Apply for Boarding Schools for Junior Year or stay at current school?

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

I’m currently debating between applying for top boarding schools such as Exeter and Andover because there are more competitions and extra curricular available.

However, at my current school in Paris, my grades are very good and I know the teachers well.

Should I risk going to top boarding schools and my grades dropping to have more opportunities at competitions or should I stay in my current school?

2

That is a decision you have to make for yourself. I stayed back a year just go to boarding school and it is one of the best decisions I ever made. With the new opportunities, i learned more there and had a lot more fun and memorable moments during the 2 years there than the previous 3 years of high school.

Ask yourself this question: do you care about learning or just the grades? I always take new opportunities and extend my limits.

3

I noticed your interest in BS comes from extra curricular offerings more than academic. If your school is s good fir for you academically, you might be better off finding competitions and ECS in Paris. One could make the argument that BS in the US is more like college in the US. Staying the extra 2 years in France could be more enriching if used well.

4

you mean biological sciences by BS, right?

5

you mean biological sciences by BS, right?

6

I’d stay put. PEA or PA might work against you coming in as a Junior. There will be a lot of newness and transition which could affect your grades and well being. Seems like teachers know you there and the rec letters from Junior year will be important. Living abroad makes you interesting. Coming back and just being another Exeter and Andover student where you will be at a slight disadvantage over those who already know the ropes and have friend groups, not sure gets you anywhere. Just my two cents.

7

You have to keep in mind that you may not make the academic teams. There is probably a finite number of spots on those teams, and it could be determined before you arrive at the top boarding school. Someone from PEA or PA probably knows more about how this works.

I agree it’s hard to transfer as a Junior to a super competitive school. Junior year in US is the busiest and many would say, most important year.