<p>SteveMA - it is encouraging to hear about the band kids at your school. Even if you make nationals, regionals, state, etc. you might not be the top-top music student. But I would hope that the experience of a “regular” music kid throughout high school would appeal to a wide variety of colleges.
How much does playing an instrument help a kid in the college admissions process? Do they consider it a boost or is it inconsequential since it is so common?</p>
<p>OP, i apologize if I missed this, but could you be more specific about the “music” your child is involved in? Is it a band or orchestra instrument? Voice? Something that lends itself to groups, or something that is studied and performed as an individual (like piano)? </p>
<p>Music can be a wonderful way to find a close group of friends no matter what the size of the school. In our own public high school, the band and orchestra students tend to also be part of the highest achieving academic students. The band room is always open, some kids are always in there practicing or eating lunch or studying or hanging out on an old couch in the corner of the office. It is a warm, open, welcoming place, that also sends a large number of kids to all-state bands, nearby city orchestras, major summer programs… And also on to excellent colleges.</p>
<p>The band director is one of the few teachers who works with each student for all four high school years, both in school and in extracurriculars like jazz band and marching band. He has been with the kids in class rooms and on buses, has led them from last chair to concert solos, has taken them on week long trips to play halfway across the country. College recommendations written by this person are fabulous: detailed, and insightful.</p>
<p>The band/orchestra/chorus director makes a huge difference in this, however. The high school down the road which has the same programs, and which has a similar student base, has a struggling band program because the band director is a egotistical, difficult, unkind person. Kids tend to drop out of band after their freshman year because they dislike the director.</p>
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<p>I think that this is still putting the cart before the horse. </p>
<p>You should be concerned about whether the school offers the level of intellectual stimulation HE NEEDS. If he is in an environment that enables him to reach his potential, he will eventually find his own place. If he is held back, he won’t. Or it will take a lot longer.</p>
<p>Reading your posts, I am concerned that you are still viewing your S as the child he was, rather than the young man he is becoming. This is perfectly understandable, and I’m sure we are all “guilty” of it at some point. :)</p>
<p>I would point out that NO eight grader knows what he will or will not pursue as a career. Your S could be dismissing music because everyone has told him that it is not a practical choice. He might decide otherwise. People do, and it sounds as if he has, to this point anyway, displayed the talent and discipline that might make it a realistic choice for him. </p>
<p>I’m not advocating that he aim at attending a conservatory. I’m advocating that he keep his options open and be positioned so that he can stretch himself as he matures. It does not sound as if his present school is necessarily the ideal place for that, either academically, socially, or otherwise.</p>
<p>I think the that one of the greatest features of his present small school is their ability to be flexible in offering him what he needs intellectually. If he wants the challenge of taking a dual enrollment course - they will put it in his schedule. I have also learned that he can take virtual school AP classes during the school day if necessary. I had expected that we would have to take those outside of school if we wanted to go that route.</p>
<p>That is why one of my questions has been - do colleges recognize virtual school AP classes the same as regular AP classes?</p>
<p>The social drawbacks are a consideration. Small pool of friends. There are about 100 - 120 kids in the high school. They tend to have events together as a group. They have a great sports program and have gone to states in several sports which has led to a tremedous amount of school spirit.</p>
<p>Just wanted to add that there was an interesting article on the msnbc page a few days ago about private high schools and how they affect entry into college: [Are</a> private schools worth the hefty price tag? - Business on NBCNews.com](<a href=“http://www.nbcnews.com/business/are-private-schools-worth-hefty-price-tag-6C9641091]Are”>Are private schools worth the hefty price tag?).</p>
<p>Here is a blog about the psychological factors to consider when making the decision:
<a href=“http://giftedchallenges.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-is-most-often-overlooked-when.html[/url]”>http://giftedchallenges.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-is-most-often-overlooked-when.html</a></p>
<p>mythreesons1144, I have a son one year older than yours who is also a serious musician and a golfer. He transitioned to a new school for his freshman year and let me tell you, it was a very tough adjustment. He didn’t know a soul and didn’t have a support system in place when he had a few struggles, and many kids do have some struggles in the transition. For this particular child, being in a small private school helped immeasurably because it’s not possible to fly under the radar and when he needed help, it was noticed immediately by people who knew what to do even if he didn’t know what to do. I have an older child who thrived in a huge, diverse, options-filled school, but this child thrives in a smaller and more predictable environment.</p>
<p>Based on your posts, I respectfully think you should be focusing on where your son will be most comfortable as he goes through the tumultuous years of adolescence and let the college chips fall where they may. I had a conversation with my daughter years ago when she was choosing a high school and viewing it as a stepping stone to college. I told her that the she of 18 wouldn’t necessarily even recognize the she of 13 if they passed each other on the street and afterward she told me that was true. They grow and change so much in those years that they become totally different people and there is no point in trying to fit a college to someone you haven’t met yet. You should be looking for a place where your son will be his best and happiest self. If he is shy, maybe the transition to a new school would be too tough for him because keep in mind that grades can suffer during transitions and those grades do have an impact on GPA, rank and personal confidence.</p>
<p>Being in a small school isn’t a bad thing if it’s a supportive and kind environment. That can be just the thing for helping a kid build a strong foundation from which to leap when the time is right.</p>
<p>In any case, your son has involved, loving parents. He will be just fine wherever he goes. Good luck!</p>
<p>I really agree with the above post. You need to take into account each child’s individual needs, not just what seems to position the child the best for college. </p>
<p>The reason I posted the msnbc article was because it pointed out that private school education does not guarantee a prestigious college admission, as some people think. But more importantly, I think many kids in private schools put undue pressure on themselves to get into colleges that are highly competitive, and then feel deflated when they don’t get in.</p>
<p>Let your son decide ~ he knows himself the best. He will then be motivated to make the very best of the situation, to reinforce that he made a good decision. It will be very empowering. I suggest since he is choosing between two good options.</p>
<p>Thank you for articles Maggiedog - they contained a great deal of sound information.
You are correct - the emotional well-being and happiness of the whole child is the most important thing in deciding placement.<br>
Our S1 is an extroverted kid with a high stress threshold. S2 is just the opposite. So when we are considering a high schools, the same formula may not work for both. While one might thrive in a large setting, the other might be better off in a smaller, more nurturing setting.
I think we are on the right track in considering that high school “fit” needs to be more than the number of AP classes that are offered. It needs to be the right learning environment so that the child will prosper whether they are taking AP’s, honors or just regular classes. That will give them the best chance to get to where they need to be in college and beyond.
It has taken us a while to get to this point, but I am glad that we are here and thank everyone for their input and advice.</p>
<p>Good luck. Hope it works out.</p>
<p>Thank you! :)</p>