Your son’s admission to his preferred junior boarding school will depend not only on his academic track record and teacher recommendations, but also on the rapport that you and he build with the admissions team during the initial tour and interview.

To help you make sure your son stands out in a positive way, and to increase his chances of acceptance, we spoke with Caleb Thomson ‘79, Director of Admissions here at The Fessenden School. We asked Caleb to draw on his 20+ years of experience in junior boarding school admissions to provide his top tips for making a good impression.

Engagement and Enthusiasm Counts

When you visit a school, the admissions team representative will be looking for clear signs that your son is excited and enthusiastic about attending the school. He can make a great impression by engaging naturally, striking up conversations about the school, and asking questions that are based on his personal interests.

With that being said, not all boys are comfortable carrying or initiating a conversation. A seasoned admissions officer will engage with your son throughout the course of the visit to better understand their passions, interest, and talents. Often a thoughtful and reserved candidate can be as appealing as an overtly outgoing and confident one. Most schools look for diversity of personalities, talents, and interests that will enrich their school community.

Interactions With Teachers and Coaches

Another factor that will help your son stand out is how (and how much) he interacts with the adults he meets on the tour. Typically, a tour will last a couple of hours, during which you and your son will be introduced to some of the school’s teachers, administrators, and coaches.

The more your son engages in conversations with faculty members regarding his interests and passions, the more of his natural enthusiasm is going to shine.

Faculty and staff at Fessenden want to see a boy who’s starting to visualize himself as a member of the community. That’s something that will be revealed by your son’s demeanor and the questions he asks.

Your Own Engagement Matters Too

You will surely help your son to stand out with an admissions team if you’ve done your own research before visiting. They  will want to hear what excites you about the opportunities they can provide for your son. You know what matters to your son. You know what matters to your family. By investing your time in the visit and articulating your hopes and dreams for your son, you can work together to determine if a program is the right fit for your family.

If you’re still not sure, consider asking to give the school a try. Fessenden was one of the first junior boarding schools to offer prospective boarders the opportunity to do an overnight and spend a day in classes. This helps boys get a better understanding of the culture of the boarding community, the evening schedule, and fun and exciting clubs and activities that take place once their studies are completed. It’s a golden opportunity for a two-way assessment, it can help your family make a more informed decision about joining a community, and the school can get a preview of how your son might fit in with existing boarding students.

Think of it as a Partnership

In successful partnership, both parties are excited about the match. Enrolling your son in a junior boarding school is no different. That’s why at Fessenden, and most other schools, we want you and your son to get to know our school culture and core values before entering into a partnership in your son’s educational and developmental journey.