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Boarding School?
Hey guys. I live in America, and just recently i took a trip to london and oxford and i absolutely loved it. Someone else recently posted a question about which is better- boarding school or summer program. and the responses were mostly all pro-summer program. I was just wondering if anyone had anything to say for boarding school in the UK, which is something i happen to be considering. 
what i guess i would like to know is: what do you actually DO there?
so anyone w/ experience, i need your help! Thanks guys 
what i guess i would like to know is: what do you actually DO there?
so anyone w/ experience, i need your help! Thanks guys Scroll to see replies
i know i'm not the person you wanted to respond to this thread, seeing as how i have no experience in boarding schools, or in England for that matter. just saying hi!!!
It's brilliant, honestly. I've boarded since I was, er, oooh, must be about 7/8? I love it. It's such good fun, ok so it's very strict where I am (for instance 2 of my friends have just been suspended for dying their hair red. It's only a red tint! And another black etc), but being in a 'house' and part of such a 'big team' really raises team spirit etc. I wouldn't like to be anywhere else, even though I am constantly getting into trouble for really silly little things.
We have a couple of Americans in my year, they're fab!
We have a couple of Americans in my year, they're fab!
Lady_Muck
It's brilliant, honestly. I've boarded since I was, er, oooh, must be about 7/8? I love it. It's such good fun, ok so it's very strict where I am (for instance 2 of my friends have just been suspended for dying their hair red. It's only a red tint! And another black etc), but being in a 'house' and part of such a 'big team' really raises team spirit etc. I wouldn't like to be anywhere else, even though I am constantly getting into trouble for really silly little things.
We have a couple of Americans in my year, they're fab!
We have a couple of Americans in my year, they're fab!
ooo! that's exciting. well, i have a question about boarding school! is it worth it to go to boarding school in England for 1 term and then come back to the school i'm at now, you know, just for "cultural experience"??? or do you think i could get the same experience/ or just as good with a summer programme in central oxford??? in the colleges??? i mean, is boarding school different than just going to a regular private school???
Boarding is good fun. You definitely get a lot more out of school I'd say (especially in the latter years). Depending on the school, you finish in the afternoon/evening and then instead of going home you hang out with friends, watch films, play footie/tennis or whatever, have a couple of beers in the evening, sit down to watch Champions League games when it's too cold and dark to go out. It's great being around your mates the whole time. If you're younger you do stuff like dorm-raids where you take pillows and wet toilet paper (for throwing) and go and attack a different room at 1am before being caught and put in detention the next day. Also means if you've got free lessons you can catch up on sleep.
see that's what i was hoping i would hear. it sounds like alot of fun, but i don't htink i'd be able to graduate from the school. I'd need to return home, so i don't know how long i could stay there. if any of you boarded far away from your homes, are there lots of people who stay during half term or break (or that sort of thing)? weekends, and all that jazz?
oh, and my mom wants me to ask a question (i am extremely embarassed...but...):
are drugs like really big in the schools? (she read an article, but we don't know if it was bout american boarding schools or english. because if english boarders are rare, american ones are even rarer.)
oh, and my mom wants me to ask a question (i am extremely embarassed...but...):
are drugs like really big in the schools? (she read an article, but we don't know if it was bout american boarding schools or english. because if english boarders are rare, american ones are even rarer.)
0070900
see that's what i was hoping i would hear. it sounds like alot of fun, but i don't htink i'd be able to graduate from the school. I'd need to return home, so i don't know how long i could stay there. if any of you boarded far away from your homes, are there lots of people who stay during half term or break (or that sort of thing)? weekends, and all that jazz?
oh, and my mom wants me to ask a question (i am extremely embarassed...but...):
are drugs like really big in the schools? (she read an article, but we don't know if it was bout american boarding schools or english. because if english boarders are rare, american ones are even rarer.)
oh, and my mom wants me to ask a question (i am extremely embarassed...but...):
are drugs like really big in the schools? (she read an article, but we don't know if it was bout american boarding schools or english. because if english boarders are rare, american ones are even rarer.)
Most people who lived abroad had a relative/guardian to go to over half term but a lot of schools will let you stay every weekend (although some make you get out every three weeks). Drugs aren't really big, no. I mean there are probably some but in all my time I never actually saw anyone taking anything at school (the odd person smoked dope apparently, but there was never any pressure at all in school). My school automatically expelled anyone taking/pushing drugs if they were caught.
hello. it's great to hear from you again.
it really is...
0070900
oh, and my mom wants me to ask a question (i am extremely embarassed...but...):
are drugs like really big in the schools? (she read an article, but we don't know if it was bout american boarding schools or english. because if english boarders are rare, american ones are even rarer.)
oh, and my mom wants me to ask a question (i am extremely embarassed...but...):
are drugs like really big in the schools? (she read an article, but we don't know if it was bout american boarding schools or english. because if english boarders are rare, american ones are even rarer.)
Er, depends, I guess.
I've been to two big public schools, one of them I was kicked out of for drugs (it wasn't me, I can't stand them, but that's so a different story). There, a very famous actors son was suspended about a million times for drugs too. They do happen, a lot. The kids have money to burn, so they do drugs. The school have a very strict 'no drugs' policy, and they do drugs test an awful lot. But they can't alter what goes on at house parties at the weekends, every weekend at x, y or z's house. There was a letter circulated to the parents etc. This week about our 5th form, SO funny. Some of the masters had heard about this party a few weeks ago, where two girls, er 'performed' for a group of guys. Yes, they were fully under the influence of well, everything and the school saw this as 'abuse' (right!!).
If you're not into drugs, don't do them. Simple. You'd be exteremely naive and/or stupid to believe that they don't happen. They happen everywhere, especially in an environment with rich people who have a very strong 'work hard, play harder' attitude.
What do you mean by 'english boarders are rare?' I'm English
We have a great mix at my school, it's fab. We have lots of English people, many who's parents work away a lot, some just board because it's so fun, some live in London, some English people live in Kenya, Singapore, Dubai, Oman, UAE etc. They usually have an Aussie x American accent, v cool! Then we have some Estonians, Latvians, Poles, Russians, Germans, French, Thai, Cantonese (like, Hong Kong), Chinese (as in Mainland!) we also have 3 Phillipino's this year. We quite often have overseas student studying for a term, at the moment we have 2 SA's and 5 Germans for a term, it's an experience you'll never forget.
Despite what I said about the drugs, it's not like you're forced into them at all. It's just what comes with life, some people do do them. Lots of my friends do, I still go to the parties and have a great time, just without snorting cocaine. Boarding is an amazing (strict, though) experience. I'd never have changed doing it, one bit. Although sometimes I want to kill the girls I live with, they're like my sisters and we'll always have a bond through 'living' together.
I'd strongly recommend it, it'd be amazing for you.
dgzgomoo
is it worth it to go to boarding school in England for 1 term and then come back to the school i'm at now, you know, just for "cultural experience"??? or do you think i could get the same experience/ or just as good with a summer programme in central oxford??? in the colleges???
only going to boarding school for a term seems a tad silly = i doubt you'd have much choice over what you're studying (beyond subject) & it could well be to the detriment of your american education progression/exams etc.
& i think the 'cultural experience' would be more limited being in a boarding environment (perhaps depending on your age & the location/relax-ness of the school).
so although it wouldn't be the same experience - i think a summer programme might suit the 'cultural experience' angle more.. it would be more specifically designed for academic enrichment in addition to your existing studies, rather than just replacing (& perhaps inadequately!), you'd be with other students in a similar situation & if based at a uni might get more out of it in terms of freedom to travel/go out etc.
but - of course all this depends again on your age & details of the specific programme. i thought all oxford summer schools for internationals where for undergraduate level students i.e. 18+?
two replys in one post first to Lady Muck who said:
What do you mean by 'english boarders are rare?'
I just meant that the typical english student doesn't go 2 boarding school. i just meant that even less kids in US go to it as well.
and now to Elles who said:
i thought all oxford summer schools for internationals where for undergraduate level students i.e. 18+?
i'm actually talking about an something called the Oxford Experience
you can check it out on www.oxbridgeprograms.com
but it's for kids from eight grade (in the US, like thirteen years old) to seniors (eighteen). it's a highschool thing.
What do you mean by 'english boarders are rare?'
I just meant that the typical english student doesn't go 2 boarding school. i just meant that even less kids in US go to it as well.
and now to Elles who said:
i thought all oxford summer schools for internationals where for undergraduate level students i.e. 18+?
i'm actually talking about an something called the Oxford Experience
you can check it out on www.oxbridgeprograms.com
but it's for kids from eight grade (in the US, like thirteen years old) to seniors (eighteen). it's a highschool thing.
I know an American girl who did a similar sounding course in Cambridge and she had a blast apparently.
I personally haven't had any experience, but a friend of mine(from Peru) took a summer course in Oxford and didn't enjoy it very much. She said it was too strict. And you'll probably be better off doing a summer course in England rather than France (unless you are very keen on improving your french).
Staying for one term in a boarding school isn't worth it, really. If you want to experience it, I think that you should at least give it a year. I'm at a boarding school at the moment, and we have an exchange student who is here only for one term, and it's a pity because since she's going to be here for such a short time, she wasn't put into a house. And you don't really have enough time in one term to experience a lot, especially at boarding school. Depending on which year you decide to enter, by staying an entire year, you could possibly gain qualifications (if you take AS or maybe GCSE, but that's usually a two year course) which would boost your resume.
At half term and holidays, most of the people go home. We have students from all over the world, and most of them can afford to go home at every chance. But a lot of them stay with their guardians as someone has already mentionned. But guardians can be very expensive (a complete rip-off sometimes).
Anyway, if you have any more questions about boarding school you can pm me anytime.
Staying for one term in a boarding school isn't worth it, really. If you want to experience it, I think that you should at least give it a year. I'm at a boarding school at the moment, and we have an exchange student who is here only for one term, and it's a pity because since she's going to be here for such a short time, she wasn't put into a house. And you don't really have enough time in one term to experience a lot, especially at boarding school. Depending on which year you decide to enter, by staying an entire year, you could possibly gain qualifications (if you take AS or maybe GCSE, but that's usually a two year course) which would boost your resume.
At half term and holidays, most of the people go home. We have students from all over the world, and most of them can afford to go home at every chance. But a lot of them stay with their guardians as someone has already mentionned. But guardians can be very expensive (a complete rip-off sometimes).
Anyway, if you have any more questions about boarding school you can pm me anytime
.wow, i never would have thought that they wouldn't place you in a house. i mean, that's one of the best parts about it! (well, maybe not...but that's not the point) i'm also interested in this, so thanx for the advice about boarding school!
Also, one more thing...I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS CLEAR FOR EVERYONE READING THIS THREAD: THE SUMMER PRGRAMME IS NOT RUN BY OXFORD. IT IS A PROGRAMME WHICH WAS DEVELOPED IN NEW YORK AND IT TAKES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (or 6th form) TO OXFORD, CAMBRIDGE, OR ONE OF THE UNIVERISTIES IN FRANCE TO TAKE SOME CLASSES OF THEIR OWN AND EXPERIENCE THE UNI LIFE. SO, IT IS NOT THE SAME AS SUMMER SCHOOL AT OXFORD UNI.
okay, i'm done now. bye! 
Also, one more thing...I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS CLEAR FOR EVERYONE READING THIS THREAD: THE SUMMER PRGRAMME IS NOT RUN BY OXFORD. IT IS A PROGRAMME WHICH WAS DEVELOPED IN NEW YORK AND IT TAKES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (or 6th form) TO OXFORD, CAMBRIDGE, OR ONE OF THE UNIVERISTIES IN FRANCE TO TAKE SOME CLASSES OF THEIR OWN AND EXPERIENCE THE UNI LIFE. SO, IT IS NOT THE SAME AS SUMMER SCHOOL AT OXFORD UNI.
okay, i'm done now. bye!
sugarwhirl89
I personally haven't had any experience, but a friend of mine(from Peru) took a summer course in Oxford and didn't enjoy it very much. She said it was too strict. And you'll probably be better off doing a summer course in England rather than France (unless you are very keen on improving your french).
Staying for one term in a boarding school isn't worth it, really. If you want to experience it, I think that you should at least give it a year. I'm at a boarding school at the moment, and we have an exchange student who is here only for one term, and it's a pity because since she's going to be here for such a short time, she wasn't put into a house. And you don't really have enough time in one term to experience a lot, especially at boarding school. Depending on which year you decide to enter, by staying an entire year, you could possibly gain qualifications (if you take AS or maybe GCSE, but that's usually a two year course) which would boost your resume.
At half term and holidays, most of the people go home. We have students from all over the world, and most of them can afford to go home at every chance. But a lot of them stay with their guardians as someone has already mentionned. But guardians can be very expensive (a complete rip-off sometimes).
Anyway, if you have any more questions about boarding school you can pm me anytime.
Staying for one term in a boarding school isn't worth it, really. If you want to experience it, I think that you should at least give it a year. I'm at a boarding school at the moment, and we have an exchange student who is here only for one term, and it's a pity because since she's going to be here for such a short time, she wasn't put into a house. And you don't really have enough time in one term to experience a lot, especially at boarding school. Depending on which year you decide to enter, by staying an entire year, you could possibly gain qualifications (if you take AS or maybe GCSE, but that's usually a two year course) which would boost your resume.
At half term and holidays, most of the people go home. We have students from all over the world, and most of them can afford to go home at every chance. But a lot of them stay with their guardians as someone has already mentionned. But guardians can be very expensive (a complete rip-off sometimes).
Anyway, if you have any more questions about boarding school you can pm me anytime
.is that totally typical of boarding schools to not put you in a house for a one term stay? see, all of what you said makes complete sense to me (about staying for a whole year) and everyone else in the world except to my mother (who is the one who counts, considering she is the one who pays). and i am in sort of my second year of GCSEs, but with no GCSE training so I would be walking smack dab in the middle of all that. Most schools have turned me down except a select few. So i guess that's even more to take into consideration.
yay!
alright. alright. so i just posted a minute ago. so what? anyway, i'm back again.
Here is a list of the school's (boarding) i've taken interest in. If you come by them and go "bazingo! i know that school (your name here) went there!" then just drop me a post and tell me about (please!)
the following schools sent me mail:
longridge towers school
King William's College
St Mary's Westbrook
Barnard Castle
Bishop's Stortford College
Claremont Fan Court School
Newland's School
St. Edmund's College
Stonyhurst
Any takers?!
Here is a list of the school's (boarding) i've taken interest in. If you come by them and go "bazingo! i know that school (your name here) went there!" then just drop me a post and tell me about (please!)
the following schools sent me mail:
longridge towers school
King William's College
St Mary's Westbrook
Barnard Castle
Bishop's Stortford College
Claremont Fan Court School
Newland's School
St. Edmund's College
Stonyhurst
Any takers?!
Never heard of any of them, I don't think they're really 'public' schools, they're rather smaller ones, I'd imagine.
I think you'd be better off going to one of the bigger public schools; Marlborough, Millfield, Bryanston, Kings Taunton, Queens Taunton, Taunton, Canford, Clayesmore, Repton, Rugby, Stowe, Sherborne (Boys & Girls), Cheltenham, Clifton etc.
That is total and utter balls about them 'not putting you in a house', as 9 times/10 they will. We have some German and French students over for a term at my school and they're in a house. It totally depends on the schools' system, at my school you live/eat etc. In the house, day pupils too...So, if you're not in a house, it's terribly silly you coming. That happens in lots of other schools too, so don't be put off by that comment.
I think it'd be a fab experience, you'd be able to experience the way of 'english life' and have a fab old time. Def. Do it!
I think you'd be better off going to one of the bigger public schools; Marlborough, Millfield, Bryanston, Kings Taunton, Queens Taunton, Taunton, Canford, Clayesmore, Repton, Rugby, Stowe, Sherborne (Boys & Girls), Cheltenham, Clifton etc.
That is total and utter balls about them 'not putting you in a house', as 9 times/10 they will. We have some German and French students over for a term at my school and they're in a house. It totally depends on the schools' system, at my school you live/eat etc. In the house, day pupils too...So, if you're not in a house, it's terribly silly you coming. That happens in lots of other schools too, so don't be put off by that comment.
I think it'd be a fab experience, you'd be able to experience the way of 'english life' and have a fab old time. Def. Do it!
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