To repeat, or not to repeat?

That is the question I am currently faced with.
I am have not gotten into any schools I have applied to for 9th grade, so I will apply next year but I am unsure if I should apply for 9th grade or 10th grade?
I am wondering if the odds are in my favor if I applied to 10th.
My alumni interviewer said less people apply to 10th, but there are less slots.

Apply for 10th, but tell AOs you’d like to be considered for 9th as well.

@poppyseedbagel I would focus less on the grade and more on what you can do to positively influence your results next year. Take this time to reflect on how to become a stronger applicant next year. I know many applicants end up reapplying and there are threads that explain how they approached the process you can search. Our oldest son was in this position for college and after we reviewed his application package with an unbiased viewpoint, he spent the next few months closing the gaps before reapplying. He also expanded his list of schools and he had much better outcomes.

I agree with @vegas1 .

But as for your question, this is something you can bring up in your interviews next year with AOs. They really want to help you get this right.

I would also explore additional schools that might be a better fit for you. Sometimes, it’s not that you were a weak candidate, but the wrong candidate.

Dear @poppyseedbagel please don’t worry about repeating a grade in BS. Before we started this process a couple of years ago, we had no idea how many kids repeated a grade either before or upon entering BS. We know students at several schools who repeated entering as 9th, 10th, and 11th grades. We also know students who repeated a year of JBS. I think sometimes being a repeat has advantages in both academics and athletics. As noted above, do widen your “net” and maybe take this year to expand your interests or explore new avenues. You sound like a fantastic kid and we wish you well!

I repeated 10th before coming to Exeter. I love being a new sophomore here, but I always think it would have been better if I started the school as 9th, just because you can take full advantage of what school offers. Also, it is easier to make friends.