Prospective Boarding Parent FAQ #5: 'How Will Boarding School Help My Child Go Further in Life?'

The fifth question I will tackle in my 10-part Prospective Boarding School Parent FAQ blog series is one that our admission officers frequently hear. Parents who are exploring the boarding school option at the request of their child often ask: 

"My child is already smart, so how is boarding school going to help him/her go any further in life?" 

It's true that an intelligent and motivated student is probably going to do well in any high school environment. However, I can assure you that your child will be a different person upon getting to college if he or she has attended boarding school.

Not only will your child have already learned to manage time wisely (and do laundry!), he or she will have gained priceless experience by living and learning alongside people from other cultures. Speaking from my own experience as a boarding student, this provides more and different opportunities to learn about both the world and yourself. 

Boarding school will also push your child to be his or her best in every area of life. Not only will there be academic and social challenges, but teachers and peers will encourage your child to stretch him or herself by getting involved and trying new things. Being surrounded by like-minded students and faculty who care certainly inspired me to reach higher.

These are just a few of the many lifelong lessons that inspire a student's path after boarding school. 

But don't just take my word for it. Below, five mothers of current or recently graduated boarding students debunk this common misconception:

"Since becoming a boarding student, our son has developed a greater sense of self-discipline and independence. He has a greater range of organizational skills and a better understanding of time management. We are happy that he has had the opportunity to develop these skill sets before entering college. Also, we have noticed our son's social circle has broadened to include other boarding students from around the globe. He is much more aware of the value of cultural differences and has had the chance to make friends that will strengthen his understanding of the world and international relations." - Pam Doig of Gainesville, Ga., mother of Ben ('19) 
 
"Darlington students live by a motto and an Honor Code. The Honor Code is taken very seriously and allows students understand the honor of the past, expect it in the present, and create it in a future that many fear will be without honor. Also, Darlington's motto (Wisdom More Than Knowledge; Service Beyond Self; Honor Above Everything) is inherent in everything it does. Darlington values knowledge of the whole child, not just class grades; Darlington values serving others and creates opportunities for students to experience selflessness; and Darlington values and expects honor. These things mean more than just being “smart.” These values create men and women of integrity." - Merritt Fields of Cordele, Ga., mother of Aisling ('18)
 
"Attending boarding school helped me personally to develop self-discipline, tolerance, independence, maturity and to build long-lasting relationships, the ability to think critically, as well as develop compassion for others." - Sheila Ebri of Brunswick, Ga., mother of Bernadette ('17)
 
"Research shows that boarding school alumni earn advanced degrees in greater numbers than public school graduates (50% compared to 21% of public school graduates). Once graduates of boarding schools have earned their degrees, they have earned top positions in management (44% compared to 27% of public school graduates)." - Elizabeth Bou of Marietta, Ga., mother of Madelyn ('18)
 
"All the children at Darlington are smart, so from an academic perspective, they will be challenged in ways they never imagined. Also boarding schools by their very nature prepare children for what’s to come, as they will be forced to meet and coexist on a daily basis with all sorts of kids from different countries, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. They will learn to manage their finances and do their laundry. But most importantly, the friends that they make during these four short years and the experiences that will bind them they will carry for the rest of their lives." - Paula Bacardi of Nassau, Bahamas, mother of Alex ('18) and Ted ('19)

For more information about Darlington School's boarding program, feel free to contact me anytime or you can also request a campus visit by clicking here.