Help with my school situation?

Prep School Admissions Prep School Cafe
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<p>I'm currently in 9th grade. I went to a big-name school for middle school and this year I'm homeschooling.
I'm considering several different options for next year. </p>

<p>I'm a big believer in changing environments and learning to adapt as an important part of learning and growing up. I do not really want to stay home with my family all the way through high school because I'm bright and I want new experiences and new people and new situations, I'm starting to feel like although I have so many opportunities here (I live in a big city), I would be gypping myself of a lot if I didn't move out on my own and live a little more before I graduate high school. </p>

<p>So I'm considering boarding school. I know there's a lot of you who are in boarding schools and love it, however as a side note I am a different type of student than most, I am very creative and although I'm intelligent and can work hard, I despise having tons of rules, regulations and requirements. I thrive in open-minded settings with a lot of independence and freedom. I want to be in a school that has a good cross-section of people, I hate schools that are super-cliquey, or filled with spoiled kids who have always been given everything. I thrive best with compassionate, tough and loyal kids. I get along fine with people of varied intelligence, and I want to be around lots of different people.
For that reason, I'm also considering just a regular public school, and then taking extra classes on my own. However, boarding schools really appeal to me because of the independence and the chance to live my own life. </p>

<p>Also, I do not want to be in a school that is hyper-competitive. I don't want a school that is hard-core driven by grades and marks, with teachers who pit the kids against each other and see who makes it out, I don't want to be doing schoolwork every second because there are things I personally love doing outside of homework and school assignments.
on the other hand, I don't want to be in a school that's like a "family" where everyone coddles you and sweet-talks the kids and doesn't prepare them for the real world.
I want a school like a college - a lot of independence, your teachers are there to teach you not to be your enemies or your family. Kids are there to learn and experience life. </p>

<p>I'm not really interested in "top" schools like exeter, andover, choate. </p>

<p>So far Berkshire school catches my interest, I love the location in the mountains, from what I can see there isn't a ton of hw and you can follow your own passions if you want. Anyone know about that? </p>

<p>Also, I'm considering staying homeschooling and graduating early, except that I don't want to gyp myself of my high school years. </p>

<p>Thoughts anyone? Thanks enormously for your help and for reading through all of this.
The other thing is - I don't mean to brag, actually this can be more a curse than a blessing at times - but I fall under the category of very gifted. I don't want to be in a per se "gifted" school because you get a bunch of spoiled kids with their noses in the air who have been given everything because they're "gifted." However, I also don't want to limit myself as I really want to go into international politics. Ideas?</p>

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<p>Check out Putney in VT</p>

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<p>I think Northfield Mount Hermon is worth a look, and I’d also take a gander at Proctor Academy. And maybe for something really different (for you), Thacher School in California.</p>

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<p>@Machiavelli, You sound exactly like my daughter’s friend. She was accepted to some of the top BS in NE and decided on Putney in VT. I strongly suggest you look into Putney. She loves it. I also know a girl at Berkshire. It’s a great school but she complained about the same things you mention concerned you about a school.</p>

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<p>Taft is like that. Medium sized, intimate, but doesn’t coddle you. Doesn’t “pit you” against other students. Expects you to be able to govern yourself and ask for help when you need it. But also keeps enough tabs on things that no one falls beneath the cracks.</p>

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<p>If you’re thinking of waiting a year, and then applying as a junior, consider Simon’s Rock. You didn’t mention where you’re from, but you might consider one of the Pennsylvania Quaker schools (e.g. Westtown or George).</p>

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<p>Many thanks for the suggestions and advice… I will definitely look into those schools you mentioned.
@stagemum, it’s funny you said that. Simon’s Rock is something that’s been on my mind. I’m just a little concerned that because it’s a college, it’s going to be a ton of work and I won’t be able to spend time on my own math and music. I don’t know about that though.</p>

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<p>Definitely look at NMH and Putney. NMH has lots of interesting travel programs (humanities with a Brazil option, senior seminar to Turkey etc), and Putney has an extemely progressive approach to academics and wonderful community feel.</p>

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<p>Most of the well-known boarding schools are going to be like that. Like going to college early in terms of rigor and sheer amount of work.</p>

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<p>My mom wants me to look at Lawrenceville and Blair because she loves New Jersey… they aren’t like what I’m looking for are they?</p>

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<p>I think both of those schools are rather more staid and traditional than you’ve expressed interest in.</p>

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<p>I wrote a long description but I clicked back by mistake and lost it :frowning: </p>

<p>Thanks for the help.
I guess I should clarify a little more. I feel like a lot of the schools that should appeal to me don’t, because they’re trying to define the stereotype. I’ve never fit in at any school or in any group of people really. I don’t want to fit in per se because I don’t want to be different, I just feel like I need people who will understand when I talk to them, because I’m worried my possibilities to do anything major in the future will be wasted if I don’t develop them with other people. From the feel I’ve gotten from people who go there or just crawling around the internet, most schools would not work out very well for me.
There’s a school, a public school in Nevada which I’m drawn to most. I could see myself being there and not being lost in the way I am with a “normal” group of people. However, my parents live in the east coast, dad has a great job here and my mom has just lived here her whole life and I know I can’t ask them to move because of me wanting to go to a school. “Equivalents” of that school seem to be few and far between, I’m just not that excited about a lot of other options. St. Ann’s school in nyc, although a day school, looks sort of interesting except that I don’t know how different it really is from other schools and it just seems a little too structured for me. I don’t know about that though.
The school in Nevada does have a boarding option, but you just stay with another kid’s family, I don’t know if that would work out well for me also I doubt my parents would want me put in the care of a basic stranger.
Thanks everyone for helping.</p>

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<p>Putney. You should look into Putney. the student who gave us our tour was writing, directing, and starring in a one man musical for his senior project. lots of individual work.</p>

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<p>Yeah I go to Berkshire. The work load here is tough, but all of my teachers are extremely engaged and I am learning so much. The student body here is engaged and active. There is a fair amount of freedom, and I like it so far. If you have any further questions let me know.</p>

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<p>A few more to check out: Buxton School in MA (about an hour North of Berkshire School), Solebury School in PA, or High Mowing in NH. They aren’t the right fit for the typical kid on this board (so it will be hard to find students who go there around here), but one of those places might appeal to a unique spirit such as yourself.</p>