One word: opportunity. Do you want to play a sport at the D1 level? Prep school allows you to do that. Do you want to gain access to the best high school education in the nation and pursue your academic dream college? Prep school allows you to do that. Do you want to do a mix of the two, and find a college that fits both your athletic and academic goals? Prep school is the place for you.

In provided word class athletics, academics, college counseling, and alumni networks, prep schools allow student-athletes to pursue their existing passions and discover new ones. They open door after door, leaving you with higher quantity and quality options in school, sports, and life.

It depends! The most important requirement for a student-athlete leaving home is confidence and excitement about the school they are arriving at. Prep schoolers are self-sufficient and motivated workers who are willing to be challenged academically, socially, and athletically. It’s a good idea to sit down with your parents/guardians to explain to them why you want to go to prep school, so your family can all understand and support your goals.

For some, this means that they leave for a junior prep school in middle school, as early as 6th grade. For others, this means that they leave for prep school after their 11th grade year at home. Every player is unique; what’s important is that you are excited and confident about leaving.

Prep schools in the United States typically cost $60,000-$80,000 per year for tuition and boarding costs, but that price tag is often misleading. While most schools have limited athletic and academic scholarships, the majority of prep schools have extensive financial aid programs that are need-based. At Groton, for example, families with household incomes under $150,000 pay nothing at all for tuition. While finances are naturally a factor in deciding which prep school is the fit for you, they should not be an intimidating factor during the application process— in fact, prep schools value diverse student bodies.

There are third-party portals that will manage your prep school applications for you. Simply Google “prep school application portal”, make an account, and explore. These portals will list and help you upload everything you need to submit a complete application (transcripts, letters of recommendation, written applications, test scores, etc.). 

No. Coaches will often recommend that athletes repeat a year— in other words, ask you to apply into the same grade you are in now. However, most prep schools will have you test into many of your classes, and they offer extensive high-level classes. This means that, as opposed to repeating a year of school, you are more so “signing up” for an additional year of academic and athletic development.

The decision of whether or not to repeat should be made by an athlete and their family, weighing the benefits of extra development with the costs of additional tuition.

Research, research, research. Explore schools, programs, and campuses. The most informative research is an in-person campus tour, but these are not always super accessible. If you find yourself near a prep school for a sports tournament, tour it. The biggest advantage you can give yourself as an applicant is to take your standardized test (SSAT) over the summer before your application cycle. This way, you’ll be able to commit fully to studying before sports seasons and school get completely underwat.