<p>This is a long post, so I've added two TL;DRs at the end. Why two you ask? Because I messed up the first time and made it too long. Have fun reading this novel.</p>
<p>I'm about to be a sophomore soon at a private Catholic high school which is one of the best or maybe even the best school where I live (which probably isn't saying much). It has the highest graduation rate, SAT test scores, etc. But I'm not happy here. It took me a year to realize that my freshman year summed up was me being fake and hanging out with the popular kids who I honestly feel no connection with. I hold myself back and don't do clubs because I feel I'll be judged by my friends. Everyone here's the rich white kid who gets whatever they want, whenever they want. And then there's me-- the Asian kid who should be rich but isn't but acts like she is and makes everyone believe she's cool when she's actually a loser deep down. This school, I feel, has changed me... for the worse. I have to pretend like I'm just like everyone else especially politically/religiously wise. I came up with this conclusion last night and have thought about it till now (I haven't fallen asleep yet... it's 6 AM). The people here have sexy looking houses and cars and I don't. I talked to my brother just now about this and he told me that this school will possibly help me get into a better college which will result in a better job which results in a high paying job, etc etc. And when I think of that, I think "Hey ya know, maybe you should suck it up, act like you're one of them, and get by with a good education!" And to be quite honest with you, I don't even really learn because I hardly pay attention in class and cram on tests that I forget about the day after. </p>
<p>The other solution would be to go to the public school near me. My parents wouldn't have to pay as much as they do for my education. It may be crappier education-wise, but doesn't it ultimately depend on the STUDENT? And if I work my ass off would it not amount to what I would have done at the private school? I'd also probably join clubs I'd actually like and do things I'd want to do because I've known these public school kids for years and they wouldn't judge me. </p>
<p>TL;DR
Private High School Pros:
- 100% Graduation Rate
- High SAT Score Avg
- Highest AP Score Avg
- Overall Better Education System
- No one dresses like a loser
- iPads instead of books
Private High School Cons:
- I'm unhappy (which I think is affecting (effecting?) my grades)
- Changing my personality
- Judgmental ******s
- Won't join clubs because my friends would judge me
- Don't feel a connection with my friends
- Focus too much on fitting in
- Becoming ashamed that I'm not as rich as them
- Expensive</p>
<p>Public School Pros:
- I'd feel more welcome
- I'd hopefully have more fun
- I know a lot of people there already
- Not judgmental ******s
- I'll join clubs I want to do
- I'll be happy! Hopefully
- I get to wear regular clothes
Public School Cons:
- Doesn't provide as good an education as private HS
- Definitely more ghetto and filled with "swag" people
- I actually have to buy clothes
- CAN'T DO TRACK FOR ONE YEAR I THINK </p>
<p>That's hardly a TL;DR hahahhahaha so here's a better one</p>
<p>TL;DR 2.0 Not happy at my current school, but it provides the best education. Want to switch to another school where I'll be happy and join stuff I wanna do, not the best education. </p>
<p>PS I worked hard on this, I better get some feedback.</p>
<p>Do your parents care where you go, or if you switch?</p>
<p>I’m sure they’d much rather prefer that I go to the private school I currently attend, but if I convince them with a good pitch they might loosen up about the whole situation. Besides, they’d be saving money.</p>
<p>I think our opinion is sort of irrelevant, since the parents are the ones paying the money you know? You should really ask them what they’d be open to, cause I think you already know where you want to go. </p>
<p>And what are “swag” people?</p>
<p>I guess the question I SHOULD be asking is…
Would attending a public school hinder my chances of getting into a good university as opposed to staying at my current school?</p>
<p>People who dress so stupid with obsessions with Drake and Obey clothing and snapbacks and yolo and wearing Bob Marley stuff when they don’t even listen to him. Stuff like that</p>
<p>What are your grades at your current school? I mean you said you aren’t getting a real education at the private school anyway…</p>
<h2>Going to a public school isn’t going to hurt you as long as you can prove you tried your best.</h2>
<h2>Well, it’s not as big of an issue as it seems. I go to a school like that, and though that’s the culture (people pretending to be hood, when we’re in the suburbs etc.) it’s not a big deal.</h2>
<p>But this is seriously your parents’ call. If you stay at the private school, you can’t have any excuses, you’re gonna have to pull it together and do your best :D</p>
<p>Getting the grade isn’t hard. It’s actually LEARNING that I want. I don’t pay attention in class because (I think) I’m not happy. I got all straight A’s except a B+ when I failed my English final hahaha.</p>
<p>So if you were in my situation, would you go to the other high school?</p>
<p>Honestly, I’ve never had the desire to go to private school so I can’t really answer that. </p>
<p>The problem may be that you’re spending too much time worried about putting up this “rich girl” front, that you’re not focusing in class. You can’t keep worrying about that.</p>
<p>You need to have a serious talk with your parents, and mention all of this. Do you know if they’ve already paid tuition for sophomore year?</p>
<p>First off, you need to have a higher self-esteem. If you continue to act like a phony, this will carry on throughout the rest of your life. You need to realize that in life, there’ll always be those people more affluent than you. I really don’t think that it is going to make a big difference if you change to a public school, but it all depends on your own circumstances in which school you’re looking to go to. If you’re that unhappy at your current school, I suggest you discuss this with your parents and to see what options you have available.</p>
<p>Oh dear God what have I started. Sorry for being a typical teenager. But yeah I understand you guys. I haven’t talked to my parents yet because I’m still deciding on whether or not transferring would be a good idea. I really don’t want to spend three years unhappy at a school with people who have different ideas on things as I do. It’s a tiny school. There aren’t many people you can make friends with, just the typical cliques.</p>
<p>^ that’s what parents are here for- to offer advice based on our experience, but that advice should not take the place of the advice that your parents give.</p>
<p>This is my stance on private schools: They’re like a bubble. You are shielding yourself from the reality of the rest of the population a little longer. Not to mention, they’re stupid expensive. A prep school where I’m from costs more than the average college here each year. If you don’t get into a top 25 school after going to a prep school, I feel you basically just wasted your money, as a public school education can easily get you into anywhere else.</p>
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<p>The most annoying people on the planet. Let’s hope you never meet one. But, there are A LOT of swag people in Atlanta :I</p>
<p>You mean people that pretend to be OG’s despite their 2-story houses, and having the latest everything?</p>
<p>Or people that think it’s okay to say racist things just cause they have black friends?</p>
<p>I’ve dealt with both, neither are pleasant at all</p>
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<p>See, that’s the thing. Two of my siblings got into Berkeley, and I think my parents accredit the private school for doing that. I’m sure it’s helped, but I know a lot of the reason why there were accepted was purely for their hard work and ambition. I on the other hand am not as ambitious as them and don’t know if I’ll get into these types of universities regardless of whether or not I go to a private school or public school.</p>
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<p>This is the part that gets me. I’d LIKE to think it can get me into as good a college as a private school, but I really don’t know if the schools around me would provide the same education, and I really don’t want that to get in the way of my college chances. But then at the same time, as I stated previously, I don’t join and get involved with anything that I actually want to do at my current school. So it’s a lose, lose. I either get an education and no extracurriculars OR a (I’m thinking) not as good education and extracurricular activities and a generally better high school experience. But I don’t want to put having a good “high school experience” in front of my future. </p>
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<p>Try living where I living. It’s probably like 90% stupid swag-obsessed annoying people here.</p>
<p>The bit about a public school education being able to lead you anywhere is true. I guess you could say my school is filled with those swag-obsessed kids, too, but I see people from my school getting into HYPSM-type schools year after year. Those are the type of students that actually don’t mind burying their faces in their textbooks for the sake of learning.</p>
<p>I spoke to two of my siblings today, and their consensus was I should stay despite my unhappiness. Is there really a cost to education in my situation-- either you get a good education or you don’t but are happy? And that’s assuming that public high schools don’t provide good educations which is what my siblings and I have come to believe, though CC is saying otherwise. Because of this way of thinking, I’ve never thought once about switching to another high school until last night. Once again, is the cost of education my own happiness? My sister says to stick it out one more year and to leave junior year if I still don’t like it, but to me that’s saying I can’t join any clubs or do what I want. And of course I CAN but it’s just not likely that I would with the people I’m surrounded by.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s not guaranteed that you WILL be happy at the public school, either. Believe it or not though, your education is largely dependent on the effort you put in. If you feel like you would put in more effort into your classes and ECs at a public school, then switch out. There’s no point in paying large amounts of money to attend a private school when you think you can succeed at a public school that better fits your interests.</p>
<p>Do ya think a college would see my leaving as “quitting” and a portrayal of bad traits?</p>
<p>Have you looked at the other school’s academics? How many graduate? What credits do you need to graduate from the public? Are there any testing requirements for public schools (e.g. state-mandated)? What is their gpa policy? Would you be top of the class?</p>
<p>I moved from a micro-sized public to a large public, and I realized that these questions are critical, especially the gpa thing, because my private was all 4.0, so my rank didn’t truly reflect me. Figure out the logistics first!!</p>