FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who will my roommate be? Roommates are matched by pairing girls who are in the same grade and who are taking different academic tracks. Upon enrollment, each student completes a roommate profile online that helps us match roommates. We place girls on halls by age. Staff members live on each hall to provide 24-hour supervision as well as wake up-calls. Because community living is a big part of the Girls First experience, we rarely make roommate changes once the session begins.

What happens during free time? During free time, students may swim in the pool, use the gym, take a hike, canoe at our pond, play games, hang out, watch a movie, read, or rest. Students can also participate in fun, organized activities! The resident advisors never lack for ideas for afternoon free time activities. After dinner, students participate in planned evening activities which round out the day.

Will I have access to the computer labs? During afternoon free time and in the evenings, girls can use the computer lab for e-mailing, surfing, and researching. Students may not bring their own laptops.

It is our daughter’s first sleep-away experience; is this program suited for her? Yes. For many of our younger students, Girls First is their first overnight program experience. We keep the girls so fully engaged and academically challenged that they have little time to be homesick. The resident advisors act as role models, confidants, comforters, and advisors. They are new students’ best resource.

Will I be able to call family and friends? Girls do not have phones in their rooms but may call home from their cell phones or from the Program Office at appropriate times. Without compromising the extra level of safety that cell phones may provide, we have designed a strict policy surrounding their use so that girls may get the most out of their experience on campus. Cell phones are collected at registration and are kept safe by the RAs. Girls may use their phones every third night to call home and may also take their cell phones on all off-campus trips as an extra level of safety.

Should I bring spending money? In addition to the field trip account, which is part of the tuition and fees, we recommend girls bring spending money for sundries and snacks and visits to the school store.

It seems very academic. Will it be fun? We know that the girls are on summer break and that they need to have fun, especially if they are going to learn. We offer plenty of activities, movies, games, and after-hours events; students and staff have a fantastic time.

How do I get to Madeira? The Madeira School is located in McLean, Virginia, a 15-minute drive from Washington, D.C. and the surrounding airports. We offer airport pick-up from either Dulles International or Reagan National airports.

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