@bopper I just started playing violin, and I won only one or two regional awards. Other that that, I don’t think I did anything impressive.
Is applying to a PG year at a selective BS harder than applying to it as a repeat junior?
Stop trying to find a way to beat the system and look at your narrative arc. You are what you are, your past is your past. You have a great - true!- story to tell…
You may have missed the point about EC’s. It’s not a magic bullet, and it’s not just a tick list of things colleges want. The ECs that get attention are those that come from sustained input, from investing your self into them and growing in to levels of achievement / positions of responsibility. Unless you come home from school and do nothing but video games and homework you have something to tell about what you do with your time. Seriously.
You ‘explain’ by writing an interesting, thoughtful, mature essay about the process of moving / repeating /etc (btw, it will take at least 2, and probably 3 full drafts before you get there, so be patient and allow time). Most schools will ask you to give whoever writes your recommendations some talking points, and you can point out pieces that might be helpful. For example, one of our Ds moved school & country after grades 6, 8 & 10. Her GC in grade 12 made a note that arriving in Grade 11 made D ineligible for the senior leadership positions, but the faculty & her peers were impressed with her willingness to muck in and be a good team player.
Actually, a PG year isn’t a terrible idea. I’d look into that. Do not repeat another year of HS, though. Just don’t.
@axlethetraveller Extracurriculars don’t matter at the vast majority of schools. Even at the high level ones, it’s academics first, then ECs are used to differentiate the cream of the crop. Grades and test scores are really number 1 despite what the schools may say (they want under qualified people to apply thinking that they have a chance while they really don’t (and make excuses for accepting big money students and athletes & affirmative action)).