Changing Schools in Junior Year

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm currently a sophomore in my upper-middle class high school. I'm in the top 10 of my class [top 2%], relatively good extracurriculars [I'm in band, I volunteer at our library and middle school, I'm also a part of Key Club, Literary Magazine and Support Group] and good grades [1 B in Spanish II H in the first semester of fresman year, and 2 A-'s. This year, I'm getting all A+'s with the exception of one class.]</p>

<p>However, my dad just got an offer for a high-paying job in MA, which would not only require me to move in the middle of my high school career, the increase in money would push me far over aid lines and I'd also lose possible chances of financial aid come college application time.</p>

<p>So, they haven't decided whether our whole family should move, or if we should split up [we currently live in OH]. The main concern is my education. If I moved, I'd probably have credit problems in a new HS, I'd also have my volunteer work and ECs all messed up. So... would moving have a very negative impact on my admission chances? Is it looked upon very unfavorably?</p>

<p>Oh, yeah, and I'm Chinese, which is probably more of a death sentence than anything else.</p>

2

<p>You definitely should change schools if remaining in Ohio means splitting up your family. Ultimately, life is about more than getting into college!</p>

<p>Anecdotally, I have transferred schools twice-once from a K-12 because my family moved, and again because my new school simply wasn't challenging enough. Changing schools has probably strengthened my character, and correspondingly my application. It's made me more tenacious, decisive, and focused. I know how to navigate new environments and get involved. Rather than settling into an extracurricular "rut," I've been forced to identify my areas of interest and seek out opportunities to pursue these passions. Colleges want to see evidence of initiative and intellectual passion, not evidence of drudgery. Most importantly, I've learned that an institution cannot define me, which is immeasurably comforting to know during the application process.</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
You definitely should change schools if remaining in Ohio means splitting up your family. Ultimately, life is about more than getting into college!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>amen to that!</p>

4

<p>Agreed, pick your priorities wisely.</p>