Duke wash u and Georgetown. Have a student body equal to that of the Yale class in nearly all measures. FYI.
You went to a better school (technically speaking) and you didn’t do better. All you can do is the best you can going forward. When the time comes, apply broadly, get some safeties (that you would be happy to attend) on your list. It’s not like the schools are looking at just you and saying, “well he got over this, so let’s admit him.” They are comparing you to everyone, and I mean everyone, else. And if there are applicants (and there will be thousands) that don’t have some kind of ding on their application, or who have a great while recovering from something really serious, say like having to live out of their car for a year, who do you think will they admit? It’s competitive, very competitive. One little point, a percentage or a more compelling story makes the difference of getting in over someone else, or not.
Sorry to be harsh, but best to go in realistic. Sometimes actions have consequences so the best you can do is to protect yourself from those consequences by doing as well as you can going forward, but also applying to more than just top tier schools when the time comes. Good luck!
No matter what label you try to give it, you’re using it as an excuse.
It’s not “actions have consequences” but rather " “coming from a low performing school to a top boarding school” ie., An environment upon which one had no control, and taking control then adjusting.
So yes they’ll cut you some lack for an adjustment period but you better show what you’re able to do, now that adjustment is over.
Also:
The colleges you’re aiming for know what a B is worth at your school. Don’t worry.
And
You have top of the line, amazing, college advisers. Go talk with them. They’ll know what you can expect.
@Bunny8280 : You are fine. Listen to @MYOS1634’s advice.
If you shared the name of your “elite private school”, I bet the responses would be more encouraging. Your elite private school is among the top two or three most challenging schools in the country. Relax. Seek guidance and adjust. You will do well in the college admissions process.
P.S. Did anyone tell you that your new school would be easy ?
@suzyQ7 : Thank you. I was aware of the OP’s prior thread & posts, but did not feel okay about revealing his school in this thread if he, the OP, was not comfortable doing so. Again, thank you !
To clarify for everyone, well it has already been exposed, I attend Philips Exeters Academy. Currently, it sits as the top (second on some websites) boarding school in the nation. I came from the suburbs and I’d be honest, I coasted through public school.
At Exeter, I did put in a little more effort but quickly realized that this was not going to fly. Nonetheless, it took me a LONG time to understand all the nuances and intricacies of Exeter. That’s just me. Some may get it right away. others may take longer.
Nonetheless, I have spent this past summer summer learning ahead and trying to ensure that I get an A-/B+ overall. I know I didn’t perform last year, there is no use battering that in. However, I simply asked if I were to achieve this goal, if it would still allow me to apply to schools like Cornell, Duke, etc.
I PERSONALLY feel that an AO will say something along the lines, “Oh, this kid didn’t perform so hot after transferring to this elite school. However, he must’ve worked really hard to end the junior year on a high note.”
Thus, it would be seen as a net positive.
A lot of the comments on the thread are simply saying, “Yeah man, you are kinda screwed. Not much you can do. Sorry. Don’t expect much from applying to Yale, Duke, Georgetown, etc.”
I would be able to accept that IF I knew that they have anecdotal evidence.
My reason for posting it on CB, is to see and read about others who have gone through a similar experience as I am about to go through. So please, if ANYONE has gone through a similar experience such as mine, please PM me.
Thank you.
Presumably, Exeter counselors are well connected to many of the more selective private colleges. They should be able to give more realistic and accurate admission chances and recommendations regarding those colleges to you.
In other words, go ask the counselors at your school about what range of colleges will be realistic to apply to depending on how well you do this year. Part of what your parents are paying for at your school is more accurate college admissions advising regarding many more selective private colleges, compared to a typical public or private high school. You may not necessarily like the answers that they give to you, but at least you will have a better idea before applying.
If we all said you have no hope at schools like Cornell or Duke, that you are destined for State U, what would you do differently while still in high school? Would you not shoot for As and just take the C? Would you focus on athletics rather than academics? I doubt it.
Do your best. Discuss it with your advisers and maybe you’ll find a school that is just right for you.
I would not do anything differently. Like I said, I’ve tried to ensure that this year will be different. I appreciate your comment. However, I just don’t like how people are saying blanket statements without understanding the context (of course I am not referring to you). That is why I am searching for a person who may have been in the same boat as me (whether they went on to a good college or not).
The counselors at Exeter probably know enough historical college admission decisions to give you a good assessment of how realistic each college is for you, and what colleges are realistic for you to target. That should be more informative than anything you read here.
“That is why I am searching for a person who may have been in the same boat as me (whether they went on to a good college or not).”
Multiple people have made the very good suggestion to talk to the very good counselors at Exeter because the Exeter counselors will understand exactly what boat you’re in and have extensive experience with what is possible for people in that boat.
Why don’t you talk to the Exeter counselors rather than get advice from strangers on an internet forum? It is hard to understand why you keep ignoring the suggestion to make use of that incredibly valuable personal resource you have access to.
Sorry, bunny, not trying to pile on. For some reason there is a lag in between when things are posted to the site and when I can view them. I was typing #32 and didn’t see #31. Second time today, so perhaps my connection is slow in updating.
At my kids’ private school there were few entry points - 3rd grade, 5th and 9th. It would usually take 1-2 years for new students to catch up (1 yr for 5th grad and maybe 2 for 9th grade). At my kids’ school they taught time management in middle school. It was a whole year course. The kids were taught how to organize their course materials, do research papers and presentations, so when they entered high school they were well prepared to manage competing demands. My kids used to say there wasn’t enough time in a day to do everything they needed to do for their classes, so they had to pick and choose what to focus on in order to maintain their As. At my kids’ school there were also a lot of writing assignments. Instead of getting 1 or 2 5 page papers a semester, they had one every few weeks for almost all classes, and a 20 page paper in English/History. For kids coming from public schools it was a big adjustment. Again, most new students did catch up after a year or two.
I am not surprised OP felt the private school kicked her butt. The good news is when OP goes off to college, it will be a lot easier.
Even if there were another boarding school student who had had a 4.0 in public school and a rough start in boarding school, and then turned it around and got into a top college, the gpa is only one part of the application so it wouldn’t help you to compare. Will you have a 1550 SAT? Was that other student a legacy at Yale? Was he an athlete or musician? You just have to do your best.
I’m sure there have been many students in your position who went on to top schools, but there are also many 4.0/1600 students who don’t get into top schools, or at least their first choice. Don’t worry about it. You can only control your grades and test scores and, most importantly, your attitude. If you don’t get into Duke, there is another school you will get into.
OP, you asked for anecdotal evidence of what happens when kids jump to more competitive schools in mid-HS. I have a couple of examples.
In one case, the student went from a strong public high school to the other Phillips Academy. Going in, the student & family were warned that it would take a least a term, more likely a year for it to settle out, but said IF the student could make the jump, they would probably have better odds at tippy top schools from PA rather than the strong public b/c of the schools reputation & contacts. They also emphasized that there was no guarantee that even if the student made the jump successfully that the student would get into any particular top tier school, and particularly not the tippiest top schools. It was noted to the parents (by other parents, not the school) that where you finished in the cohort seemed to tie to admission to the tippy-tops. In the event, the jump was too much, and the student withdrew after one term, went back to their public school and ultimately went to a T20 LAC, where they were a star, had a very happy experience, and now (having graduated this past May) has a dream starter job in their field, which they will do for 1-2 years before going back for grad school.
In another case, the student went from an ordinary level public middle school to a strong independent school. The first year was very rocky as the student was out of their element not just academically but socially. The student did ok in grade 9, a little better in grade 10, and finished the last 2 years with very strong marks. In that school the top 10% of students tended to got into tippy-tops. This student just missed that mark. Working with the GC, and reflecting the students own preferences, they did not apply to any schools with under 10% acceptance rates, but did apply to several with 10-20% acceptance rates (plus some matches/safeties, obvs). That student had several good offers and is now happily at Georgetown SFS.
Finally, I know quite a few high flying students whose GPAs were not reflective of their strengths as a student who chose to go international (including Oxford & Cambridge), b/c their test scores were stronger than their GPA. It isn’t for everybody- for a start you need to be very sure of what you want to study- but it is a viable option.
As others have said, your school CC is going to give you better info than anybody here can. If you don’t like the one you have been assigned, work on getting a 2nd opinion from another (calling in when the other is out of the office, with a specific question, for example).
Sorry, I can’t leave that post sitting out there w/o reminding the OP that the plural of anecdote ≠ data!!
I’ve heard that too. 