<p>hsmomsteph, I really appreciate it. To be 100% honest, enduring my public school (which I completly dislike) would be worh it in the end if enrolled to JHU. I have loved the school since I was five, and I like the DC, Baltimore Area. I really like the School Year Abroad Program. I honestly just feel burnt out and need a signifigant change. I figure that BS or PS could offer that. I am not a "nerd" or an introvert, just I am not popular (which I am 100% fine with!) . It sounds like I am whining, but I dont want to be mediocre. I want to be challenged and truely find out how much I can accomplish. I really, really, doubt my parents would ever go for BS, which is why a private school could do the trick. I would not be missed, as I would be home every night. And, I would have a similar experience as BS, except for less bonding with classmates and of course no staying over. I am on privateschoolreview and see a decent selection of private schools. What would you consider the maximum commute to schools that is reasonable?</p>
<p>Regardless of your decision, there are risks. Where do the kids at your current school go to college? What % go to highly selective schools, HPY? That is useful information. What are your test scores, have you taken the PSAT yet? How many AP courses are offered at your highschool? How do kids tend to do who go off to college? </p>
<p>It is not going to be easy if your high school has not prepared you as well as kids in a top prep school are prepared, for you to get good grades. Learning to write and research, show work, participate the way you are expected to do at such a school is not easy. My kids took a slight hit when they made the transition in 9th grade, and they were well prepared. Also a 9th grade drop in grades followed by a surge is not deadly like a junior drop. The prep schools I know do not curve their grades and the school's curve is steep and not weighted. </p>
<p>Opportunities are something that I find superior in those independent schools. I think it is a danged shame that public schools too often do not permit everyone to participate in sports and other activities. You would think that they were the private, exclusive schools the way the have a cut system. What a shame that 200 young soccer players from kindergarten are reduced to a team about a tenth that size. The same with basket ball. I think it would reduce some hang out time for teens. Where can many of these kids find a place to play if they don't make the school teams? It is really a shame. No reason why they cannot make additional teams so all can play. I don't think there should be cuts in high school Some of those kids if they had a chance could be quite good when they grow into their bodies more. that is one thing I really liked about the private schools. My kids got all the opportunities and had a great time, able to participate in many things that I could not have provided for them. And the public school would have cut them out.</p>
<p>I hear you on the athletic cuts. I have been playing lacrosse for years and really enjoy it. I had pneumonia in this years tryouts and I had to attend tryouts. The coach didnt understand why I could go 5 mins with out huffing and puffing. </p>
<p>I know this is primarily a boarding forum, but How far away is a reasonable distance to drive to prep school? Penn Charter is 50 Mins away, Pennington School is 40. Would it be worth it?</p>
<p>Penn Charter has great college data . Three seniors in 2008 went to JHU. 61 went to Penn in the last five years!</p>
<p>There is no one answer to all of this. I found that 15 miles was a lot of distance. My kids practically lived at school with all they did there. Still do. Just came home a few minutes ago, in fact. </p>
<p>The money is a big concern. We made the move because we were thoroughly done with our public school. Our kids just were not thriving there, and it was taking too much effort on my part to keep them up to where I felt they should be educationally. It was an instant fix putting them in the independent school so in that sense it was worth it. But after all of these years and dollars, I don't know if it was worth it. It depends on my frame of mind. It has impacted a lot of our way of life and our future. It has affected our flexibility for our kids' college choices. I really wanted them to have the choice to go whereever they could and it may have been possible without what we have sunk in private school. </p>
<p>Son2 would not be as well educated, I can say that. He was done with school too early. But his private school education forced him through two good solid years of college. He entered college with over 45 credits in every academic area allowing him to just take the performing arts courses that he wanted with few academics. He just might get through college because of that, even though he is hung up with the few course requirements he still had to take. At least he is college educated. So there was a lot gained, but a price paid.</p>
<p>Okay, just in general is it ludacris to drive 40 mins away for school?</p>
<p>Unless your other options are abysmal, I would say yes. That is a lot of time, money and risk on the road. I would look for a boarding situation if that is the case. Most private schools want you around ALOT. You cannot afford that kind of time commuting with the work a rigorous private school requires. Also as the new kid, you will want to get to know the other students, the activities, the community, the teachers. It was tough for us to do at 15 miles away.</p>
<p>Thanks. My parents have made it clear that I am not allowed to board. In fact, there isnt even boarding at Penn Charter. Considering that I cant board anywhere (peddie, blair, l-ville, hill), this is the best it is going to get. Plus , it is not in the middle of Philly, so traffic will not be gridlock at rush hour.</p>
<p>mburgos -- I just wanted to post the stats from the public school you currently go to (you posted these on another thread and I think that the info is relavant here)<br>
"HERE AE ADMISSION NUMBERS FROM SENIORS AT MY HIGH SCHOOL</p>
<p>JOHNS HOPKINS
Class Apply Admit Enroll
2008 19 6 1
2007 14 3 1
2006 11 3 2
AVRAGE GPA OF ACCEPTED IS 4.15
AVERAGE SAT OF ACCEPTED IS 2070</p>
<p>GEORGETOWN
2008 12 2 0
2007 16 2 2
2006 10 1 1
ACCEPTED GPA OF 4.17
AVERAGE ACCEPTED SAT OF 2136</p>
<p>BROWN
2008 7 3 2
2007 10 0 0
2006 17 0 0
AVERAGEACCEPTED GPA WAS 4.3
SAT OF 2287</p>
<p>U OF PENN (NOT PENN STATE)
Class Apply Admit Enroll
2008 24 4 4
2007 21 0 0
2006 12 5 4
AVERAGE ACCEPTED GPA OF 4.27
2152 SAT</p>
<p>Overall, the numbers are better than I thought, especially with JHU. It isnt even close to a boarding schools, yet considering its public it's not bad."</p>
<p>See if you can get the same info on Penn Charter -- you really want to make sure that you are making the right decision. Not every private school is full of academic challenges and opportunities -- many are filled with priviledged rich kids who can't behave in other schools. I have no knowledge of Penn Charter -- you just want to get as much info as possible before making a decision. Ask them specifically for the naviance info on JHU, Georgetown, Brown and U of Penn -- so you can compare.</p>
<p>Would you parents go for a semester abroad or a semester boarding program like Rocky Mountain Semester? It might just be the additional challenge you are looking for and they might go for it.</p>
<p>Thanks. I have a feeling they would go for Penn Charter. If you look at its matric data it seems legitiment. JHU responded. </p>
<p>I have to cut out some of the reply for personal info such as name and whatnot, but :</p>
<p>Neither school would present itself as more interesting than the other. We will evaluate your performance in relation to the opportunities afforded to you at either institution. I assume that be not being "satisfied," you feel that you would have better learning opportunities elsewhere. If this is so, and you do change schools, we would want to see you taking advantage of what the new school has to offer. Going for a good education, based on your own initiative, is an important personality characteristic that we like to see in students, but this is something that we will have to believe only with the evidence in front of us. JHU has the luxury of choosing who its wants, which allows us to put prestige and money off of the table. Ask yourself, "So why would JHU want you me at their school?"</p>
<p>What are your feelings on JHU's response?</p>
<p>bump._________</p>
<p>To OP,
Let's get one thing straight. Exeter and Andover ARE top-flight schools. However, "noone there is dumb" is simply false. There are incredible kids there and then kids who got in based on legacy/donations/athletic ability etc. I went to a comparable school and one girl in my grade thought there was a side-side-side-side theorem for triangles...right...</p>
<p>Also, going to one of these schools will definitely help your chances if you are in the top fifth. If you're not, getting into top 20 schools will likely be MORE difficult than if you simply did well at your public school.</p>
<p>Just food for thought.</p>
<p>claymangs -</p>
<p>Being one of the "smart" ones, you should know that there are different kinds of smart. Perhaps that girl was smart in different areas that did not include math. I know I fit that profile!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input.</p>