My son was remote his entire 9th grade year. We are now applying to boarding schools for next year (he is now in person in 10th) and considering applying as a 10R (repeating). We were told this is fairly common with boarding school students for a myriad of reasons. We would love for him to have that extra year to make up for the lost year. He has an outstanding GPA (top of his class) and this is purely for social emotional reasons. Do you think this is OK to do as they say and how would colleges view it?
1 Like
We had the same initial hesitation. Coming from a public school background, repeating is unheard of. In the end my daughter applied as a repeat Junior last year after spending Jr year at a cyber school and barely leaving the house. She is so happy she did it! Colleges won’t care. My son is now applying as a repeat freshman for next fall. Both are also young for their grade, but my daughter said there are big age ranges at BS that overlap grades and what grade you are in doesn’t matter at all like it does at public school. Most classes have kids from multiple grades in them.
2 Likes
This is such a relief to hear! Thank you. I know my son would feel much better “getting that year back.”
Colleges generally won’t care and with covid as an assumed excuse anyway it definitely won’t matter. BS has a lot of repeats, it’s far more normal than people realize.
1 Like
Colleges really don’t care about it. Especially if you are looking at top places like PA, PEA, CRH, DA, etc, it might be advantageous by allowing your child to make the most of the resources at the school as well as give them more time to be under the school’s rigorous curriculum–if they can continue to do well, this would really boost their chances to get into a top college, as AOs know kids coming from those schools are typically quite strong.
If you have the finances to support him for a 5-year HS track, by all means, do it.
1 Like
Confirming that it’s not uncommon for students to enter top independent schools as “repeats.” It has no negative consequences for their progression or college prospects.
2 Likes
Your reasons for wanting to do this are good (and not uncommon. ) No problem at all.
2 Likes
Repeat sophomores are quite common at my school (Lville). I would estimate that in my grade, there are more repeats among the group of students who started here as sophomores vs. the group of students who started as freshmen, as being a new junior is quite rough.
2 Likes