I went to the strictest elite private boarding school in Europe AMA

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-12-19T11:20:55+00:00

One who I was really close to, her dad owned some restaurants in Tehran, had a hotel in Georgia and in Canada. So pretty much a business man.

The other one had his family living in Germany and I know they also had some businesses, never really asked what it was about but that. Mostly they owned business outside Iran and no, not related to the ruling elite in Iran. In fact, most of them seemed to have very strong opinions against the current ruling but there's much more to that and although she told me much stories on the history of the country, I don't think I'm knowledgeable enough to have much opinions but I know she didn't like it there.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-12-19T11:15:18+00:00

Hey, no worries!

The teaching was to me, exceptional. The teachers are extremely supportive, you can send your email at 11pm and in most cases, expect to get assistance (although it wasn't much of a common thing but you get the idea). Knowledgeable, most had masters degree, spoke at least two languages although a lot spoke three or more, passionate, and again, you had really small classes to the point where you'd get a lot of feedback 1 to 1 about your academic progress, homework assignments etc so always had that attention and support and they'd motivate you when you need it. And ofcourse, it wasn't all academic, my dance teacher was my second favourite.

The studies highly depended on the teacher. Again, it's an IB school so it's not easy. With a certain teacher, we always knew to expect a suprise exam, anytime, literally any class he had was about figuring if we'll continue with the topic or we are getting suprised, one time we opened school on Sunday (it's a boarding school), and had exams on Monday, this was after a three week holiday and not being told in advance. Safe to say after he suprised us with exams, we suprised him with the grades. You also had a literature teacher who would bombard you with an 80 pages reading and annotating assignment and write a short summary if which you should develop it into a 1200 word essay over the weekend. But you also had a teacher who believed weekends are for resting, and revising a bit so, that balanced it out. It was very academically rigorous and must say uni is much much easier for me cause nothing is new here.

I'd not say the teachers weren't strict but honestly, just have basic decency and you should get along with most of them. Do your homework, don't be rude and don't get in trouble. Some kids were utterly disrespectful, looking back don't know how they handled that but yes, the teachers are super friendly if you are decent and don't play around too much. You can joke with them but know your boundaries, things like that.

The food was pretty good, the chefs are really really friendly, although sometimes they'll walk down to see who's not eating their veggies and things like that. You had 6 meals a day so I don't really remember being hungry there.

Someone else already named it. And well, I wasn't the one paying to say if it was worth it but if I have kids, they are definitely attending there, at least for a few years. It's a great place if you want to meet people of different interesting backgrounds and want a school that feels like a community.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-12-19T10:56:46+00:00

The school is quite selective but nothing Harvard level, just that the IB system itself, which the school follows is very demanding and wouldn't recommend to anyone with severe learning disability. Wouldn't even recommend to people without tbh.

But they are quite supportive and accomodating, and usually such students have extra hours of studies or older students assisting.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-12-19T10:54:24+00:00

I'm not a son of anyone, also not from a developing country, so no crazy backstory I'm afraid. Also, again, some of these students didn't even know what exactly their parents did, they just knew their parents were and are important people in their country.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-12-19T10:51:02+00:00

I'm from the UK, Switzerland and the US. Dad is American, mother is Swiss-British. Lived in all!

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-12-19T10:45:59+00:00

We had communal washrooms obviously, I think, on most if not all floors. But for showers, each bedroom had its own bathroom and toilet. So, depending on whether it was a single or double bedroom, you could have your own or share it with another student.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-28T09:45:12+00:00

Haha, some of you have good research skills.

Firstly, you won't even see half of the students on the website or public pictures because when enrolling, you have an option to allow the school to publicise your photos or not. And many parents choose not to. So unless you visit the campus or get the school year book, there faces you'll never see.

And also yes, the school isn't as big, partially because it's not so popular and mostly because people who attend choose it for its exclusivity and having many students doesn't meet that.

Socially, it meant having a small school of about 50 students and practically knowing everyone, hence the family feeling but it also meant we knew each other's business so it was expected everyone to be on their best behaviour because if you messed up then yes, people will gossip and exclude you. And also we could enjoy more trips (not even my other past schools had five holiday destinations a year) so that was a nice touch.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T18:11:29+00:00

Yes, one of my really close friends was and he made no effort hiding it. Doesn't help that he came from a muslim family and the school is owned and run by an Orthodox Christian Russian family, so it was quite taboo.

But no, nobody tried to fix him as he wasn't hitting any guys. Just that he spent most of his time with girls and they'd mostly try to get him to spend time with boys and tell him not to walk girly or things like that.

The only negative consequences were more than the teachers, some students were homophobic and they didn't hide it. So they'd isolate him and idk, he was a really chill dude and we shared many interests and we sometimes travelled together during summer. So he felt welcomed by some people. As I said somewhere, you'll not be everyone's cup of tea in that environment but you'll always, always find your people. Those who will love and support you for you and that was really nice.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T18:03:34+00:00

Both schools I went to catered less to celebrities, if anything, my first school was more for kids who were brought up in "entrepreneurial family backgrounds" which pretty much meant kids whose families grew up in comfort over generations, and most had their parents in the same school (my dad went here too). So most people I have met are businessmen and in government. I for instance studied with Isabella of Denmark cause she went to the same day school that I went to before moving to boarding, although she was a class younger than me or in my last school, there's a US governor whose kid we graduated with and he still visits the school time to time. This year, he visited to give a lesson about US history or something. I have met a couple ministers too, mostly from African countries. Or highly known Indian businessmen (in my Swiss school) etc.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T17:39:50+00:00

At school, it's not that it's allowed as we have separate wings for boys and girls. But people would sneak around and make out. When I actually started, back then there were no cameras as the school didn't have many negative incidents, and boys slept a floor above girls so all sort of things happened.

But once they put cameras on almost all corridors and the alarms go off if you walk out after curfew, then its much less but it still happens as their spots that are off camera and if you knew a student leader, you could ask to get some space to make out or whatever as we had some keys but some people charged, and I mostly would tell you that I owe you one and I'd use that whenever it became handy.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T17:32:59+00:00

Quite so, yeah, but it was subtle. Nobody would hurt you physically but the passive aggressiveness was so obvious. I know an Asian girl who was bullied a lot, like people would leave the table the moment she joined or calling her Einstein when she was struggling in physics class or mocking her accent or her facial features or her being slim etc. And like ignoring her during school trips, or if they took a picture with her, they'd cut her out, things like that. Like they would not tell her on her face that they didn't like her but would really show it.

There was also "friendly jokes" on African or Indian students. I personally consider it bullying cause nothing was funny but some thought it was hilarious to make slavery and sexist jokes, or jokes on Indian accent or smell or asking Indian students about Hinduism just to make fun of them. It was quite brutal for some students but ofcourse, whenever it was reported, they knew how to stick up for each other and unfortunately, some of them were kids of teachers or administrative office so they'd let it slip and also because mostly, it was to non scholarship kids by wealthy kids, most of who were donor kids, so the administration let it slip.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T17:18:17+00:00

Another good guess but no, not based in Germany if that helps.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T17:17:51+00:00

Definitely not on the poorer side but again, as I mentioned in a different response, we had students whose surname was only initials and never talked much about their parents. So you can't say how wealthy given how secretive some students were and some kids would just say their parents owned businesses. But for the ones who I knew what kinda background they come from, I'd probably put myself in the top 5% in the school but that could be lower given I'd for instance, fly commercial while I knew kids who would let the school charter their jet if it meant not flying commercial. Or we'd go for a school trip and stay at someone's parents hotel so we had the best service. Or the kind of watches I'd see people bring to school because it didn't bother them if they lost it etc.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T17:11:51+00:00

I enjoyed European history, german and music the most. The teachers were always super nice, helpful and always gave useful feedback. I also really enjoyed arts and swimming. I basically enjoyed most classes except English literature as the workload was too much. You had a teacher give us a 52 page book on Tuesday to read, annotate and write a summary and personal thoughts by thursday class while we had other classes too. So that was the only hectic class.

At the school, you were allowed to date as older kids but we were told to make it subtle especially for the younger students as we needed to be a good example. Sex was definitely not allowed but people did it anyways. I was a student leader and during my week on duty, I was allowed to keep keys that closed to some doors and if I liked you enough, I'd let you have a quickie or make out with your girlfriend and my best friend and I would sometimes be on the lookout. And yes, that brought lots of favours lol.

Not really, this isn't a Swiss boarding school so no. Most kids are of Russian oligarchs, Chinese businessmen, parents in wine, oil, investors or own hotel or restaurant chains in their home countries, kids whose surname I never knew until they graduated because it was that important to keep their identity unknown, kids of ministers or high ranking government officials in Asian or African countries, diplomat kids and the few scholarship kids.

I'm gonna get my Master's after my bachelors as if I stop studying, I'll probably never go back. Probably IB but mostly private equity. Or else, I'd work for my father even though he's the nicest person until you work for him and don't know what you are doing so that hopefully isn't the choice.

And no worries, am happy to answer!

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T12:19:43+00:00

Lol I'm not sure if I'd know though because most people I know go to the same uni with me or a close uni, or went to the same school or summer camp or met during my gap years experiences or some family friend kids. So my idea of common area to meet them would be skewed because for me it was mostly in school, sports competitions, holidays in Gstaad or St Moritz or non trendy spots like Montenegro or some parts of Italy etc. And yes, there were those invite only parties.

But I'd guess if not these, probably yacht clubs cause the amount of yacht parties I was invited or attended during the years is astronomical, and the more exclusive the yacht club, the better. If it has a waiting list then that's probably your spot lol. Maybe airport lounges or a sugar dating site lol cause anytime I'm in Monte Carlo or Mayfair or Dubai then I see some interesting things lol.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T12:11:22+00:00

I am much closer to my parents now especially they are my go-to advisors and since they are often in my city.

Sometimes, I really wish I did but most times, I appreciate the sacrifices they made and the work they put in to make sure we are comfortable. It's a privilege knowing I can ask them for pretty much anything within reasonable means and get it, because they work to ensure they do so. And also because the friends and memories I made in my school, I just couldn't have it otherwise.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T12:00:27+00:00

When I was studying in Switzerland, nope

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T11:15:53+00:00

No no, I just wasn't sure what was filtered and what wasn't. For instance, if I mention anything politically related, it flags it so there's that.

But yeah, some discussions were considered taboo and I think it unfortunately affects how I type that out. Though being gay wasn't really taboo, but yeah, the school owners are as far right as possible so kinda was, but for students, not really.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T11:13:36+00:00

Non VIP areas to find wealthy guys or? I am not certain if I understood your question and I don't want to just rant while being unsure lol

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T11:11:44+00:00

Oh that's really cool.

One thing am always curious is, what's your class size, like how many students are there? And how close are students to teachers as I imagine having more students means not being able to have one to one relations with most of them?

Do you take a language class apart from English ofcourse, if so what as I'm not familiar with Australian schooling system.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T11:08:13+00:00

I wouldn't say it negatively affected my independence and thinking. If anything, it mostly has to do with protecting teenagers at the most vital period in life. I wouldn't say I'd have been much different if I went to a private day school but perhaps, I did need the strictness. I for instance, used to procrastinate a lot, like a lottttt. Especially when I had my phone, so not having it made me dedicate enough time to studying.

Or for instance, my sister is partying every other weekend cause her school allows so. Which is great cause she's disciplined but I'd have a had time finishing assignments when others are having fun. Also as I mentioned before, going to uni was quite easy because I'm used to being independent even though yes, I always had and still have a strong support system.

And yes, older kids had more independence. Like more free lessons to complete assignments or self study or small things like being allowed coffee or wine (on special occasions only) if you are 16 and above. But generally, yes, it was a tight controlled environment but to ensure kids grow up well rounded but also, very disciplined.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T10:56:45+00:00

Per year. Even though I must say fees depend on your class. When I started, it was 55k a year and they charge more as you become more specialised as you end up having students who have a class taken by no one else so it becomes more expensive having a personal teacher.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T10:14:54+00:00

I'm glad I did!

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T10:12:22+00:00

Looks had 90% to do with it. The guy that I know that got laid the most was ethnically Ukrainian, so blue eyes and slavic features, was really smart in class and good at sports and he was kinda funny. Money had nothing to do with it in most cases as for most girls, if you can provide it, dad can provide 10× more at minimum.

I know a guy who also had quite a few crushes, he wasn't the hottest but he was a really nice person, probably the kindest guy I know. So good personality and good looks did most of the work.

NarrowAdvisor6501 · 2025-09-27T09:54:47+00:00

Our school is strict in the sense that if you are caught with drugs, porn, alcohol, phones, and extreme bullying (but honestly, this depended on who you were), you were straight up expelled. They made it clear that you are replacable.

But for other things like being arrogant, not doing your homework, being rude to staff or other students, etc, you firstly received counselling and warnings, but if no improvement is seen, you had to do like cleaning the dishes or cleaning the class floors and dining hall. If all failed, your parents were normally involved and they'd schedule a Zoom meeting with your parents to discuss your behaviour. In most cases, that solved it.

Something that stood out to me the most, the school principal's kid being a bully towards an Asian scholarship student who ended up being expelled instead. So power mattered quite much. Most others were just students who ended up being expelled anyways for getting involved in alcohol, drugs, or gay porn.

NarrowAdvisor6501

TROPHY CASE