switching high schools for senior year?

College Search & Selection
1

I’m currently finishing up my junior year at a school that I am miserable at. I don’t want to go into a whole lot of detail on why, but long story short, I think I deserve a senior year where I’m at least happier than I am now. Not being miserable senior year would mean moving to a different high school after this year ends in a few short weeks.
The high school I’m at now, is pretty big. I would be moving to a smaller high school, which is still pretty good academically. I have a 3.8 and I’m in the top 12 percent of the class. I was wondering if I went to a school with less students, wouldn’t that make my class rank go up, and possibly put me in the top 10 percent? BUT my main concerns are how it would effect the college admissions process. I plan on applying to colleges when the applications open on August 1st. If I switched high schools, which school would send my transcript? And which school would I state that I attend on the application, etc.? My class rank would be different, at least just in the total number of students, so I was wondering if the colleges would get the numbed from my old high school or the one I plan on attending for senior year.

2
  1. Your rank might go up, or it might not. That would depend on how the new high school handles transferred courses and grades.
  2. Most colleges/universities that you apply to will require that you have both transcripts sent. You definitely will need to have your current HS transcript sent to every place you apply to before you have grades from the new one!
  3. Until you are enrolled in classes at the new HS, you will still have to report that you are a student at the old one.
  4. You should arrange now for letters of recommendation from your current teachers. You won’t know the new teachers very well yet next fall when it is time to have the letters written.

Don’t worry so much about class rank. Worry about attending a HS where you are happy (and likely to do better in your classes), and about finding colleges and universities to apply to that are good places for you to study.

3

thank you so much!!

4

I think you should transfer, your happiness comes first! I had to attend three high schools until I found one I was okay with. Your grades may even improve if you feel happier!