What About Canadian Schools?

Published July 12, 2009
Most American families thinking about boarding school tend to stick to schools located within the United states. But, depending on your circumstances and inclinations, you might want to think about Canadian boarding schools. Here are five reasons why.

1. The foreign factor

Canada is not the U.S. It is a sovereign nation with a multi-ethnic population of just over 33 million. Most of the population resides along the U.S.-Canadian border. The three principal cities are Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Each has its own particular characteristics and attributes which you can discover as your explore their websites.

Canada is close to the U.S. These major Canadian cities are short flights from most American cities. So you don't have to fret about getting there quickly if something happens to your child.

Canadians and Americans share much in common. The shops and restaurants are similar to what you would find stateside. While you will encounter a lot of French in French-speaking Quebec, the rest of the country uses English. The climate is northern with a short summer, fall and spring and a long cold winter. Vancouver and Halifax, being on the water, have much more temperate weather though it can get pretty cold there too.

2. A different twist to your child's college application

Think about it. Your child's application to a competitive college is sitting there along with 100 virtually identical applications. Same SAT scores, same excellent grades on the transcript, a great essay and glowing recommendations. But your kid's has a difference. She went to a Canadian private school. Most college admissions consultants will tell you that having a hook is always a good thing. Going to a Canadian boarding school might just be that hook.

3. The cost

Canadian boarding schools cost about $40,000 on average for tuition and room and board. That's Canadian dollars. Or approximately $35,000 in U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. This doesn't include sundries and all the extras. But it gives you an idea of the value. Oanda.com has a handy foreign exchange calculator so you can figure the cost of a Canadian boarding school in U.S. dollars.

4. The hockey and skiing

If my kid were crazy about fashion, I'd probably send him to school in Savannah so he could hang around SCAD students 24/7. If she were aspiring to a professional hockey career, I'd make tracks to a Canadian boarding school. Literally any Canadian boarding school. Same thing with skiing. Schools like BCS and Stanstead in the Eastern Townships south of Montreal on the Vermont border have amazing access to great skiing for five months of the year. While there are not hockey rinks on every street corner, there sure are a lot of hockey rinks both indoors and outdoors so your child can get lots of practice.

5. The academics

You are probably thinking that those Canadians have a totally different curriculum from American schools. Well, they don't. Canadian schools prepare their students for AP exams in their senior year. Many offer IB curricula as well.  The standard of teaching is every bit as high as you'll find in U.S. boarding schools.

Canadian Boarding Schools



{"http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/articles/30":{"data":[]}}

View Related Choosing a School Articles:

  • 5 Common Myths About Military Schools
    Military schools seem to go in and out of favor with the general public. Perhaps that has to do with some rather common misconceptions about what military schools are and how they operate. Let's take a look.
  • 5 Reasons to Choose a Boys' School
    We have been hearing a lot about the benefits of single sex education recently. Here are five reasons why you should consider choosing a boys' school for your son.
  • 5 Reasons To Choose a Girls' School
    There is a body of research which suggests that girls do learn differently from boys. So, if that is the case, maybe you should consider a girls' school for your daughter instead of sending her off to a coed school. Here are some points to ponder.
  • 5 Reasons to Choose a Junior Boarding School
    A junior boarding school offers certain distinct advantages for the middle school aged student. Here are five reasons why you should consider choosing this option for your child.
  • 5 Steps for Choosing a Boarding School
    Choosing a boarding school involves several steps. We guide you through the process and offer advice and help.
  • 5 Reasons to Start Your School Search Early
    Allowing 18 months for your school search process has many benefits. Here are five reasons why it is a good idea so to do.
  • Benefits of a Small Boarding School
    Learn about the benefits of a small boarding school.
  • Choosing a School: Comparing Schools
    Use a spreadsheet to develop your initial list of schools. Here's how.
  • Considering a U.S. Arts Program?
    "If the arts are part of your interests and your passion, you should research each school’s available offerings. Spend time reading the school’s literature and visiting its website..." Brought to you by Boarding Schools in the USA
  • Girls' School Graduates Have an Edge
    Exciting new research shows that a girls' boarding school can offer your daughter many advantages.
  • I Can't Find Any Rankings!
    This cry is heard throughout the land as parents try desperately to compare one boarding school against another.
  • Looking at Schools
    "Do you like large schools or small schools? Are you most comfortable in a city, small town or countryside? Are you interested in attending a school that has a religious or military orientation? Would you like to attend a school that is only for boys or girls? These are some questions you must ask yourself before you begin your search for the right U.S. boarding school for you..." Brought to you by Boarding Schools in the USA
  • Quaker Education: What’s Different about a Friends School?
    Learn about the benefits of attending a Quaker boarding school.
  • Recruitment Fairs
    North American boarding schools regularly send admissions staff overseas to hold recruitment fairs in your area.
  • Schools for Students with Learning Disabilities
    How to deal with a child who has a learning disability.
  • Using an Educational Consultant
    An education consultant knows schools. Like any professional he has vast experience in and knowledge of his chosen field.
  • What Is Being Taught?
    You need to know what is being taught before you decide which boarding school is best for you.
  • Why a Progressive School?
    Sending your son or daughter to a progressive school sounds like a real leap of faith. It is, that is, until you look more closely at the kind of education your child will receive. Then you will understand the idealism in action which progressive schools embody.

All Categories:

RSS/XML Feed RSS
Article Categories
Most Recent
Most Popular
About Boarding School
Admissions
Choosing a School
Common Questions
Teaching
Paying For It