List of 10 frequently asked questions.

• Q. How do I apply to attend Vermont Academy?

  The international student application process is similar to the domestic student application process, with some key differences. Please see our International Applicants page for more details. Vermont Academy is authorized by the US federal government to issue I-20 forms and enroll non-immigrant international students.
  
  If you have any questions, please contact Nora Dock, our Associate Director of International Admissions, at (802)-869-6258 or nora.dock@vermontacademy.org.

• Q. What does College Counseling at Vermont Academy look like? 

  Our college counseling office (link to college counseling webpage) provides a structured, student-centered approach to the college search process. Students begin to meet with college counselors in the Spring of their junior year. They work together to develop a robust college list that aligns with the student’s profile and future aspirations. College Counselors are available to meet with international students and families over Zoom or in-person. Our College Counseling office has many resources for international families, including information about coordinating TOEFL testing services and information about colleges that offer merit scholarships to international students.

• Q. Do you offer English as a Second Language?

  Yes. Students can study English at the intermediate ESL level, at the advanced level (titled English for International Students), or at the mainstream English level. We give an English placement test (online, written, and oral) to place each student at the proper level of English instruction. International students can also take History for International Students in the History department.

• Q. Will my roommate speak English?

  Students coming from non-English-speaking countries are placed with English-speaking roommates during their first year. All of our dormitories have a mix of international and American students so that everyone can learn about different cultures and lifestyles. Our dorm parents have their apartment right in the dormitory with the students and participate with them in dorm activities.

• Q. What about sports and activities?

  All of our students participate in sports and activities in the afternoons after classes. International students have the opportunity to learn sports that may not be common in their home countries, such as lacrosse, golf, equestrian, and mountain biking. Snowsports are quite popular on our campus, as Vermont is known for its beautiful winters and skiing/snowboarding. We even have a ski hill on campus!
  
  

  Other activities include technical theater, table tennis, yoga, community service, and various clubs. On the weekends, activities include shopping, dinner, movie trips, outings to local plays, concerts, sporting events, and on-campus activities such as pizza parties and dances. 
  
  

  Additionally, Vermont Academy has an exceptional music, fine arts, and performing arts program that includes a jazz ensemble, vocal ensemble, voice and music lessons, theater productions and classes, drawing and painting, pottery, photography, and filmmaking.

• Q. How are cultural traditions recognized at Vermont Academy?

  During the year, we celebrate the global community on our campus by recognizing important holidays from around the world, enjoying food from many countries in our dining hall, hosting global musicians, and spotlighting speakers who address issues that impact our multicultural community. Vermont Academy also hosts a Flag Ceremony to recognize the diversity of our campus’s student and faculty population.

• Q. Where will I go on breaks and vacations if I can't go home?

  Dorms are open for students who cannot return home for a long weekend (shorter than a holiday break). Day trips are sometimes scheduled, depending on the number of students who remain on campus. For more extended vacations, most students return home or travel; some arrange local homestays with the help of our staff. To accommodate long flights and time-zone changes, students may leave the day before a scheduled break if this is cleared with the academic dean. Students arriving after a break from outside the U.S. may come on campus a day early.

• Q. Which airport should I fly to?

  The closest airport is Bradley International, in Hartford, Connecticut (less than 2 hours from campus by car). Logan International in Boston is a 2.5-hour drive. Some students also fly into JFK in New York City, about 4.5 hours from campus by car.

• Q. Is there transportation to Vermont Academy from the airport?

  Absolutely! Please contact Ms. Caitlin Holton in the Dean's Office with your travel information, and she will help you set up transportation. Her email is cholton@vermontacademy.org

• Q. Do I need a stateside guardian?

  We strongly recommend that all international students' families designate or retain a stateside guardian for this upcoming school year.
  
  

  Stateside guardians help ensure student health and safety and facilitate student transportation while school is not in session or in the event of travel needs that fall outside of the school’s purview.
  
  

  Guardianship will offer complete wraparound support and safety for our international students. Families can designate a trusted family member or friend who lives stateside or retain a guardian through a service. We recommend that the guardian lives within driving distance of Vermont Academy. For the 2022-23 school year, a stateside guardian will be required for enrollment.
  
  If you have specific questions about retaining a guardian or selecting someone specific, please contact our Assistant Head of School for Student Life, Mr. Brian Gilloran, at bgilloran@vermontacademy.org.