An important function of the boarding school is to equip students with the academic preparation and personal development that will be necessary for success at the university level. Boarding schools are sometimes regarded as funnels, pouring students into elite colleges across the country. In terms of college admissions, boarding schools are considered high-quality institutions because they groom students in anticipation of excelling at the next level. Early on, students are matched with attentive counselors who work to make sure that university enrollment takes place.
Many boarding schools boast the advantage of diverse course options that would not otherwise be available on crowded public-school campuses. By hiring specialty faculty who are experts in their particular field or subject, boarding schools can offer high-level classes that cater to students' interests. For example, students can petition to have faculty hired to teach foreign languages. Depending on the school, students might also have the opportunity to study in another country for a semester.
The quality of education at a boarding school is amplified by the fact that students and faculty live together in a close-knit community. Usually, all students, administrators and instructors live on the same remote campus. Students have access to their instructors day in and day out, which fosters a sense of connection and encourages a high level of classroom participation. This enhanced learning environment helps students tackle the challenging academic load that is typical of boarding schools.
Since they are funded privately, boarding schools have the resources to host a variety of extracurricular programs. Beyond the athletics and performing arts programs of most other schools, a quality boarding school will expose students to an array of enriching activities. These can include weekend trips, social clubs, philanthropic mission groups, political debate teams or military prep. The extracurricular activities increase the quality of education by providing opportunities for students to begin and expand a list of accomplishments.