<p>I've always wanted to go to boarding school and I was fortunate enough have my parents let me apply last year. I applied to three top schools, and was rejected by two and waitlisted at one. I was planning on applying again this year but now I'm having some doubts. My parents are not as supportive as they were last year and they want me to stay at my current high school. I still want to go to BS and experience all the opporunities that I would not have at my current school. Now when I think about going away from home, I feel guilty. I feel like I'm asking too much of my parents after all they've done for me. I also have two younger brothers and I feel that I won't be there for them when they need me. I've already taken the SSAT and scheduled some of my interviews. I'm unsure whether BS is the right option for me. I feel that if I don't apply, I'm missing out on a big opportunity.</p>
<p>I know how you’re feeling. I went through basically the same situation. Last year I applied to five schools and was rejected at 4 and waitlisted at 1. At the beginning of this school year I had no motivation to apply again. My parents were really generous last year with taking me to all of my interviews, testing, and helping me pay the fees. I also felt guilty for asking them to do the exact same thing over again. My parents didn’t think it was worth it to apply again and repeat a year and strongly suggested that I stay at my public high school and focus on getting into a good college. I can sympathize with you entirely. </p>
<p>Honestly, you have to be somewhat selfish if your in our position. Don’t worry about your younger siblings, you can still be there for them through text, e-mail, skype. You always have some way to communicate with them. Since you are already basically halfway through the process, I would continue on and finish your applications. If/when you get accepted to some boarding schools you can then decide if boarding school would be the most viable option for you. Try and stay focused on what you think would be the best for yourself. This process can be really draining at times. </p>
<p>I hope this helps! Good luck with your journey!</p>
<p>@2010 hopeful: Thanks! That helped a lot. If you don’t mind me asking, why are you applying again?</p>
<p>I am applying again because I still feel that I will immensely benefit from the boarding school experience and all of the opportunites that boarding schools offer. You would think rejection would turn people off, but instead it ignited a fire in me. (so cheesy, haha) I am more determined than ever to attend a boarding school and take advantage of the entire boarding school package.</p>
<p>I can relate to your situation. My first year applying (two years ago) I applied to four schools. I was rejected to three, waitlisted at one. For some reaons, like wiht 2010 hopeful, that really did motivate me to continue applying another year. </p>
<p>Now I can happily say that I’m writing this from my dorm room in New York, where I currently go to boarding school. Last year I went through the doubts, thinking perhaps it just wasn’t the best option for me and I might be asking for to much from my family, but like 2010hopeful said this is the time to be a little selfish. Take the best route for you. I would suggest going through with the application process. See what happens and decide from there.</p>
<p>Make sure you cast a wider net the second time around - but only schools you would be happy with. Pick a range of schools (not all top tier HADES for instance) to give yourself maximum options. And frankly - don’t bypass schools like Governors and others not often discussed her. This board promotes a certain frenzy around some schools making others seem less viable. </p>
<p>Sometimes it just comes down to fit at a specific school and that changes from year to year. It’s based on school personality and the makeup of the students in the current crop of applications. If all things are relatively equal on an application - the difference between taking student A versus student B can be as simple as Student A plays a French horn and graduation resulted in a “hole” in the orchestra. Or on the debate team. Or he/she is from a state where they have few students or…</p>
<p>So do your best, stay positive, and cast a wide enough net so that the right school can catch a glimpse of your "shine.’ Good luck.</p>