Friday, October 9, 2026
6:00-8:00 PM
A free evening in New York for middle and high school families, and a chance to ask western boarding schools the questions you would rather not put in an email.
Most East Coast families begin the boarding school search within a few hours of home, and that is a sensible place to begin. The West asks for a longer flight. What it offers in return is a different kind of school: campuses on ranches, coastlines and mountainsides, small classes, and outdoor and athletic programs built into the week rather than bolted onto the weekend. Two hours in one room is the quickest way to find out whether that suits your student.
When
Where
The Riverside Church
91 Claremont Avenue, Room 10T
New York, NY 10027
Who it is for
Middle and high school students and their families. Bring the student. The schools want to meet them, and they usually ask better questions than the adults do.
What to expect
- Admission representatives from WBSA member schools, in one room, for two hours
- Straight answers on academics, athletics, the arts, and what a day on a western campus actually looks like
- Financial aid discussed plainly. The published tuition is rarely what a family pays, so do not let the number keep you home
Dress attire
Business or business casual. Dress to impress applies to students and adults alike.
Getting there
By train, take the #1 IRT local to 116th Street and Columbia University, then walk north. If you are driving, leave extra time: street parking in Morningside Heights is scarce.
Registration is free and handled by Inspiring Young Minds.