help! picking a high school

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hey CCers,</p>

<p>I'm moving to Canada (not Toronto!) for sophomore through senior year (assuming we don't move again..).</p>

<p>I used to go to a nice suburban public, competitive, sends 20ish kids off to top schools, rest to decent places. </p>

<p>Had around 1100 kids, mostly great teachers, many APs, clubs, etc. </p>

<p>I have the choice between 2 schools if I move:</p>

<p>One is a charter school, 80ish, maybe more kids per grade. Few APs, I've finished the lower level science courses already, would do AP Physics B (while taking physics there) and AP Chem online/local university. Junior, Physics C and Bio. I'd also have to do AP Calc AB/BC (1 semester each) my sophomore year, because I was accelerated 2 years in America, and my Algebra 2/Trig Honors class had done quite a bit of PreCalc. </p>

<p>This school has less clubs- probably can start my own, but smaller class sizes etc. Most of my ECs are probably are going to be science based, so outside of school I think. </p>

<p>Also, they did an IQ test and interview + application for this school.</p>

<p>2nd school:</p>

<p>2000ish kids..IB program. Has more ECs, more kids but this probably means less contact with teachers, etc.
It's well known in the city academically, and competes with another HS with an IB program (this I can't go to, since I don't live in that area-it's also 2000 + kids). </p>

<p>I'd probably run out of courses here, too, but I feel like the 1st school is a bit more flexible (I spoke with the vice principal and that's what she said.)</p>

<p>Any advice/suggestions CC? I'm leaning towards the 1st, but outside input would be very vvery much appreciated :D.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>48 views and no responses! D: </p>

<p>what would you do if you were me?</p>

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<p>Definitely the second unless the first is extremely well regarded.</p>

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<p>^I guess it’s well regarded? I’m not sure, but lots of kids ‘applied’ to get in and they did an interview and made people take a test also.</p>

<p>it’s still up and coming but I feel like the people at the 1st school might be more flexible? I don’t know exactly how IB works, but I heard from a friend who’s in Pre Ib that the highest level of IB math is equal to Calc AB and then I’d be off on my own I guess? </p>

<p>I’ve never been to a school that big before so I’m sort of hesitant and I don’t know if they’d let me skip the pre IB classes or whatever.</p>

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<p>Yeah you should go to the second school because it already has prestige to its name and it looks like you will have more opportunities at the second one.</p>

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<p>1st cuz you actually get one-on-one. Not to mention, it’s more picky about their students.</p>

<p>Sounds cool (: Best of luck</p>

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<p>^Thanks! That’s why I kind of like it more because I think I’ll get more 1 on 1, but if it hurts my chances of getting into a top school (shallow…I know :stuck_out_tongue: , I’d go to the other school. </p>

<p>I guess they have more opportunities but it seems like everything is well established and all…I just don’t know! </p>

<p>I want to have a good high school experience but I want to get into a good college too!</p>

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<p>I think I’d go with the first. The size is nice and you’ll get better classes. Plus, you probably won’t feel so overwhelmed just moving in. And the students will be smarter.</p>

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<p>Choose school #1. With a small class size, a teacher would be more likely to select you for grade-boosting sexual favors.</p>

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<p>Big schools don’t necessarily have less 1 on 1 time, there are over 1500 kids in my school (10-12 grade) and I get tons of 1 on 1 time.
I would go with school 2, academically it will probably be on par but more ECs available is better if your interested in top schools where ECs can make or break an applicant. It can take a long time in schools to start a club or program and the school might not always approve it. My school rejects club applications all the time :x</p>

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<p>For clubs (I’ve only listed the ones that I am potentially interested in):</p>

<p>School 1:
Debate, Model United Nations, Yearbook, Math Contests, Outdoor Club</p>

<p>School 2:
Biology Club
Debate and Speech Club
Math Club and Contests
Model United Nations
School Store
Science Fair/Olympics
Stock Market Competition
Student Leadership
Yearbook</p>

<p>I’m not that worried about ECs, because colleges generally like you to excel in a few areas of interest (Cal Newport fan here) rather than do many clubs. </p>

<p>At my old school, I would’ve done 5 (Newspaper, Science Olympiad, MUN, FBLA and Math team and most likely would’ve been leadership in all of them. Most kids at my old school usually did around that many, give or take 1 and did well but they all did extracurriculars besides them (work in physics lab, law internship, ridiculous amounts of volunteering, AMC etc.) </p>

<p>@ bandgeek, You do have a point about school admins though-at my old school it was ridiculously easy to start a club-all you needed was a teacher to go along with it and fill out a form but I don’t know if that’s the case at my old school.</p>

<p>@ cellist : /facepalm</p>

<p>@ Tickgrey, yeah that’s why I’m liking school 1 better…I feel like #2 might be uber competitive since mostly asians live in that area (I’m not being biased-I’m asian myself! :P)</p>

<p>Does anyone else have an opinion?</p>

<p>All of your suggestions have been great, thanks! :D</p>

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<p>I just realized that I can’t do IB program there, since I would have to repeat most of my 9th/10th grade classes… :S</p>

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<p>I’ll pick number one still. Seriously, the other school’s EC isn’t all that WOW. Unless you wanna have a EC in the school store.</p>

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<p>Hah, I think I’m good.</p>

<p>These are the differences between the 2 schools:</p>

<p>School 1: Smaller (this can be discounted), less clubs, no IB, some APs, less well known citywise though resources are the same. I’m 2 years accelerated in math/science, so this place would be more accomodating with this-let me take online classes and do Calc AB/BC sophomore year. I could test out of certain classes and things like that. </p>

<p>School 2: Bigger (can be discounted), more clubs, IB program, very well known citywise, have ‘luxury facilities’ like a dance studio and gym (I’m not interested in dance and I can always get a gym membership!). If I want to do IB here, I would have to retake classes that I’ve already done to enroll in the program. I’d have to take their Math 10 and Math 20 and finally do Intro to Calc senior year, while at the other school I’d do AP Calc sophomore year. </p>

<p>Based on this and because the most important thing is really your transcript and how much you learn, I think I’ll go for number 1. </p>

<p>I agree with Dorkyelmo about them being the typical ECs, and #1 takes us on trips to DC, so 1 it is!</p>

<p>Thanks guys for your advice and support!</p>

<p>CC truly is amazing! :)</p>

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<p>Only because you said you’d have to repeat classes, I’d pick option 1. I think it would be very boring to repeat classes, although some easy A’s might be nice :).</p>

<p>It sounds like you prefer school 1. DEFINITELY don’t go against your gut, because you will be wondering what would have happened if you had just done what felt right, even if logically it didn’t seem like the best idea.</p>