Mastering the Application Process Series

Applying to boarding school takes time and effort. We're here to help.

We know that preparing to apply for a boarding school can feel like a daunting task. NMH’s admission counselors are ready to help you with the process. Our team has a combined 100+ years of experience helping families apply to boarding school. We work with families like yours every day — and we love what we do.

Boarding School Application Workshops

Check out “Mastering the Application Process” our free, virtual workshop series on applying to boarding school. Our team will help you navigate, step by step, the process of researching, applying to, and deciding on the right school for you.

Registration Opens Fall 2026!

INTERVIEWING: YOU'RE IMPRESSIVE - LET'S SHOW IT!

Putting yourself out there in an interview is easy for some people. Others need time to warm up — and you don’t have that time during the interview. This session offers tips on how to make the interview go your way. Whether you’re outgoing or reserved, you have strengths, and you need the confidence to make them shine. This isn't bragging: It’s sharing who you are and why you should be at a school.

We cover:

Interview etiquette
Feeling comfortable in an interview setting
How to highlight personal strengths
How to talk about weaknesses with a growth mindset
Typical interview questions

BRINGING YOUR APPLICATION TOGETHER

There is an art and science to assembling your application so it shows the best of you. This session covers the five main evaluation components: recommendations, activities, testing, the interview, and the essay. (For an even deeper dive, join our sessions on interviewing, essay writing, and recommendations and activities).

We cover:

Understanding the boarding school application process
Thinking about the application as one unit that tells a story
Why each section of the application process matters
How to position yourself for success
Getting a handle on the application requirements

THE ESSAY: IT'S A GAME CHANGER

Your essay should say something about you that isn’t obvious in the rest of your application. A good essay can boost your application and help propel you to an offer of admission. This session will help free you to tell your story and provide tips on telling it well.

We cover:

The purpose of the essay
What admission counselors are looking for
How to tell your story
The idea of writing style
Reflecting on the nuances in examples of student essays

HOW DO I SELECT THE BEST BOARDING SCHOOL FOR ME?

To choose the right school, you need to know what’s important to you. Not other people: you. But how do you differentiate between what is non-negotiable and what is a desire? This session will offer tips on figuring that out, including from NMH students who’ve been through it already.

We cover:

The process of selecting a school through student eyes
Identifying what you must have (non-negotiables) vs. what you wish for (desires)
Discovering what you want in a school (not what others want for you)
How to effectively gather information about schools

RECOMMENDATIONS: GETTING THE BEST ONES

Don’t underestimate your connections with your teachers. This session will help you identify whom to ask for recommendations and how to lay the groundwork to get the best ones.

We cover:

How to ask for a recommendation
How to build a relationship with teachers
How to position yourself to receive a good recommendation
Identifying extracurricular activities or relationships that paint a fuller picture

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: WHAT DO YOU DO?

Schools want students who will engage with others in the community around shared interests. Some students have invested time in one particular activity; others try lots of different activities. Still others might feel like they haven’t done much at all. This session will help you identify the activities and passions that have helped shape your life — and that you can bring to your next school.

We cover:

How to gauge your interest in an activity
Exploring available opportunities and getting involved at any level
How to connect with a school community, right now
Understanding the range of student schedules
How to transform an interest into community engagement
How to connect with parents, teachers, coaches, and counselors

LEARN ABOUT THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS: GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Financial aid can be a big factor in making independent school a viable option for families, and how you complete the financial-aid application will make a difference in the amount of aid you receive. Join us to get answers to your questions about financial aid.

We cover:

What to do and not do when applying for financial aid
How and why boarding schools distribute financial aid
How admission offices think about financial aid

We look forward to getting to know you during the application process. Take a look at our checklist for researching and comparing schools. And let us know how we can help.

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Mastering the Application Process Series

Boarding School Application Workshops

INTERVIEWING: YOU'RE IMPRESSIVE - LET'S SHOW IT!

We cover:

BRINGING YOUR APPLICATION TOGETHER

We cover:

THE ESSAY: IT'S A GAME CHANGER

We cover:

HOW DO I SELECT THE BEST BOARDING SCHOOL FOR ME?

We cover:

RECOMMENDATIONS: GETTING THE BEST ONES

We cover:

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: WHAT DO YOU DO?

We cover:

LEARN ABOUT THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS: GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

We cover: