Blog
Expert insights, admissions guides, and stories from inside boarding school communities — everything families need to navigate the journey.
The SSAT Explained: Levels, Format, Scoring, and What It Means for Boarding School Admission
By Jill Hutchins
14 min readFor the boarding school admissions process, the SSAT is typically the first standardized test families encounter and one of the more misunderstood. This article…
British Schools vs American Schools: Key Differences for Boarding School Families
By Jill Hutchins
17 min readThe British and American school systems share a language and, across a wide range of institutions, a serious commitment to academic quality. In many other respe…
At What Age Can My Child Start Boarding School? A Cross-Country Guide to Boarding School Entry Ages
By Jill Hutchins
13 min readHow old should my child be before starting boarding school? We hear this question from families constantly. The honest answer is that there is no universal age.…
Boarding School Financial Aid and Scholarships: How to Apply and Maximize Your Award
By Jill Hutchins
19 min readBoarding schools in the United States run structured financial aid programs that distribute grant money based on demonstrated financial need, merit, and institu…
Benefits of Boarding Schools (Evidence, Outcomes, and What Families Should Know)
By Jill Hutchins
17 min readWhy boarding school? It is the question this article sets out to answer, documenting the benefits of boarding schools across academic, personal, and social outc…
The Independent School Admissions Gazette
By Ali
4 min readWelcome to the newsletterNewsletter overviewWe are excited to launch our new newsletter, where we update you on the dynamic admissions landscape, and invite you…
The Importance Of Building A Broad And Diverse School List
By Ali
3 min readA changing admissions landscape It is no secret that Covid and other factors have disrupted the secondary school admissions landscape. Schools, both boarding an…
When to Consider Boarding School
By Ali
2 min readWhy consider boarding school Boston-area schools have long been considered among the best in the country, attracting a large number of applicants every year, as…
Welcome Midwest Boarding Schools!
By Ali
1 min readMidwestern boarding schoolsWelcome to this wonderful group of 5 Midwestern boarding schools! Some terrific options for students of all types.Lake Forest Academy…
Top Viewed Schools: Summer 2022
By Ali
1 min readTop viewed schools Congrats to our Top Ten Most Viewed Schools this summer on the Owl Boarding School Guide! Tabor AcademyCushing AcademyMillbrook SchoolChoate …
The Boarding School Consortium
By Ali
1 min readMeet the consortium The OWL Boarding Guide welcomes the members of the Boarding School Consortium! Check out the individual pages of these distinctive schools, …
Great Boarding School Coalition
By Ali
1 min readOur school partners For years, we’ve sent students to these amazing schools and look forward to continuing our relationship with them. We are proud to have all …
Western Connecticut Boarding Schools
Featured boarding schools Highlighted in The Owl Boarding School Guide is this group of 12 special schools that recently hosted us for individual meetings to pr…
Second Edition: The Owl Boarding School Guide has Grown! Highlighting the Small Boarding School Association
A supportive boarding community We’re so pleased to add and highlight a special group of nurturing, supportive schools known as The Small Boarding School Associ…
The Boarding Advantage in Challenging Times
Online learning experiences Invariably I begin Zoom calls with my shelter-at-home high school juniors with some variation of, “How is online schooling treating …
'You Sent Your Child Away!'
Demystifying the Boarding School Experience Common concerns “Why would I send my child to boarding school?” “Boarding schools are for…troubled kids.” We hear th…
Grit, Inspiration, & New Hampshire Boarding Schools
Understanding grit and inspiration David Brooks recently wrote a column, “Putting Grit in its Place,” in which he references the current fascination with this f…
Why a Boarding School is Also a Good Home
Entering boarding school life Seeing boarding schools differently For the record, I grew up a free-lunch kid from a public school in NJ. I had no idea abo…
Campus Visit Darwinism: Top Boarding Schools and Colleges are First to Close Doors to Visitors
Selective schools close campuses Evolution often holds true for education: Health concerns surrounding coronavirus have led the most selective colleges and boar…
It's Never Too Early - - Or Too Late - - To Apply To Boarding School
Exploring spring admission Spring admission opportunities The arrival of spring brings the onset of warmer weather, reimagined hopes, and new opportunities. And…