Other Questions Answered

Why Choose Best Choice Admissions?

How can Best Choice assist us in finding the right school for our child?

At Best Choice Admissions, we specialize in helping families find therapeutic boarding schools tailored to their child’s unique needs. From understanding your child’s age, behaviors, and academic requirements to matching your budget preferences, we guide you every step of the way to identify the best fit for your family.

Is there a cost for Best Choice services?

No, our services are entirely free for families. While the therapeutic boarding schools have tuition costs, you’ll never pay us for our expertise and assistance in finding the right program for your child.

What is Best Choice Admissions? Are you a school or a call center?

We are a dedicated resource committed to helping families find the ideal therapeutic boarding school for their children. We are a trusted admissions service specializing in helping families of struggling teens find therapeutic boarding schools that align with their emotional, behavioral, and educational needs, all while staying within your financial means.

Specialized Services

Does Best Choice know about all-girl schools?

Yes! We can connect you with therapeutic boarding schools exclusively for girls.

Does Best Choice have someone who speaks Spanish?

Yes, we have Spanish-speaking representatives available to assist families.

Therapeutic Boarding Schools vs. Military Schools

What are therapeutic boarding schools?

Therapeutic boarding schools are structured, 12-month residential programs that combine academic education with therapy or counseling. These schools are designed to address behavioral concerns in a safe, supportive environment.

Do therapeutic boarding schools resemble bootcamps?

Therapeutic boarding schools often include elements of discipline, structure, and personal development similar to bootcamps, but with a focus on therapy and long-term healing.

Can military schools prepare students for enlistment?

Some military schools assist students with starting the enlistment process, but most graduates pursue higher education.

Are there military schools for high-achieving students seeking better education?

Yes, many military boarding schools offer college preparatory programs for students seeking advanced academic opportunities.

Tuition and Financial Questions

What is the cost of tuition?

Tuition varies significantly based on the program. Most therapeutic boarding schools range from $4,000 to $15,000 per month, with an average cost of $7,500.

What does tuition typically include?

Tuition often covers room, board, curriculum, therapy sessions, and sometimes uniforms or extracurricular activities. Be sure to clarify specifics with the school.

Are there additional costs beyond tuition?

Schools may charge enrollment fees and other expenses. We’ll help you understand the full cost when choosing a school.

Does insurance cover tuition?

Insurance typically reimburses only the therapeutic portion of tuition, usually up to 10–20%. Coverage depends on your plan and the school’s licensing.

Are there scholarships or financial aid options?

We recommend visiting lowcostschools.com for resources on schools that may offer sliding scale fees, grants, or scholarships based on financial need.

Can families use loans to pay tuition?

Yes, many families take personal loans to cover tuition costs. Some schools also offer payment plans to make costs more manageable.

Location Options

Does Best Choice recommend schools near my state?

Yes, we can help you find schools across the country. However, many therapeutic programs recommend selecting a school outside of your immediate area to allow for greater focus on healing and growth.

Where are the schools located?

Our network includes schools in over 60 locations across the U.S. and even some internationally. We’ll work with you to identify a location that meets your child’s needs.

Does Best Choice have schools in rural or nature-rich areas?

Absolutely! Many of our schools are set in serene, countryside locations, offering activities like equine therapy and wildlife engagement to promote healing and personal growth.

Program Length

What is the typical length of stay?

Most therapeutic boarding schools require a minimum commitment of 12 months, with the average stay being 12 to 15 months.

Can a child stay longer or shorter than one year?

While most schools don’t allow stays under 12 months, many offer options for extending beyond one year if it benefits the child.

Are short-term schools available?

Our network focuses on schools with a minimum commitment of 9 to 12 months. Short-term programs may provide temporary behavior modification but often fail to create lasting change. For shorter options, consider wilderness programs or residential treatment centers.

Are students at the schools on weekends?

Yes, these are residential schools, meaning students live on campus full-time, including weekends.

Enrollment Process

How long does it take to enroll?

The enrollment process can move as quickly as you need. At Best Choice Admissions, we provide tailored options within 1 business day, and families can often secure placement within a week if required.

Do schools have immediate openings?

Many schools have immediate availability. When urgency is a priority, we ensure to prioritize schools with open slots.

Is there open enrollment year-round?

Yes, most schools offer open enrollment, allowing students to join anytime during the year.

What steps are involved in the enrollment process?

Consultation: We guide you through selecting the right school based on your child’s needs and your budget.

Application Submission: Parents complete an application that schools typically review within a few days.

Acceptance & Tuition: Once accepted, families coordinate with the school to finalize the enrollment date and pay the initial tuition and enrollment fees.

How soon can admission happen?

Admissions can take as little as a few days if there’s no waitlist.

Other

• Where is the school or program located?  Many parents usually ask us this question first.  Although we have programs we can recommend across the country, we always suggest that you do not make the location an essential part of your search.  This will limit you to the closest options rather than the best options.  Also, most schools prefer that the child be farther from their home and peers there, so they won’t try to run away.

• Will Best Choice assistance cause my tuition to be higher or added fees? No. We do not allow programs to increase their tuition or change it whatsoever due to our involvement in helping parents find the right fit. What they charge you is not affected, one way or the other. We report the actual tuition rates and other information about the school or program to the best of our knowledge.

• How long will my child need to be at the school/program? Most therapeutic programs ask for approximately 12 months with your child. This is the amount of time it takes to implement positive, long-lasting changes in the child’s life.  The short-term programs only help a child for a short period, while the long-term programs implement lifelong change due to making the changes are learned habits.

• How can I get my child into the program if he does not agree to go?  Best Choice will help you get your child into the program safely.  Once the school has been selected, and the child has been approved, we will give you some tips on how to speak with your child about the program.  Since every situation is different, we suggest you wait to say anything to the child until after the decision is made.  Based on your situation, we will coach you on how to get him into the program.

• Why do therapeutic programs take so long to make a change in a child?  If you are focusing on short-term programs to reduce the overall cost, most only have a 3-4% success rate. Most must be followed up with a long-term program, making the process longer and in two steps rather than one.  We only suggest long-term care since it is much more effective. The length of time required depends on the child’s issues, progress, and the parent’s steadfastness in keeping the child in the program.  There are three stages to this process for the child, and each can take 3-6 months.  Successful families tell the child, “No matter what, you will be in the program until the counselors there deem you ready to return home.”  Parents who waver and bring the child home early usually short-circuit the process.  Here are the 3 stages most students go through:

DENIAL STAGE:   The first stage is “Denial.”  Most troubled adolescents fail to acknowledge they have any issues, even if they get into a lot of trouble at home.  While in this “foot-dragging” stage, the child holds on to a lot of anger, and no behavioral progress is made as the child sees no need to change.

MANIPULATION STAGE:  The second stage is “Manipulation.”  Once the child realizes that the program and parents are working together and their issues are being exposed, they will usually find ways to appear outwardly to be changing, but with no intention of making any fundamental changes in their life.  This is the most challenging stage as it appears to the parent and the program that real progress is being made.  Unfortunately, some parents will even take their child home prematurely without realizing these changes are only manipulative and fake.  To shortcut through the program and go home early, the child will participate in the program, follow the rules, and go through all the motions.  Once a parent is firm with the process and communicates to the child that even though they appear to be doing better, they must complete the entire program, they will realize that superficial change and manipulation have not helped so they will fall back into a period of anger. But soon, they will realize that the only way to be successful is to make genuine changes. Once this happens, the child will move to the third stage, “Implementation.”

IMPLEMENTATION STAGE:  In this final stage, they will acknowledge what changes they need to make and begin making these changes. The program team will then work to strengthen and test these changes to keep the child from digressing once again. It is essential to stay the course through the program, or once the child is put back in their home environment with all these situations and influences surrounding them again, they need to be strong enough to resist, or they will quickly slide back into old bad habits.  This is why a therapeutic school is a lengthy process and why there are no shortcuts to success.

• Why is it important to get my troubled teen far away from his/her peers? Most parents are not excited about selecting a program further from home; however, it can benefit a child’s treatment.  When a child is further from home, he/she has a sense of a clean, fresh start.  He/she is now in a completely new environment; Second, he/she is much less likely to run away from the program. Third, the program won’t have to be concerned about former negative peer groups coming and causing issues near the program or trying to help the child “escape.”  Having the child further from home helps him/her take the program more seriously too, and they won’t have the perception that the parents are around the corner and going to come to rescue them as soon as they complain about something., Lastly, and most importantly, looking further from home allows you to look at all your options and select the best option for your child’s needs.

• Why do some teens fail to engage in therapeutic programs?  We find that the most significant reason for the lack of success for a troubled teen making a life change is parents not being steadfast with the child. Those who fail to make it clear to the child that they will have to be in the program for “as long as it takes” will usually find it a waste of money, since the child will drag their feet and seek every possible way to be able to leave the program, especially in the first 3 months.  Any wavering by either parent will often short-circuit the whole process.  Kids who think they are going home without working on their attitudes and behaviors will not want to change and will drag their feet until the day they are taken home.  But once the child understands that the parents are serious about sticking with it, the child will begin to get with the program and with the counseling and mentoring that the program provides

Legal Disclaimer: Best Choice Admissions Services LLC (“BCAS”) is an independent information resource. The information provided by BCAS, including that shared by its owners, employees, contractors, or representatives, is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, psychological, or educational advice. BCAS is not licensed to provide such counsel, and individuals should consult with appropriately licensed professionals before making related decisions. BCAS does not own, operate, govern, or control any third-party organization it may reference and is not a child placement agency. By using or receiving information from BCAS, recipients agree to hold harmless and release BCAS and its affiliates from any legal or financial liability arising from the actions, omissions, or outcomes of any third-party organization mentioned. No professional-client or fiduciary relationship is created through this information.