The Seed, the Sapling, and the Sequoia

My favorite time of year is when winter dissolves away and I begin my search for the magic and beauty that is Mother Nature and the emergence of new life. It inspires me in my work with students, and it also humbles me to know what little control we can have over those things that […]

Owls: Why Consider Flying West?

Samantha New lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and daughter. Utah, Colorado, California Perhaps you envision yourself skiing the Rocky Mountains on the weekends with your classmates, or, you’re drawn to the laid-back lifestyle and stunning landscape of Southern California. Boarding schools west of the Mississippi leverage their access to the regions’ natural resources […]

Normalizing the Neuropsych: 5 things to Know about Neuropsychological Testing for Students

5 things to Know about Neuropsychological Testing for Students A neuropsychological exam can be administered proactively, or in response to challenges a student may be facing in the classroom and/or at home. It can serve as the first step toward early identification of emerging learning or developmental challenges in younger children, and can help to […]

The SSAT: To Test or Not to Test?

For all the right reasons – among them the demonstrated link between family income and high test scores, the drive for diversity, and a recognition of different learning styles –  many independent schools have continued with the SSAT-optional stance that they adopted during the pandemic, just as colleges have largely continued with SAT/ACT optional admissions.   […]

Make a Positive Impression: Say “Thank You”

One way to help make yourself more memorable: follow up with thank you emails. While handwritten notes are nice, it is easier for the admission person to respond to an email and attach it to your file. So be sure to get your interviewer’s name and business card during your visit, as well as the […]

The Independent School Admissions Gazette

We are excited to launch our new newsletter, where we update you on the dynamic admissions landscape, and invite you to explore the only directory providing thorough and unbiased boarding school data and descriptions, The Owl Boarding School Guide, which we curate. As lifelong educators who taught extensively in independent schools, the 20 of us here […]

What You Need to Know: 2022 Independent School Trends and 2023 Predictions

Dear Families and Friends of McMillan Education, As the admissions landscapes have continued to shift dramatically in these uncertain times, we are writing as is our custom to summarize the trends and events in school, college, and special needs planning of last year and forecast the changes and updates in the admissions world in the […]

Why a Boarding School is Also a Good Home

For the record, I grew up a free-lunch kid from a public school in NJ. I had no idea about boarding schools other than to suspect that if someone was “sent” there, there was a problem or something was wrong. As I completed college and entered the workforce, my career path was focused on education […]

It’s Never Too Early — Or Too Late — To Apply To Boarding School

The arrival of spring brings the onset of warmer weather, reimagined hopes, and new opportunities. And just as spring signifies the start of the second season of the calendar year, it also harkens in the second season for boarding school admission. While most schools have application deadlines in January and early February, many schools will […]

‘You Sent Your Child Away!’

Demystifying the Boarding School Experience “Why would I send my child to boarding school?” “Boarding schools are for…troubled kids.” We hear these concerns expressed frequently by families we work with. And recently I’ve been thinking about better ways to demystify the boarding school experience thanks to some work I’ve done with a wonderful group of […]