<p>I don’t think the “jock” culture is any greater at boarding school than at any other school.<br>
I have in the last few years seen openings for nurses at schools. You keep that door open.<br>
Keep in mind, that at many (not all) boarding schools, it is HARD to be a day student. Read the recent post by beachguru (I think that’s the name). I certainly understand you not wanting your son to board, but I would look at the culture of day students at a school. And, not just what the school SAYS. </p>
<p>For example, one school we applied to has info about day students in their view book in with “admissions and financial aid.” Kind of burried. Others feature it prominently in the materials. That’s a message to me.<br>
Personally, I hate the whole “day student lounge” thing. It just seperates the groups of kids. When you tour, as a day student applicant, they will probably talk to you and show you the day student hang outs. NMH for example, assigns all day students to a dorm room - usually about 8 or so to a room. They can hang out there during free periods - like boarders can and can sign up to stay over (obviously all 8+ can’t the same time). The kids are part of that dorm, just like they lived there.<br>
One school we visited had a hallway of lockers - which was very “public school like” in my son’s words. He didn’t like it (he would have boarded there so it wasn’t as if he would be using them). Anyway, ask questions about the day / boarding difference. Hopefully you will get a day student as a tour guide (and not a faculty kid who is technically a day student, but lives on campus, so doesn’t really count).</p>