<p>Thanks for everyone’s input. No, I don’t have a therapist. I don’t think a therapist can or should solve what relatively small problems I have. </p>
<p>I do also like the idea of just going to public school, I just worry that I would no longer have enough time to do music and math on my own in depth, and would regret it later.</p>
<p>Therapy doesn’t solve problems. Therapy builds problem-solving capability regardless of whether the problems are small (conflicts with your parents over your education) or large.</p>
<p>You have alluded to family problems which seem more protracted than just “I want to study Sacred Music and my parents think I should spend less time on that”. So keeping an open mind to working with a trained outsider is not a bad idea.</p>
<p>I have found that therapy is useful for both huge and massive crises, as well as minor speed bumps along the way.</p>
<p>machiavell1: You really do not have a handle on what a good boarding school is like, especially if you don’t think you will be challenged academically or intellectually. Right now, you are embracing a false stereotype. As someone upthread mentioned, there is a prep school forum on CC, and a few hours perusing there might help you understand what they offer, what their communities are like, and how you might benefit.</p>
<p>However, if your parents are suggesting boarding school as a way to an Ivy, any Ivy, that is absolutely the worst reason to attend. First, because it misses the point of the stellar high school education they provide—which is their reason for being–and second, even at the most selective boarding schools, MOST of the class does not matriculate to an Ivy. Many aren’t interested and don’t apply, but even among those who do, most are rejected. Even if you end up in the top of the class, and that is very, very hard to do, there are no guarantees. On the other hand, ALL of the kids end up at great colleges, but you have to expand your definition of great colleges beyond the Ivies.</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me for any specific questions, but its all been answered on the prep school forum. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>OP: While I think you and I are very different, I can see some similarities between us.</p>
<p>I was homeschooled through eighth grade, then spent one year at a Catholic high school (freshman year). I hated it and it did a number on my self esteem. Instead of transferring to the high school I’d wanted to go to, I ended up going to community college and getting an AA at 17. THAT is another option for you, but be aware that, yes, transferring to Yale (or Harvard, UPenn, etc…) is very, very difficult - as is getting in as a freshman. Your BEST bet to go to an Ivy is to apply early decision.</p>
<p>If, however, you do not like “stuck up white kids”…well, the Ivies do have a lot of those. Not everyone is like that, but state schools tend to have more down to earth kids.</p>
<p>If you do intend to go to college, you will need to apply to lots of schools, including safeties. The top schools turn away a lot of qualified applicants.</p>
<p>Furthermore…you have probably achieved quite a lot in your life, but the ‘real world’ requires something tangible. There is a lot to be said for pursuing interests and deepening understanding and learning to learn…but at some point, you will need some kind of degree or licensure for most professions. You will be greatly helped by being able to quantify what you know (and what you know you can do) and present it in the form of something tangible.</p>