<p>Ok, it seems that noone is really answering my question so i'll start a thread:</p>
<p>This place is for people who are going to boarding school and have questions, namely, me.</p>
<p>My school doesn't require laptops but is it a good idea to get one. I know it is, but I really can't afford one so is it basically the same as using the library's computer or soooooooooooo much more convenient??</p>
<p>If I'm entering as a junior, is it harder to make friends/ become popular?</p>
<p>How much should my parents put it for allowance each week? please give a specific amount if possible. </p>
<p>I go to SPS and I have a personal computer but there are at least two computers in every dorm and a few friends of mine don't have computers and they do just fine, make good grades, and type papers easily. The library has alot of computers so computer access is really easy. It can be an inconvenience to have to use the computers in the dorm if they're already occupied after check (usually happens when an entire grade has a paper due). All of the new juniors at the school didn't have any issues making friends and fit in with the students who had already been there. My mom gives me $50 a month, which is slightly over $10 a week and I'm just fine. It doesn't seem like much but I manage my money well and only spend it on necessary things, I also use my own money. I hope this helps you, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>It's fine to use the library computers you just need to remember to start homework a tad earlier in case you're not finished with it before the library closes. Friends also let you use their computers and printers, so it's fine if you don't have one. It's just more convenient if you do.
I don't think it's harder to make friends if you are entering as a junior. All the new juniors I know had no problem making friends or fitting in.
I share a debit account with my parents and I withdrew about $100 every 3 or 4 weeks. I made a weekly trip to the grocery store, which was about $10-20 a trip. If you don't buy a lot of extra things you really don't need all that much.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If I'm entering as a junior, is it harder to make friends/ become popular?
[/quote]
It will be. However, making friends will all depend on you and the social situation at the school you're going to. I know plenty of postgraduates who became well liked and made a lot of friends in just one year. Really, this is a question that could be asked for any situation coming in as new junior. There are ALOT of new kids(at most schools) coming in at the fresh, soph, junior, senior level, so don't worry, a lot of students will be in the same situation as you. I'm sure you'll find that kids at boarding school are the most welcoming, approachable, and sweetest people you will ever meet the first month or two. (and then cliques start forming-like every school in america)</p>
<p>entering in your junior year? are you sure that is wise? in my opinion, junior year is the most stressful time of high school, with your sat, applying to college, etc. that + the difficulties, small or big, or transferring to another school. think it over.</p>
<p>I think he has already made the decision to attend boarding school, so comments like yours probably aren't that helpful at this point. Everyone has to take the SAT, you don't apply to college as a junior, and it will be good to deal with change.</p>
<p>Lots of people decide to attend BS starting in their sophomore and junior years. I don't think that it will be a huge issue.</p>
<p>I agree, starting your junior year will be fine. I know many two year graduates who are really happy with their experience. However, he is right to an extent. A lot of incoming students who have just completed soph year start at and repeat soph year at boarding school for the reason IluvA's states.</p>
<p>Socially you should be fine. You make friends fast through dorm life.</p>
<p>The question you should ask yourself is about academic challenge. A lot of new 11th graders find it hard to transition to boarding school AND cope with arguably the toughest workload you'll have in high school.</p>
<p>many times a local bank will allow you to open an account and get a debit card........also, the school cashier will cash checks from home for students. That won't help much for travel however. I'd ask the particular school what suggestions they have. As for using money: do what is right for you. It isn't like you are going forever, you will be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Lots of modifications are made during the first year as you discover what works best for you.</p>
<p>My dad already had an account, and he couldn't give me my own with the service he was using because I'm a minor. It's an ETrade account, so it's a little weird. He puts money in for the both of us and I just have to ask when I withdraw and he tells me how much I can withdraw, which is usually around $100 every three weeks.
A lot of my friends just have their own accounts and their parents put a set amount into each week.</p>
<p>I don't think people kill themselves out of boredom for a piece of eqpt. they are having trouble affording. I'd say......try it if the school doesn't have a quick solution. Library and other labs will have plenty of computers. Some benevolent alum may have an extra for you however. Let the school know but don't whine.</p>
<p>u can always change it, of course you can. i know you don't really apply to college in junior year. it's just that, the stress of starting to decide about your colleges - you know what i mean? the school year hasnt started yet, you can always change your decision. not that im telling you that you should, though. its your choice.</p>
<p>sure does sound like you don't think anybody should enter boarding school as a third year. That seems quite the self interest to me. Why avoid two amazing years at a boarding school to remain at a lesser institution and avoid some stress? I don't agree with you at all.</p>
<p>As your school said, it is not a necessity, but a convenience.</p>
<p>Although I am getting my D a laptop for next year, it is more for the compact nature of the item (less stuff to tote to and from school when travelling) and less clutter in the dorm room. It won't be an expensive one, probably the $400 BestBuy special that comes up from time to time, which is about $100 more than their desktop special.</p>
<p>She won't be schlepping the laptop around campus much. I will be getting her a thumb drive <$50 for all the capacity you'll ever need for her to take her work with her when she wants to go work at the library and use internet access during study hall (the intentionally do not hook up rooms to the internet to encourage kids not to be recluses where she is going - she can hook up in the common room of the dorm to check email, etc during free time.</p>
<p>Point here is that you need 2 things, a computer to work on where you do your work (dorm and library) and a method of having your work available where you are working. A laptop takes care of both. But the combination of a desktop in your room and the availablility of public use computers elsewhere on campus along with a thumb drive will serve the same function - at less cost and since thumb drives are easier to carry than laptops this solution is actually easier to manage than the laptop.</p>
<p>Since your school doesn't require laptops, there should never be times where you will be needing it in class. Either the school computer will be there, or computers will not be needed in class. </p>
<p>And quite frankly, I find that in business meetings when whip out their laptops and click away it is rather distracting. When many people do this, the amount of distraction makes the meeting very difficult to follow. So for the most part, the only people with laptops in business meetings are presenters. People take notes the old fashioned way and then transcribe minutes if they are needed.</p>
<p>Point here is that you won't be clicking away in most of your classes. You will probably be interactively engaged in disucssion of the course material.</p>
<p>Don't get hung up on the status symbol of a laptop. It is a ball and chain to lug around.</p>
<p>idk look at pg's, i have a lot of friends that came as pg's and became really popular, i also have friends that came as juniors and became popular. basically it is possible. just be outgoing and dont sit in a hole and all will be well. just dont freak out about it, there is no real reason to.</p>
<p>oh no, im not saying that no one should apply as a junior, i just meant that you ought to consider the potential difficulties if you transfer to a prep school in your junior year. when i told my friends i was leaving for prep school i was so sad that i wanted to go back to my public school as a junior, because my mother said i could. but then i figured that, oh well, it might be a difficult transition, i would be more distant from my current friends and very attached to my new friends, etc. i'm just saying to consider your situation, that's all. but if that's what you want, go ahead!</p>