10 Things You Must Not Forget When Applying

By Shari Bunks Geller, parent of Blair Academy alumni

I survey my son's room. High school graduation is just two weeks away. College is no longer on the horizon but our next step forward. I am looking to see what he will need to take with him and what he will leave behind. Looking around his room, I am keenly aware of how our world has expanded more than we could have imagined just four years ago when we applied Michael to high school. Boarding school was consciously not on our radar when we began our high school search.

At the start of his eighth-grade year, our son said he would like to apply to boarding school. My husband and I seriously discussed boarding school as an option. We both attended good public schools growing up. We had decided against our public high school as an option for our four children and were committed to sending them to an independent day school. While neither my husband nor I came from families with a boarding school culture, we had many friends whose children attended boarding schools across the country. We have frequently cautioned that once a child visits a boarding school, all-day schools will pale in comparison. The facilities, the campus, and the notion of a different level of independence are alluring to a fourteen-year-old. Although our conversation was serious, we quickly agreed that we would not consider boarding school.

We investigated our local day schools. We toured,

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

Graduating from boarding school marks a significant milestone. It represents not only academic achievement, but also years of personal growth, independence, and community living. Choosing the right gift for a boarding school graduate requires thoughtful consideration, balancing practicality with meaning.

In 2026, gift trends have evolved to reflect changing student needs, including a greater emphasis on technology, wellness, and college readiness. This guide highlights updated ideas to help families select gifts that are both useful and memorable.

What Makes a Great Boarding School Graduation Gift?

Boarding school graduates are typically preparing for college or other next steps that require independence and adaptability. The most appreciated gifts tend to fall into three categories:

• Practical items for daily living
• Tools for academic and professional success
• Personal keepsakes with long-term meaning

Because these students have already experienced residential life, they often value gifts that support their transition rather than novelty items.

For a broader perspective on how boarding schools prepare students for independence, see https://www.boardingschoolreview.com/blog/preparing-students-for-college-at-boarding-schools

Practical Gifts for College and Independent Living

Dorm and Living Essentials

Even though boarding school graduates are familiar with dorm life, college living presents new challenges. Practical upgrades are often appreciated.

Consider:

• High-quality bedding or mattress toppers
• Durable laundry bags or organizers
• Compact storage solutions

Students entering college often face smaller living spaces, making organization-focused gifts especially useful.

Travel and Mobility Items

Boarding school students are typically accustomed to traveling between home and campus. For graduates,

5 Founders and Their Boarding Schools

Five founders of boarding schools changed American education forever—but you've probably never heard their names.

• So, when you look at the examples of these five founders of legendary boarding schools, you can only marvel at the sheer determination that each one had to make his or her dream come true.
• American boarding schools are some of the best in the world.
• In an age when everybody seems to be taking shots at America and what we stand for, that's an excellent statement.

Here, then, are snapshots of the founders of five boarding schools. They are an inspiration forever, as indeed are all the founders of boarding schools throughout the United States.

Maria Bissell Hotchkiss and The Hotchkiss School

Founded: 1891 Number of students: 598 Grades: 9-12, PG. Coeducational Religious Affiliation: Nondenominational Setting: Rural

• Maria Bissell Hotchkiss had inherited a fortune from her husband, Benjamin Hotchkiss.
• He made his money manufacturing guns.
• After he died, Mrs. Hotchkiss donated 65 acres in Northwestern Connecticut to establish a school for boys.
• She wanted the school to be a feeder school for Yale University in New Haven.

Her original gift of 65 acres expanded over time into a magnificent campus of 645 acres of pristine Northwestern Connecticut countryside.

• Mrs. Hotchkiss' munificence also established a generous financial aid program.
• This has permitted boys from families who could not otherwise afford to attend The Hotchkiss