Boarding school: Is it too late to apply?
2.1.24
We learned this in economics: a decrease in supply typically means an increase in demand. What do admissions officers want the most? MORE applications. More students to choose from. More is better, in admissions. And I know, because I used to be a boarding school enrollment director. The January deadline can be the date set by mega schools that other schools adopt to align themselves/drive up demand.
But…just because a school posts a January 15 deadline for applications, doesn’t mean there won’t be spaces available well into the spring. A few things to think about, if boarding school is in your/your family’s plan:
All schools—even top schools—hold a handful of beds back so that they can take great students who just didn’t get around to applying on time.
Most schools aren’t truly full until April. Some aren’t full until May or June. When I was the Director of Enrollment at my boarding school, we took 2-3 kids the week before school started in August. You absolutely never know.
Boarding schools don’t publish deadlines to increase anxiety or cause you heartache. Aside from the aforementioned rationale behind deadlines, they do it so that they can make sure their often limited staff has plenty of time to give the care and attention to every single file that comes through their platform. They do it so that they can ensure their teams have dedicated time set aside every cycle to review, reflect, and shape a wonderful incoming class. It’s the right thing to do—so no shade to my Admissions friends who are out here doing the most.
You have time. Take a deep breath, and know that if you still want boarding for yourself or someone you know, you’ll find the right school before August.
