$40K for mucking out pigs and harvesting corn: The farm schools cashing in on college applications

$40K for mucking out pigs and harvesting corn: The farm schools cashing in on college applications Forget summer camp. Some high school students are spending their summers studying soil, raising animals and learning agriculture – experiences their families hope will help them stand out in college admissions - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Some American parents are paying thousands of dollars to send their kids to farm school – where they hope the phone-free experience of mucking out pigs, harvesting crops and chopping wood will give them an edge in the hyper-competitive world of college admissions. At Vermont’s Mountain School of Milton Academy, 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students spend a semester living and learning on a 418-acre campus, with most students in their junior year. The program combines traditional academics with farm work and campus chores, and includes a strict break from technology. Tuition is nearly $40,000, according to the school’s website. The cost covers room and board, activities, field trips and community programming. Students continue academic classes, including AP Calculus, while spending about eight hours a week on farm work and chores such as harvesting crops, caring for livestock, washing dishes and cleaning classrooms. About 50 students attend each semester, according to U.S. News & World Report, and about 30 percent receive financial aid, the school’s director told The Wall Street Journal. The hands-on work is designed to teach students the practical tasks involved in maintaining a community. Some arrive with little or no farming experience and have to learn basics such as planting seeds and identifying plant roots, while others learn proper harvesting techniques and ways to avoid back injuries. The semester also includes a four-day wilderness trip, giving students time in nature without the digital devices they typically use at home and school. A few students told the WSJ in September that they saw the unusual experience as worthwhile, rather than resenting the chores or tech restrictions. “It’s fun,” student Max Sherman said about washing dishes, while Cassie Scott got excited about being outdoors and told the outlet: “This is the closest I’ve been to nature in a while. I’m literally hugging a tree.” Meanwhile, student Estela Whitney, responsible for feeding food scraps to piglets and making sure they had water, recalled a lesson she learned once after arriving hours late and finding the animals hungry. “I’m going to be a lot more careful to not make that mistake again,” Whitney said. Some students and their parents hope these schools will give them an edge in the fiercely competitive college-admissions process. At Olney Friends School in Barnesville, Ohio, students use the school’s 350-acre organic farm as an extension of the classroom, according to its website. They apply biology, chemistry, math and environmental science to real farm work, from testing soil and planting crops to caring for animals and managing resources. The hands-on work also helps students develop practical skills such as responsibility, teamwork, problem-solving and resilience. Farm chores offer a break from screens while teaching students about sustainability and where their food comes from. Much of the farm’s produce eventually makes its way into school meals. “This type of authentic education is what universities are increasingly looking for in college applicants,” the Olney website states. Meanwhile, Stephen Turban, co-founder and director of Lumiere Education, sees value in agriculture-focused summer programs for high school students. The program pairs students with Ph.D. mentors to conduct research and write original academic papers. In a November 2025 article, Turban, who studied statistics at Harvard, worked at McKinsey and pursued a PhD at Harvard Business School, highlighted 15 agriculture summer programs for high school students. The programs, offered by colleges and universities across the US, cover topics including agricultural research, animal science, sustainable farming, food systems, environmental science, food technology and agricultural business. “Taking part in an agriculture program can also strengthen your college applications. It shows early initiative in exploring an important and evolving field, along with skills in research, data collection, and problem-solving,” Turban wrote. “Colleges value students who can connect academic study with real-world application, and agricultural programs show that you’ve already started doing that.” But admissions consultant Adam Nguyen questioned whether attending these schools actually gives students an edge in the college-admissions process. “Admissions officers don't reward expensive randomness. That will backfire, for sure,” he told the WSJ. Farm schools also offer students a rare break from their phones. Many require the surrender of devices upon arrival, with internet access limited and technology largely reserved for schoolwork. At the Vermont school, faculty member Bruce Brough said students once worried most about encountering bears during the solo trip. Now, he said, they are more concerned about being alone with their thoughts. Myers added that the “solo” experience encourages students to consider: “Who am I when I don't have a screen?” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments