'Prep schools prepare students for life'

The Phillips Academy Andover campus in the Merrimack Valley, just 32 kilometers from Boston, features historic buildings and state-of-the-art facilities that provide a pristine and welcoming setting for students. / Courtesy of Phillips Academy Andover

The following article is the first in a series about prep schools in the United States, providing readers with information on admission policies, curricula, tuition, and foreign student quotas. ― ED.

By Jane Han

NEW YORK ― You think getting into an American college or university is tough? You’ll probably think again once you learn how hard it is to win admission to a U.S. boarding school.

It is competition at a whole new level ― for the sixth grade.

“These students, starting in sixth grade at the latest, need to build an outstanding profile if they want anything close to a chance at competing for a very limited number of openings,’’ says Yoo Ji-hae, an education consultant who specializes in boarding schools on the east coast.

“I’d say it’s tougher to get into a prestigious boarding school than it is to get into a top university in the U.S.,’’ she said, adding that most preparatory schools aren’t large in size and strictly limit their acceptance of Korean and other international students to a certain number.

The top, most sought-after prep schools among Korean students and parents generally boast an acceptance rate of less than 20 percent.

Phillips Academy Andover, Phillips Exeter Academy, Deerfield Academy, Hotchkiss School, Choate Rosemary School and the Loomis Chaffee School are some of the most popular institutions where dozens of young Korean students compete to get into every year.

So what are admissions officers looking for in these 12 to 13 year olds?

Students take part in a dance class at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., the U.S. / Courtesy of Hotchkiss School

A lot,’’ says Robert Ko, who runs an education consulting firm in New Jersey for students and parents seeking admission into prep schools. “We’re not just talking about good grades. That’s a given.’’

The main criteria evaluated by most schools include the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, school grades, leadership and sports activities, a compelling personal statement and solid recommendation letters ― basically all the things an applicant would need for college admission.

But admissions officers generally require a solid track record for at least three years, which means students need to have a detailed plan starting in elementary school.

“Sometimes it seems like a lot to ask for from these young kids,’’ says Ko, “but you’d be surprised at how impressive these applicants are. Many of them, especially American students, come from well-to-do families who consider a prestigious prep school education a must.’’

This is one of the biggest reasons why parents want to send their children to these highly selective and expensive schools ― so that they can build lifelong friendships with kids from well-connected families.

The average yearly tuition, including room and board, costs anywhere from $40,000 to $50,000, but experts say the high price tag doesn’t get in the way of eager parents and students.

“No matter what kind of economy, the competition is tight among Korean students,’’ says Yoo, who expects acceptance to get only tougher in the years to come.

Some critics say that U.S. prep school education is overrated, but applicants’ consistent interest shows that there is something about the system that attracts students to leave home at such a young age.

“Schools don’t charge so much for nothing. These institutions don’t just prepare students for college, but for life,’’ says Yoo, who, however, stresses that parents and students must have a clear purpose for attendance.

“Many Korean parents and students are obsessed about getting into boarding schools without knowing anything about the education and life at these schools. They want to go only because other wealthy and smart kids do,’’ she said, adding that such a mindless motive ends up becoming the stupidest way to waste $50,000 a year.