To divide
Only the super-rich can afford the exclusive “Institut auf dem Rosenberg” boarding school in Switzerland. But anyone who brags about their family’s wealth “is a loser,” says the director of the boarding school.
St. Gallen – The “Institut auf dem Rosenberg” is probably the most expensive boarding school in the world: “Parents can count on 150,000 francs (more than 154,000 euros) per academic year”, explains boarding school director Bernhard Gademann in an interview with Wirtschaftswoche. He is the fourth generation at the helm of the institute, founded in 1889, and points out that the payment system consists of basic fees and individual fees: if the child goes skiing, for example, it would be an additional course and the fees would vary accordingly.
Long waiting list at the Swiss elite boarding school “Institut auf dem Rosenberg”
But even if you manage to raise that much money for your child’s education, a place at the boarding school is not guaranteed: “There is a place at the boarding school for four enrollments,” Gademann tells the magazine. In grades 11 and 12, no one is really accepted at this time of year. Diversity is also important when it comes to admissions, because: “We want a good mix in classes.” Children from 55 countries are currently attending boarding school.
For the money, the boarding school near St. Gallen doesn’t just offer a picturesque campus and 13 Art Nouveau villas overlooking Lake Constance. There is also a Science Center, a Creative Lab and a Health & Fitness Club, among others. Students can dine royally: the kitchen staff have many years of experience working in Michelin-starred restaurants, according to the website.
In line with their international experience, students at “Institut auf dem Rosenberg” can obtain various international qualifications such as British A-Levels, German Abitur or Advanced Placements, which are popular in top US universities. In addition, the boarding school offers 40 different sports courses that vary seasonally and 60 co-curricular courses in areas such as robotics, fashion design or sustainable product design. This should also prepare children for later (professional) life.
Robotics and sailing in Monaco for the children of the super-rich
High performance is expected at boarding school, explains Gademann to the Süddeutsche Zeitung: “It is quite common for students to have 40 academic classes a week and also work at the weekend. We demand a lot.” Travel and sport also aim to learn something: “When we sail off Monaco, it is also about learning from a captain how to lead a crew of 25 people and what makes a good manager”, said the head of the the boarding school told the SZ.
In classes with a maximum of eight students, which are divided by interests rather than by age group, each participant must be approached individually: You see yourself as an “incubator of ideas and concepts”, Gademann tells stern.de. “We believe that most of them can be implemented in any school.” You have to support students in their interests – but of course this is much easier with a lot of money and without a curriculum.
Expensive boarding school: dress code and regular drug tests
Gademann and his wife took over his father’s school just a few years ago and modernized the offerings and regulations. But regular drug tests continue to exist, explains the director of the boarding school. “You can’t be naive either, let’s do alcohol and alcohol tests.” But the dress code is now more relaxed – at least a little bit: before, girls had to wear skirts and boys had to straighten chairs for girls at mealtimes. Now girls can wear pants. However, jeans for both genders are still not allowed during classes and meals.
And at an elite boarding school like this, you brag about designer clothes? No, says Gademann to Wirtschaftswoche. “Anyone who boasts about their family’s wealth and achievements is, I tell students, a loser.” Expensive handbags or luxury watches matter more to the upper middle class: “Our families are at a level where status symbols don’t matter.”