<p>Well hi everyone… Ive been researching on schools that may be the best fit for me since I hope to learn more about leadership skills apart from the ordinary academic stuffs… So what I am looking into is a strong community service program and great Economics, Comparative Government (including stuffs like International Relations, Resources Mangement) etc. courses but except for Andover I havent found any good deal… Can some of you comment on any schools you think that may be a good choice for gaining the best for leadership? I heard Groton may do but couldnt clarify the source, can anyone help? Thanks a lot in advance!!!</p>
<p>You kind of say 3 different things…first you ask about schools with good community service programs and Gov’t/Economics courses. Then you say best for “gaining leadership” </p>
<p>**community service **- I would say that most schools have good and structured community service programs. Some have it as a requirement, while others leave it as an encouraged option. Either way, for a student that is passionate and wants to be involved, there are plenty of opportunites at just about any school. </p>
<p>Economics/Government - your best bet would be to take a look at some course offerings at a few schools that you are interested in. I have seen many schools that have interesting classes. Remember, even if 10 different courses are offered, you can probably only take 2 or so of them as most schools have specific history/social studies requirements that are taken first, leaving only a term or 2 for electives in the area. </p>
<p>Leadership - Again, all the schools offer great opportunites to develop leadership. Suffield Academy has an interesting and structured program around leadership.
<a href=“http://www.suffieldacademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=113487[/url]”>http://www.suffieldacademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=113487</a>
But all schools have student councils as well as the opportunity to be leaders of clubs and of course in the community service area above.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if any of that was helpful. I would suggest thinking about other things that are important to you as well and narrow down schools that way. Things like dress code, single gender/co-ed, Saturday classes, a specific sport (some like diving are only offered at a few schools), location, etc.</p>
<p>The Groton School Is very strong in all of these areas.
from their website- </p>
<p>"Service to others is one of the school’s core values, as embodied in the Groton School motto, Cui Servire Est Regnare (“Who serves, leads.”). The Groton Community Service (G.C.S.) mission is to carry out this principle, not merely articulate it. "</p>
<p>[Groton</a> School private New England boarding school in Massachusetts - Student / Community Service](<a href=“http://www.groton.org/home/content.asp?id=244&zZsec=student%20life&mid=244&mSec=student%20life]Groton”>http://www.groton.org/home/content.asp?id=244&zZsec=student%20life&mid=244&mSec=student%20life)</p>
<p>Interesting to note:
[Groton</a> School / Groton School-Wide Day Of Fasting Promotes A Better World Through Unity & Religious Awareness](<a href=“http://www.groton.org/home/news_item.asp?id=245]Groton”>http://www.groton.org/home/news_item.asp?id=245)</p>
<p>Groton fosters and nurtures leadership.
The Prefect year: all seniors not just a select few are in crucial roles of leadership.
[Groton</a> School private New England boarding school in Massachusetts - Student life / Prefect Year](<a href=“http://www.groton.org/home/content.asp?id=242&zZsec=student%20life&mid=242&mSec=student%20life]Groton”>http://www.groton.org/home/content.asp?id=242&zZsec=student%20life&mid=242&mSec=student%20life)</p>
<p>also listen to this :
[Groton</a> School private New England boarding school in Massachusetts - Admission / Vignette: Commons](<a href=“http://www.groton.org/home/content.asp?id=488]Groton”>http://www.groton.org/home/content.asp?id=488)</p>
<p>They also have Amnesty International,
[Groton</a> School private New England boarding school in Massachusetts - Student life / Amnesty International](<a href=“http://www.groton.org/home/content.asp?id=602&zZsec=student%20life&mid=602&mSec=student%20life]Groton”>http://www.groton.org/home/content.asp?id=602&zZsec=student%20life&mid=602&mSec=student%20life)</p>
<p>Model UN and a Debating society .
I could go on but check it out for your self </p>
<p>[Groton</a> School private New England boarding school in Massachusetts Home](<a href=“http://www.groton.org/home/home.asp]Groton”>http://www.groton.org/home/home.asp)</p>
<p>Hi there Linda S and Other Shoe, thank you both so much for helping me!! Obviously what I mean was not to “gain leadership positions”, but to “acquire the core leadership skills” since I’m in need of further developing my current projects… I do have my schools list already, but I just want to find out if I can apply to any other schools that have this program fit me… Anyway thanks a lot!! It was so helpful!!</p>
<p>@binhnguyen2907: Good to see you applying again this year
Btw, what is your current project? Can you describe it in more detail so people could give you advice about which schools have the program that suit you most. However, I think that all boarding schools can offer you great opportunities to improve your leadership skill. The important thing is whether you can take the full advantage of those opportunities or not. This skill is not something that can be acquired magically after some “special” programs.</p>
<p>Umm hi jamdoni, thanks a lot for your detailed question. Well I’m mostly dealing with projects that bring foreigners (Singaporeans, American etc) to my home country and lead them do community service there. Apart from that I work closely with a lot charity organizations to see what the needs are so that we can further develop projects that are need-based and to solve the organizations’ problems. </p>
<p>Actually I have managed to spend a summer with SEALNet Org from Stanford. We did attend community service workshops through which we have opportunities to try out skills in “interactive games”, which is not very useful because all those skills we learn in just 12 days and therefore cannot change the way we used to work (those include public speaking, fund-raising, networking, team management and organization, general leading etc.). At the moment I will find it most useful if I can learn more about economics, resources management, public relations and fund-raising since these skills need a lot of practice in real-life situations to become “your skill” so I will need those programs offered at the same time with a strong community service program so I have the opportunities to put what I learn into practice as much as possible and can get useful feedback from experienced advisors and peers.</p>
<p>It’s been a long message though, but thank you once again for your comments!</p>
<p>Most schools aim to build a strong foundation and give its graduates the personal fortitude and character that will enable them go on and fine tune these skills in a college environment.
Most prep schools by their very nature will have you working on these skills and not even know you are doing it.
What you want is the prep school that you feel most comfortable at, has some of your favorite qualities and will offer you a well rounded yet challenging education .</p>