Ask through a residence day from wake-up to lights-out
Confirm wake-up, breakfast, study time, lights-out, phone handling, laundry and weekend leave rules. The question is not whether rules are strict, but whether the student can follow them independently at that age and who helps after a missed alarm or forgotten item.
Meals are more than 'three meals included'
Ask about weekday/weekend serving times, missed-meal process, outside food, kitchen access and who confirms allergies, vegetarian, halal or other needs in writing. Do not leave the student to explain a dietary restriction for the first time after arrival.
Separate daily-life communication from learning feedback
Ask the school to state routine contact frequency, emergency channel and who provides academic feedback. Residence staff usually know daily care, while teachers know class participation; families should know whom to contact and not use an emergency line for ordinary grade questions.
Check support beyond the bedroom
Beyond bed type and bathroom, confirm night duty, lost key/card, laundry failure, roommate conflict, medical accompaniment and delayed-arrival process. School residence and homestay can have materially different support boundaries.