The Benefits of a Post-Graduate Year

Did you know that each year, a number of high school graduates opt to spend another year at high school? A private high school to be exact, and the enroll in a program known as the post-graduate year, or PG year. Over 150 schools worldwide offer postgraduate programs. Admissions standards vary as do the objectives of the postgraduate programs themselves. It probably makes a certain amount of sense to have a student stay on at his old school for the postgraduate year. If he wants to attend another school, he may find the  admissions process  almost as intimidating as applying to be a first-year student. On the other hand, admissions to a post-grad year at his old school will be a mere formality. Postgraduate years are particularly useful for boys who want an extra year to mature before moving on. The postgraduate year gives young men that little extra confidence which they might lack at the end of 12th grade. A  PG or postgraduate year  is a popular option for many students. Personal Growth/Maturity A post graduate year gives students some extra time to strengthen academic skills, to participate in sports and to prepare for college admissions testing. For many students, it also gives them a little extra time to mature. Not every student is ready for the independent lifestyle at college, nor are they always prepare to live on their own for the first time. A post-graduate year at a boarding school gives students a chance to get used to an independent lifestyle in a supportive and nurturing environment. It can be a great stepping stone to prepare a student for college. Improve College Admissions Chances Many students choose to do a post-graduate year to improve their chances for admission to a particular college. College admissions can be fiercely competitive. If a student has his heart set on getting into a certain college, he may, in fact, be better off waiting out a year in the hopes that his application might be more favorably received. Most private schools offer experienced college counselors to help with the admission process and guide students to craft a personal path to excellence.   Perfect Athletic Skills Other students want to take a year before heading off to college to perfect their athletic skills. From a chance to play on a top team and get noticed by college sports recruiters to strength training and agility preparation, a post graduate year can really give students a leg up on their competition, and get a student noticed by scouts who can get them into top schools. And, many elite athletes earn college scholarships, and a post graduate year can make a student a more desirable candidate.   Schools That Offer a PG Year There is only one school which offers a PG program exclusively. Thats Bridgton Academy in North Bridgton, Maine. All the other schools on the list below offer their PG year as a kind of 13th grade if you will. Here are some schools which offer PG programs: Avon Old Farms School, Avon, CTBlair Academy, Blairstown, NJBrenau Academy, Gainesville, GABrewster Academy, Wolfeboro, NHBridgton Academy, North Bridgton, MECamden Military Academy, Camden, SCCanterbury School, New Milford, CTChapel Hill-Chauncy Hall, Waltham, MACheshire Academy, Cheshire, CTChoate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CTChristchurch School, Christchurch, VACulver Academies, Culver, INCushing Academy, Ashburnham, MADarlington School, Rome, GADarrow School, New Lebanon, NYDeerfield Academy, Deerfield, MAEmma Willard School, Troy, NYEthel Walker School, Simsbury, CTFlorida Air Academy, Melbourne, FLFork Union Military Academy, Fork Union, VAThe Forman School, Litchfield, CTFryeburg Academy, Fryeburg, MEGould Academy, Bethel, METhe Gow School, South Wales, NYGrand River Academy, Austinburg, OHGrier School, Tyrone, PAThe Gunnery, Washington, CTHargrave Military Academy, Chatham, VAHebron Academy, Hebron, MEHill School, Pottstown, PAHoosac School, Hoosick, NYHotchkiss School, Lake ville, CTThe Hun School of Princeton, Princeton, NJIdyllwild Arts Academy, Idyllwild, CAIndian Springs School, Indian Springs, ALKents Hill School, Kents Hill, MEKimball Union Academy, Meriden, NHThe Kiski School, Saltsburg, PALake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, ILThe Leelanau School, Glen Arbor, MILeysin American School, Leysin, SwitzerlandLinden Hall School, Lititz, PALoomis Chaffee School, Windsor, CTMarine Military Academy, Harlingen, TXMercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, PAMiller School, Charlottesville, VAMissouri Military Academy, Mexico, MOMontverde Academy, Monteverde, FLNew Hampton School, New Hampton, NHNorthfield Mount Hermon School, Northfield, MAOldfields School, Glencoe, MDOrme School, Mayer, AZThe Peddie School, Hightstown, NJPerkiomen School, Pennsburg, PAThe Phelps School, Malvern, PAPhillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NHPomfret School, Pomfret, CTRandolph-Macon Academy, Front Royal, VASaint Johns Preparatory School, Collegeville, MNSt. Timothys School, Stevenson, MDSouth Kent School, South Kent, CTStoneleigh-Burnham School, Greenfield, MASuffield Academy, Suffield, CTThomas Jefferson School, Saint Louis, MOTilton School, Tilton, NHVerde Valley School, Sedona, AZWasatch Academy, Mt. Pleasant, UTWayland Academy, Beaver Dam, WIThe Webb School, Bell Buckle, TNWentworth Military Academy, Lexington, MOWest Nottingham Academy, Colora, MDWestern Reserve Academy, Hudson, OHWestminster School, Simsbury, CTThe White Mountain School, Bethlehem, NHWilbraham and Monson Academy, Wilbraham, MAWilliston Northampton School, Easthampton, MAThe Winchendon School, Winchendon, MAWyoming Seminary Upper School, Kingston, PA Article edited by Stacy Jagodowski