Begin Your Search on the Web

Jesse Bardo
Admission Counselor

Web research is a good way to begin the process of deciding which boarding school to attend. Here are some tips on how to best navigate the web in order to narrow your list and get you to the all-important campus visit.

Websites that list schools by state, region, or religious or military affiliation can be helpful in selecting a school that’s right for you. Some simply describe the school, offering information such as size, make-up of student body, curriculum, and facilities. Others post testimonials from recent alumni, parents, and current students about their experiences. This information can give you an inside look at the school and can help you hone in on a school that is right for you.

Websites with school information:
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), www.tabs.org/about
Private School Review, www.privateschoolreview.com
Peterson’s, www.petersons.com

Websites with testimonials:
Boarding School Review, www.boardingschoolreview.com
Prep Review, www.prepreview.com
Great Schools, www.greatschools.net

Once you have taken some time to compare schools through these websites, make a list of those that interest you and check out those schools’ websites. Take a look at the campus, the curriculum, school traditions, special methods of teaching, cocurricular offerings, and photographs. Zero in on the schools that offer what you want and get in touch to arrange a visit. This is where the real test comes for both you and the school. Remember, it is all about finding the right fit; there is a right boarding school for everyone.

Back to Ask the Experts