5 Reasons to Study at a U.S. Boarding School

By Cortney Dowdle

Choosing a boarding school in the U.S. can be a difficult task, especially from halfway around the world. Boarding schools help students become acclimated to life in the United States, prepare them for studying at top U.S. universities, and offer deep school engagement that develops not only student’s academic abilities but skills, character and critical thinking.

When it comes to benefits of boarding school studies, the list is long. Here are just a few of the positive impacts that boarding schools have on students:

• Independence – Students who attend boarding schools often develop more responsibility and awareness of what is happening around them. Students learn to complete domestic chores and academic challenges on their own. They are also more prepared for the challenges of university life and have more time to adjust to residence hall living.
• Challenging Academic Environment – Boarding schools are often designed to be smaller and more personalized to the student experience. For example, Lake Mary Preparatory in Lake Mary, Florida offers standard, honors, and also the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone program with a special focus on STEM courses, providing varying levels of rigor depending on each student’s needs. Having daily challenges and hands-on learning in the classroom helps students advance but also strive to reach the next level academically.
• Cultural Diversity – Boarding schools often have students from around the globe. Each student brings diversity and perspective into the classroom as well as into sports, clubs, and organizations. Students learn to appreciate their similarities despite different backgrounds, and they also learn to understand their differences with a new outlook they may not have had otherwise.
• Community Atmosphere – Students who attend boarding schools are often part of much smaller campuses and communities than they would otherwise belong to in a different school. Small class sizes, personal relationships with teachers, and strong connections with their peers offer students the change for personal growth and development that often spurs their passions into university and career life.
• Immersion in American Life – For international students, beginning their American education at a boarding school can change the trajectory of their educational and career paths. By adjusting to American culture and classrooms, students are often more confident, comfortable and prepared going into American universities. They are more aware of the college application process, and they have the support needed to apply to their dream schools.

Cortney Dowdle is the Associate Director of International Admissions at Lake Mary Preparatory in Lake Mary, Florida.