While anxiously perusing CC in hopes of quelling my fears about the college process, I somehow stumbled back upon the tiny prep school section of the website. Nostalgia indeed! Just a few years ago I cautiously lurked on these forums myself. A lot has changed since then it seems, in the sense that the schools being discussed have a much wider variety both geographically and academically. That’s awesome! Now before I talk about my experiences at Concord Academy, let me give The Youth (as well as the insufferably Type-A parents) reading this a little bit of perspective.
Where you go to HIGH SCHOOL has even less bearing on your life than where I myself will go to college. You and I, dear reader, are both in the midst of an alienating and potentially frustrating process in which we feel like our entire sense of self worth is on the table. But what we must realize is that WHERE YOU GO is way less important than WHAT YOU DO and HOW YOU FEEL when you go there.
I chose Concord Academy over BB&N and Nobles, which for those of you acquainted with the Boston area, may seem like the “wrong” choice. However, CA was the right place for me. It is a kind, fun, and uplifting place and guess what? WAY MORE academically rigorous than I ever expected. So you might think there’s a big difference between these schools but in reality, you just never know how you’ll fit. Attending a more “underrated” prep school with a less competitive vibe was still a very stressful experience for me. Don’t get me wrong – I love CA – but it has been a grind and I am a good student. I can’t imagine how a more cutthroat environment would have been for me. I wouldn’t have been as academically successful, that’s for sure. So don’t get too caught up in the “reputation” because it’s all what you make of it.
ALSO if you are even considering private high school, you are in an extreme place of privilege. I know for all you eighth graders, privilege is a concept you may not fully understand yet. But wherever you end up, you will have access to top-notch faculty, small and engaging classes, and a group of peers that truly want to learn. NEVER take that for granted. You will be prepared for college in ways you do not understand yet regardless of which private school you go to. So be grateful that by your financial situation or by scholarship you are in the position to even consider this.
So why am I writing this instead of working on my college apps? Because you and I both need to hear that Admissions doesn’t define us but also that we are EXTREMELY lucky and need to not take everything so seriously. Maybe let’s spend our time studying instead of posting on this ridiculous site…