Transferring to a boarding school mid-year is not without challenges; however, school transfers present many benefits. Making a school change gives middle school and high school students the chance to create a new circle of friends, improve grades, and develop greater independence in preparation for college.
Let’s explore the benefits of school transfers through rolling admission in the fall or mid-year transfers (aka mid-year enrollment, second-semester transfer, or spring semester admission). If you have questions about this process, it is easy to request information or contact school admission offices to explore options.
10 Benefits of School Transfers
- Change in Scenery – As the saying goes, a change of scenery can do wonders and students sometimes need to make a school transfer for any number of reasons. School locations vary widely from oceanfront schools to boarding schools located in the woods, lakes, or mountains. Depending on the location, private day and boarding school students can surf, hike, fish, sail, horseback ride, and do various activities aligned with the campus locale.
- Exciting Trips and Activities – Many boarding schools offer fun weekend activities and even spring trips abroad. Entering during rolling admission or mid-year gives your teen a chance to explore new interests and activities now, rather than waiting for the next academic year to begin.
- New Challenges – Enrolling mid-year or even late in the fall (rolling admission) presents students with both challenges and opportunities. For instance, the challenge of dorm life helps teens learn how to navigate classes, sports, clubs, activities, study time, live with a roommate, and manage personal care (e.g. hygiene, nutrition, sleep).
- Lifelong Friends – Friendships are integral to attending a boarding school, and rest assured, there are other middle school and high transfer students going through the same process of onboarding. Keep in mind that current students often look forward to meeting new students throughout the year so they can expand their circle of friendships. They will welcome you!
- Supportive Faculty – The faculty, counselors, residential life staff and coaches all understand the challenges faced by students transferring from other middle schools or high schools. They guide and support new students through the transition. Many boarding schools even offer faculty evening office hours and after-school tutorial periods, when students can drop in for additional assistance and support.
- Mentorship – Staff and older peers are trained to support and help new students transition successfully at most boarding schools. Typically, every new student at a boarding school is assigned to an adult mentor and peer guide. Boarding schools offer training, guidebooks, and registration events to ease the transition for transfer students.
- Specialized Offerings – Boarding schools often have specialized programs that inspire students to transfer to their schools. For example, a boarding school for boys in San Diego County, Army and Navy Academy, offers programs including: aviation, UAS, cyber security, computer science, and even surfing, whereas a boarding school in Indiana, Culver Academy, has a specialized equestrian program.
- Training Programs – Entering mid-year could also mean the difference in attaining a leadership role because leadership training is offered at some boarding schools. If you enter as a senior in high school, you will probably miss the chance to apply for a leadership position. This is true at most military day/boarding schools for grades 7-12. They offer leadership training that enhances life skills well beyond high school and begin training leaders throughout the high school years for top leadership positions.
- Character Development – No matter when you make a school transfer, teenagers often cite boarding school as the place where they strengthen their core values. In particular, military boarding schools follow an honor code and do activities to reinforce character development. Living away from home builds independence, resilience, perseverance, and maturity.
- College Planning – A key benefit of transferring schools during high school is gaining additional time for college preparation and planning. This gives boarding school students a competitive edge to gain admission to a top college, university, or service academy of their choice.
Although this article pertains to secondary school transfers during rolling admission or mid-year, the higher education data below is compelling. It reinforces the fact that transfer students learn to adapt and develop confidence and resilience.
“Four-year college administrators say that roughly a quarter of transfer students perform better than their native students, while about half perform as well.” – Inside Higher Ed
Note: Students who attend elementary schools or junior high schools, will ultimately need to find a high school to attend. By attending a boarding school for grades 7-12, middle schoolers can get ahead and transition easily into the high school program.
Additional Resources:
Tips for How to Apply to Boarding School
How to Transfer Schools
Reasons Why Students Transfer Schools
Pros and Cons of Transferring High Schools
Questions: As a public service, the Army & Navy Academy, a college prep school for boys, grades 7-12 is happy to address questions. Even if we are not the right fit, we may be able to offer other resources.
Admission Office: tel: +1-888.762.2338
