SCOLASTICUS

Given that I am accepted, how I convince a parent to let me, a rising sophomore, attend a top-tier boarding school beginning with my junior year?

GMTplus7

If you need financial aid to attend a top-tier BS (tuition & fees cost approx $50,000 per year), then you will need your parents' support in advance.

You parents will have to fill out the financial aid application forms when you apply. You cannot apply for financial aid AFTER you have been admitted.

SCOLASTICUS

Thank you for your reply, but fortunately, financial aid is not an outstanding issue in my circumstances.

SevenDad

I would say that it's much better to have their support going into the process. If you have a great school locally that you/they are generally happy with, and the notion of BS has not in their plans for you..."springing" the idea of BS on them on April 10, 2013 is most likely going to open a Pandora's Box of issues.

It certainly would for me.

This shouldn't be surprising. $120k for two years of HS is money that, even if they can afford that, perhaps they had other plans for.

Also note that, regardless of FA needs, I think most (all of the schools our daughter applied to did) require parents to fill out some statement.

Here's something else to consider...I'm sure BSs are more likely to admit students they know that the full support of parents upfront. Why would they admit someone if (since they are still minors), their parents are likely to put the kibosh on matriculation?

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If you are searching for reasons to convince them, shouldn't these be the same reasons you felt it important to apply in the place? [These reasons are different for different students/families, so I won't try to offer any to you at this point.]

STLmom23

Are you sure they won't be receptive to the idea? My daughter was worried about telling me she wanted to apply for boarding school ~ and was surprised to discover that I thought it was a great idea for her.

SCOLASTICUS

I've already broached the idea with my mom and it didn't go over too well. My dad is encouraging it, but my mother is less willing to let go. However, I was originally discussing the idea in reference to an out-of-country school, so maybe that has made her more willing to accept sending me to an East Coast school.

STLmom23

Maybe you could talk your mother into visiting us here on Prep School Parents. I think it's a good resource for people with questions.