I’m a sophomore. My high school is super competitive, and one of the best (public) high schools in the country. Sends 20-25 students to ivies each year, and majority of students get into really good colleges like BU, UMich and Georgetown.
However, because of my Dad’s job, I may have to transfer to another school a town over. Definitely not as good: much lower quality, with much less test scores. I’m guessing less competitive, most students get into state schools at best.
So I am TERRIFIED of what this will do to my college application chances. Will colleges see this as bad, and will I have a lower shot? Or does it not really matter? Because I’ve heard that colleges compare you with those in your school.
I’d consider myself pretty smart, can’t give you many stats but I’m a sophomore with a 3.85 GPA (4.09 W) taking the highest possible course load (and a little more). By CC standards, I’d say I’d have good EC’s with leadership (really passionate about social entrepreneurship). I know I’m going to be targeting schools like UPENN and Columbia (I know, don’t roast me). Any idea on how this switching of schools will affect my chances??
Do the best you can in yor new environment. And focus on being interested and interesting – that along with high stats will give you a lot of good choices. And stop being “terrified” of not getting into a couple of Ivies. That is just dumb.
On the one hand, it could give you a chance to (one of) the biggest fish in the pond, which will look good. OTOH, colleges are aware of the reputation, quality and offerings of different high schools and coming out of an excellent high school confers certain advantages. And you will likely lose out on certain academic and EC opportunities. Not much help, I know. Sorry.
I’m going to take your word for it that your dad’s new job will require you moving to a town next door, but I’d point out that this is an unusual requirement. Have you discussed with your parents the effect of the move on your education and possibly on your college chances?
Is there other family or a very, very good friend with a family you’re close to in your current town? One thing you could do if your parents are on board is live with them for the remainder of school. I have definitely known of people who have moved in with friends or extended family to allow them to finish up high school where they started, although it’s usually because their parents are moving a significant distance. Anyway, if you did this, you’d need to understand exactly what needs to happen for your residence to legitimately remain in your current town and then you’d have to really do it.
Some public schools allow out of district kids to pay tuition (generally much lower than private school tuition, but not nothing). Since you’d only be moving one town over, this might be a practical choice, assuming the school allows it and your parents are willing and able to pay and swing the logistics.
Good luck!
Thanks for for your advice. I agree, I’m not sure if being a ‘big fish in a little pond’ will help or hurt my chances.
I mean I have looked into this potentially new school extensively…they do send 3-5 ish kids to ivies every year. And my main EC’s are out of school. I mean will my chances really suffer if I, say, found one or two clubs at my new school and get really involved?
And just btw, I’m moving the town over because my current town is super well off and, with such such great schools you can imagine it’s quite expensive to live in. My dad actually lost his job, and so he thinks it’s best if we move into our rental property the town over, which isn’t as well-off as ours, as reflected in the school system.
The thing is that my parents really want to move, really the only thing holding us back is my college chances, and I have absolutely no clue how/if they will be affected. And I know my parents wouldn’t allow me to board with someone else.
Whether you move or stay, your goal is assembling the best complete profile and then application to college you can. The new schools sends graduates to the Ivies also. You had and have at the new school no guarantee of admission. All you can do is make the best presentation AND apply outside these schools. What about Colby in Maine for example. The Northeast has lots of great schools as does every other region in the coutry.
Actually, you might be better off. You won’t have to compete with as many high stats kids from your own school. It will be easier to stand out.
I remember talking to a kid from a top New England prep school years ago. He said everyone from his school applied to the same top colleges, and the colleges were only going to take so many kids from that school.
So crush the SAT, and keep your GPA really high. Take many of the APs and Honors classes offered at your new school. Do meaningful, authentic ECs.
You’ll be fine. Colleges want to admit high achieving students from “lesser” high schools.
Please also consider your parents and family. Time to support them during this stressful time of job loss.
I was in the EXACT same boat. I was headed for a great private school with a solid record, but life got in the way, I moved, and I ended up in the opposite boat. The high school I attend now has a graduating class of 35 students and has very sketchy average test scores. We lack even a stable counselor(!) To compensate, I took the hardest classes, and beginning my junior year, I dual enrolled.
To answer your question about if schools matter… yes. My little school, which lacks APs, does not carry as much weight as the one you are leaving with a proven track record. However, even from my “lacking school,” last year we had one student go to UChicago and another to Dartmouth, while this year, I’ve been accepted to Boston College (and hopefully UofM).
My point is, don’t let your school’s prestige define you. You are obviously determined, and that will continue. Keep grinding inside and outside the classroom. Personally, going to a smaller school allowed me to get involved in everything, and while your school might not be small, this gives you an opportunity to redefine youself positively!
My last bit of advice is self evident: crush the ACT/SAT. I scored a 32 (superscore 33) on the ACT. I needed this to show colleges my high school truly prepared me, and you will need to do the same.
Good luck! And hopefully this move makes for an AMAZING CommonApp essay 
I just wanted to offer a little different advice.
If your parents are considering moving because the financial picture is not so hot…you need to start considering that situation when you look at colleges.
When you plan to target schools like UPENN and Columbia - you need to understand whether or not you can afford those schools. You need to have affordable schools that you like also on your list. And you need to reframe your thinking to take into account the financial realities of life.
This is HARD for most kids and I wish you the best of luck.
So I guess the general consensus is that switching will hurt my chances?
What an amazing conversation. Your dad lost his job and you are terrified about your college chances. Wow. Sorry, but college just is not that important. You do your best, wherever you are. That’s all that matters, for you, your family, and colleges. Colleges don’t penalize people who move. Your priorities are just not that important, sorry. You should be encouraging your parents by telling them that you will be fine wherever you end up.
“So I guess the general consensus is that switching will hurt my chances?”
I don’t think that there is a general consensus. If anything perhaps there is a consensus that you need to do as well as you can where ever you go to school, and that if you go to a less highly ranked school then you will need to be near the top of the school if you want to go to a “top 10” university.
Personally I went to a relatively mediocre high school, but was very close to the top and got accepted to a couple of highly ranked universities (McGill and MIT).
The other thing to keep in mind is that there are a LOT of very good universities in the US, and you don’t have to go to an Ivy League school to be very successful.
Dude chill I never said I was going to stop them from making whatever decision they choose to…did I ever say here that I’m not going to love and support them no? Absolutely not, thank you very much.
All I want to know is what this does to my chance, period.
Some of us aren’t “dudes,” thank you.
“So I guess the general consensus is that switching will hurt my chances?” Not what I’m reading. Nearly everyone is saying to dig in and do your best.
And do get ECs that are in school. It’s not “one or two clubs” and getting really involved. If you’d been looking into colleges like Columbia and Penn, you’d maybe be better prepared to know what sorts of responsibilities and stretch (not just hours and/or titles,) what sorts of clubs or other activities that offer challenges.
As a soph, you don’t have scores, it’s just too early to set your sights on some tippy tops.
What this “does” to your chances is entirely in your hands, at this point. Get the right info, build your assets.
Learn how you compose a college application when two hs are involved.