I’m currently a freshman in a school that has only honors classes (no AP/IB). However, the school has many extracurriculars, it’s small, the teachers love me, and I’ve been friends with the people there since 4th grade. The school is a “magnet” school. I quote magnet because when you’re in a small town a magnet school is just a private school wannabe and there isn’t anything really special about it.
So anyway, to the point of this thread - I’ve been looking into my zone school (which offers several English/History APs and has IB), and I’ve made the decision to switch. The environment would be very different. I’d be going from a school with only 300 people in 9-12 to a school with 3000 people in grades 9-12. There aren’t as many extracurriculars, but my Gifted teacher at my the school I’m at now says I can work with their teams (for TSA or ModelUN) so it wouldn’t really be a problem.
Now that there’s only a month left of school, I’ve been rethinking stuff and I don’t wanna switch but I know it’ll be good for me.
Honestly, I don’t know why I’m posting this… I guess I just want advice or encouragement (or discouragement if that’s what you feel).
If you want to go to selective schools, what’s the track record of your current school versus the school you plan on switching into?
If your current Honors classes are rigorous, there’s no real reason that you’d need to take AP courses; colleges will know your school doesn’t offer an AP/IB program.
Besides AP courses, what’s the course selection at the new school (e.g. higher level math, electives, etc.)?
If you’re doubting your decision, why? Why did you want to switch in the first place, and what do you like about your current school that makes you want to stay?
@topaz1116 All classes at my current school is honors, so there are people in the class who don’t care and then the people who try their best. I feel like this really lessens the rigor of the course. Also I want an environment where everyone who is in the class actually wants to learn. I feel like IB will do that for me since the kids can choose to go in there knowing that the course is rigorous.
This year ten seniors applied to Vanderbilt and several other private schools, however none got in. The three seniors who applied to Vanderbilt at the new school all got in.
The new school also has over 20 electives, some are career related like the computer-programming class, and then there are fine arts (art and band), and “fun” classes such as psychology, home studies (cooking class basically), etc. All classes have a standard level and an honors equivalent.
I feel like the main reason I’m doubting my decision is the loss of friends. New school, new people. I’m really going to miss my friends, but that can’t make me give up a better education. I wanted switch because, as I mentioned earlier, many of the people in my classes just DON’T CARE. That’s had quite the negative impact on my learning experience. The school is small too, the 9th grade only has 100 people in it, so it’s hard for me to distance myself from those type of people.
I want to stay because the teachers are really involved with the student and my guidance counselor is an angel and does so much for us. Also as juniors, the entire class goes on college trips to tour different campuses all over the US.
Have you asked anybody about the teachers at the new school?
You can still keep in contact with your old friends if you decide to go to the new school; as it’s bigger, you’ll probably find a new friend group easily. You still have three years of high school ahead of you.
So for the friends situation- I can relate.
My situation was different because it was 8th to high school. We choose between public high schools, and I was the sole person in my social circle to attend my high school. Most of the kids who go to my school are from the same middle school.
I was super mopey for the first two weeks, like full on woe is me and I don’t have any friends - all the good stuff. I was set on switching to the school all my friends were at. Now? I don’t even talk to any of my old friends, but very much enjoy spending my school day with my current ones.
Advice: Slide into a social circle. Don’t ask, sit a table and make some chums.
My mom’s colleague’s daughter is a senior there now, and she set me up with her so we’ve talked. She really likes the teachers there. I’m not too worried about that. I guess its just nervousness probably. @topaz1116
I’d say switch, or you might live to regret your decision to stay and always think of the prospect of transferring schools and how different (possibly better) your life might be!
I was (am) in the same boat; I’m switching schools for academic reasons and although I initially was noncommittal to my decision once I actually registered at the new school my counselor was nice, everyone was supportive, and the environment just seemed more fresh and I’m eager to start at my new school in the fall!
Obviously, I had to sacrifice some EC’s such as possibly being Editor of my school’s Literary Magazine, but you win some you lose some (plus my new school has a Lit Magazine too!).