<p>I don’t think colleges would even bat an eye if you switched.</p>
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<p>That + all they say is SWAG and YOLO. That’s all that comes out of their mouths.</p>
<p>I feel like that could possibly be seen as not being strong-willed and running away from problems. AND I can’t take as many honors classes. They only offer like two honors classes, one AP class for a sophomore (which is the same at my current school), 3/4 as a junior, and then I think you can take as many as a senior. That’s what my friend told me. I’m sure colleges would take that into account, but I can’t help but wonder if they’d look down on me for switching to a school that doesn’t provide as many honors classes.</p>
<p>I think you should make the switch. My close friend did and it turned out to be the best thing she ever could have done. She switched from a school quite like yours (although not catholic) to a very open, liberal school and she couldn’t have loved it more. In fact, she ended up writing her college essay on how much it changed her for the better. I agree it does depend on the student. If you work hard, you will excel at the public school and still get into a great college. I say do it. Worst comes to worst you always switch back. My friend transferred for junior year and always says she regrets waiting so long. Good luck :)</p>
<p>I think you first need to connect with people at whatever local high school your zoned to. Find out what’s it like. Then tell us what they say. </p>
<p>I’ll tell you my story on switching schools:
I was in a similar situation this past Freshmen year at my local high school. Basically, it was “SWAG”+ legitimate gangsters+ druggies+boring people=mindlessness. It didn’t help that I didn’t like being surrounded by 3,000 people. So after discussing/arguing with my parents about transferring somewhere else, I moved to a small charter school about 20 minutes away from my house. I think it was the best decision I ever made. I became really engaged in the school and got into student council and recruitment committee. Sadly, the school closed because it had financial problems. And so I’m off to a different charter school. To you, I say if your not happy at your private school, go somewhere else.</p>
<p>So something else you might consider is going to a different private school, you didn’t mention that as a possible option yet.</p>
<p>Switching schools may or may not help you. Before you decide to swap schools I’d first (this is extreme, but it’d be the only way you’d enjoy your current school, in my opinion) ditch all the friends that’d judge you or you don’t like, join all the clubs you want (you’ll make new friends in them), be completely yourself (who cares if you don’t fit in; people should accept who you are), and realize that there are students who are not extremely wealthy just like yourself at your school (find them). I think that the higher education you’d receive from the school you’re attending now (public schools to me feel like they teach to the lowest student even in AP classes, and even if the said student doesn’t want to work… I’m in a public school) warrants at least giving it another year (or semester, you can transfer out), but this time being yourself and being in the clubs you want to be in. If your friends will judge you on what clubs you want to do or your financial status then they aren’t real friends. </p>
<p>If you’re against giving a try at being yourself at your school you’re at now, then transfer out. You won’t be happy pretending to be someone you’re not, trust me.</p>
<p>This makes the most sense to me, but God I just don’t have the balls. I don’t know if you read my post somewhere above about how cliquey this school is and the fact that there aren’t many friend group options. I really want to be comfortable with who I am at the school but it’s just so hard not being scared to be judged. But thank you so much, this is great advice that I need to remind myself of. The clubs at my current school are very limited and have just a lot of the basics, but at the other school there’s a club called Woman Engineering and I think that’d be cool to join. And I’d probably have the confidence to start my own club there too.</p>
<p>I read about it, and it does take alot of courage and guts. Personally I just ignore cliques and do whatever and be whatever. I’m a top 3 runner on my track team (qualified for the state meet 3 years in a row, with a 6th place finish on a rely team), #2 runner on cross county (went to state in this also), and 2 weight lifting/athletics classes this year (also used to be a halfback ((The guy that runs and catches/I wasn’t that great)) on the football team. 1 year of varsity). I should be a jock type of guy right? 6th or 7th in the county for math them this year (forgot which), 2 years of scholars bowl, and 3rd speaker on my schools debate team (1st easiest, 2nd kinda hard, 3rd hardest). Wait a second I should be a nerd now right…? I hang out with everyone, and I know my public school isn’t near as cliquey as your school, but still. Don’t let cliques bother you, do what ever and if they don’t want you laugh at them. </p>
<p>I personally hang out with who ever, and if they don’t want to hang out with me oh well. I’m me, and I’m extreme weird; no one is going to change who I am. I have alot of friends at my school, so its worked for me.</p>
<p>Oh, I’d encourage you to join the cross county or the track team at your school if they have one. Its alot of fun, and generally (at least around my area) the athletes that are on the team are either people who love to run or people who were unable to make other sports rosters, so generally everyone on the team is humble, accepting, and nice.</p>
<p>Wow wow wow wow, no need for bragging here. Just kidding, that’s great! I’m a sprinter on the track team (I suck and only get firsts in dual meets), member of KEY club (don’t go to the meetings, don’t even know what this club is about), and volunteer at a hospital that I got fired from and rehired. That’s about as far as my ECs go. Chance me? I’m aiming for HYPSM.</p>
<p>In all seriousness, that’s so great that you can be yourself and do things that the typical jock wouldn’t do. I always tell myself that college is where I’ll stop worrying about everyone, but I don’t want to wait that long. I just want to be myself right now… which is hopefully what the public school can do for me!</p>
<ul>
<li>100% Graduation Rate</li>
<li>High SAT Score Avg</li>
<li>Highest AP Score Avg
^ These don’t mean anything.
You control what you learn, not the school. If you are self-motivating and ambitious, you can graduate, do well on the SATs and score high on AP exams WITHOUT the “prestigious” private school.</li>
</ul>
<p>In fact, my school is notorious for its marijuana use, abominable standardized testing averages, and poor education. If you took a regular class, I can guarantee you that you would be sitting next to at least two people who were smoking nicotene e-cigs or weed DURING CLASS. My school barely offers any AP classes, less than 10% of the entire student body takes AP classes, and we’d be lucky to have more than one National Merit Semi-Finalist in one given year.</p>
<p>My friends and I got fives on AP exams (one friend and I both got National AP Scholar), 2200+ on our SATs, 780+ on our subject tests, and there are three NMSFs in our class. I don’t have any friends who use drugs. </p>
<p>If you think you’ll fit in and feel less pressured, I’d say to go for it. What is there to lose?</p>
<p>Also, always remember that this always applies at least a little:
YOU can create the environment. You don’t have to succumb to what the environment asks of you.</p>