Attending boarding school far from home -- experiences, thoughts, etc.

hsmomstef
Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:53:03 +0000

As a regular poster, I am sure that many of you know that my youngest son applied and was accepted into several boarding schools. The original list of 9 schools schools that he applied to has now been narrowed down to 2 – Putney and Northfield Mount Hermon. From what we can tell, both would be a good “fit” for him, both are financially doable for our family and he is interested in both schools. We are planning to attend the revisit days and make our decision after the visit (he has not visited either school).

However – neither school is close to us. We live in Colorado – so either school is an equal distance and is not close enough for us to be dropping by to see a game or play, nor will he be able to come home for a random weekend.

He is a very independent kid with plenty of experience away from home, so he doesn’t see this as an issue. I think he will have the typical adjustment issues of any freshman – but nothing severe.

What I am wondering is what kind of issues are particular to the child that is boarding so far from home? Logistical issues? Emotional? etc?

I do know that we will be asking at the revisit about weekend activities and if the campus empties out on the weekend. We have looked at the break schedules at both schools. We would plan to accompany him to drop him off, fly in for both parent weekends, and fly him home for Thanksgiving/xmas/spring break. Each school has one long weekend – which he would probably go to a friends house for.

I thought it might help our thinking process if we got some more input – I would love to have him go to a school that is only a short distance, but that is not an option.

thanks!