Question is in the title. I had a very tough time getting into prep school this year as an international student even though apparently “ I’m qualified “ they chose not to accept me. Is it harder for international students going to prep school and if it is how much harder is it?
Did you need financial aid?
Nope
@Saucerking27 , you are off to a school that has a lot of international students, and L’ville knows who will do well there, so don’t worry on that front. You wouldn’t have been accepted if you were not likely to succeed.
I had a conversation several years ago with a couple of girls who were from China. They said they found it exhausting to speak English all the time. This made sense to me. Not sure how that will feel for you. But for this reason, it can be tempting to hang out with kids from your background, and if you do this a lot, you may find yourself not fully a part of everything else at school but fully part of that group. And again, that can be your choice, but if it’s not what you want from the experience, you will have to be mindful of that.
Many American students find prep school hard, whether it’s the higher expectations in the classroom, managing their time, or the social environment. It can be hard for an international student to figure out if the struggle is what American students experience or related to their background.
You will have dorm parents, advisors, coaches, and teachers who can help you as you adjust. Many students who are high-achieving have never had to ask for help before regardless of where they are from. If your worries now turn out to have been valid, you will have the resources to address them.
As with many questions, the answer is “It depends.” Some students adapt more quickly. But as noted, if the school did not think you could succeed, they would not have accepted you.
@gardenstategal Great answer.
I do think it is increasingly harder for students from China to gain admittance to the better known schools, simply because there are so many highly qualified full pay applicants from China. Schools want their international student population to be diverse. They’d rather have kids from a wider range of countries and not have most of their international students be from the same country.
While true, and that applies to all internationals, the OP has been admitted, and is asking about how hard it is for internationals attending BS.
My son went to Lawrenceville, and the same standards apply to everyone: both domestic and internationals. Most of the internationals are accepted in Grade 10 at Lville, so the fact you got in for Grade 9 is impressive.
Biggest suggestion is to avoid the trap of hanging out with only students from your home country. The whole purpose of you going to boarding school is to become more comfortable with English. Seek out friends from different countries. You’ll form a strong bond with the students in your house.
@Saucerking27 If the primary language of instruction at you previous school was NOT English, adapting to the rigorous academics will require relatively more effort on your part. Still, it is absolutely achievable (the admission committee know what they are doing) and can be exhilarating (and character building) when you gradually come up to speed. My DS made a particular effort in his English and History classes and by Junior year, he felt that he had overcome the language gap. You should seek extra help from your dedicated teachers on the language front. As for the social adaption, mingling with a variety of American and International students will only enrich your Lawrenceville experience. Presumably, exposure to a different culture and academic system were factors that led to your decision to leave your home country. Finally, participating in a sports team and finding an inspiring faculty mentor will go a long way to making your transition seamless. Our DS adored his BS experience and was positively transformed by it. Have a great time!
My kiddo thinks academically it’s easier for internationals esp from some nations in some subjects. For example, Math and science are stronger in other nations ( in China 2+ years ahead of the US). It can be More difficult in other subjects such as History/English, speech/ethics, philosophy and other choices. Art and music, it’s the same.
Socially, it’s more difficult. Not for all. But getting used to a new system is hard.
There was certainly an adjustment from Canada to the USA. For 2 shy girls from Canada Exeter was a big adjustment. They still find the Harkness table challenging. Luckily they are not at all shy athletically and the heavy emphasis on sport at Exeter has allowed them to find a balance…but it wasn’t easy.