FAQs

1. "Without AP, IB or even Honors programs, how can Northfield help my child gain admittance to the elite universities? Don't I need to be a "tiger mom" [or dad] and enroll my child in an exclusive "prep school" to give my child the best possible chance to succeed?"

Answer

There is a movement among parents and educators alike

• away from the contemporary notion that secondary education should focus on courses/tests/grades to increase/measure knowledge levels in common core subject areas in step-by-step preparation for college and employment
• back to the historical idea that secondary education's sine qua non is to cultivate a life-long ability [and curiosity] to engage in deep and meaning-full learning about any subject.

Northfield's primary mission is to help the student reach the milestone of "dialectical maturity" with "subject competence" being an expected and valuable by-product along the way. However, the actual subject knowledge is less important than the refining of the learning skills from our point of view. The sooner the student reaches dialectical maturity, the sooner the student can move into the final stage of the educational journey: choosing among the many educational opportunities that present themselves throughout life to those with the capacity and tools for learning any subject.

Dual credit and guest courses via Northfield@Friends are some of the subject-matter opportunities Northfield offers to those who have reached dialectical maturity and still wish to continue their studies at Northfield. However, we like to think that any opportunities available to the dialectically mature student deserve consideration.

That said, past Northfielders have been accepted to study in schools far from home like Oxford University, Kenyon College, University of the South, New York University, Vanderbilt University, Tufts University, University of Virginia, Wheaton College, Sarah Lawrence College, Clemson University, Williams College, Austin College, Reed College and The Air Force Adademy as well as at local schools like Friends University, Wichita State University, University of Kansas, and Kansas State University.

Helpful Articles

Solutions for Stressed-Out High Schoolers by Nikhil Goyal, WSJ

2. "Why does Northfield grant a Liberal Arts Certificate [LAC]? What are the requirements for earning the LAC versus the Northfield Diploma?"

Answer

The LAC is our faculty's formal recognition that, in its opinion, you have reached the milestone of a secondary education at Northfield ... dialectical maturity ... and that you are ready to assess and pursue available opportunities for personal and professional development through studies in any subjects of interest to you.

This is the moment of climax in the Northfield plot. That is not to say that you will depart from Northfield after gaining the LAC [although you may], but rather that what follows will be further revelation and resolution of what you already achieved at Northfield. When this time comes, we will help you determine and embark upon the next leg of your educational journey which may include one of the following.

Remaining at Northfield in direct pursuit of a Northfield Diploma and [optionally] an Associate Degree [representing two years of college study credits] from Friends University via our Northfield@Friends study program.

Entering vocational or technical training with the option to apply credits earned towards fulfilling any remaining requirements for a Northfield Diploma.

Applying for early admission to college with the option to apply credits earned towards fulfilling any remaining requirements for a Northfield Diploma.

Doing missions, public service … or going to work … with the option to take courses [online or otherwise] and apply credits earned towards fulfilling any remaining requirements for a Northfield Diploma.

There are no formal requirements for the LAC other than your declaration [at the beginning of the school year] that you wish to work for it and the faculty decision [at the end of the school year] to grant it. We believe it is better to declare and fail than to fail to declare if you believe you can be ready. If you fail, there is no shame ... it simply means the faculty believes you have a little further to go.

On the other hand, there are specific course and credit requirements for the Diploma which can be completed even if you never receive a Northfield LAC. Remember:

• the LAC certifies you have reached an educational milestone while
• the Diploma says you have completed curricular minimum requirements.

You must decide which one[s] you will pursue for formal recognition ... we hope you will seek both!

Helpful Articles

Mozilla Open Badges