By Katherine Proctor

Valley Voices Staff Writer

As the holidays approach, so do college application deadlines for high school seniors across the country. At this point, a senior's greatest apprehension about college is not being admitted to one.

But once students have been accepted and are college bound, the challenges and demands of college and residential life await them. Fran Bender, assistant provost for student retention and success at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, commented on the issues many first-year college students face.

"There's the challenge of being away from home and the newfound independence," Dr. Bender said. "For many students, it may take a whole year to adjust to college life."

However, one group of students seems to have an advantage in this area: those who previously attended boarding school.

"Boarding students have to cross their own hurdles and deal with their own challenges," said David Hughes, director of boarding admissions at the McCallie School. "It teaches them self-reliance. They have to deal with everything."

Hughes said boarding students tend to adjust "more favorably" to college life.

"You learn to make friends," he said. "And you learn that roommates aren't always perfect, and you learn to deal with that."

Paul Eager, a junior McCallie boarding student from Louisville, Ky., agreed.

"It's especially hard for boarders to adjust to a new environment centered on independence," he said. "It's also difficult to keep up with basic tasks like doing laundry and maintaining a clean room and study environment."

University of Tennessee at Knoxville freshman Christine Waite said her days as a boarder at the Baylor School helped her adjust to college.

"After boarding at Baylor, I had no trouble transitioning into college life," Waite said. "While most of my peers have been learning how to balance their lives without the help of their parents, my fellow former boarders and I have eased into college life without the typical negative impacts on our GPAs and well-being."

In addition to entering college with more self-sufficiency and independence, students who boarded in high school tend to better handle relationships with their peers and superiors, according to Hughes.

"They realize it's not about self, and they learn to focus on others," he said. "The takeaway is to put self towards the greater good."

"Once you get settled in and used to living independently," said Eager, "the rewards are enormous."

Katherine Proctor is a student at Baylor School.