6 reasons to study abroad at Wasatch Academy in Utah

02 Nov 2016

“Let it endure like the Wasatch Mountains; call it Wasatch Academy.” – WA founder Duncan McMillan, 1875.

Throughout its 141-year history, Mt. Pleasant’s Wasatch Academy in Utah has been far more than just a college preparatory boarding school. Awarded “Best of State” in education for seven years running, Wasatch Academy has, and always will be, an institution that changes lives. Education shouldn’t just involve classes, tests, and numbers; education is meant to develop students into intelligent, caring citizens with the power to change the world. That’s the core idea behind Wasatch Academy’s educational approach, and it’s one that resonates both in and outside of the classroom.

Let’s take an in-depth look at how Wasatch Academy fosters this approach, especially for international students:

1. Comprehensive English language immersion

Is your English proficiency lacking? No problem at all with Wasatch Academy! You’ll learn quickly and efficiently through total immersion as opposed to learning vocabulary in a static classroom setting. All courses are taught in English, and you’ll also interact with American students on a daily basis, helping to hone your English-speaking skills significantly. You’ll also perfect your English skills through Wasatch Academy’s ESL program. The program focuses on four key components of English language mastery: reading, writing, listening and speaking. This will provide you with a thorough understanding of the language and help you ace the TOEFL English proficiency test.

2. Students get help when applying to world-class universities

Universities are always looking to recruit well-rounded students with diverse experience, which is why Wasatch Academy offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities that appeal to college admissions. You’ll be able to take on leadership positions, student government, community service opportunities, school sports, musical and artistic endeavors, and more.

But classes still count, which is why Wasatch offers a wide variety of courses at every level of academic study, including Advanced Placement, Honors, and standardized test preparation. Wasatch Academy will also be there to guide you through every step of the college application process and is proud of their 100% university acceptance rate of graduating students. Wasatch will help you find the college or university that is the best fit for your aspirations.

3. A wholesome educational philosophy focused on project-based learning

Wasatch Academy will teach you Math, Science, English and History in the classroom just like any other boarding school, but the scope of education offered reaches far beyond that. You’ll develop vital skills needed for a 21st-century world, including critical thinking, creativity, communication, problem-solving and teamwork. Your future employer is unlikely to care whether you can regurgitate the Pythagorean Theorem on command; they’ll be more interested in how well you work in a team and whether you can solve problems in creative and innovative ways. This is where Wasatch Academy’s project-based learning curriculum comes in.

Wasatch Academy, a self-proclaimed student-centered school, prides itself on making decisions based the needs of students; therefore, the school has designed its entire educational philosophy around you. Wasatch doesn’t believe in assigning endless pages of homework just for the sake of keeping you busy after class. Wasatch Academy helps you break out of the classroom and take your education into the real world to see how it works.

4. A creative curriculum built for passion and learning

Students who attend Wasatch Academy are naturally driven and excited to learn, and Wasatch has built their curriculum around those two ideals. Wasatch facilitates hands-on learning in a myriad of ways – through the Studio Arts Building, Biology and Physics labs, Math teams, Engineering and Robotics courses, and so much more. If you want to pursue a career in graphic design, you can take advantage of Wasatch’s Centre for Evolving Technology, which offers all the tools you’ll need for 3D animation, video game design, and computer programming.

No matter what your passion, Wasatch Academy will provide you with innumerable ways to gain hands-on experience in courses that make learning memorable and relevant.

5. Individualized attention for the versatile 21st-century student

Some schools are too big for their own good. Not Wasatch. Boasting a smaller enrollment than most schools, at just 340 students classes are both intimate and personal, with an average of only nine students per class. Your teacher will know your name and your individual academic needs to customize your educational experience. Even so, Wasatch understands that life can get stressful and you may find yourself a little too challenged sometimes. If you ever need one-on-one tutoring time outside of the classroom, the teachers and Learning Services Programme at Wasatch Academy will be more than happy to help.

The school believes its teachers are also mentors who are instrumental not only in educating you, but also instilling essential core values like kindness, respect, acceptance, and character. The Academy doesn’t just teach; it develops the kind of balanced students that our hectic 21st-century world needs.

6. Stunning locale for adventurous outdoor and athletic activities

If you’ve got a hunger to experience the great American outdoors, look no further than Wasatch Academy. Step outside your dorm room and you’ll be swept away by the inspiring Wasatch Mountains. The city of Mount Pleasant is situated near seven national parks, so you’re always just a stone’s throw from an adventure.

Wasatch Academy takes full advantage of their gorgeous location, offering students a multitude of outdoor and athletic activities such as skiing, snowboarding, rodeo, rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. There’s even a skate and BMX park on campus! Of course, if you’re not feeling so adventurous (though we don’t understand why you wouldn’t!) you can also participate in traditional sports like soccer, volleyball, swimming, basketball, and cross country.

It’s clear why Wasatch Academy is considered a world-class institution. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch today through the live chat feature on their website!

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