Imagine starting at a boarding school right after the holiday break, knowing only the admissions counselor. Where will I sit? Will I make friends? Did I make the right choice? At home, parents wonder the same thing.
When a child struggles with a learning difference, families often try every other option before considering boarding school. Gow has rolling admissions, so students join us at different points every year. Here are two families whose sons started midyear. Both say it was hard, and both believe it was the right decision.
Chris's Story
Chris Sr. and Amanda's son Chris started at Gow in January 2018, after the family had tried every option at home in Fairfield, Connecticut. Like most Gow students, Chris did not want to go away to school. But he could no longer keep up with his homework and reading, and he was close to failing.
Chris first met Mr. Cotter from our admissions office when he was traveling in Connecticut, then visited campus. Chris was scared, but the family knew they had to try. Their biggest worry was whether they were doing the right thing. They wanted Chris to succeed, and they did not want to try another school that didn't work.
Amanda says Chris sometimes thinks about coming home, and the family would love to have him there. But she believes he needs to be at Gow, and she thinks Chris knows it too. "We've seen growth in our son both personally and academically and we owe it all to Gow."
Alex's Story
Tom and Jan A.'s son Alex was at a public high school of more than 1,200 students, and he was starting to slip through the cracks. He was nervous about a new school, and he was ready to be with kids who learn the way he does.
His parents think the timing helped. Alex arrived right after a holiday break, when everyone was coming back from time away, and several other new students started that January too. Tom and Jan say Gow has given Alex many chances to discover himself and his natural abilities, and they feel lucky he is here.
A Leap of Faith
Choosing boarding school is a heart-wrenching decision. When your child is struggling and has a learning difference, it can also be the step that finally helps them succeed. If you know a student who might benefit from Gow, our admissions team would love to hear from you.
Talk with Us About Your Child
Our admissions team is glad to listen and answer your questions: 716.687.2001 or [email protected].