<p>I'm currently a sophomore and really struggling at my school. I go to a top 10 high school (Newsweek ranking). The program I'm in is extremely rigorous (5 APs), and I just can't handle it. I know college will be a breeze if I stay, but my GPA is falling drastically (got a 3.42 this semester, freshman GPA was a 3.81), and I have no time for extracurriculars. My rank is somewhere in the 70s out of about 400. Life pretty much sucks right now. I'm not allowed to switch out of my program either. My only options are to stick it out for the rest of the year (causing my GPA to go down even more), probably miss tennis tryouts because I don't have time for it, and switch to the IB program (which is less rigorous than the one I'm in right now) for 11th and 12th grade. Or I could simply switch to a private school. I would probably be making straight As, top 10 of my class, and be able to focus on my extracurriculars.</p>
<p>My problem is that I love the friends I've made, I'm popular, a teacher is like my best friend, and it's very college prepatory. Colleges know about my school. Most people who graduate from my high school say college is like a joke compared to high school, and their roommates are struggling. I just want to get in a top college. I don't know whether this school is an advantage for me or not under the circumstances.</p>
<p>I could possibly switch for next semester, or next year. My question is that should I switch? Would colleges know that I switched because I couldn't handle the work? Has anyone done this and still got accepted to a top university?</p>
<p>I’ve switched high schools once, since my step-father is in the military. I switched from a hard school to a rather easy school. I think that it will be more impressive for you to be a standout at a not-so-good HS rather than an average student at a hard HS. </p>
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<p>I would pick up a similar courseload at an easier HS so it doesn’t look like you are slacking off. The difficulty of AP courses really varies across schools. </p>
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<p>Yeah switching HSs sucked for me for a couple of weeks, but thanks to Facebook, I didn’t feel that disconnected. Plus, I made a ton of new friends.</p>
<p>I switched to a private school. Best decision I’ve made in a long time. The reality is that if you’re consistently unhappy you’re wasting a good part of your life. You’re a smart, dedicated kid and you’re going to get a good education and into a good school. You have a 3.42 and you’re taking 5 APs–better than I could do, better than a lot of people could do. You should go somewhere where you enjoy learning.</p>
<p>It’s not that bad. I made a point of talking to as many people as possible and getting involved and I have a pretty nice group of friends at my new school. It’s a bit of a disruption but I like the learning opportunities, I like the environment, and I like feeling like a person and not a number machine again. I wish I had done it sooner.</p>
<p>So far I’m really thinking I should switch. But I’m still extremely indecisive about it. I mean, my school is ranked top 10 in the nation. Colleges KNOW about my school and the rigor. But… I’m suffering. It’s only the second day back from break and I’m already falling apart (again). I’m so tempted to go to a private school, but I just don’t know. I don’t know what’s worse: a low GPA in my current school, or a happy life and higher rank in a small private school.</p>
<p>The classes are too difficult. My school is known for the rigor. Also, there are other things that I wish I had the time for like playing tennis and the piano, but I don’t because I have so much homework and studying to do. I’m just worried about what colleges would think if I switched.</p>
<p>But here’s another problem: if I stay at my current school, I’ll be so prepared for college. Most people say college is a breeze after this high school. But if I switch, college will probably be a whole lot tougher. But if I switch, I’ll have a good high school life and so much less stress and pressure, and I’ll definitely be in top 10. </p>
<p>I would just like to add that having a better % class rank in a worse school is not really a benefit to having a good but not great class rank at a well-known competitive one. The you will “stand out” in a worse school argument is misleading.</p>
<p>switching schools wont help, if you go to an easier school youll probably just be less motivated. stay where you have friends. there are more important things in life than grades</p>
<p>My boyfriend goes to the private school I want to go to. </p>
<p>I know it really sounds like I’m telling myself to switch, but that’s not the case. I really don’t know what to do. Half say switch, half say don’t.</p>
<p>I have to wonder why as a sophomore you took such a huge AP load. It’s obvious it was too much for you which is the primary reason most schools don’t allow sophomores to take more than 2 APs.</p>
<p>Are your parents willing to pay the private school tuition? Are they willing to even consider having you switch schools?</p>
<p>I think you need to suck it up and figure out how to be a better student to get your grades up. Spend more time with your teachers asking for help. Spend more time reviewing the material. Spend less time with the boyfriend. </p>
<p>You took off a big bite… get busy chewing. You’ll make it through.</p>
<p>How is your time management?
Do you multi-task when you do homework, or do you devote 100% of your attention to the task at hand?
When you study, do you use forms of active recall or are passive recall?
Have you tried talking to any of your teachers to see if they have any advice for keeping your grades up?
etc.</p>
<p>I didn’t read all of the responses… but I switched schools after my sophomore year from a competitive college prep school to a decent public school. I am a lot happier. I have time (and money) to devote myself more to my singing and piano practice. I still have rigor in my schedule with 2APs and an honors class. I wouldn’t switch to a private school unless you get a lot of money off of tuition. It isn’t worth it most of the time, to me. Schools understand your circumstances, and you are still in the top 25% of your class. I have recently become pro-public education unless you live in an inner-city area or you are going to a school with a special focus (arts, sciences, etc.) It isn’t worth the money, when the high school that you go to probably won’t impact what colleges you get in to, despite what people think.</p>