Thacher vs East Coast Boarding Schools

Kthor626
Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:08:10 +0000

The horse program and camping are equally important to the Thacher experience. It is one thing for a school to be in a picturesque location, but it is quite another thing for kids to spend significant time in nature and learn all of the things it can teach them about self-reliance, grit, the need for preservation of natural resources, and their roles as stewards. On their own initiative Thacher kids will take day hikes, climb a mountain to see the sunrise, work on rock climbing techniques, etc. after classes or on weekends. These kids are deeply enmeshed in their environment and, as you may suspect, become very environmentally conscious and savvy. The campus is largely off-grid due to solar arrays and very conscious about water usage and conservation. Camping is for all four years (2 week-long trips a year and one short winter one) and most of the kids come to believe that it is one of the most important parts of their experience.

As to deciding, appreciate that it is much smaller than most East Coast schools and that the social vibe is different. Kids don’t care about designer anything (the biggest status symbol might be worn out Crocs) and are largely internally competitive, as opposed to competitive with their classmates. They care about academics and college admissions, but it’s never a zero sum game for them. Thacher kids are. for the most part, both nice and kind.

If you or your kid wants a boarding school for bragging rights, Thacher probably isn’t going to give you the right status bump. East Coast kids see it as the quirky “horse school” and fewer East Coast employers get what a Thacher education signifies. On the West Coast, people understand the situation.

Since Thacher has made it to the top of your list, then trust your gut. A lot of kids have no desire at all to take on the challenges that Thacher poses, so trust the self-selective nature of even applying there. If your kid is lucky enough to have Thacher as a choice as well as East Coast options, then probably keep trusting your gut. When my daughter had to pick between Thacher and several other outstanding options, I realized that she was going to have an amazing experience in whatever she chose. It was a very peaceful feeling. I am so glad that she chose Thacher, however, as it was such a unique and fulfilling experience for her.

Good luck to your family!