Kimball Union Academy

Kimball Union Academy (KUA), founded in 1813, is one of the oldest boarding schools in the United States.
KUA's campus culture is rooted in history but not bound by tradition. KUA is innovative, loyal to its mission, and committed to practicing its unique values.
KUA's Honor Code provides a framework for building a closely-knit community where all members are leaders.

Suitable for parents who are considering Asian boarding schools. My son didn't want to go, but I convinced him, and he went. His international school is a top school, but it requires strategy. After carefully researching all boarding schools, I chose Kimball Union Academy. After reading reviews, I found that it was the only top school that did not have serious problems such as bullying. The school is very friendly, and teachers and students welcomed him warmly. He said the students were friendly. His academic performance, character, and health have all improved greatly. Teachers work hard to make our school better. It is rapidly rising as an emerging school. Kimball Union Academy's rating is relatively low and there are few reviews because the school does not ask for good reviews, but we hope to see more positive reviews about the school's progress.

Parents considering boarding schools in Asia, especially South Korea, please take note. My son initially didn't want to go, but after some persuasion, he eventually went. Korean international schools are top-tier institutions, but you need a strategy to gain admission to their boarding programs. After thoroughly researching all boarding schools and considering factors like academic standards and school atmosphere, I decided to choose Kimball Union Academy. Based on the reviews I read, it was the only top school that didn't have serious issues like bullying.
As soon as I arrived at the school, my anxiety vanished. The school is excellent, well-structured, and teachers and students welcome each other. He said all the students were good. I also participated in many sports, which is characteristic of American schools, and my personality and physical fitness greatly improved. I also appreciated how the teachers worked hard to make the school better and how the school quickly rose as an emerging institution. In China, finding schools is a very popular trend. Kimball Union Academy has a smaller number of reviews and relatively lower ratings, likely because the school doesn't actively solicit positive reviews, but we hope everyone will leave more comments to help promote the school's development.

Data for Kimball Union Academy: 338 students, student-faculty ratio 1:6, international student ratio 20%, boarding student ratio 80%, 80% of teachers hold advanced degrees. Located in Meriden, New Hampshire, it is a 2-hour and 15-minute drive from Boston and approximately 20 minutes by car from Dartmouth College, one of the prestigious Ivy League schools. STEM programs are prominent, with environmental science being the most distinctive feature; its curriculum is very comprehensive, and the school also has its own greenhouse and farm. The school offers subjects such as marine biology and environmental science, making it an excellent choice for students who enjoy science. K-TERM: A one-week experiential program that concludes in late spring. Students and teachers leave the classroom to venture far afield and practice essential skills developed throughout the year. GAIL Alliance: The Global Alliance for Innovative Learning, a consortium of schools from around the world dedicated to fostering intercultural understanding, global awareness, and civic engagement through student exchange and collaboration. The school uses the Harkness teaching method. Campus facilities are first-class; in the entire Eastern region, only Lawrenceville and KUA have indoor soccer fields. The campus is vast and also has its own farm.

Data for Jinbo United College: 338 students, student-to-faculty ratio 1:6, 20% international students, 80% boarding students, 80% faculty with advanced degrees. Jinbo United College is an emerging institution with a relatively short history. When the college was first established, it faced many challenges and difficulties, such as cultural development, faculty team building, and so on. However, the college leadership and all faculty and staff made every effort and achieved a series of outstanding accomplishments. In terms of college management and culture, the college's management processes are very rigorous, and the rights and interests of both students and faculty are fully considered in its management, ensuring students' free development and innovative spirit. Regarding cultural development, the college has innovated a "dock culture," focusing on education and guidance in aspects such as moral character education and social responsibility, which has greatly promoted the comprehensive development of students. In terms of faculty team building, the college strictly requires all teachers to possess noble thoughts, morals, and teaching abilities, and provides a broader platform for teachers to excel. Furthermore, in research, the college continuously strengthens its research innovation capabilities and its leadership in scientific and technological research, enhancing the college's influence in the international academic community. Finally, in academic exchange, the college frequently organizes academic seminars, entrepreneurship competitions, and other activities, allowing faculty and students to gain enrichment through diverse, open, and distinctive academic exchanges.

【Location】Located in Meriden, New Hampshire, a 2-hour and 15-minute drive from Boston, and only 13 miles from Dartmouth College.
【Featured Programs】Offers scholar programs including the Arts Scholar Program, Global Scholar Program, and STEM Scholar Program, the Karl Scholarship Program, the Global Alliance for Innovative Learning (GAIL), and other distinctive programs.
【Sports Advantages】Offers sports such as cross-country, equestrian, field hockey, mountain biking, soccer, alpine skiing, basketball, freestyle skating, ice hockey, baseball, golf, lacrosse, rugby, softball, tennis, track and field. Equestrian is a featured program. The school employs professional coaches to provide guidance to students. The sports facilities are also very comprehensive, including an indoor real ice rink, indoor soccer field, outdoor soccer field, cross-country course, gymnasium, fitness center, tennis courts, off-campus golf course, training facilities for freestyle and alpine skiing, and an off-campus equestrian center.
【Art Direction】The school offers a very complete range of art courses, including acting, advanced comedy, musical theater studies, public speaking, screenwriting, piano, AP Music Theory, chamber choir, music fundamentals, guitar, 2-D design, art history, studio art, ceramics, photography, filmmaking, jewelry, drawing, sculpture, etc. The campus also has the Taylor Gallery, which is free for students to visit, and students can also exhibit their own works there.

The English courses at Jinbo United Academy are not divided into English I and English II, but rather by literary themes, including topics such as World Classics, Quest for Meaning in Life, Anti-Hero, and The American Dream. In the World Classics course, the English Department of Jinbo United Academy integrates short stories and poetry into the year-long writing workshop study, covering works such as *Fences*, *Things Fall Apart*, *Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress*, and *Beowulf*, while also using the grammar text *Writer's Key*, vocabulary texts, and various poems. In the Anti-Hero college preparatory course, works like *The Kite Runner*, *The Bluest Eye*, *Equus*, *Hamlet*, *The Stranger*, and *The Sun Also Rises* are used for analysis, and writing exercises are also based on works such as *They Say/I Say*.

If students are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), they can address real-world challenges through Kimball Union's STEM Scholars Program. The program's projects are primarily reflected in three key areas: academics, experience, and application. It combines traditional coursework with academic exploration through research and laboratory work. Students will also participate in substantial fieldwork through internships and research projects, enroll in an honors course on design thinking, and attend STEM-related lectures and activities. Recently completed projects include: Thermochemical analysis of EDTA and macro/micronutrient chelates in hydroponic and aquaponic systems, The effect of stress on astrogliosis in the mouse orbitofrontal cortex, The role of fine motor skill development in surgical practice, Development and application of ethical artificial intelligence.

Kimball Union Academy offers three Scholar Programs, combining academic coursework, community service, and experiential learning to cultivate students' problem-solving skills, creativity, critical thinking, and initiative—all essential for future university and professional success. 10th-grade students can apply for these programs in the spring.

The Arts Scholar Program encompasses five areas: artistic domain, artistic creation, community service, leadership, and art appreciation.
The Global Scholar Program involves travel and immersive experiences in international communities, and it includes foreign language training.
The STEM Scholar Program integrates traditional curricula with laboratory-based academic exploration. Students can participate in internships and research projects, honors courses in design thinking, and STEM-related lectures and activities.

TOEFL 110, SSAT 2367. KUA Fall 2021 admission. The school is located in a scenic mountain area, close to Dartmouth College. It lacks the hustle and bustle and temptations of the city, making it an ideal place for studying. The choice to come here was because of its quietness, natural environment, and the unquestionable experience of a high school founded in 1813 in terms of teaching.

As the 22nd oldest boarding school in the United States, KUA lives up to its historical legacy while not being constrained by it. KUA adopts a mixed housing model, with students of different age groups in each dormitory. This helps develop interpersonal relationships, allowing every student the opportunity to thrive in a nurturing environment with multi-aged supporters.

I visited Kimball Union Academy, driving two and a half hours through heavy snow, and the admissions officer was very welcoming. The school is located in Meriden, New Hampshire, USA, about a 2-hour and 15-minute drive from Boston, and approximately 20 minutes by car from Dartmouth College, one of the famous Ivy League schools. The school offers a rich curriculum, providing 21 AP courses and more for students to choose from.

School features are as follows:

1. Excellent visual and performing arts programs, with courses held at Dartmouth. Additionally, courses offered include jewelry making, filmmaking/media production, woodworking, and ceramics, making the program quite comprehensive. Student works are exhibited annually at the art museum; the school also offers performing arts, music, dance, and drama, with two major performances each year.

2. Outstanding STEM programs, with environmental science being the most distinctive. The curriculum in this area is very comprehensive, and the school also has its own greenhouse and farm. The school offers courses such as marine biology and environmental science, making it an excellent choice for students who love science.

3. The school has an indoor sports arena, with a prominent ice hockey program.

4. Global travel program: The school has international exchange programs and takes students on global trips annually.

· STEM Program: The school offers STEM courses such as Biomedical Engineering, Scientific Research and Engineering Design, CAD & 3D Modeling, Robotics & Microcontrollers. The school also enables students to utilize resources from nearby universities for learning. For example, students go to the University of New Hampshire for a one-week Solidworks study with professors and graduate students.

· GAIL Alliance (Global Alliance for Innovative Learning): This is an alliance of schools from around the world dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding, global awareness, and citizenship through student exchange and collaboration. Through this interaction, students not only have the opportunity to learn from others but also to truly see their own culture.

· K-TERM: A one-week experiential program that concludes in late spring. Students and teachers will leave the classroom and venture far out to practice the essential skills they have developed throughout the year.

· Advanced CAPSTONE Project: Provides senior students with the opportunity to conduct in-depth independent research in their final year. Depending on the scope of the project, 12th-grade students may substitute Capstone project courses or activities in the third semester. Examples include Graphical Analysis of Mammalian Anatomy, Research on the Relationship Between Dance and Religion, and Autonomous Driving Quadcopters.

The academic pressure at the school is not very high. Boarding students have a mandatory study hall every other day. There are three dormitories for boys, one of which is for students who excel in sports. The school's sports program is very strong, with three full-sized soccer fields and an ice hockey rink. The basketball court is very small, with only two hoops inside the gym. The school does not have a swimming pool (it used to), but it was closed after someone died there. It's said to be 1500 acres (counting the entire mountain), but the main living and learning area is only about 5 acres, which is quite small compared to other boarding schools. The school is located in the mountains, so there's no cell phone signal, and the Wi-Fi is not very good and tends to disconnect.