<p>Right now, I attend a VERY small private school. There are only about 150 students total. We have a very small number of extracurricular activities, but the school does offer AP and IB. However, there is a public school in my area which doesn't offer AP or IB (their most rigorous program is called "Enriched", and it isn't that hard). They have a lot of extracurriculars, though, and there are a lot more students (around 900-1000, I think). They have Science Olympiad, Odyssey of the Mind, Robotics Club, Mock Trial, etc. etc. That's the only other school I would ever consider attending.</p>
<p>So I'm just wondering: will going to an IB/AP school increase my chances of getting into an Ivy? Will going to a private school make me more/less eligible (please, be honest)? </p>
<p>I'm thinking that I'll switch schools just for next year (grade 10) and come back to this one in grades 11 and 12 for IB/AP. I'll mostly just be gathering extracurriculars from the public school. But I'll only do it if it's worth it. What do you guys think? Should I switch for a year, not switch at all, or switch for the rest of high school?</p>
<p>We have two Ds at Harvard, and we live in a rural location with a modestly-resourced HS. My impression is that they received credit in the admissions process for making the most of what resources they had available. Granted, they went to some lengths to supplement those available resources - in and out of the classroom - through the local community.</p>
<p>Academics are the most important component in the application. Switching schools is not a good idea. For ECs, it would be very bad as well.
ECs need not be school-based. Nothing prevents you from volunteering, playing an instrument, singing in some choir, etc…</p>
<p>So, if I switch, they’ll know that I switched from an IB/AP school and think that I was too lazy to do those, right? And thanks! You’re right, I guess it would be kind of dumb to switch… I suppose the first step would be to find out EXACTLY what my school offers and get involved in whatever I can, and then see if I can start some up on my own. </p>
<p>But just one thing: If I switched and got really, really good marks in the most rigorous program (it’s a public school – cakewalk!) and lots of ECs, will they take me and say that I made the most of what was available to me?</p>
<p>IvyEliterate – What you are describing in you OP comes across like manufacturing a resume that you hope will get you accepted to Harvard. I get the impression that Harvard, and schools like it, are very aware of applicants doing this sort of this. I don’t think they would find it favorable. Switching schools just to create ECs is not a good idea. Like Marite stated, ECs do not have to be part of your school. The majority of my daughter’s EC were ones she did outside school; skiing, snowmobiling, four styles of dance, and saltwater fishing. Changing back and forth between schools I believe will create a very odd academic transcript and you will also be impacting your final numbers for GPA and rank. My understanding is that there are schools that will not use grades from other schools in the calculation of rank. I am not exactly sure how that is handled, but I remember hearing that year’s ago. Gadad’s comment about making the most of the opportunities available to you, both inside and outside of school. Lastly, your cakewalk comment was uninformed. Being in a school of 900 – 1000, private or public, provides its own challenges. My suggestion for you is get involved in things that excite you, not just things you think Harvard would want to see. Of the students who I know at Harvard, they did not try and build a resume. They did things that excited them and did them thoroughly because of their interest and commitment. I believe that Harvard was able to see this in their applications and interviews and felt that accepting them would add to the student body. Good luck.</p>
<p>Changing schools while in high school can be very traumatic, both academically and socially. If you are happy and challenged where you are, stay there. If you are unhappy, try something different, but don’t do it just because you think it might possibly get you into a certain college. I’m sure you’ve figured out from reading many of these threads that no matter what you do, no matter what your grades or ECs are, it is highly likely that you will get turned down by Harvard anyways. There are just too many applicants, not enough slots. I can’t imagine being in high school and completely changing my life just on the off chance that it might look better to one particular school. Enjoy yourself, do what you like, don’t spend your entire high school experience worrying about getting into a specific college. You sound very motivated, so odds are you’ll have your pick of elite colleges anyways. You only have one chance to be young, enjoy it while you can.</p>
<p>I say this from the viewpoint of someone who has known many people who have died in their twenties, thirties and forties.</p>
<p>I’m starting to feel that I’m not happy here. There aren’t any extracurriculars and it’s not a very competitive school. It’s challenging, but I think there would be more opportunities for me in the other school. The academics there aren’t as demanding, but I’ll take the Enriched classes anyway. They have more extracurriculars, which I’m really interested in. I also know a lot of people there, since they were my classmates before I switched to private school. But I’m just thinking – that school doesn’t have IB or AP, so will it seem BAD to the Ivies if I switch? Will schools think that I was too lazy to do those programs, so I switched? Or will they just shrug it off as nothing if I tell them that my parents and I thought I should go to a bigger, more competitive school with more opportunities?</p>
<p>I would imagine (though I don’t work in admissions) that Harvard may not spend alot of time trying to figure out why you are switching schools, and will just look at what you have to offer. They have too many applications to try to figure out people’s motives are for every situation. The question is, what do you want to do for yourself? Where will YOU be happy at? Make the choice that is best for yourself-at this time, you probably know exactly where you would be happier at. And where you would enjoy yourself most at is probably, strategically, where you would do better at. This just seems like one of those decisions that you probably already know the right answer to and are seeking validation for or reasons to tell your parents why you want to make a change.</p>
<p>Thank you so much; that actually really helped me. You’re right.
I’ve made a decision… partially. I’m going to do some research on the other school, and near the end of the school year (when all of the grade 8 students go for Shadow Day to see what grade 9 will be like) I’ll ask if I can shadow someone in grade 10 or 11. </p>
<p>My classes for this year (grade 9) are:
Math 10
Science 9 (but next year, if I stay here, I’ll be taking Bio, Phys and Chem at grade 11 level)
Accounting 11 (it’s at the same time as Math 9 and I didn’t want to take Dance or a spare)
English 9
French 9
History 10 (Geography 9 is at the same time as Math 10, so I can’t take that this year)
Phys Ed (Open and mandatory for one year)
Music 9 (I play tenor sax this year, but am proficient in trumpet and piano… so I dunno if that would be an EC?)
Life Skills 9/10</p>
<p>(I know I ask a lot of questions and ramble a lot, but I feel so lost and you guys probably know how things work a lot better than I do. Hope you don’t mind!) So, I was just thinking: Since my school is REALLY a lot more challenging than the other one (they’re doing things that we did in grade 8, and French 7 for us = French 9/10 for them), will they let me take grade 11 courses next year? I will most definitely want to take them at the Enriched level, and that way I’ll be able to gather EC’s and just try something new. It’s just something that I think I want to do, so I really hope they don’t think that’s bad or anything…</p>
<p>And then, when I come back to my current school in grade 11 for IB and AP, I’ll make sure my marks are still at the top. Hopefully I’ll be taking mostly grade 12 courses then, as well as IB/AP things. And maybe I can start some EC’s at school then? After having found out how they work from the other school? </p>
<p>That certainly sounds like a well thought out plan to run by your parents, I’m sure they have an opinion on the matter. You may even decide you like one school enough to stay with through graduation, you never know. Though out of consideration to your parents, you want to make sure that you tell them of your decision before they have to put down a private school deposit. And be sure that your private school will actually let you return as a junior if you decide to leave. You’ll have to ask the school administration if they’ll let you take a 11th grade class, but I’d guess most schools would be willing to do that. Whatever you choose, good luck, you sound like a thoughtful and hardworking person!</p>
<p>Of the six schools in my area, three are public. My school is by far the most competitive, and the three private schools are the least competitive academically.</p>
<p>@Av8r: Thank you! And I’ll definitely be doing all of those things. I think my dad is going to be a little bit apprehensive about the situation, but even then I’m sure my parents will want me to/let me try it. I’ll only be at the other school for a year, for sure, since my current school is the only one that offers IB and AP. I’m pretty sure the school will take me back; a bunch of kids have done this stuff before, but usually switch to a certain Catholic school (I’m not Catholic, so I’m not doing that). We’ll probably call the other school later on in the year, close to Shadow Day, so I suppose we’ll find out then! If they don’t let me take grade 11 courses, then I’ll be staying where I am. </p>
<p>@silverturtle: Oh, sorry, I guess I forgot to state that I was referring to my current situation. The public schools in our area are ridiculously easy… the one I’m considering going to is actually the most challenging. That’s why my parents put me in my current school. :)</p>
<p>I just have another problem: EC’s. Right now, I’m a piano and tenor sax player (I also play trumpet but this year I’m doing tenor sax for band/school music class) and I’m in lifeguard training right now. But my school literally doesn’t have ANY EC’s at all. Like, none. I don’t know what to do about that. I’m thinking that if I go to the other school next year, I can gather a bunch from there and set them up at my school when I come back. But what if I were to start something this year? Would that work? And also, I live in a rather small city and I just wanted to know: Would EC’s outside of school will help me get into an Ivy? If so, what are some examples of strong EC’s? Any good places to volunteer, or widely recognized activities? Anything would help a lot, really. Thanks once again!</p>
<p>I just realized something that could be a very big problem…
Even if I were to start some clubs at my school (our total right now is 0), who would join? I mean, really. We have about 170 kids… and one guy this year tried to start flag football. Eight people signed up. Eight. That’s sad, even for us. What should I do? Should I just stay at the other school and not do IB and AP (but I think you can still take AP exams at that school, even if you don’t take the tests)? I could tell the admissions people that I liked being in a bigger school with more opportunities, right? Because that could very well be true… D: I’m so afraid.</p>
<p>I tell you, eight is a big number of people. From eight people, if you do more publicity, you’ll get more. Don’t expect a lot of people turn up at the first meeting right away because there are more competitive clubs such as the NHS and all the Honor societies or something like HOSA</p>
<p>Easy for me to say not knowing all the dynamics of your particular situation, but I would recommend not to switch schools this late, but make the most of where you are. If you can be among the top performers, while taking the most rigorous class schedule it will reflect well on you when you apply to the top schools next year. As far as ECs is concerned, try to get engaged in (or better yet, lead) some activities within your community. Depending on your situation, you may be able to get something going at the local church/temple, etc…</p>
<p>Given that you are from Canada, you may be counted as an international, so not sure if would be vying for a limited number of seats which is much less than for US students. I know some schools have limited seats for internationals, not sure about Harvard.</p>
<p>^ My bad! I should have read the OP more carefully. Regardless, my advice stays the same. If anything, I would say that you should stay with your current school, unless it is a financial decision, which it did not sound like it was.</p>
<p>I really don’t know what I should do. My school has finally decided to start a band (yesss) but we only have seven-ish people. Really. That’s all. Around twenty people signed up, but they’re all too lazy to actually show up because practice is before school. </p>
<p>Can you guys start AP in grade 10 at your schools? If you can, I’ll ask when we can start… most people are only dong them in grade 12. But if there is any way to start earlier, I’ll most likely stick with my current school. As for ECs… ergh. My school really doesn’t have anything. Outside sources aren’t that great in my area either, but I’m definitely going to make it count.</p>
It’s challenging, but I think there would be more opportunities for me in the other school. The academics there aren’t as demanding, but I’ll take the Enriched classes anyway. They have more extracurriculars, which I’m really interested in. I also know a lot of people there, since they were my classmates before I switched to private school. But I’m just thinking – that school doesn’t have IB or AP, so will it seem BAD to the Ivies if I switch? Will schools think that I was too lazy to do those programs, so I switched? Or will they just shrug it off as nothing if I tell them that my parents and I thought I should go to a bigger, more competitive school with more opportunities?</p>
You’re right.
Right now, I’m a piano and tenor sax player (I also play trumpet but this year I’m doing tenor sax for band/school music class) and I’m in lifeguard training right now. But my school literally doesn’t have ANY EC’s at all. Like, none. I don’t know what to do about that. 
Sorry, I’m not sure how you got that… ??</p>