Admissions

5 Tips for a Successful Boarding School Admissions Interview

Visiting boarding schools that you and your child are seriously considering is an exciting step in the admissions process. During these visits, you'll meet with admissions staff and possibly even a dean or the head of school. It's natural to want to make a great impression. You will put your best foot forward when you meet with these people. However, you will be in unfamiliar surroundings.

When parents think about secondary school interviews, they tend to focus on prepping their child for the all-important, anxiety-inducing applicant interview. The parent interview, which usually takes place during the same visit, can seem less significant, and parents often neglect to prepare for it in the same way. However, with a little planning, the parent interview can be a real asset to your student's application. Source: Secondary School Admission: The Do's and Don'ts of The Parent Interview...The Fay School

So, my advice is to relax, stay calm, and, above all, not let your nerves get the better of you. Here are some tips to help you navigate the admissions interview successfully.

This video shows a day in the life of Exeter.

1. Be Mindful About Discussing Learning Challenges

While honesty is important, there's no need to highlight minor learning issues during the interview. Admissions staff are adept at interpreting academic records and test scores, so let those

You applied to several boarding schools. But your first choice didn't accept you. Instead, it waitlisted you. What exactly does this mean? And why do schools waitlist applicants? What do you do now?

I can tell you from my first-hand experience that you wonder what you did wrong. Did you make a poor impression at the interview? Were your scores not good enough? The questions are never-ending. As a father whose two daughters both went to boarding schools, I remember well all the second-guessing. So, I am writing this essay from the candidate's point of view and yours. Please share it with your child who has been waitlisted by one or more of the boarding schools she applied to.

What does waitlisting mean?

Most schools typically offer more applicants places than they have for the theory and experience that they will receive enough acceptances to fill all their seats. Calculating the actual yield from the acceptances they have sent out is something experienced admissions officers know how to do almost instinctively. For example, let's say the school has places for 100 students. It could send acceptance letters to 100 applicants. But what happens if only 75 of those families accept the places offered? Having 25 empty seats will wreak havoc with any private school's finances.

That's where the waitlisting comes in. The admissions officers know that if they offer a certain number of applicants over the actual number of places they have available, they will receive the necessary

This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.

International students are welcome at boarding schools in the United States. Welcome! Bienvenidos! Bienvenue! Willkommen!

American boarding schools have long embraced a global perspective. Despite periodic headlines about geopolitical tensions, most schools actively promote cultural exchange, diversity, and international understanding. Students from around the world are not only accepted but also valued members of the community.

How Many International Students Attend U.S. Boarding Schools?

Recent estimates indicate that more than 60,000 international students attend U.S. boarding schools, reflecting steady growth in global enrollment since 2023.

For broader international education trends, see: https://www.iie.org

Why Study at a U.S. Boarding School?

Boarding schools in the United States offer a unique educational and residential experience.

Academic Strength

• Broad, college-preparatory curricula

• Strong STEM, robotics, and advanced coursework
• Small class sizes and individualized attention

College Readiness

Studying at a U.S. boarding school helps students:

• Adjust to American academic expectations
• Build strong English fluency
• Prepare for U.S. college admissions

Campus Life and Safety

Most boarding schools are located in suburban or rural settings with:

• Controlled campus access
• 24/7 supervision
• Structured residential life

Safety and student support remain top priorities.

To explore boarding school options, visit: https://www.boardingschoolreview.com/

Choosing the Right Boarding School

With hundreds of boarding schools available, narrowing your options is essential.

Tips for Searching

• Filter by region, size, and academic programs

• Review extracurricular offerings and campus life
• Evaluate international student support services

For example, New England includes:

• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Maine
• Rhode Island

This region alone offers

This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.

Admissions to boarding school is a process with many components. The process can be confusing to parents dealing with boarding school admissions for the first time. This article serves as a central hub, bringing together key resources and guidance to help you navigate every step.

The Overview

Admissions to boarding schools involves multiple steps, and understanding the full process early will make it far more manageable.

Admissions to Boarding School: A–Z puts all the information you need in one convenient place. Whether you are just beginning or have been through this before, you will find help and advice to guide you. If you cannot find answers to your questions or have specific concerns, contact the admissions offices at schools in which you are interested. Admissions staff are always ready to help.

Admissions 101 offers an overview of the admissions process, as well as the steps needed to find the right school for your child. The secret to success is identifying the school that best fits your needs and requirements.

Our Admissions Checklist will keep you on track as you work through the process. It organizes every step into an easy-to-follow structure.

If you are good at organizing projects, the challenges involved in getting your child into boarding school will not seem especially daunting. Bear in mind that this project typically stretches over 12 to 18 months, though some schools now offer rolling admissions.

Play the

Many students from countries outside the United States want to attend American boarding schools. According to The Association of Boarding Schools, international students make up about 15% of the student population in American boarding schools. It is essential to know that international students applying to an American boarding school deal with several additional steps in the admissions process.

Because many applicants live far from the schools they would like to visit, American boarding schools have devised ways to let parents and potential students experience the schools, their communities, and their programs. For example, if you live in Asia or Europe, visiting American schools in person is not always financially or logistically possible. So, what alternatives exist for those situations? There are several. Off-campus, school visits come in a couple of flavors. Since boarding school admissions staff have years of experience recruiting and admitting students from countries outside the United States, you will be able to get answers to all your questions and concerns. Decades of experience back up those answers. With that in mind, let's see how the overseas recruiting and admissions process to American boarding schools works.

Admissions Staff Visits Overseas

Many boarding schools send their admissions staff overseas to major cities in countries where they have a substantial applicant pool. Ask for details of visits in your area. While you will have to rely on school videos and web presentations of school life and activities, at