Boarding Schools, Near You!

American boarding schools travel the world to find the best and brightest. It’s important that families connect with and learn about each school, so that students can find a school that fits best for them.  Browse this page for tips on how to get the most out of local visits from American boarding schools! 

Private Appointments and Interviews

When American boarding schools travel internationally, they conduct a wide variety of activities into the time they spend in each city. In addition to the school fairs they attend, and any receptions they schedule, many schools take the opportunity to conduct in-person meetings and interviews with potential students.  Contact Sesameed if you need guidance or support on setting up a private meeting or interview with any visiting school. We can also provide assistance in preparing for fairs and receptions. We are here to help!

Boarding School Fairs

A student and parent talking to a boarding school representativeSchool Fairs are run by organizations like Sesameed and they  allow families to learn about many of the best American boarding schools in a short amount of time.

At the fair, each school has its own table that includes brochures, viewbooks, and other handouts. Admissions representatives from each school are on hand to  chat or answer any questions.

In addition, school fairs offer a wide variety of presentations and guest speakers on key topics covering boarding school admissions and attendance. Don’t miss these presentations—they offer extraordinarily valuable information!

Tips for Attending Fairs:

  • Register Early. Register as early as possible for any fair you’d like to attend. Early registration ensures your admission, and it puts you on email lists for the event so you can receive updates, links to downloads, and more. Each fair’s registration process is different. You can register online for  Sesameed’s fairs in DubaiSingapore, and Bangkok.
  • Arrive  on time. School fairs have a lot to offer, and you don’t want to miss out. Make sure you plan to arrive at the fair location well in advance.
  • Dress appropriately.  For a fair, that means being neat and professional, but formal dress is not required. (Watch videos from past fairs, on our YouTube channel,  to get a sense of how people are dressed.) 
  • Introduce yourself.  We know that meeting new people can feel awkward sometimes… but that’s  the point of the fair!  When approaching a speaker or a school’s booth, reach out for a handshake and introduce yourself! Make sure to pronounce your name slowly and clearly. 
  • Have some questions ready. Be ready to ask a  questions of each school, to get the conversation started. And don’t worry — this isn’t a graded assignment!  You may wish to offer a complement or ask a question about their materials or one of the presentations from the event.
  • Take notes! There’s a lot to see at a school fair, and you don’t want to forget anything meaningful.  Take notes — but keep your phone in your pocket and use a paper notepad instead.
  • Focus on fit, not rank. We recommend avoiding topics that attempt to quantify or rank a school or its students. You may want to avoid questions about college rankings, SAT scores, endowment size, or other competitive topics. Instead, talk about your own interests and ask about how the school might best fit and support those interests.
  • Be yourself! Remember that finding the right boarding school is mostly how it “feels” to you, and that’s easiest to sense if you are relaxed and at ease.  The more you are yourself, the easier it will be for school representatives to share information that’s useful to you.

Boarding School Receptions

Two boarding school parents chatting at a receptionMany schools offer receptions, and every one can be different. Some receptions are invitation-only, but others are open to all.  Some receptions are admissions-focused, but others include current students, alumni, and others.

If there is a school reception that you’d like to attend, don’t hesitate to contact the school. 

How to Register

  • Look for an Admissions Events Page. For each school, look for a page that lists fairs, events, and receptions on their website. This page can have many different names including “Admissions Travel,”  “Events and Fairs,” or even something like “Admissions Near You.”  Once you find the appropriate page, it will usually include instructions on how to contact the school and attend any events.
  • Complete the “Inquiry” Form. If a school doesn’t have an admissions events page — or even if they do — be sure to complete the “inquiry” form for any schools you are interested in.  (Look for the word “Inquire” on the school website.)  Some schools label their inquiry form as “step one” in the admissions process, or they might describe it as a way to “request our materials.”
  • Email the School. The admissions offices at every school are eager to help.  Email the school and ask about receptions and other events. Note that the email address may start with either admissions@ (with an “s”) or admission@  (without an “s”).
  • Be persistent. Even if the reception is listed as “invitation-only” or “full” or “the deadline for registration has passed” you should still contact the school and ask if you can come.
  • Let Sesameed Help. We are happy to contact schools on your behalf. We’re experts in boarding school, and we can help you identify the right schools and apply successfully.  Contact us if you’d like to schedule a consultation.

Remember: there’s nothing to lose!  No matter how you express your interest (and share your email address) with a school, they will start to send you information and invitations to  events.

Successful Participation

Once you are registered for a reception, consider the following tips:

  • Dress appropriately. School receptions are  more formal than school fairs. Adults should dress appropriately for the venue and time of day. Students should consider wearing the school’s dress code or (if the school dress code is casual) dress business casual.  
  • Be social. Receptions are social gatherings. Mingle. Introduce yourself. Take an interest in  other people … and keep in mind that not all attendees are focused on admissions. 
  • Expect a short program or presentation. Most receptions include brief remarks, a video, or some other form of presentation.  In most cases, this presentation will not be admissions-specific but instead will be designed for applicants, current families, and alumni.
  • Don’t be the last one to leave. Remember that your hosts have worked hard to create an enjoyable event. At the same time, it’s likely that they also have some work to do after the reception is over — and they are probably significantly jet lagged. Engage fully in the event, but don’t overstay your welcome. 

Looking for more guidance? Sesameed can help.

Contact us today to arrange for a consultation.