Should I transfer my senior year?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>Well I’m new to this forum but I really need guidance in this point in my life right now, there’s just some things I need to get off my chest, and some major decisions I need to make. </p>

<p>Let me give a summary of my school record. I attended public school up until the 4th grade. I had been having major issues. At this point in my life I had been diagnosed with both tourettes and ADHD. I had very bad tics and some anger issues, school was already bad enough. In May 2002 my 18 year old brother died in a car crash. I don’t have a large family, so it was difficult on everybody. My parents decided to home school me after that, for a variety of reasons, but mostly the problems I was having at the school I was in. I home schooled for 3 years. The first year went smoothly, the second year grew worst, but the third year was a disaster. I couldn’t stand it anymore so my parents started looking for a school to put me in. Because of the issues I had in 4th grade my parents didn’t want to put me into a public school. They felt a smaller private school was best. Finally they found a school in fall of 2005. I was enrolled there for my 8th grade year. The school is very small, it has 50 students. This is currently my 4th year there, I’m 17 years old and in the 11th grade. </p>

<p>This is where I start running into issues. I love the friends I’ve made at my school; I wouldn’t trade them for the world. But because of the size of my school I haven’t had the opportunity for AP and Honors courses. This doesn’t mean I feel the quality of the education I have received is subpar, in fact, it’s quite the opposite. All my teacher’s are fully certified and I feel some course work in some of my classes has met that of an AP or Honors course. Not to mention the direct communication I have with my teachers is a true blessing. But that won’t matter much to a college board reading an application, as far as they would be concerned I’ve only took basic classes to get by and I’ve not challenged myself, even though the opportunity is not available. My EC activities will also seem poor compared to other applications. I only have one year of basketball and one year of ecology club to speak of. I’m a pretty boring person outside of school and I haven’t done much that’s noteworthy. </p>

<p>My dilemma is this. We’re not in the best shape financially. We’re struggling month to month to simply make ends meet. Keeping my tuition paid has been a challenge. And it’s a burden I don’t know if we can take another year. This is the exact same dilemma I’ve had for the past three years; every spring for the past three years it has bothered me. I now come to my junior year. I am considering transferring to a public school for my senior year; but I’m afraid it will be easier said than done. </p>

<p>I’m not behind in my credits. After this year my math, science and social studies credits should be done. I’ve had three math credits; Algebra 1, Geometry, and this year Algebra 2. Three science credits; Earth Science, Biology, and this year Chemistry. Three social studies credits; US History (This was taken my 8th grade year), World History, and this year Civics. I’ve already completed 2 years of Spanish and I’m currently on my 3rd even though it’s not required. I have had one full year of PE and after this year I will have completed 2 years of PE in which every other day is a health class. So in total this should give me 2 PE and 1 Health credit. For electives and fine arts credits I’ve had Art, Technology and Study Skills. I’m in my 3rd year of English. Because of the size of my school, English classes combine two grades. (7th and 8th English, 9th and 10th and 11th and 12th). However I don’t feel this has limited me, and no material has been repeated. I’ve had a new course of literature every year along with a grammar text corresponding to my grade. But I feel when I go to transfer this mixing of grades will prove problematic. My GPA is at least 3.2 but likely higher. </p>

<p>I don’t know what I should do. Transferring my senior year seems difficult. My biggest concern is if a public school will even give me the time of day with my unique situation. I’m very concerned about college right now. I feel if I don’t have AP or Honors courses my chances are slim of getting accepted when compared to all the other applications. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have an extensive EC background to make up for it. If I were to transfer to a public HS, I would want to take and do everything I can to improve on this. I would want to take every AP and Honors course I could and as many EC activities as I could. But I feel coming into a school my senior year, these opportunities wouldn’t be provided for me. I intend on taking my first ACT this February. I’m hoping to get into a state college with a good engineering program. I just don’t know what to do anymore.</p>

2

<p>Wow, I feel really bad for you. I would say just get an amazing score on the SAT/ACT and apply to the publics, honor colleges, state schools for aid and do absolutely brilliant in your 1st and 2nd year of college and then transfer to a much more respectable school.
You know, even Obama went to Occidental for his first two years and then trasferred to Columbia! You can do something like that.
Don’t get too disappointed, a lot of people can’t afford the Ivies even if they are some of the most intelligent people around.
And senior year thing- I think you should transfer for senior year coz then atleast you can give APs/IBs a shot- show the colleges you were unable to take them before senior year. As for ECs, you don’t really need a school to carry out some ECs that you are really passionate about- I mean, I started a recycling program in my city and did tonnes of stuff OUTSIDE school- newspaper, jobs, internships- there’s so much you can try.
And then, your GPA is kinda low- keep studying hard, don’t worry too much- concentrate on studying.
Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Stay at the private school man. I go to a public, and kids with a situation like yours wouldn’t like it. </p>

<p>Stay strong man & Good luck. Colleges will recognize APs werent available to you. Write about your struggle in your college essay. You’ll get in places because of the adversity.</p>

4

<p>Perhaps I didn’t make it clear what I’m really looking for college wise. I feel like I may be a little out of my league here having read some of this forum. </p>

<p>It’s never been a goal of mine to attend an elite Ivie League school or any “top” college. All I want is to attend a state university and major in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science. As long as I can do that I will be happy. I’m going to take the February ACT so it should give me enough time to re-take it if i need too. And King818, what do you mean I wouldn’t like it?</p>

5

<p>Hey man, I transferred from a private school to a public school for my junior year of high school, and it is quite a hassle. In order to meet public school diploma requirements, they will make you take all of the state tests for each subject that you have missed. You may or may not be prepared to take these tests, but they will make you take them regardless, and these scores will show up on your transcript (at least for NYS). I would advise you to stay at your school. Colleges definitely consider how rigorous your private school’s curriculum is, and they consider the fact that AP’s are not available to you. Also, because you only have about a quarter left till colleges accept you, it will not have much of an impact on colleges if you transfer.</p>

6

<p>Good luck to you - you sound like you’ve made tremendous progress.</p>

<p>Contact the public school and ask them what would be required to graduate. Also ask them what placement you would receive - general ed. vrs honors vrs. APs. The cost for this is zero. Then decide which route to take.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the help. If it helps you any I live in Tennessee. I hope to attend University of Tennessee or some other state college. I would love to attend a school such as University of North Carolina but I know I wouldn’t have a chance. There’s also the issue of funding, we simply cant afford a out of state school or a private university for that matter. I hope I can rely on in-state tuition and scholarships to get me through my four years. </p>

<p>At my current school I will probably only go until noon next year. I will have English, Physics and probably Geography. I wouldn’t care to take pre-cal. Math is very important considering what I want to major in. I think ill just stay the course, I’m sure a college will understand my unique situation, if it’s even unique at all. Thanks for the help.</p>