Getting Started

A post-graduate year is a year beyond high school graduation, spent at an independent school. Some students will consider doing an “extra” year of high school in order to better prepare themselves for college in a number of areas. Reasons for pursuing a post-graduate year vary, as does the timing of this decision. Some students know early on that they would like to pursue a post-graduate year and don’t go through the college application process at all, while others decide to consider both options. Still, others go through the college application process and then realize that they are not pleased with their college options and would like another year to strengthen their candidacy for colleges.

In any of these cases, the post-graduate year is a worthwhile option to consider. This “extra” year allows a student to mature socially and/or academically, provides another year of academic preparedness and time to enhance study skills and time management, and perhaps another year to strengthen the athletic ability to pursue a sport in college. These are all valid reasons for pursuing a post-graduate year.

Many independent schools offer this option, usually to a group of 10-20 students who are essentially members of the senior class. As post-graduates, these students will have already earned a high school diploma so will be making academic choices that will enhance their profile for college by maybe filling in gaps on their transcript or

Editor's note: Lynette Assarsson of the Westtown School wrote this article offering an overview of Quaker education.

While each Friends school has its own unique style and personality, they all have a common purpose: not only to provide a rich and challenging education but also to foster the ideals of community, spirituality, responsibility, and stewardship. A hallmark of the Quaker school experience is the basic belief that we are all teachers and learners and that each child has unique gifts and talents. Students are called upon to discover their own voices and interests within the framework of rigorous, college-preparatory academics. The foundation of the educational experience is built upon the idea that students’ quality of character – what kind of people they are becoming – is as important to their lives and to the world as their intellectual growth and exploration.

Because Quaker education endeavors to be a socially responsible one, Friends schools’ curricula emphasize service, social action, and experiential learning. Can education be socially responsible and academically rigorous at the same time? Educators in Friends schools believe that one is not developed at the expense of the other; instead, they work in tandem to prepare students for college and for life.

This video explains a Quaker education.

How do students learn community, responsibility, and stewardship? By living it! The Quaker belief in the “Inner Light” or that of God in each of us

Looking at Schools

When searching for the perfect boarding school, visiting campuses is a crucial step. It allows parents and students to get a firsthand experience of the school's atmosphere, facilities, and community.

Do you like large schools or small schools?

• Are you most comfortable in a city, a small town, or the 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 of the questions to ask before you begin your search for the U.S. boarding school that's right for you and your child.

Single-Sex Schools

• Single-sex schools, those for boys only or girls only, are some of the oldest boarding schools in the U.S.A.
• As a student at one of these schools, you will have the chance to study in a less socially distracting atmosphere.
• For girls, single-sex schools can often provide a greater opportunity to pursue leadership roles in both academic and extracurricular life.

Military Schools

Military secondary schools have the same advantages as other boarding schools.

• However, they also instill the values and importance of teamwork, dedication, and discipline.
• Uniforms and drilling are often required.

Florida Air Academy, located near the Kennedy Space Center, uses modern planes and simulators as part of its flying programs.

• These begin as early as the seventh grade.
• Upon completion of flight training, students may obtain a private pilot's license and