<p>Currently, I'm an eighth grader at a public middle school with about 270 kids in my class. I have been considered the "smart kid" since elementary school. I've been with the same kids for about 8 years so I once I was been labeled as "smart," there was no way I could change the way everyone perceived me. It's not that people dislike me. I do have friends. But I've never been asked out by a guy, never gone to a big party, or done any of things that the "popular crowd" does. When I meet people for the first time who don't go to my school, I am talkative and friendly.</p>
<p>Next year, I'm going to a well-known private school. There will be a lot of kids there who come from wealthy families, as well as kids like me whose families are doing well, but not living in mansions or anything.</p>
<p>How do you think my popularity/status could change when I go to a new school (not necessarily for the better or for the worst)? Have you had an experience like this? Do you have any advice on making a good first impression? Any insight would be appreciated!</p>
<p>I’m perceived way differently now in high school compared to junior high. I definitely wouldn’t consider myself “popular” (whatever that may mean) though. I think I just matured and came out of my shell a little bit, whereas I was more timid in junior high. </p>
<p>I don’t know if there’s really anything wrong with your situation though. I mean I hardly knew anyone who went to big parties before high school, so I’d say you’re normal in that respect.</p>
<p>For first impressions, I’m still trying to get better, but I’d suggest being as friendly as possible, but not fake friendly, and make sure to smile or whatever. By smile or whatever, I mean don’t come off as cold or boring (but again, don’t make it look too forced). That’s something I have to think about sometimes, because I’ve been told before that I look like I’m in a bad mood when I’m really not at all.</p>
<p>I don’t know about you, but I was told that high school is what you make of it (same goes for college). I was super shy in middle school, I’ve been like that since I was about four. I wasn’t popular but I was known as the nice kid, I could get along with anyone. Some students were just rude and called out on my lack of social skills. About the end of freshman year and in the middle of sophomore year I started to venture out of my comfort zone and made more new friends and everybody knows that I’ll always be that quiet kid and that’s okay 
My point is, that just by going to a new school, doesn’t mean you will change who you are. If you’re smart, you’re smart and that’s pretty cool. As cliche as it sounds, to make a really good first impression, just be yourself, I mean there’s no way around this statement.</p>
<p>First impressions are important, but also don’t be someone you’re not - just be polite and nice, and don’t worry about hiding your “quirks” in fear of being judged, because that’s what makes you unique.</p>
<p>I know that I’ve always wanted to be popular in middle school. Honestly, in high school, the “gap” just gets larger. Everyone has groups, but everyone also isn’t as bothered by them, because the people in your classes and the people you deal with become your group, in a sense. (Of course, there are those people who try to be “cool” and develop an extremely poor rep among everyone - please don’t turn into one of them.)</p>
<p>Having a “smart” label is one of the best things you could ask for. There are rarely people who are both intelligent AND friends with the kids who party all weekend, drink, and have casual hookups. Why would you want to trade a future for four years in high school being labeled “popular”?</p>
<p>This is way overpreached, but I’m going to say it anyways: just be yourself at your new school. There may be aspects of you you’d like to change, such as being more patient or judging people less by their looks, but those are all internal, positive changes. Don’t change yourself because of popularity. It’s not worth it. You don’t choose the group you hang out with, you just fit in.</p>
<p>(Oh, and for the “never been asked out” so-called “problem” - a guy that’s worth it will see past who you’re friends with and ask you out because he genuinely likes you as a person.) :)</p>
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<p>I’m seventeen (and a half!!111) and I’ve never done any of those things either. Welcome to College Confidential.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, my status didn’t change much from middle school to high school, but other people’s perceptions of it did. I was occasionally made fun of in middle school for being a loner and not having many friends, but in high school no one really cared. I think people consider me smart, but I’m not arrogant or anything so no one dislikes me for that.</p>
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What business does a 13 year old have in dating and going to big parties? Goodness, you’re young. Things will change in high school, but not if you keep looking up at people who are doing things that you perceive as “better” than the things you are doing. </p>
<p>Best advice for making good impressions is to be yourself. A good impression is a genuine impression of who you are. A bad impression is anything that is that is untrue of who you are.</p>
<p>I’m not saying I want to do those things. I’m just trying to give people a sense of where I fall in my school’s hierarchy.</p>
<p>It’s threads like this that make me disappointed in our world. No one cares how popular you are. It won’t matter in fifteen years. But you know what will? Your academic career. Focus on what is actually important. What’s your freshman schedule for next year?</p>
<p>PurePhysics - I think you’re misunderstanding me. I don’t care about popularity. I’m asking how it could change.</p>
<p>But in the grand scheme of things, does it really matter if it changes drastically or not at all? It’s just not important enough to even discuss really.</p>
<p>Well I think most people care if they’re liked or not… I’m not saying you have to be popular, but you should have friends.</p>
<p>I’m also considered smart, if not nerd, in my HS. I play soccer but just for fun because of my thick glasses. Basically you should hang out with those who have the SAME hobby or passion as you. I’m Asian but i have no Asian friends, my best friend is African American. NERD POWER!!!</p>
<p>My high school is in a low-income neighborhood so its kinda tough getting around with high grades without people asking to copy your homework.</p>
<p>@AznSkyDragon : how do you deny giving them your hw? I think I need new lines to turn them down. Mine just is “not today man or I put my hw in my locker”</p>
<p>I went to private school from K-8th grade. It was a very small school (~1300 kids for K-12) and I was not well liked. Now, in my large high school (~2000 kids) I’m known as smart and I’m overall well liked. Not necessarily popular, but no one makes fun of me and I will talk and hang with other people a lot.</p>
<p>In my experience, a change in your life (such as becoming extroverted–to an extent) will change your status, and it makes up for first impressions. Advice is be who you are and gradually work yourself to a better spot if you don’t like where you stand.</p>
<p>Really just don’t be that kid who tries too hard to be popular and have a boyfriend and such. I went into high school after a truly lackluster middle school life with no intentions to go try hard at becoming popular. I was myself. Not only did I join an extracurricular that allowed for super fun times with other kids, but I was able to also kind of bresk my smart label into an overall okay fun sweet person label. Mind you, my grades are actually straight A’s and better thsn they were in middle school. And about that boyfriend thing. Seriously if you HAVE to hsve a boyfriend, SOMEONE will like you if you simply BE YOURSELF #cliche. I still haven’t had a boyfriend because I don’t feel the overriding need to have one or found the right guy, but I did accidentally get my friend to fall head over heels in love with me because I simply WAS MYSELF. Show your genuine emotions and you’ll find someone in no time :)</p>
<p>Yes! When I was in middle school, I was considered the “genius.” I ended up graduating third in my class. When I entered high school as a freshman, some people considered me to be weird. Coming from public school, I did not have “parish friends” like a lot of the other kids from my Catholic high school had. I transferred out during my sophomore year due to financial issues. When I transferred back into that Catholic high school as a junior, my popularity level skyrocketed! I was rapidly getting to know the then-sophomore Class of 2014. I was also introduced to a lot of people in the Class of 2015 by my brother. This year, as a senior, I was one of the most popular and recognizable faces in the whole school! I started out my senior year by winning Homecoming King last September. As the year progressed, I knew everyone in the Classes of 2013 and 2014, knew a lot of people in the Class of 2015, and was rapidly meeting freshmen from the Class of 2016. I attended my senior prom with a beautiful junior, who is pretty popular herself. Days before I graduated on June 5th of this year, people from all classes nearly filled my yearbook with signatures. As an alumnus of my school, not only will I be remembered for all that I accomplished socially, but I will be remembered for my personality. People have always told me that I am a very personable person, and that’s why I’ve become so popular at a large (1500+ kids) suburban Philadelphia Catholic high school! I can’t wait to go back and visit all the friends that I’ve made. Also, I can’t wait to go to this year’s homecoming game in my crown and “Homecoming King 2012” banner to see which member of the Class of 2014 will take my crown!</p>
<p>Before I moved in seventh grade, I was extremely extroverted and loud and I was not afraid to show who I was at all. But once I moved, this giant switched turned on in me that I feel like completely flipped who I was upside down. I became shy, reserved, introverted, silent at times, etc… I became part of nice, small group of friends who are still my best friends today (but I’m still only a freshman) and they accept me for who I am and that’s all that matters. I realized that once you get to high school, all those kids who were popular in middle school kind of lose their popularity (or at least that’s how it is at my high school). At my school, if you’re going to be considered cool/popular, you’re probably a senior. Just be who you are and don’t worry about what other people think of you, because their opinions really don’t matter in the long run! Make the most out of high school, because it’ll be over before you know it!!!</p>