<p>My D got accepted at the two boarding schools she applied to but they both said that it would be contingent on her repeating her current grade (10th). She does not want to do that but I agree with the schools on this one. Has anyone, parent or student, been through this and how did it work out? Thanks!</p>
<p>Im an international student, I’ll be enrolling at a NE BS next year too, also repeating a grade since im currently a junior in my country, the decision to repeat was mine.</p>
<p>Some schools do not accept students for the 12th Grade, but I see that’s not your D’s case. My interviewer at CRH told me that it would have been better if I had applied for 10th Grade, since it allows students to get a better preparation for college admission, to enjoy more of the boarding experience and to use the resources that the school can offer students.</p>
<p>I have not been through it, but out of curiosity I had recently looked into the topic of repeating a grade. I saw some recent statistics from reliable sources (sorry don’t remember the sources but I think they were major news sources quoting BS administrators) and they said something like 10% or more of new students would be repeating. Maybe it would make your D feel better to know it’s pretty common. The quotes were from well known, well respected institutions.</p>
<p>I certainly understand how your D feels too, but if the schools recommend it I think it would be good to do it. There’s actually little “repetition” because of the wide array of classes and it will probably allow her to take more electives.</p>
<p>10% of the people repeating isn’t pretty common. More than 50% is.</p>
<p>I’d say more than 50% percent is very common, most common or even usual.</p>
<p>Sorry, poor choice of words. I was surprised that the percentage was that high and it may well be higher.</p>
<p>How about 16% at Avon Old Farms…22% of incoming freshmen at SPS…11% of incoming juniors at Kent… this from an article from 2005 emphasizing how the practice was on the rise:
<a href=“If at First You Don't Succeed Enough - The New York Times”>If at First You Don't Succeed Enough - The New York Times;
<p>Thanks for posting the article about repeating. I wonder if it is as common outside of the New England boarding school scene? I wondering Midwest and California BS have a high percentage of repeaters.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting the article - it lists pros and cons of repeating which is helpful. In my daughter’s case, it’s about being able to succeed in college, not about AP courses or getting into a highly competitive school.</p>
<p>djc - repeating is common at BS and to be quite honest I do think it gives the child an advantage in a lot of areas. Being a little more socially mature is a plus and academically the student usually goes in with an edge in at least one subject. There really is little downside except maybe an extra far of tuition if the student has been in the private system all along.</p>
<p>As mentioned in the article, there is a downside. The college admissions officers seem to not like the idea. They want to know how well that extra year is utilized. I think it just brings more scrutiny during college admissions.</p>
<p>When visiting boarding schools this past fall I was really startled by how “old” some of the boys looked. Add PG’s that have also repeated a grade (and started kindergarten “late”) to the mix and it gets hard to tell the student from the teacher.</p>
<p>This is one of the “secrets” of the prep school game. It makes their students look better compared to public school students on both academic and athletic dimensions.</p>