College Counseling

From Oxford, England to Oxford, Mississippi; from Vassar to Vanderbilt and all points in between; when it comes to college choices, MBA boys follow their hearts and minds, but never the pack. Whether it’s the Ivy League, The Big 10, or the Big East; The SEC, the PAC 10, or the NESCAC, over the last five years MBA graduates have chosen to attend over 136 different colleges and universities in 36 states and two foreign countries. The 113 members of the class of 2004 chose to attend 63 different colleges and universities – 39 of whom were the only students to choose their particular college.

Independent in their thinking, MBA students select colleges that fit their academic, extracurricular, financial, and social needs; they are not influenced by peer pressure, the popular press, or questionable rankings. Supported by a college counseling staff that helps students identify a range of appropriate colleges, take the required tests, craft thoughtful essays, and present themselves favorably, our boys have great college choices year after year.

When colleges begin to assess a student’s record and preparation, they look at the student within the context of his particular school. Universities recognize that 100 percent of MBA students are college-bound, well-prepared, and have the potential to thrive in college. With regard to standardized tests, MBA boys distinguish themselves year after year by earning high scores, leading to a substantial number of National Merit Scholars, semifinalists, and commended students.

Thanks to MBA’s strong national reputation, over 125 different colleges visited our campus this fall, and many have used our facilities to host area receptions for the greater Nashville community, including: Yale, MIT, Amherst, Wesleyan, Williams, UVA, Washington University, and Furman.

Advisory System

The MBA Advisory System underscores our commitment to support the intellectual and emotional development of every boy under our care. Each student will have a designated personal contact outside the classroom with whom he will have a relationship that focuses on areas that extend beyond academic interest. The advisor understands the unique talents and interests of each boy in his group, and can suggest curriculum and activities to meet the individual needs of his advisees. The sense of belonging each boy enjoys at MBA will increase when he knows he has a personal advocate who cares about the particular issues he may be facing.

MBA presents grade level social awareness meetings to help the boys deal with age appropriate concerns. Learning to think through issues before encountering challenging

The advisory system offers a network of support where all students benefit from the additional personal attention.

situations encourages our boys to make better choices. The topics range from safe driving habits and date etiquette to the more serious legal issues facing teens today. In a world that operates at a frantic pace, MBA is a place where boys can find the time and space to grow, both intellectually and emotionally.

Advisors meet daily with their advisees (either in groups or individually) to discuss school issues, athletic and extracurricular participation, grades, and concerns of special interest to individual students. In addition, advisors become mentors as they monitor academic progress, serve as academic counselors for pre-registration, and act as liaisons between students and their families.

The system is successful due to the many types of contact enjoyed by the students and their advisors. Regular group meetings, quarterly individual meetings, and daily informal exchanges (which occur naturally on the quad, on the field, or over meals) are avenues of communication that weave a network of support for our students. Every boy is assured that there is a specific person for him to see whenever there is a concern. This relationship provides a vital link between students and teachers, which also enhances communication between parents and teachers. Designed to work in tandem with college and guidance counseling, the advisory system plays an integral part in the way MBA guides and supports our young men.

International Exchange Program

MBA has developed a cohesive network of student-faculty exchange programs, due to our strong connections with schools throughout the world. Pioneered in 1998, this program was shaped by a relationship with both Eton and Winchester Colleges in England. Building on this initiative, MBA established exchange programs with the Michaelhouse School and Kearsney College in South Africa; the Southport School and the King’s School in Australia; and the Pan American School in Costa Rica as well. The program currently involves an exchange of 15 students from seven schools on four continents, with an equal number coming from MBA.
Through these programs, students develop a heightened understanding of the politics and culture of their host countries. Our students will spend from four weeks to three months enrolled in these great schools where they will absorb an educational experience rich in culture and tradition. In turn, when students from these countries visit MBA, they enrich our classrooms and community by offering, for example, a British or South African perspective on American diplomacy and economics. Because of MBA’s strong partnership with the Experiment in International Living, students may also apply for exchanges in such countries as Chile, Australia, Poland, France, and Argentina.

The most meaningful benefit of the exchange programs, however, lies in a student’s newfound appreciation for other cultures, forged through friendships far beyond the MBA campus. Students will often spend vacation time traveling abroad with new friends, and will even make college choices based on an exchange program experience – as evidenced by a recent graduate who will be attending Oxford University in England.

Technology

In light of MBA’s 137-year history, the emergence of technology on campus is a relatively

Turn-of-the-century buildings with state-of-the-art technology.

new development. MBA has embraced new technologies by blending the advantages of computer technology with a classical curriculum – a challenge eagerly accepted among the faculty, staff, and students. In 1994 an entrepreneurial 9th grader requested permission to build the school’s first web server and web site complete with e-mail and web space for all faculty and students.

MBA continues to host and update its own web server (www.montgomerybell.com) each day. MBA had designated four computer labs for student use, including a lab dedicated solely to our Junior School. The E. Bronson Ingram Science Building has a strong computer presence to aid in lab work as well.

LCD projectors have been installed in over 80 percent of the classrooms on campus; more than 30 of those classrooms include an electronic whiteboard. The Joe C. Davis Building is home to the Tune Room, a state-of–the-art digital editing room for video and audio projects.

Three full time professionals, along with two faculty members, offer the MBA community support through training and innovation. The addition of MBA parents into the school’s intranet system has built an even stronger sense of community by providing yet another avenue of communication.

Professional development for faculty is a critical component to successful technology integration within the classroom. The technology staff at MBA holds regular faculty workshops to that end. Whether by electronic presentation, web research, or class web sites, the MBA faculty uses technology to facilitate and enhance the learning process.
The future holds exciting promise for technology at MBA. The ad-ditions of plasma message boards in several buildings, along with a large, multi-panel display in the Frist Dining Hall, have provided new avenues of communication both within the school and throughout the world.

Library

“I come to the library for research materials, but I also enjoy the archives room for the memorabilia that brings history to life.” - Matthew Clair (’05)

The Patrick Wilson Library is the hub of technology and learning on MBA's campus. Built in 1968 and enlarged and renovated in 1996, the library provides a gracious and functional setting for students and faculty to study, to read for pleasure, to engage in research, and to explore electronic information sources.

Students have access to the school’s outstanding collection of more than 19,000 volumes, as well as current periodicals. An online catalog, automated circulation system, computer databases, and Internet connections enable users to locate information quickly and easily.
In addition to the materials housed in the Patrick Wilson Library, students and faculty have online access to the Harpeth Hall collection, as well as the entire Vanderbilt University collection.

The new Archives Room, steeped in tradition and innovation, is dedicated to the display and preservation of MBA memorabilia, photos, and documents dating from 1785 to the present. Two new listening rooms have also been added, offering students a place to view DVD’s or listen to CD’s.

The MBA librarians bring the facility to life. With their guidance, boys are able to navigate the wealth of resources available to them, whether they are searching for a current event or a historical document. Currently, the librarians are developing research strategies which are tailored specifically to research projects assigned by MBA teachers. They also collaborate regularly with faculty and parents for suggestions on books, DVD’s, magazines, and databases geared to the needs and interests of our young men.