<p>This is going to sound pretty stupid, but if I really do go to boarding school, how am I supposed to tell my friends?? I've kept the whole thing in the dark from them, because, I mean, what if I DON'T get in anywhere?? And they would NEVER let me leave, anyway. (Wow, this makes me sound terrible. >.<) Any advice from current or past boarders who've gone through the same thing?
The thing is, I just feel like boarding school is right for me. Please, I need advice. Please help!</p>
<p>It’s not a stupid question. And it’s quite a delicate situation.</p>
<p>It’s probably hard to keep it a secret, especially when you have to ask for teacher recs-- teachers gossip, just as students do. </p>
<p>When you do tell them, don’t be surprised if you get negative reactions from both students AND adults. There will likely be the comment, “what’s wrong with your present school”. People will be sensitive!</p>
<p>Be prepared with answers. When you explain WHY you want to go, emphasize the PULL factors (the great things at the BS that are drawing you there). Steer clear of the PUSH factors (why you want to leave your present school system), because people will feel offended.</p>
<p>To save yourself the potential embarassment of announcing you are going to BS, but don’t get accepted, CAST A WIDE NET in the number of schools u apply to.</p>
<p>Thank you, GMT! Very appreciated, and yes, I will be casting a wide net. Thanks again for the amazing help! :)</p>
<p>I’m in high school, so I kind of avoided telling my friends and other teachers that I am applying. I was planning on waiting to see if I got in anywhere then decide. But I have to miss some school to take visits, should I explain now? Or should I just kind of be very vague about it. Because I don’t want anybody to find out and then treat me differently for the rest of they year.</p>
<p>I mean, my english and math teachers know about it. (because of recommendations.) But, yeah, I don’t want people to treat me weirdly.</p>
<p>So what would you do if you had to miss school to visit? What would you tell people?</p>
<p>I’m planning on just telling my friends that I am visiting family when I go to visit. Gosh, that sounds awful, but I’m keeping the whole thing a pretty big secret.</p>
<p>HAHA, I think like, everyone’s keeping it a secret. 
I am too, but yeah, during school visits, I just say, “I’m going to _____.”</p>
<p>/sigh, we’ll see what happens. :P</p>
<p>Hah yeah me too. But my teachers and principal know because I have to tell them before I miss school. So I find it weird that my principal knows but not my friends.</p>
<p>I tell them that I am sick… I hate this secret-keeping, I don’t like this… but we’ll see in March Tenth.</p>
<p>Wait what do you tell your school when you miss?</p>
<p>I tell my friends I’m sick, and schools it’s an excused for school visits. But, they put it under college visitation, but whatever, have to tell the school and the guidance counselor and principal have to know, right?</p>
<p>Oh, they give you an excused absence for visiting another high school? I don’t know if my high school would be okay with that, and I might have to do the work ahead of time.</p>
<p>I’m going through the same thing… It’s so hard to keep it from my best friend since first grade, especially since she doesn’t even like to sleepover at someone else’s house for even one night… I’ve almost let it slip a couple times…</p>
<p>^^OMG. Me too, seriously, one of the teachers was like, “oh, especially since (98beebee) might not even BE HERE next year.” Aww, preppossibly. I feel for you!</p>
<p>Are you guys planning on keeping in touch with everyone from ur old school, if u do go?</p>
<p>Ehh a few people. But sorry to go back to your other post, how did you get your school to count it as an excused absence?</p>
<p>I definitely plan on keeping in touch with my group of four close friends, but I’m. Not sure about anyone else…</p>
<p>wooow this struck me cause its been something ive been subconsciously trying to sweep under the carpet all through the app process. I guess its not worth worrying TOO MUCH about til march 10th. But i just figured as soon as it hits March 10 and IF we do get in, probably best to take a minute to think about how you’re going to say it, and break it to your mates so you still have 5 months for them to get used to the idea and to preserve friendship, although it will undoubtedly take SOME damage. Is there really anything to mention if faced with rejection?</p>
<p>Actually, I’m not going to attempt to keep in touch with my friends too much if I do go to BS. Yeah, they’re my friends, but as a global nomad I know too well how hard that can be. Everyone says distance won’t separate them… but the reality is that it does, very much.</p>
<p>I mean, a fresh start, right?</p>
<p>I completely agree with the “fresh start” bit, CherryRose. And that was a point in my previous post; fair enough friendships will inevitably deteriorate. But it’s no reason not to update your close friends, right? I have that semi-global… I wouldn’t say nomad, but from Australia I want to end up probably in New York. Dunno if you’re international, but regardless of our teen nomad aspirations, wouldn’t it be nice when you do return “home,” wherever that maybe and be able to catch up over a nice coffee?:)</p>