<p>I go to a top 30 high school (U.S. News) (top 10 in Newsweek), and am suffering tremendously. I'm currently a junior and every year my GPA is dropping. My cumulative UW is a 3.71, but this semester I may end up with a 3.1, which will seriously damage by cumulative. I study very hard but do not meet my expectations. I hardly have time for extra curiculars. My other option is to switch to a private school and possibly be in the top 10. (I'm 63/381 right now).</p>
<p>I really want to go to Notre Dame, but switching schools in the middle of junior year is a huge risk. I'm in the IB program and to be honest, I just can't handle the workload and the BS. The administration is awful. Even the teachers complain about how inefficient it is. I really hate my school, but it's challenging and well known throughout the country. But if I switch, I'll be so much more relaxed and will have time to challenge myself by taking classes at the community college and have more time to focus on my extra curricular activities like volunteering and tennis.</p>
<p>What do you think I should do?</p>
<p>You need to stay where you are and do your best!</p>
<p>Have you talked to your family about your options? Is there actually a spot open for you at the second school midyear?
Have you talked to your GC at your current school about adjusting your schedule for next semester?</p>
<p>Before I talk about my schedule, I want to make sure whether I should stay at my tough and competitive high school or leave.</p>
<p>You’re not really circling the drain, just not meeting your expectations. You sound like a student your school wouldn’t want to walk away, so after talking with your family, your first visit should be the counseling office for advice on how to meet your goal of Notre Dame admission. Do you have the option of dropping the IB program and taking AP or local CC classes?</p>
<p>I do have the option of dropping the IB program, but I just feel that would look AWFUL. It would feel awful too - having all my friends in IB, and I’m the the “regular” program.</p>
<p>You need to talk to your family and your school counselor and really figure out what is making you unhappy. If this is a long term issue, leaving may very well be the right move. If it’s a momentary freak out over lower grades than you are used to, maybe not. You just have to make sure you’d be moving for the right reasons and that moving will fix the issues. Happiness is never over-rated. Mental health is extremely important. Having time to explore your world, get some practical experience in what you love… all crucial because the time you have to do those things drops dramatically at HS graduation. You don’t want to be impulsive with life decisions but you also have to think about what is going to make you whole and healthy enough to succeed in college.</p>