 87% of boarding school graduates said they were very well prepared for the academic rigor at the university level, compared to 71% of private day students and 39% of public school students.
2) Motivated Peers
A class can be ruined by one disruptive, complacent student. Your friends and classmates can make all the difference at school. That’s the advantage of boarding: 75% of students reported that they were surrounded by motivated peers, compared to 71% of private day students and 49% of public school students. Chances are, if your peers are ready to learn and succeed, you will be too.
3) Available, Supportive Faculty
Faculty are more available to their students at boarding schools. In some environments, many teachers even live on campus. But even if they don’t, since you live on campus, you will have a lot more opportunities to work with your teachers before and after school and receive help on difficult concepts and assignments. Not only are teachers more available outside of class for boarding students, but even inside the classroom because of smaller student-teacher ratios.
In fact, boarding students spend an average of 9 hours per week outside of the classroom with teachers, coaches, and other staff members, compared to 4 hours at day schools. That’s more than twice the time with people who are older, wiser, and smarter than you who can help shape you into an intelligent and bright young man or woman.
4) Fewer Distractions, More Studying
If you want to take your studies seriously, then boarding school is the right choice for you. Not only do will you spend an average of 4 less hours a week watching TV, but you will be able to spend about twice as long studying as students who attend day schools.
Boarding Schools like Brook Hill provide study halls during the day at school, and every week night with faculty and staff available to tutor and help you with your studies. But don’t worry, if studying isn’t your thing, you get study hall passes and are rewarded if you maintain stellar grades. The boarding school environment provides less distractions and helps you focus on what’s really important.
5) More Time to be Active and Creative
Because you have less distractions, you’re also able to spend more time being active and enlarging your creativity. Boarding students spend an average of 12 hours per week exercising and playing sports versus 9 hours in day schools. Not only that, but at boarding school you will typically spend 6 or more hours on creative endeavors like playing music or painting compared to 4 or 5 hours at private and public schools.
At Brook Hill, boarding students always have friends to play soccer with. We also open our exercise facilities 4 nights a week so that our students can stay fit.
6) A More Independent You
Living away from home can pose its challenges, but boarding students also gain a greater sense of responsibility and independence beyond their years. Learning to manage your time, become a self motivator, cook, clean, and make new friends are aspects of life day students don’t learn until college. In fact, 78% of boarding students said they were well prepared for the non-academic side of life opposed to only 36% of private day students and 23% of public school students. Now that’s a huge difference!
7) Advanced Degrees
For most people, their educational aspirations end after undergrad. However, 50% of boarding students go on to earn advanced degrees. Only 36% of private day students do the same, and 21% of public school students. An advanced degree doesn’t always mean more money or a better career, but it does demonstrate caliber of students and faculty at boarding schools, as well as the a love for education.
8) A Philanthropic Spirit
Philanthropy advances our world. Many ills have and will be cured through innovative organizations, but they need resources to do so. 60% of boarding school graduates give to social service organizations by mid-career as opposed to 48% of day school graduates. Going to boarding school broadens your perspective and the global environment helps you understand that we all need to work together to make our world a better place.
9) A More Successful Future, A More Involved Now.
If leading people is your passion, then boarding school is the right choice for you. Research shows that 44% of boarding school graduates are in top management positions by mid-career while only 33% of private day students and 27% of public school students find themselves in similar leadership roles.
Part of the reason boarding graduates find themselves in these leadership roles is because they have opportunities to lead others in boarding school. 77% of boarding students report having a variety of leadership opportunities in their schools compared to 60% of private day and 52% of public school students.
10) A Global Atmosphere
As big as our world is, it’s getting smaller every day. In the 21st century we find ourselves in the midst of a global economy – and the globalization of our world means that we need to adapt. Boarding schools provide the most diverse, global environment available before the university level. Having classmates from all of over the world will not only help you understand other cultures, but connect you with future leaders around the globe. Around 59% of boarding students would describe their school has having a diverse ethnic population, compared to 19% of private day students and 39% of public school students.
Nothing could be more true at our boarding school in Texas. Our boarding program has students from 30+ countries each year.
Conclusion
Maybe boarding school isn’t right for you, but hopefully these numbers help you see the advantages and benefits of choosing to go to a boarding school instead of a private day or public school. Boarding not only develops and pushes you to be a more well-rounded person now, but trains you to be a leader and contributor to our world for the rest of your life. The time you spend with your teachers and with your friends will shape you and change you into the kind of person that can make a difference. If you’re ready to make the change, consider our boarding school at Brook Hill. Click here to find out more: brookhill.org
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*All of the facts and figures used in this article were made available by TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools). You can find many of the facts on their website: http://www.tabs.org/thetruth/truth2.html or here: http://www.boardingschools.com/discover/bigpicture.html or in their magazine: “The Official Boarding Prep School Magazine 2013-2014,” entitled Now Boarding.