I’m not relying on vague US News–style rankings. I want a dual-core profile fit: a place where I can grow as a squash player and as a STEM/CS student, inside a real boarding community. So I’m building a school-matching tool around three strict pillars. Each school has to score well on all three—otherwise it’s off the list.
Three Strict Pillars
1. Varsity Squash Program
I need a highly competitive roster where a player with a 4.6 US Squash rating can contribute right away. That means strong varsity squash, real competition, and a team culture that takes the sport seriously—not just a club. The algorithm weights squash program depth and results so I can shortlist schools where I’d actually get meaningful play and development.
2. STEM & CS Depth
I want early access to AP Calculus and Microeconomics, plus robust robotics and coding labs so I can deploy AI projects and keep building. The fit isn’t “has a CS class”—it’s a curriculum and infrastructure that support serious STEM work and side projects. The matrix scores schools on course offerings, lab access, and opportunities for independent or project-based work.
3. Boarding Culture
I’m looking for a true 7-day boarding community. I want to transfer the tight-knit dorm life I had at The Fessenden School—where boarding isn’t an add-on but the core of the experience. So the algorithm filters for schools where boarding is central, with a high percentage of boarders and a culture that reflects that. No “day school with a few boarders”; I want the real thing.
The School Matrix combines these three pillars into a weighted score. I’m building it as an open-source tool so other students can plug in their own priorities (squash level, STEM focus, boarding vs. day) and get a data-driven shortlist instead of guesswork.
🌍 Open-Source Tool: The Universal School Fit Matrix
Every student's priorities are different. Define your own top 3 pillars, assign their importance, and score your candidate schools objectively.
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