<p>We live about 45 minutes from a Hidden Gem which offered us incredibly generous FA. There were more day students than boarders, so she did not want to board there. It was not my d’s top choice, but the offer was hard to turn down… until we started to realistically think about the driving. It would be a total of 3 hours in the car every day, and probably often on weekends as well. I have a full-time job, so the mornings would be very challenging. To feel really ‘integrated’ at school, she would most likely have to be there for breakfast, and stay until after study hall or evening activities. Basically, we realized that she’d just be coming home in time to go to sleep, and then getting up really really early. So in the end, we are going with her first choice-- a school that is twice as far away, has a greater percentage of boarders, and she will board there.</p>