Choosing the best military school is a personal decision and not everyone will come to the same conclusions about what is the best military school. This article will provide some guidance to help you choose the best military school for your needs.
What to Consider in Choosing the Best Military School
People consider many factors in choosing the best military school. Here are some that may prove to be important to you:
• Parents Alma Maters—If a student’s parents or other family members attended a military school, and especially if they maintain close connections, this may be important.
• Parents’ Employers—If a student’s parents or other family members are employed at a military school, this may be a key factor, partly because they may receive a benefit like free tuition for their children.
• Geographical Location—Military schools are not as common as other college preparatory schools, and location may be an important factor in your search.
• School Characteristics—Major categories of military schools include the grades they offer (including post-graduate year); their size; whether they are day schools, boarding schools, or both; whether they are public or private/independent; whether they are co-educational or all boys; how large the school is; the teacher-student ratio; and whether there is a religious affiliation.
• Academic Programs—If your child has special gifts or talents or interests, making sure that the academic program is a good match is key.
• Extracurricular Activities, Including Athletics and Music—Whether it’s ice hockey, soccer, or playing the flute, support for a child’s non-academic activities is also important.
• Military School Costs—In considering cost, don’t forget expenses besides tuition and room and board, which can include uniforms and their cleaning, fees, pocket money, instrument lessons, athletic equipment, etc.
• Military School Life—It is important to match your child with an environment that will support his or her development. Although military schools often offer substantial web information, as well as print materials and videos, a visit is the best way to ascertain what the school is like.
• What Does Your Child Want—Different students have different goals. What’s top of the list for your child?
Which Criteria to Look for First
One of the issues in finding a military school is deciding which criteria to put first. And this can vary, depending on your situation. If there is no military school in the immediate area, then the decision for having a boarding experience is implicit in the idea to look for a military school. If, on the other hand, there is one nearby, you may decide to examine it carefully to see if you can make it work, and if there are several nearby, your initial focus may be on making a comparison.
In the realm of expenses, if you expect to qualify for military school financial aid and/or scholarships, the difference of several thousand dollars in tuition and/or board may mean less than if you expect to be paying for the entire sum, unless it’s a sum that you can easily afford, in which case, as they say, money is no object.
The key is to array the criteria in the way that seems best to you, and make sure nothing is left out, and with the overall goal of meeting your child’s needs.
