Completely New School for Junior Year?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>Hi guys... I've been on cc for a longgg time, but as it is this is probably my second time switching accounts because I felt I revealed too much in my previous ones. But the bottom of the line is, I feel pretty dang trapped in my school right now. Currently I don't live in the US, I go to an international school in Asia which is in the top three schools in the country in terms of college matriculation (personally, I think matriculation is a good factor in why you should attend a school. Aside from academic benefits, oftentimes you have set "dream schools" in mind, and if that school matriculates to that college pretty well, I don't see why that's a bad thing) </p>

<p>Truth is it isn't alllll that great. Academics are sub-par here, everyone in our school agrees that teachers give us too much workload and too harsh of grades when they can't teach, and although I've met teachers I genuinely like as people, I don't believe I can say the same for their teaching skills. Not only that but it's extremely competitive, in a rather odd way. With decent grades you will always be in the top 50% (our school is relatively small, the top 50% would actually be less than 50 people per grade) but unless you've been raised with the mindset that some extremely motivated students have here, you will never go past the top 20%. If I had to guess I would be in the top 25%, roughly.</p>

<p>And for very personal reasons I don't enjoy being in such a small school with the same people (int'l schools are most often k-12 and mine is no exception, and some people have been here since the very beginning) and I want a change. </p>

<p>I understand this is a fairly long post and the info gets rather excessive at times, but I'll cut to the chase. Those are the general reasons I want a change for junior year (I've chosen to stay for sophomore year, which is the following year obviously :) ) And personally I don't think I'll get a change if I stay here (and transferring to other schools is impossible for other reasons as well)</p>

<p>And I used to grow up in the norcal region and really want to return for the last two years of real teenhood I have left. Hence I've mentioned paly and gunn and wish I could get information on them. I also really wish to apply to a few private day schools, depending on whether they would have space (I doubt a lot of them will.)</p>

<p>The major concerns are leadership positions (if I stay, there are chances I can take a few leadership positions. If I go, I can take leadership positions outside of school but it's unlikely I could take many inside) and "social life" (I'm really social but I'm afraid that I won't be able to make friends because it's junior year and people have settled down with their friends already, or that I'll meet the same type of people I wasn't particularly interested in at my current school)</p>

<p>Is transferring common? Especially from a small private day school to a large public school? I remember someone posted that they transferred like that and felt it was a good experience, but I don't know much now do i :P</p>

<p>thanks :)</p>

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<p>bumppp</p>

<p>i know this isn’t everyone’s favorite topic, but i’d love some advice (:</p>

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<p>Honestly, ten years from now you’re going to want to look back and not regret anything from your childhood. I say do it</p>

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<p>well norcal and particularly gunn and paly haave a lot of asians. if that makes you feel more comfortable, lol</p>

<p>I’m sure as long as you’re an outgoing type of person you will be able to find the friends you want. But you should also remember that it is going to be very competitive at those schools, there’s no reason it would be easier there</p>

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<p>bump…</p>

<p>i feel like an arse doing this so much =/ I just want to know whether transferring from a small private day school to a large public school (both with relatively similar statuses academically, but to be honest my private day school has a higher level of academic success) is common or a good idea</p>

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<p>I dont know about small private school to public school, but transferring in your junior would not be unusual. I actually do know peopel who have done that, and right now they are fine, have friends, etc so no worries there. </p>

<p>Hmm, I live in Norcal too, if youre looking for public schools around Gunn’s and Palo Alto’s level, well, there are plenty here, you should know if youve lived here before XD. For private schools, the better ones Ive heard of are College Prep, Bellarmine if youre a guy, Harker, and such. </p>

<p>yeah, everyone worries about friends after transferring to a new schoool, but honestly, I dont think that will be a problem for you or anyone if youre out going enough especially here, where it is much more, diverse than other places.</p>

<p>I actually know a lot, a few, people that have been in your situation. Anyway they also transferred from a international Asia school, Shanghai American School, to here, and they are still living finely and surviving everything. :]</p>