I'm a management consultant, a mother of three, and - until recently - someone who knew almost nothing about boarding schools despite my husband having attended Exeter. When my daughter expressed interest in boarding school (during the spring before the fall application season), I discovered a gap: plenty of marketing content from schools themselves, scattered Q&A on Reddit, and helpful, albeit generic profiles on sites like Boarding School Review, but very little authentic, comprehensive guidance from families who had actually been through the process.
This blog documents our family's direct, first-time experience applying to eight elite boarding schools: Andover, Choate, Deerfield, Exeter, Groton, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, and St. Paul's. It's written for families like ours - motivated, but unfamiliar with the unwritten rules and insider knowledge that often separate successful applications from unsuccessful ones.
Topics covered in this article include: why I created this resource, who this blog is for, what makes it different, notes on anonymity and ethics, what you won't find here, and my hope for this resource.
Why I Created This Resource
As a consultant, I'm trained to identify patterns, organize information, and extract insights from complex processes. As I guided my daughter through the boarding school application journey, I realized I was accumulating exactly the kind of detailed, experience-based knowledge that doesn't exist in an accessible format anywhere online.
I had access to proprietary information most families never see: actual essay prompts from multiple schools, interview questions asked by Admissions Officers, SSAT practice exams, and insight into the financial aid application processes. More importantly, I had the lived experience of navigating decisions that felt opaque and high-stakes: How much SSAT preparation is enough? When should we schedule campus tours? How do I help my daughter write authentic essays without writing them for her?
The information I needed most - the kind of granular, honest guidance that comes from someone who just went through it - wasn't available. So I decided to document and publish it.
Who This Blog Is For
This blog is specifically designed for families who are:
- Unfamiliar with the boarding school landscape, regardless of socioeconomic background or education level
- Willing to do the work but unclear where to focus effort for maximum impact
- Looking for authentic, detailed guidance rather than generic advice or marketing content
- Interested in understanding the process holistically - not just individual components in isolation
- Comfortable with a direct, analytical approach that balances expertise with humility
I'm writing for the family who didn't grow up knowing that boarding schools existed (e.g., like myself). For the parents who are first-generation immigrants or first-generation college graduates navigating unfamiliar territory. For the families who are strategic and motivated but don't have insider knowledge or a network of boarding school alumni to guide them.
If that describes you, I hope you find this blog helpful.
What Makes This Blog Different
I'm not running a consulting business or selling admissions services. I don't have a financial incentive to keep the most valuable information behind a paywall. My goal is genuinely to be helpful, which means sharing the specific, actionable details that actually matter.
Content contained in this blog:
- Detailed breakdowns of our actual experience, including my daughter's test scores, our timeline decisions, and mistakes we made
- Strategic frameworks for approaching different parts of the application (testing prep, essay writing, interview preparation)
- Comparative data and analysis across schools where relevant
- Honest reflections on the emotional and logistical challenges we faced as a family
I write like a consultant because I am one, but also tried very hard to write in an easy-to-digest, prose format. I also write like a parent who has just lived through this process. Said another way: you'll get both the strategic thinking and the messy reality.
A Note on Anonymity and Ethics
We're sharing personal details about our family (e.g., my profession, the fact that we live in the NYC metro area, my daughter's interests and test scores) because context matters for understanding how to apply our experience to your own situation. But we're not sharing names or identifying information because this blog isn't about us as individuals. It's about the process and insights we can offer.
I'm also committed to staying within the bounds of what's ethical and appropriate. I won't publish complete essay prompts verbatim, specific interview questions attributed to individual schools, or any information that violates the spirit of what these schools are about. This blog shares our authentic experience and strategic insights while respecting the integrity of the admissions process.
What You Won't Find Here
This blog won't tell you how to game the system or guarantee admission to any school. I can't promise that following my approach will get your child accepted, because boarding school admissions isn't purely meritocratic, and I don't have insider knowledge of how Admissions Officers make final decisions.
You also won't find extensive discussion of every possible scenario or edge case. I'm documenting what we experienced and what I learned. Your family's circumstances may differ, and that's fine; use what's relevant and adapt the rest.
Finally, this isn't a forum for questions or ongoing dialogue. The blog is a one-way resource by design. I'm sharing what I know in as much detail as possible, but I don't have capacity to provide individualized guidance beyond what's already published here.
My Hope for This Resource
Boarding schools remain wrapped in an air of mystery and elitism that can make them feel inaccessible, even for families who could genuinely benefit from what they offer. My hope is that this blog demystifies the process enough that more families, and particularly those without insider knowledge or connections, feel equipped to navigate it successfully.
Before you begin, please see: How to Navigate and Make the Most Use Out of This Blog