Watkinson School

Productive independence. That’s the whole point of college, right?  But what if, for whatever reason, your high school years didn’t adequately prepare you for that? What if you don’t know what you want to study in college? Your transcript isn’t quite what you’d like it to be? You don’t feel emotionally prepared for the independence college life demands? Some parents consider a year at a community college a viable option for students who feel any of these stressers. However, research shows that sometimes students who are not ready for the full academic load of college life drop out. Other students who are gifted, but struggle with one tricky content area, get bored and quit. And still others struggle through, but end up taking the five or six year route through college. All of these are costly options.

Enter The Academy at Watkinson.  Part gap year, part post graduate year, and wholly an extension of Watkinson’s unique educational philosophy. Students will carve out the right balance of both studying the world and learning more about themselves to thrive independently in whatever college they choose.

The Academy at Watkinson welcomes international students from all over the world. International students enjoy a real American immersion experience, through living with an American host family or on campus.  The Academy offers tremendous learning and leadership opportunities through internships, high school as well as university classes, athletics, the arts, and our excellent ELL program (English Language Learners).  Our outstanding college guidance program will assist you with the entire college application process and will help you find the perfect fit. For more information please contact us.

Through developing my academic skills, I honed in on a career choice—namely teaching. Through the Academy, I now feel confident in my abilities to take on whatever college—or life in general—has to throw at me.

 

A year at the Academy isn’t a miracle year; you have to work for it. You cannot just skate by and expect to get what you want. But that makes it a miracle year; it teaches you to grow up, to be responsible, to prepare for college and to learn how to be a scholar. I took classes at the University of Hartford and I worked with middle school kids on their athletics and academics. Watkinson offers so much more—you can travel the world to help countries that are less fortunate than we are, and even help your own community. 

 

I came to America a gifted math student, but I needed to improve my spoken and written English.  I needed to improve my skills in the Humanities in order to go to an excellent American school.  My year at the Academy did that and so much more...I now have a family at Watkinson School. 

 

The post-graduate option was perfect for me.  I got to take college level courses in communications (my intended degree) while strengthening some core academics in the small, supportive setting of Watkinson. I got “As” across the board and feel totally ready to move on to college. Plus, I was accepted at every college I applied to, which was a great feeling.