One of the major cons of a college prep boarding school is the cost of attending the institution. Even the least expensive college prep boarding schools can cost thousands of dollars for one semester. The average boarding school costs $36,000 per year as of 2011. However, Boardingschoolinfo.com notes that approximately one-third of students attending preparatory school are eligible for financial aid, which is a pro for students with limited funding. The cost includes housing, education, meals and books as well as any other costs associated with school such as sports.
One of the pros of college prep boarding school is the time spent on educating each student. Most class sizes are small, allowing the teacher to spend quality time with each student. The con of college prep school is the limited amount of time a student spends with family. Boarding schools can be impersonal environments at first, but students generally make lifelong friends during their time at school.
A benefit of college prep boarding schools is the stable learning environment, but a potential downside is that students may be exposed to ideas that do not reflect the those of their parents. The living environment is better for working parents, but could place stress on the student because of the strict schedule. However, boarding schools teach students independence as well as self-reliance.
The strict rules and schedules found at a college prep boarding school can be considered a pro and con, depending on the student. Some students need strict rules and guidelines while others do not operate efficiently under the tight supervision found at boarding schools. The rules at a boarding school may also provide a safe learning environment that may not be found in public educational facilities. A con of this type of environment is the lack of excitement some students find at college prep schools.