Getting written feedback on boarders' work

Periwinkle
Sat, 02 Nov 2013 13:15:20 +0000

Every new poster should read this thread on the main forum: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/427714-if-youre-new-cc-please-read-before-posting.html. It’s good advice for everyone. We don’t want to know your identity. I assume smart posters change details from time to time. We really don’t need to know. Some parents may be curious, because they’re in the process of applying to schools. That’s a different issue.

The reasons make a difference, because the advice differs, depending on the reason. Most students make the adjustment fairly quickly. On balance, it’s better to show a “rising trajectory” of grades, rather than a “falling trajectory.” Parents can freak out about a student receiving a B for the first time in his life, without taking a school’s grading scale into account.

Advisors are a great resource. They know everyone involved, they can put performance in context, they can speak with teachers who are being unreasonable, they can help students access resouces which are available but not on students’ radar screens. From your description, it sounds as if you believe your son needs your remote supervision. Perhaps–but there are other avenues to pursue, which are on site and available to parents. You are paying tuition for an attentive educational environment. A boarding school is its own thing, one shown to build self-reliance and self-control in the students who make it through.